Merry New York Christmas

I was lucky enough this Christmas to make it back to New York again to spend the holiday with my family and friends. I was also lucky enough to have Esteban come with me.

Our week was jam packed with friends, family, and food. I got to play tour guide while also gaining about 5 pounds eating favorites like NY Pizza, bagels, mexican food, peanut butter, pancakes, diner breakfasts, french toast, pretzels, m&ms and anything covered in chocolate.

cinnamon raisin bagel with maple walnut cream cheese

good ol' american breakfast of blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes

God Bless American Diners

Highlights from my trip home included:
*a visit to my favorite restaurant, Meson Ole
*walking across the Brooklyn Bridge (without a jacket!)
*dinner and drinks with friends in Queens
*Ice skating in Bryant park
*seeing my grandma
*watching Esteban and my father fly remote control helicopters for hours on end.
*Christmas In NYC

I always said my favorite time to visit New York is during Christmas time. It is so magical with the lights, the decorations, windows, and those pesky ringing bells throughout the city. I was so excited to share this with a Madrileño

 I had an obsession with teaching Esteban about an American Christmas and all things American. This included lunch from the hot dog truck, breakfast at the diner (eggs for breakfast!!!), trips to the beach, outlet shopping, drive through ATMs,  slurpees, having someone else pump my gas for me, etc.

As for Christmas traditions, we made a gingerbread house, opened our stockings christmas morning, had deli breakfast, drank Brandy Alexanders, and took lots of obnoxious christmas pictures

"prom pose" another american phenomenon

contraband 

Of course the viaje was too good to be true. And the next day after arriving in Madrid, everything seemed like a dream. Epsecially because as soon as we entered Spain, Esteban refused to speak to me in English. (I think after a week in America, his English is better than mine!)

What was odd for me was bringing someone from my Spanish life into my American life. They have never really been combined (except when my parents came to visit) and so it seemed like some sort of Matrix world... especially since I was in charge of driving, speaking, striking up conversation, understanding, and translating. Normally in my Spanish life, it is reversed. I had so much more confidence in my American life and felt more like a functioning member of society instead of just a member of society who is sliding by, and heavily relying on others for help.  It felt nice to fit in, and to feel in control, and to understand.

So of course after such a perfect week, I was extra-super sad to leave my parents. I let a few tears flow (ok, maybe more than a few). Leaving is so much harder when I don't know when I'll be back or see my family again....

Portuguese Pictures

During the December Puente, I traveled out of Spain for the first time this year. Unfortunately I didn't leave the Iberian Peninsula and only made it to Lisbon, Portugal.
Here are some pictures from the long weekend way back when:

Portugal keeps it old school

Tower of Belen

Castle of San Jorge

Sintra

Sintra

Gorgeous

View of Sintra

A Chinese Treasure

A Hidden Gem, and a Diamond in the Rough.

 Hannah and I set out in search of what is said to be "the best Chinese food in Madrid...if you can find it"

This restaurant is said to be IN Plaza de España, when in reality, its UNDER the Plaza. To get there, you must enter through the Parking garage. We weren't really sure where to go, and unfortunately this is off your mobile devices GPS system. So without a map, we used our noses to find the buried treasure.

Once we went down the stairs, we could smell the sweet, decadent smell of chinese take out. My heart fluttered.  I have not eaten chinese food since at LEAST august of 2010. Mainly due to my fear of eating chinese food outside of America. I just had a feeling it wouldn't be good... like Mexican in Spain (that search has also been conquered)

Once we arrived and confirmed that this underground chinese restaurant was the one we were in search of, we joined the line outside of the door. We were handed a menu that was written in English and Spanish. We peeked in through the windows to see what others were eating, portion sizes and if rice was included. All looked promising, except the rice included part.

We chose Chinese Vegetables and Chicken and Vegetables. We waited about 5 minutes outside the restaurant until someone came and took our order while we waited. Once we were seated 10 minutes later, we were handed our food within the next 3 minutes. Perfect.

We chowed down happily fulfilling our craving for comida china. But then there was a problem.... it was ALL GONE! And it was TOO GOOD! We looked over at our neighbors on all sides of us, eating dumplings.... or empanadillas chinas.... and we looked at each other with that look that says 'are you thinking what im thinking?' and 'if you're in, im in'.... and we ordered a plate.

The Holy Grail of Chinese Food

Within  3 minutes we were handed a plate of about 8 dumplings a la plancha.... we each dipped one into the sauce and popped it into our mouths... at first a taste of sweet tanginess... then the savory beef flavor with the dumpling noodle.... Pure Bliss.

Hoping to eat these for breakfast.... too bad we ate them all!

The best idea we had all week.

A Playground of Languages

As an au pair, I take my two little slugs to the park every day. Some days just to sit and have our merienda, and some days to play. On Mondays and Wednesdays we can spend an hour and a half there, until it gets dark! The park is situated in between about 3 different elementary schools. I know this because there are about 3 different types of uniforms frolicking around on the swings, slides and sand.

My favorite thing about the park, is that every day, I can hear at least 4 different languages being spoken, sometimes more!

Of course there is Spanish spoken by all, but then I can also hear English spoken by moi, and by a wonderful family I met from Miami who now lives here in Madrid and the twins go to Vio's school. Some days I catch some people speaking German, but they never stick around too long. Around 5:15 everyday two little girls come running to the park speaking French with their mother. And recently, there has been a new little spaniard showing up with her au pair... from CHINA!

So on any given day, these children playing at the park are exposed to their mother tongue, English, French, Chinese and maybe even a hint of German! What lucky kids!