Crazy late

Ok, I can’t say that people didn’t warn me about how late people in Spain stay up but I was not prepared for how different the schedule is here. When we were traveling in Galicia, we once had to run around frantically from one mythical restaurant to another that Google Maps claimed to be open at 7pm. But every place we went had the same answer, come back at 9pm when dinner service begins! 9 pm! What kind of craziness is that?

Well now that we are in our own place in Madrid, it’s slightly better because we can prepare our own meals and get the kids to bed at a reasonable time. But most places are still closed from 4pm to 8:30pm for siesta and then open up for dinner at around the time I’m usually ready to pull on my pj bottoms and plop on the couch with a glass of vino tinto.

Tonight we are going to a professor’s house for dinner. He was a Masters student at SFSU and wanted to welcome us and reminisce about the Bay Area. Mind you, it’s a Tuesday night. The kids have school tomorrow and everyone has to work in the morning. The time he wants us to arrive at his house? 8pm! Is this thing going to end before midnight? Well we are going to be troopers and do as the madrilenos do!

Also the kids started their extracurricular activities today. Here’s Kaia with her best buddy in their ballet outfits. I will say that to wonderful that the kids have their activities in the middle of the day! Jett made a buddy too and they pelted each other with acorns in Retiro Park this weekend. Those suckers hurt!