A Tale of Two Cities...

I am currently sitting in a closet in Toledo, Spain writing this blog! Seriously, my shoulders are touching both sides of the ¨room!¨ ha. After this, we are off to explore, see some El Greco paintings and cool architecture... and hopefully down some more paella. Then, we are going to head back to Madrid, and from there take the first train to Lisbon, Portugal before heading down to southern Spain. A spurt of the moment decision :) And now to the point of this entry...

We were leaving Madrid on Saturday afternoon (I think Saturday, but days don´t have much meaning anymore! ha). This guy next to me was acting weird on the metro and bumping into me while Anna and I were loaded down with our packs (including the blue backpack that i have been wearing on my front which we have nicknamed ¨the baby.¨) Anyway, long story short, a few minutes later I realized he had pickpocket me ,after he had left! But everything worked out and all that was lost were a few Euros and some time on the phone (don´t worry mom!:) Who knew contingency plans were actually useful! ha

We still went to Segovia that night on the bus, but when we got there found out that there was a big festival and all hostals were booked solid and it was already past 8pm. Not fun. Out of options and in bad moods, we gave up and were on the way back to the bus station at 9pm to go back to Madrid when by chance we just happened to spot this immaculate hotel and decided to beg at the desk! Because it was so late at night, we got a crazy reduced price on it (normally $350 a night) and got an awesome suite with all the ammenities during a huge city-wide party! We went out for food and a botellón after (pizza and wine mixed with fresca). After spending the night in our glorious room with an all you can eat buffet breakfast in the morning, we went off to explore. We spent all day hiking, went to the castle, saw the acqueduct, etc.

When we got back to the main Plaza after a long day, about 7pm, we saw that they were setting up for a race!! We registered about 30 minutes pre-race on dead legs, but decided it would be a cool experience, especially since it was free. I put on my CHS gear and Andrea her Fleet Feet. After rushing back to the hostel, changing, a quick warm-up and some strides, we arrived to the start line 20 seconds after the gun went off! (AND it wasonly a Mile Race!! ha... actually it turned out to be 1470 meters, random and really short?!?!) Everybody was gaping at us and yelling out in Spanish to catch up, like we didn´t know. We caught the back of the pack about a half lap in (2 lap course in the main square lined by spectators), and were mid pack by the first lap. We were no where near the leaders, but finished respectably considering circumstances... Brian 4:47.31 and Andrea about 2 seconds after that. The best part, Andrea still finished first for her age group, second woman overall, awarding her 50 Euros, an enormous trophy and a trip to the top of the podium on a huge stage with a thousand or so people watching! So crazy. She confessed after that, because we were so far behind, if I hadn´t just jumped the barrier and took off she would have scraped it!

So, despite the inauspicious beginnings, it turned out to be a very cool trip to Segovia highlighted by one hell of an experience and some extra party money! Hasta ahora :)

Más citas... ¨Every time I wear the baby I get robbed!¨ "It will cost you 50 Euros or 50 days." "I feel like I robbed them. I don´t even know who the wheelchair guy was." "Tummy time... well, I think I´m more afraid of Andrea time than tummy time!" "Damn uterine pouch!"