Familia!

Family is here to visit! Mother, Father, Brother, Brother. Matthew got here Saturday morning, so while we waited for everyone else, I took him to the giant park near where I live, and then we walked around his hotel which is pretty close to the center of the city so there were lots of people milling around that we could watch. That same day was the Real Madrid vs. Barcelona soccer game, so around 9 we went to a bar to watch it. Around that same time is when everyone else got to the area and joined us in the bar. One of the things I had wanted to make sure to do was watch a soccer game in a bar and it was nice to get to do that with my family! On Sunday we went to el Rastro which is a big flea market type place, and then just walked around the city. I showed them my school (of which they got to see the front door) and where I live (of which they got to see the courtyard haha). For dinner we ate at a place called Cien Montaditos where they have 100 kinds of sandwiches priced from 1 to 2 euros each...you get three or four for a meal. Monday, we rode bikes all over the place. From the hotel to the park, through and around the park, over to el Museo del Prado, and then to a gondola place and back to the hotel. We were out all day and it was very tiring, but still fun! For a lot of it we were riding on the sidewalks amongst millions of people walking which was interesting - frustrating at times, but I thought it was kind of fun at the same time. I also learned a very important lesson today! Never ever ever ever ever let your guard down other wise the pickpockets will get you. I thought it would be fine to have my bag slung around behind me since I was on a bike, but I didn't think about what would happen if I was stopped at a light waiting to cross the street. We were standing there waiting when these two ladies came up with a giant map (trying to look like tourists? maybe to hide their hands?).....I kind of felt something, but I didn't think anything of it until I started riding and my bag was hitting me weirdly...I thought maybe I had dropped something, but I soon noticed that my wallet was gone and that the two ladies had it. I yelled that they had my wallet which I think caused one of them to go back the way she came, and the other one to briefly drop it. She picked it up and was looking through it as my dad went up to her and took it back. Then the lady tried to blame it on some other guy who was walking...Suuuper crazy, but luckily it all turned out ok...she didn't get a chance to take anything! But from now on, I will be much more careful for sure.