Hoosier State of Mind

I recently moved from the land of Oz to the Hoosier state.  I will begin blogging again, but I'm not making any promises on the regularity of the posts :)  I'll chronicle my life as a first-time apartment dweller and new Indiana resident.  Well, that might not be official, yet, as I still have a Kansas driver's license.  


Fun Hoosier Fact: They call it a BMV instead of a DMV because it is a Bureau, not a department.  Also, I have suffered my first kitchen injury.  It's really my own fault for buying such sharp, serrated knives.  Well, that, and the fact that I was cutting cherry tomatoes mid-air instead of on a cutting board with a steak knife.  I guess I won't treat those as paring knives in the future.  I'll probably cut on a flat surface, too, just to be on the safe side.  My mom would be so proud!


If you want to see pics of the new apartment, click here.


There's no place like home!
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Spain 6: Last Spanish Update

#42 Start a day with churros with San Gines

Que delicioso!

Yum!

#68 See the Plaza of Neptune

This is where Atletico de Madrid celebrates all their wins

#24 Enjoy the art at the Prado

I really enjoyed having a personal tour guide!

#17 Eat a calamari sandwich in the Plaza Mayor

Delish

We love crossing things off the list!

#20 Eat patatas bravas in Las Bravas.  Ok, this was at the Plaza Mayor, but Di says these are better than the ones in Las Bravas, so I'll take a half point.

#9 See the Cibeles Fountain

This is where Real Madrid celebrates all their wins!

#4 See the Crystal Palace

#3 See the sculpture of the fallen angel

So dramatic..

#22 See the sunset at Templo de Debod

Gorgeous

So random to have Egyptian ruins, but so pretty

#99 Search for the best mojito in Madrid

We found the best one at this random, 1950's American diner -looking restaurant.

#93 Wander through Plaza 2 de Mayo

#92 Have a botellon in Plaza de Espana

Well, we were in Plaza 2 de Mayo and there weren't very many people around, but we did the most important part of the botellon: buy bad Spanish beer from a random woman selling it from her purse.  Yum.  This was only a half point.

Di and I with our bad beer.

This concludes the list!  There are few that I did, but no pictures.  It was a crazy, fun week and I can't wait to do #101:  Do it all over again.  With friends.

Until next time,

Spain 5: Un dia en Toledo

Who knew you had to wait in line to get tickets..boo

Since we had time to waste because we missed the train we meant to be on, we were able to cross some items off the list...

While trying to find the train memorial, we stumbled upon these lovelies...

#2: See the Memorial to March 11

Inside the circle is a big plastic column with words in all different languages.

#1:  See the gardens at Atocha

This one took a little searching, but we finally found it.

Friend Di with the gardens.

TOLEDO!

We love the Man of La Mancha!

Getting us lost...

Gorgeous architecture...this really doesn't even capture it.

Awesome cloisters

I swear, I don't look for inappropriate things, they find me.

Until next time,

Spain 4

Paella isn't on the list, but how can you not eat some??

Hola Paella!

Adios Paella...

#67: See the Goya frescoes in the Hermitage of San Antonio de la Florida

Photos weren't allowed.  Clearly, I don't follow rules well!

#64: Try the grilled chicken at Casa Mingo

I literally don't know why you would even try anything else here.  Sorry I'm a terrible tourist and didn't get a picture of the actual chicken and hard cider.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it...

#28: See the Guernica at the Reina Sofia.

Please click here to read about this amazing painting.

#46: Visit the Thyssen

#66: Roar with the lions in front of the Congreso de los Disputados

Once an ADPi, always an ADPi <>

#99: Enjoy the graffiti

#91: Meet an old friend for coffee

I mean, wasn't this whole trip about meeting an old friend??  Di doesn't like coffee, so I had coffee with a new friend, Laura!

Cafe con Leche...yum!

#35: Listen to jazz at Cafe Central

Ok, so we went during the day and there was no jazz.  I counted it as a half point.

#21:  See the Don Quijote and Sancho Panza statue in the Plaza de Espana

#15: Eat a sweet treat at La Mallorquina

Chocolate Napoleon 

#10: Climb to the roof of the Circulo de Bellas Artes

#41: Eat Indian food in Lavapies

Surprisingly lacking in spice, but still delish.

Numbers 28, 46, 66, 99, 91, 35, 21, 15, 10, and 41 were all done in one day. Plus a few sites that weren't on the list...

Until next time,

Spain 3

#30 Walk on Kilometer 0


This is where they calculate all distances from.  It is in the Plaza de Sol, which is a huge meeting point for Madrilenos.

Yep, that's my foot on kilometer 0

Sol

#42 Start a day with Churros at San Gines.

If you don't know what Churros are, they are these delightful deep fried batter sticks that you dip in sugar and/or drinking chocolate.  And they. are. DELICIOUS.

Di, super excited about San Gines

I'm telling you: go to Madrid just to have these.  WORTH IT.

It might look unassuming, but it is amazing.

This was not on the list, but I wanted a piece of Spanish pottery and this one was in my guidebook.  It was an adorable mom and pop shop that was literally filled to the brim with pottery.

#40 Wander up Gran Via

Gran Via is a great shopping street that also has several theaters.  The best part of it is the architecture of the buildings.

Us on Gran Via

The awesome buildings on Gran Via.  Di could tell you way more about them than I can.

#44 See the cupula of the Metropolis building

Until next time...