Ok, so this is an incredibly old snap from the archives, but I had a lifetime to choose from. I've adored spending time with my older sister Emily (or Em, as I will refer to her as from now) for as long as I can remember, and although I was incredibly excited for her to go on her year abroad to Madrid (cheap vacations? Yes please!) I was also really nervous. Firstly I was nervous for her, moving to a big city, teaching english and knowing a handful of people, but I was selfishly nervous for myself. Who would I call crying hysterically at three in the morning, or moan about to when mum suggested we eat goose rather than turkey at Christmas.
I was also worried she wouldn't talk to me as much. I'm incredibly needy when it comes to Em you see. So you can imagine how excited I was when I invited myself out to visit her for a long weekend. Churros and my best pal? Wonderful.
So I packed up my bag on a Sunny friday afternoon and headed for the airport, before a quick flight over to Madrid.
Unsurprisingly Em was late to pick me up, so after a couple of laps of the airport we met up and I couldn't have been more excited to see her. We caught up about her new life while I envied her new tan en route back to her pad. She lives slightly out of the city in the banking district of Charmartin, very much the Notting Hill of Madrid!
We had a quick nap (Siesta darling, it's a siesta.) Before heading out for some food. Em took me to Chueca, the Soho of Madrid, to the very-chic-and-not-at-all-market-like Mercado de San Anton. We went up the hidden staircase to be greeted by soft jazz music and plastic pigs onto La Teraza, and with a cocktail in hand, took in the view and the last couple of months of each others lives.
Then with a grumble in our tummies, it was time for dinner. Em took me to her favourite Madrid discovery, El Tigre. It's traditionally charming and full of tourists and Spaniards alike who've all discovered there secret. You pay six euros for a litre of beer or cocktail, and it comes with a pile of food. Granted it may be carb central, but that was fine by us.
We finished the evening at a quite wine bar around the corner, and with a vino or three in hand, chatted and joked as if no time at all had passed. Before too long I was most definitely ready for a sleep, with a big day of sightseeing ahead.
We were up not so early and with slightly fragile heads Em decided we go for Churros. It had been on my to do list and even with a slightly swollen head and alcohol fuelled stomach, I could still squeeze a Churros and chocolate in. Don't ask me what they are, I have no idea. I just know that sugar and cinnamon coated, dipped in chocolate and washed down with an orange juice, they're heaven in a breakfast. And they set us up perfectly for a day of sightseeing.
We went into Sol, the centre of Madrid for a wander around the palace, street art, Christmas decorations, and a tinto de verano. Oh and a snap by a fountain. That was on my list too. Don't be deceived by the sun. It was actually about 5 degrees.
Then Em took me to another market-that's-too-chic-to-be-a-market, El mercado de San Miguel. Another fabulous saint who saw the need for fabulous cocktails and incredible seafood. I could happily have spent all day here, but there was food to eat and plenty more to see
Met this little cutie while we were there!
We settled down for some tapas, and being the Spanish gals that we secretly are, ordered Octopus, Anchovies and Squid.
We again headed home for a nap in preparation for a big evening. We met up with a bunch of Em's friends from school, who are also on years abroad and I realised just how different her life is now. She's so blessed to be meeting so many incredible and diverse people and we had the best time hopping from bar to bar around the centre. I didn't take a single picture but can tell you Tupperware is most definitely one to watch. It also gave me my first beer, so it's destined to forever hold a place in my heart!
The following morning we headed to the flea market in Callao, which was laden with stall upon stall, selling everything from fur coats to knives and forks and back again. It's only on on a Sunday, and sees hoards of people come every weekend. Almost the first stall I saw I fell in love with a metallic, floral print silk scarf and nothing after that compared. We went back later and Em bought it for me, it's hanging in front of me now as I type and I couldn't think of a gift I love more.
We then spent the rest of the afternoon in Retiro park, one of Em's favourites. It also jogged my memory from a trip my whole family took almost ten years ago of an ice cream and wander, and it is just absolutely beautiful. For as much as I adore Hyde Park, it has nothing on this.
We headed home early evening for our Siesta before popping out for a final goodbye dinner. I left early the following morning as Em went to school. As was predictable from such an incredible trip, I was devastated to be leaving and already planning my return. Seeing Em living abroad makes me realise how far we've come together. We are worlds away from the little girls in matching outfits playing schools and kitchens and painting on the garden wall. I couldn't be more proud of her though and knowing that I'll have her back in less than a month will truly keep me going!
Anyone who has siblings, younger or older will appreciate this, but this really is Em and I!
