Madrid Rio!

Wonderful Morning walking along the rio. Madrid started a project in 2008 to make an old highway that ran along the Madrid Rio into a huge and majestic park and luckily for us it was completed in 2010. They moved the highway underground which I don't know when that was accomplished, but what a project. And it is much used and appreciated by the people of Madrid.

Gardens by the oldest bridge in Madrid.

View from below the Palacio Real.

Walking across the pedestrian only bridge there were many

along the walk.

Huge Slide Park and So Much Fun!

Mommy and Tyson

Daddy and Tyson(Kaleb was busy on the big tunnel

slides so we don't have any pictures of him on the slides)

Principe Pio

We walked to our first shopping mall in the city it is set up in an old train station, but also attached to a modern train station. It was very big and would compete with Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois. It is huge. On our walk we passed this Arch the second of two that are left in the city. They are so beautiful and have so much detail.

Modern train station attached to the Mall. Like many of my pictures this does not do the architecture justice.

They had an art center set up for children so the boys enjoyed some time being creative.

As you can see in the background the beautiful architecture and that is the inside of the Mall.

Outside eating a snack and feeding the Pigeons. We are definitely cutting down on restaurant eating and buying snacks while we are out they are just so expensive with the exchange rate from dollars to Euros. So we have to think ahead and bring snacks with us more often.

Palacio Real

Apartamento #30

We are all settled in our Apartment now and finally have home internet we have been using Erich's phone for everything and I have to say I have gotten use to having Internet so it was hard to not have it for 2 weeks. So I am now putting some pictures of our apartment up. If you will notice we don't have an oven in the kitchen, there is no bath tub only shower. The boys are loving taking a shower hopefully that lasts. I couldn't believe how many apartments here don't have ovens. We are looking into getting a toaster oven since they have pretty decent sized ones here, but it does limit the baking to the stove top for now. We are still eating well, but I have to say I would not be doing much baking anyway since a lot of ingredients for my receipts you can not find here. I don't know if it was even worth bringing them. I am just going to have to learn new ones. Erich has been helping convert everything to Metric and that is interesting and I am also learning to sway a little bit from precise measurements since I haven't been able to find measuring spoons anywhere. We did learn a little trick here since you can't find Sour Cream. We buy Greek Yogurt and add a little lemon juice. It is not exactly the same but pretty close. We are looking for new snacks for the boys and you don't realize how much you rely on those pretzels and fruit snacks until you can't find any. There are still things that we are trying to get worked out, but we are having fun figuring those things out as a family. A sister in the ward gave me a boxed cake since Tyson's birthday is coming up. She gets them on-line since you can't find them here and now I just have to figure out how to make a cake on a stove top. My mom tells me it is possible so here is hoping. Here's some pictures, pretty self explanatory.

The View from our Kitchen window!

Look at those beautiful Palms!

The boys eating a Nutella sandwhich. We have been living off these since peanut butter is like $7 for a 12oz bottle and nutella is only $1.75. Plus the boys love them. Who wouldn't

We Are Here! Finally!

Plaza de Espana

Sitting by the fountain at Puerta del Sol

Eating Churros and Hot Chocolate for Breakfast at a cafe on Gran Via

Beautiful Archway

Plaza Mayor

Puerta del Sol

There are headless street vendors all around the city. Kaleb thought it was hilarious, but Tyson was pretty timid and would not even go near her when she peaked out of the dress to show him her face.

Tyson was totally cheesing it up in this picture.

One of the two old archways that are left in the city.

Parque de Retiro

The trains here are wonderful and very Clean. Which is nice since we have no car here and must walk or take the train.

Beautiful square by the train stop.

View of the Palace Real from Parque de Montana. Which is a huge park very close to our apartment.

Templo de Debod (Egyptian Temple)

We are excited to be here in Madrid and are grateful that all the crazy paper work to get visas is over. I can't believe the amount of information you need and the time it takes to get it. We have been here about a week and a half and are slowly exploring the city. Erich started school the day we got here and I have been reserved to explore the city on my own yet. Luckily we have a close park by our temporary apartment so the boys and I can venture outside.

Church was also an adventure with out understanding Spanish. Kaleb did wonderfully going to Primary, but Tyson was pretty anxious about Nursery. Plus all the ladies were giving him lots of kisses and saying he was so cute. I think he was a little overwhelmed. So he spent time with me in Sunday School and Relief Society.

We think we have found the apartment we are going to rent and are planning on signing the contract on Monday. Things are much more laid back here in regards to time tables so we will have to learn to be more patient. Stores are open from 10-2 and 5-9 so that people can take Siesta. Believe me people enjoy that time. The apartment we found is on the street very close to Erich's School so it will be nice for him to walk such a short distance to school.

We are in the city again, but even closer to Madrid's Downtown or what they call Old Madrid. It is only a mile walk and so much to see and explore. We have gone to Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Templo de Debod(Egyptian Temple), Plaza de Espana, Parque Retiro, and walked along Gran Via and enjoyed all the shopping.

Grocery shopping is interesting , but not too bad. The boys are getting used to box milked and I was shocked to see that the eggs are not refrigerated. Anything American seems to be expensive, but I suppose that is to be expected. To get a meal at say Burger King would cost $10. I just can't bring my self to pay that for fast food. This morning we tried a traditional treat for breakfast which is Churros and Hot Chocolate. It was delicious.

I am hoping to keep my post going while we are here in Spain so that I have a good journal of our time here. Hope you enjoy some of our Pictures.