Happy (late) Easter from Madrid! After an action-packed Semana Santa in Bordeaux, I am inching back into normal routine. We came back to a Professional Development day at school (teacher-talk for a day with no kids in the building, when you can actually get work done in what I assume imitates a normal adult environment?). PD days are a really nice to get back to the work routine. Today, I am writing report card comments for my students and drinking copious amounts of free coffee.
Yesterday I celebrated Easter by eating vegan food and drinking detoxifying hot lemon waters (spring break in the South of France involved unsurprising, but copious, amounts of wine and red meat).
The Best Things About Easter: Activity List
First, I went for a run in the park and looked at the Cuestas de Moyano, a row of book stalls lined up outside the south entrance to Retiro (see photo from of alamy.com). Then, I took an Easter walk down Calle Atocha. (Okay, really, I was going to the grocery store, but I went in a very relaxed, slow-walking way. In the evening, I video-chatted with almost my whole family, always an accomplishment as they are spread out over 3 states and 2 time zones. I appreciated the European daylight savings time, which marks the return of the 10 PM sunset in Spain.
I missed the copious chocolate and English-language church services that mark my Easter celebrations in the states. However, I felt like the important aspects of the holiday were still observed. It felt like spring, and a new beginning. I got to talk with my family. I took an opportunity to slow down and be grateful. Also, I took time to plot out the olive oil products I will use to mark the end of Lent.
I searched for fat Easter bunnies and funny Peeps dioramas on google images. And I was in bed by 9:30 PM : )
Thanks to Annie Spratt for the banner photo