Calle Mayor

Watching the people walk by during a break in training.

Residency

Last week, we received the great news that our residency had been approved for the next two years!  However, we also learned that we needed to get to Malaga before March 3 to finish up a few things for our new residency cards.  So, most of us headed down there on Tuesday (the Harmons will go next week as they're still awaiting word on Sam's residency).

We allowed for some extra time because we didn't know what the lines were going to look like.  Turns out there wasn't much of a line anywhere we went, so everything moved really quickly and smoothly.  As you could guess, we were pretty happy about that because it gave us some time to relax a little before coming back to Madrid on Wednesday.  The next and final step is returning to Malaga in forty days to pick up our cards.  

Last year's residency card photo on the left.  This year's on the right.
I may have possibly been a little less shell shocked this time :).

Downtown

Nikki is deep in thoughtful contemplation...

Erin inspecting the beach.  I think it passed...

Dramatic dark clouds that helped us decide to return to our hotel.

Sunset

Irritating thing of the day:

When you know that you know a word that you really want to use, you have utilized it many times in previous conversations, and you can see a glimpse of it right there on the shelf of your mind - almost within your grasp - but you 

just. 

cannot. 

reach. 

it.

Chinese New Year in Madrid

The weather was beautiful yesterday, so I decided to go for a nice little Sunday afternoon walk.  I was headed toward Templo de Debod because you can see the horizon and I like to sit and read up there sometimes.  I typically pass through Plaza de España on the way because it's the fastest route and there's a good Chinese restaurant there in case I need a snack or decide to have a picnic.

So, I arrived at Plaza de España and discover that there is a Chinese New Year festival taking place.  Of course I have to check this kind of stuff out and ended up inviting my roommates to hike down there since there was a selection of great looking food available for pretty cheap :).  So I hung out and watched the dragon dancers while I waited for them.  We acquired snacks and had a little picnic on the grass.  Pretty nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon in January if you ask me.

Cute little kiddos playing a big drum.

"Happy Chinese New Year"

You don't see a dragon running around Plaza de España too often.

They weren't apparently concerned about possible litigation, because they
would just charge through the crowd and everyone would scatter!
I stayed close to the fence :).

A sample pack of various delicious Chinese dumplings!

Erin and I taking pictures of our snacks, picture courtesy of Nikki :)

Nikki and Erin taking pictures of the dragon.

One Year

One year ago today, six of us walked off the plane at Terminal 4 of Madrid-Barajas International Airport.  We got the visas in our passports stamped at Immigration/Customs, then collected our mountains of luggage.  Ryan and Jenee were kind enough to meet us at the airport, help us get our bags stuffed into taxis, and we rode into the city.  I remember getting somewhat settled into temporary housing, then meeting Jenee for lunch.  The rest of the day is kind of a blur.  I think there was some exploring, grocery shopping, and purchases of hair dryers in there, but jetlag has a way of scrambling your brain, you know?

And so began the process of trying to figure out how to live and do ministry in Madrid.

It's certainly been a strange year.

Navidad Lights & Roasted Chestnuts

I've received a few requests for pictures of the Christmas (Navidad) lights here in Madrid.  And I finally got an opportunity to take those yesterday when Erin and Nikki suggested going for a walk to see them.  We also figured we would try chestnuts roasted on an open fire since we've spent years singing about them and all :).

The lights in our neighborhood, Malasaña

In Plaza de Chueca

In Chueca

On Calle de Grand Via

The tree in Puerta del Sol

You can also walk inside the tree, neatly enough :).

There are lots of people in Madrid right now...

Chestnuts being roasted on an open fire!

Roasted chestnuts (castañas asadas)

Then you peel the shell of, which is real fun, and eat this part!
It has kind of a popcorn-ish flavor,
and this picture is kind of blurry, sorry about that :).

A real tree at Callao

We finished our light tour after this plaza, whose name I can't recall.

It was quite lovely to tromp around town with the gals and experience trying roasted chestnuts.  It's started to get colder in Madrid now, which is we realize is still nothing compared to the temperatures in Nebraska.  But, apparently our bodies have adjusted to the climate here, so I guess there's something to be said for that? :)