Chicken Fingers, Biscuits, and Bath time

Home sweet home, back in our hotel after another day of adventures. Mom and I woke up this morning to go wash clothes which we hadn't gotten around to until today. We were desperate for some clean clothes. I wish someone would have let us borrow their hanging line so we could dry our clothes because that laundromat deal is not as cheap as you would think! To say the least, Mom and I were scrounging for Euro coins all morning. Hallelujah for some clean clothes though..my wardrobe was getting more creative by the day. (We both secretly love washing clothes so don't feel too sorry for us).
After a few hours of the domestic life, we headed to take a tour of the Royal Palace. This is where the Spanish monarchy have lived for hundreds of years. We did an audio tour which was really helpful and keeps me accountable for staying for the whole tour (I tend to get a little bored). But it totally wasn't boring! Yippie! The tour took us through lots of the extravagent palace rooms that are still used today by the Spanish king and queen.
Today was another one of those "process of elimination" kind of days for the food. Mom thought she would take easy route and get some "chicken fingers" at lunch. These were not normal chicken fingers, people. The breading on them tasted either like a corn dog or seafood...we still haven't decided yet. But she was so excited when she saw some "honey mustard" on the side of her plate. She was the opposite of pleasantly surprised when she took a big dip of it and found that it was melted blue cheese that tasted like it had been aging since about 3 BC. Mom always looks at life on the bright side though. She still had hope in her "creme puffs." She has named her favorite creme-filled croissant the "creme puff" and is hooked on it. So after walking around town this afternoon, she picked up 2 little baby "creme puffs" and brought them back to our room. She propped herself up in the bed and got so excited to eat the only food that she has liked so far today. Another sad surprise...they turned out to not be puffs, but instead, something like hard, rocklike biscuits. I discovered the hardness of these biscuit things when she chunked one against the wall out of sheer panic and frustration.
Now she is trying to relieve the stress. Mom just informed me that she was going to soak in the "bath tub." (She is a bathtub freak for those of you who don't know). Last time I checked, we did not have a bath tub in our bathroom. Oh wait, she must have meant to tell me that she was planning on laying down a towel on the shower floor, wearing a shower cap, and letting the water run on her head for 20 minutes. Heaven forbid she has to stay here another few weeks. She is so desperate for a bath tub and a nail salon. She keeps on informing me that she is gonna "hit up the Nail World first thing" upon returning to the states.
We wouldn't trade these adventures for anything though. We bought the movie, "Under the Tuscan Sun" so we can watch it in our bed tonight. We're really hopeful that we will be able to change it to English.
I tried to capture a few pictures of some unique things in Madrid that will let you see some character as well as give you a good laugh!

You would think that it's 19 degrees here with this attire

Here I am in my ragamuffin attire, desperate for some clean clothes

My favorite spot. The mailbox where I send out my postcards!!! Yay.

Our fave, Mercado de San Miguel

Very typical hairstyle for little girls here--straight across bangs. So cute!

The hair color of choice for women over 50--magenta. This is not a joke. Mom calls her "Mrs. Doubtfire with red hair"

El Palacio Real, "The Royal Palace"

View from the Palace

These are for you, Nat Nat!

More treats!

The dress I am considering purchasing

Where the best "churros con chocolate" come from. We found this with the suggestion from Señora Chynoweth...what up Chenny!!!

Mom wanted me to document this contraption of a hair dryer in a hair salon

Fresh fruit in the market

Little girl being trained at a young age---wearing her skinny jeans and heels! And matching umbrella, of course!

Mom's favorite olives

So typical of Spain. Fresh ham anyone?

Oh gosh, here they go again with the tiny ketchup dilemma. There must be a scarcity in Europe or something

This picture is from Siena, Italy but it is what we wish we could have borrowed for drying our clothes this morning. I want to line-dry my clothes one day.

It's movie time, adios folks!