Living the Good Life

Here in Spain the holidays are just coming to an end. I can't complain with this extra time we are getting off! The reason their holidays last much longer than ours in the States (school is just starting up today!) is because on January 6 they celebrate Los Reyes. Although Santa Clause is becoming more and more popular, the kids really go wild for Los Reyes Magos, or as we know them, Three Wiseman.

And since the majority of Spaniards live in apartments, their beliefs of how Santa Clause (or Los Reyes) enter is much different. Instead of coming down the chimney, they must climb up the balcony. Which is why these holiday decorations can be seen throughout the city. I can't help but laugh a little everytime I see it. :)

The night of January 5 was Cabalgata de Reyes, which translates to the Procession of the Kings. There was a huge parade throughout the city filled with floats, fireworks, and the presenting of the 3 kings. The plazas and streets were packed with people. It was quite a spectacular parade that seemed to have every child in the city in attendance. Children were sitting on their parents shoulder's to get a good view and some parents even brought ladders so their kids could get a good view! haha

This past weekend Maggie's friend was visiting from Kansas, so we decided to take a little day trip out of the city. We decided to show him Toledo, which is a town in Castilla La Mancha. It is only a 45 minute bus ride south of Madrid, making it the perfect outing! It was nice to get out of the city for a while. We enjoyed a delicious Spanish lunch consisting of paella, lentejas and flan. Which was then followed by roaming the quiant, cobblestone streets. This was my second time visiting Toledo and I enjoyed it just as much as the first.

And I couldn't ask for a better way to end the break- Johnny will be landing in Madrid in only 2.5 hours!! I can't wait to show him my life here in Spain and introduce him to such a wonderful country!