Rioja and Chocolate Cake.

Thursday night turned out to be quite fun. We went out way too 'touristy' early but managed to pick our way through the narrow complicated streets finding busy tapas bars filled with locals and stay out way too late. The beauty of tapas hopping is looking for places loaded with noisy atmosphere, people drinking, eating and generally a futbal game on TV. We must have hit 6 or 7....I think....   You get a drink, tapa, throw your trash on the floor, P and move on. (I love this country!). When you order a drink beer or wine the bring you a complimentary nosh of tapas - every time!  We basically ate for free. Beer and wine are about $3/ glass and both are incredible. We wound up talking to a local couple for several hours. Well, kinda talking. We all did alot of pointing, nodding and trying to interpret what one another was saying. It was a lot of fun!  And it started all over a giant leg of pig harnessed in the carving contraption with the hoof still on.
We did not get moving till almost 11 am today. It was catch upon the sleep time. We made our way to the Prado museum. A giant fortress built in the early 1500's housing some of the worlds most rare art collection. A lot of Renaissance artists, religious themes, boobs everywhere and somewhat disturbing themes too. But that's art I suppose. I can't even draw anything recognizable when playing pictionary so what do I know!  Wound our way to the Plaza Mayor fir some lunch (ham, calamari and manchego) beer and wine. Then walked back to the hotel stopping a few times for more cervesa Rioja and eventually some chocolate cake.
Took a 4 hour siesta and now we are attempting to get ourselves together for the evening. It's about 9 pm now.
Jud has requested a 'meal' style sit down dinner. Not easy to find - and finding anything 'green' is nearly impossible. We did get a serving of broad beens with ham as one of our complimentary tapas (yuk) Jud ate them all!!  I think he's had enough ham, standing up to eat and missing veggies. I of course will happily graze my way through this entire vacation!
Till tomorrow - TTFN!  

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