family here!!

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So about two weeks ago my family came to visit me!!! I know this is late but i'll try to be as detailed as possible!!!

My mom, dad, and little brother came to visit me on November 4th until the 8th. It was absolutely amazing and really nice to be able to show them a little bit of what goes on for me around here in Madrid.


I woke up nice and early on Thursday to meet them at the airport. I was so anxious nervous and excited my body was besides itself. My mom kept updating me with where there were after they had landed so my anxiety relaxed a little. I was pacing in front of the sliding doors that the "Llegadas" or arrivals come through. What a feeling to be on the other side of the door. I wonder what it is going to be like for them when I get home? Anyways the door opens and bam there they are. Of course Jon doesn't have any luggage so he gets to me first, then my Dad, then my mom. And of course my mom and I are a bit emotional but the good kind. So we look for the car guy who is suppose to be bringing them and myself..if its okay...to the hotel. He says its okay if I go to so we start walking towards our car...nope a mini bus...for FOUR people. Anyways, it hadn't really hit me that they were in face in Spain with me. It was weird to think that, and more than that, it was like not to much had change, picked up right where we left off...only in a different country.

So we are driving on our way to the hotel and of course Dad is asking his questions...what is this...what is that...is a telepizza like a pizza hut? who's that guy? so funny...missed that so much...and my mom and I are more into the fact that we were together in Spain. After about 20 minutes we get to the hotel, on the busy popular street of Gran Via. So I help with the best Spanish we can figure things out, they add me to the room and we head on up to the 4th floor, in a family room they called it. It had to twin beds pushed together...typical in European hotels, and two bunk beds for Jon and I. We spend a little time there before we embark on exploring the city. We walk around quite a bit, through Sol, Plaza Mayor, and end up at the Royal Palace and the near by Cathedral. It was a beautiful evening and we got to the Palace in time for it to be just around sunset. the view was clear and very stunning. After this we walked around a bit more, on the failed attempt to locate the cloistered nuns who sell cookies. Eventually we found a nice restaurant with delicious tapas and wonderful Sangria...right mom? We even got Jon to try fried spanish sausage or chorizo frito, tortilla espanola...which is like an omelet with potatoes in it...and then my favorite croquettas which are like mozzarella sticks just with mushier cheese and ham. So amazing. We had a good time and then we went to a local mercado, or a store and picked up some water bottles, a 2 euro bottle of win and a bottle opener. Then darted back to the hotel to relax and eventually fall asleep. Unfortunately the hotel was really close to the road and we heard sirens, cars, garbage men (every night at 11pm) people yelling and the works. But we eventually all fell asleep.

The next day we went to the Zoo! It was a beautiful day and the family's first metro adventure. It took us a little bit of time to get there but totally worth it. The zoo was amazingly clean and had lots of animals. Jon got to see his Rhinos, and even the baby ones, i got to see my elephants and giraffes and we even got to see the newly born BABY PANDAS!!! we noticed that a lot of fancy men in suits with really expensive cameras where around so the display had to be a good one. We walk over and see the pandas and decided okay its got to be because of the pandas the baby ones so cute, and obviously rare. We were wrong. We walk past the little panda pit and see a lady with all those fancy men around here. Okay so this famous person is here because of the baby pandas if only we knew who it was. oh well no pasa nada we continue forth. come to find out it was QUEEN SOFIA of Spain! How neat!!

At the zoo we walked through all the stations, Jon participated in a Bird show and got to feed some birds which was pretty cool. I think my favorite part had to be when we went to the petting zoo section. we heard a noise and my dad thought someone was getting beatten up and my mom thought someone was getting sick. turns out a GOAT was making all the noise. It was defitniley you had to be there kind of moment but we cracked up the entire weekend about it especially because I got it on video. It was hilarious and really brought a smile to all of our faces. After this I gave my senora a call, because as I was staying with my parents in the hotel, i needed to get my things and also everyone wanted to meet each other. How interesting that was. It was nice for everyone to finally meet but it was crazy being the translator. Any would say one thing, i would translate for my parents my parents would respond and i would translate for Any. Pretty cool if I don't say so myself. But after this I gave my parents some things to take home for me and then we were off. This time by bus so they could see my commute into the city, and how ghetto it is where I live...

