TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25
Christmas morning had the sound of one shared hangover; it was eerily quiet until 11am.
CHRISTMAS DINNER
We cooked the roast and stuffed the shells with mushrooms and leek. Chloe mashed potatoes and we steamed green beans. At 2:30, we sat down to eat. A success!
INTO THE CITY WE GO
Tummies full to the brim, we pulled ourselves together and headed into Madrid to see the lights, visit a church (for Hazel), and maybe ice skate.
The train was packed and when we arrived in Madrid the crowds were overwhelming, and festive, lots of Santa caps, and some Santa suits.
LIGHTS FROM THE BUS
We walked from the station along Paseo de Prado, passing the statue of Neptune lit with white lights, the Botanical Garden, and the Prado on our way to a bus tour, the best way to see the lights.
Outside on top of the bus, I sat alone and Chloe and Hazel together. I missed being beside Chloe, not sure how much I like sharing her…. Still, it was nice sitting alone. A family of three generations sat around us and they were all so excited. The mother kept repeating “Navidad in Madrid,” probably for a video on her phone.
So many colorful lights passed overhead. Each street had a different theme or design: blue and white globes, lights painting the flags of the world; the earth growing larger and then smaller as you moved along; purple lights with a cat jumping around. We wove through the streets of designer stores, and fine, grand Madrid buildings, the balconies also decorated with lights. The streets and sidewalks below overflowed with people. The architecture in combination with the broad boulevards and fountains, everything about Madrid and the moment, was breathtaking.
CHURCH AND CHOCOLATE AND PLAZA DEL SOL
After the tour, we headed to San Francisco El Grande, but I messed up the directions so instead we popped into a Church on Calle de Jesus. Next, we walked along Calle de Cervantes, past his home (so amazing to walk the streets of history and literature). Like so many others, we were moving toward Plaza del Sol. We stopped, on our way, for a little pick-me-up of churros dipped in chocolate.
Plaza del Sol was humming with families, buskers, carollers and performers. The shops were closed; on this day, people simply came to gather. What a perfect Christmas.
