Madrid - Introducing the Tenacious Trio

One of these things is not like the other ones…

The Players: 2 Breses and a spare ginger

Larissa Brese

My constant companion at all times for my traveling adventures this time around.  We went to the same high school, but didn’t really become friends until my last year of university.  I don’t know why on earth we waited so long!  Loves dancing - anytime, any place – and trying the local libations of choice, and can fall asleep faster than anyone on the planet.  Seriously, what’s your record?  Because you won’t beat her.  My measurements are quite scientific as the moment she falls asleep is marked by the kick-off of her nocturnal symphony.  I am incredibly jealous of Larissa’s skills in the art of slumber.  Like me, Larissa has a degree in psych, but her minor is in art history, which makes her a fountain of knowledge in many of the museums we go to.  My minor (classical studies) doesn’t seem to be bringing much to the table, although I am pretty excellent at picking out good resting points.  In addition, this tall blonde beauty is supremely photogenic! 

Steven Brese

Larissa’s older and only brother is perhaps the most curious person I have ever met and also the friendliest, second only to Fargey.  This Curious George is excellent to travel with as he will ask all the questions you were wondering about but are too lazy/shy/tired to ask yourself.  Steven appeared in Madrid to meet us bearing a bounty of gifts- mostly food, which is my favourite kind of surprise.  Knowing of my dislike for seafood, he had also prepared for me a list of Spanish words for different things to avoid on menus.  Steven would have had a very successful career as a 15^th century cartographer exploring the New World.  He very handily steered us through the streets of Madrid and, by the end of our week there, could direct you from any point in the city to the Museo de Jamon (translation: The Ham Museum) with his eyes closed.  At any given time, we had at least 27 different maps on the go between the three of us, each marked with a different piece of critical information, but Stevie kept us straight.  However, our Magellan is not the best at time estimates...  I experienced some of the longest 5 minutes of my life in Madrid, mostly while hoofing it up steep hills.

Allie Pellatt

While lacking the tallness and blondness of the Brese duo, I have learned that I am able to subsist for extended periods of time on very little food.  First in Paris, experiencing the effects of jet lag on my appetite, and then in Madrid, as my body went into a full scale rebellion against life.  Normally, I have quite a healthy appetite and, in particular, am very fond of snacking.  I hate to stand still and will ferret out any available place to sit in museums, cathedrals and metros.  I also tend to avoid the sun’s poisonous rays like they are lasers beams and, as a result, have skin that borders on fluorescence.  I hear everything bump in the night and have probably slept half as many cumulative hours in my life as most people my age.