We chilled at the hotel again for a little bit then headed out. We walked around and got to see the city lite up at night all the tall and fancy buildings. We were on the hunt to find another place to eat, and because I don't eat out here it was a little difficult especially because Jon is a picky eatter, especially not a Spanish eatter. So we found a bar and got some more tapa like things and two Spanish pizzas, sodas, and of course...Sangria which was by far more strong than the previous day. Following this we headed back to the hotel, I had some work to do and so did JOn, and plus we wanted to head out the next day to go to Toledo.

Toledo was really wonderful. We went to the main Cathedral and checked it out, and by the amount of churches I have seen here the style and beauty doesn't phase me that much but for them it really did. After spending some time there we decided to walk around and just see what we encounter. We tried some warm hazelnuts on the streets, ice cream, and got marazepan, a typical cookie/dulce of the area and of course it was yummy. We spent a good amount of time there and then we headed back into Madrid to catch some dinner. We ended up eating in Plaza Mayor which was really cool because they were setting up for Christmas. Later we attempted to get churros con chocolate, and dispite the angry man it was an interesting adventure. But at least they can say they tried it, but now whenever you are cold you always want some Spanish hot chocolate!! As everyone was tired we regressed to the hotel but my mom and I decided to go see a flamenco show, and fast because i thought it started at 10 and when we left the apartment it was 945. I was wrong so my mom and I walked around for a little bit before we went to this show. It was the traditional kind but because we were pretty tired and it was only 10 euros and that included a free drink it was ALL worth it. we left the dance at about 1230 (and there were still more to come) and went to bed.

Sunday, the most dreaded Sunday...my last full day with my parents. Of course I tried not thinking about it, because it would mean a loss of familiarity and comfort once again, but alas it was in the back of my mind and my parents tried their best to get it out of my mind. We started off the day at the Rastro, a giant market with everything from lightbulbs to hand crafted jewelry and clothes. We had a ball and got some really cool things! We went back to the hotel and my dad and I had a nice trip back to the apartment to collect my things for school the next day because I would be staying one final night at the hotel and going to my classes from there. I'm really glad he managed to come to Spain 😊 Anywhos it after some time we met back up at the hotel and were all completely starving so we embarked on the hunt for food. We located a place by chance and enjoyed dinner. For dessert we went to an old bakery in the center of Sol, founded in 1800something and got a variety of yummy pastries to take back with us. My mom and I got...or well I got distracted...by a local store that opened and went to check it out and came out with two dresses haha...its a spanish store called Desigual...usually in Barcelona and the style is funky but I love it. Plus we got two free bags that are wicked cute!!

Back at the hotel we just kind of lounged together and talked about the weekend and how excited we are for December 5th. Words cannot even begin to describe them, even in this very moment how excited I am...really keeps me going and keeps my head up here. So we went to bed and concluded the wild and crazy adventures of the Piasecki's minus a key player Matthew, in Spain.

Monday was a day that had to come, but through the day meant a day closer to December. It was really hard to say "I'll see you later" and all the people on the metro thought I was a crazy for practically crying on the subway. But it was 10000000% worth it because it meant that my family was here with me for a weekend. And I wouldn't change that for anything and I am so incredibly thankful that they could come. So thanks mom and dad, for everything. Love you so much <3

So this is the crazy weekend of us in a nutshell. I'll hopefully be posting my blog on the shocking adventures and madness in Germany soon. This weekend is Portugal for Thursday into Friday, Cordoba on Saturday, and then Sunday night Harry Potter with some friends. And some where in between this writing papers doing work and studying for finals, and not to mention talking to my favorite people at home-Love you guys and see you in 18 that is right....18 Days <3

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