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Published: November 1st 2010
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Oh how wonderful it is to be with family.
I arrived in Madrid to be greeted by my extended Spanish family. It’s all quite complicated how we are all related, but my “roots” are in the family name Erro and our family (my mom’s side) originated in the Pyrenees mountains on the boarder of Spain and France. So I figured, what better time than now, when I am already in Spain, to visit the family and learn about our history!
After countless emails sent back and forth with Javier (a distant cousin), I set off to Madrid to stay with Maria (Javier’s sister) and her daughter for two nights before heading up to the province of Navarra where our Basque relatives reside.
I arrived in Madrid late on Wednesday evening, but felt at home from the moment I set foot in the door. Maria and Leticia, her 18 year old daughter, live in a gorgeous apartment in the city. I was made home-made Spanish Tortilla—to die for!—and given my own room and bathroom. I was really living the life of a princess, especially compared to my residencia in Granada.
After a good night’s sleep and plenty of catching up
with Leticia and Maria who are both wonderful people, I woke up Thursday morning and headed into the city. I did quite a bit of exploring alone, which was a new experience, as every other time I’ve traveled with friends. I think museums, though, are a good starting point for traveling solo. I personally like my own space when I’m looking at art, and I hate the feeling of being rushed, so it was perfect.
I visited the Prado, of course, and also went to the Thyssen-Bornemisza art museum which I really enjoyed. Leticia introduced me to a photographer named Mario Testino the night before and told me there was a great exhibit of his at the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Somehow, map-less, I managed to find the museum. Not only was the Testino exhibit amazing but the rest of the museum was as well. I skipped all of the old Baroque, Renaissance, ect. Floors because I had already seen 3.5 hours worth of them in the Prado. I went straight to the good stuff—Monet, Van Gough, Degas, Pigasso. There were even some Georgia O’Keffe pieces! It was wonderful but quite draining.
I returned “home” to be let in by the wonderful
doorman, Jose who seems to adore Maria and Leticia. My the time I finished my siesta, Maria had returned home from work. We went out for a delicious dinner with Javier at a new “cool spot”—a Peruvian restaurant just next door to Javier’s apartment (which is a 5 minute walk from Maria’s apartment, and their parents’ house!). They seem to keep the family close by here in Spain.
I woke up with time to spare, on Friday, so naturally I decided to check out the Madrid shopping scene. Well, there’s too much shopping for only two hours. I only made it into two or three stores and was overwhelmed! Madrid sure knows how to shop, that’s for sure.
Javier picked me up in a taxi outside Maria’s apartment and we headed to the train station. Little did I know we would be traveling first class—a very, very different way of traveling than I have been doing for the past three months…Trains will forever remind me of my months of travels; Lauren and I running to trains that we would end up missing…Eating make-shift meals while sitting on our backpacks…Or not even eating at all because of the lack
Train
Dry, but beautiful of food some train stations had! No, no, this train was much different. It was even nicer than many first class American airlines, I would say. Hot towels, chicken breast with vegetables, salad, whole wheat bread (which might sound basic, but is something I really miss in Spain!), brie cheese—the works. It made the three hour train ride very, very tolerable.
Our train was traveling from Madrid to Pamplona where Javier informed me that his parents, Paulina and Paco would be awaiting our arrival. I couldn’t wait! I would finally be meeting my Spanish-Basque relatives and visiting the old homeland of both my GREAT GREAT Grandfather as well as my GREAT GREAT GREAT Grandfather!
This is the only the beginning…To be continued 😊
See next blog for the really good stuff!
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Connie
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Dear Em, I am so excited for you and your experiences in Europe. Also, I must tell you that you are certainly a Journalist and Photographer. Your trips are so wonderful to read about her in Santa Cruz. I am hoping for some pics of your Mom and Dad and you soon. Love you, Connie Grimes-Gruber