tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63310622493898983792024-02-21T01:10:14.225-07:00A Jolly HolidayThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-36055892584537703782011-06-19T07:29:00.001-06:002011-06-19T07:31:42.311-06:00New Blog<div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-family: times new roman;">With a new family comes a new blog!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.ajollyholiday.wordpress.com">www.ajollyholiday.wordpress.com</a><br /></span></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-20484042214146503362010-06-12T15:42:00.008-06:002010-06-26T15:25:19.245-06:00Epic<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For me it began in </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUwDIn7TL_Y"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">1998 </span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">on the east side of Westridge Elementary. For us it began in </span><a href="http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/21306839/detail.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">October 2009</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, in the Welch section of the Harold B. Lee Library. Only something as big as an </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">engagement </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">would induce me to start blogging again. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntZtMTnl656Sb_XBZV4iVSx5GHEHEVtn2iYlbdktPMELVpv1pQtaCLhL4v9cf3wNJ89shALN-ceGsNe1OtH6Ah4UKRnZbT_1WSZBMam4VreDen1rOVb5cRjviYFPrA0y61vfh4o809pg0/s1600/photobooth.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 73px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjntZtMTnl656Sb_XBZV4iVSx5GHEHEVtn2iYlbdktPMELVpv1pQtaCLhL4v9cf3wNJ89shALN-ceGsNe1OtH6Ah4UKRnZbT_1WSZBMam4VreDen1rOVb5cRjviYFPrA0y61vfh4o809pg0/s320/photobooth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487196209641330466" border="0" /></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Stay tuned for incredible details!</span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-43693283182047265212010-03-02T22:47:00.003-07:002010-03-02T23:01:09.580-07:00Off to a Tea Party!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7rXKnZJ96m2iy2TV5-zQLWLgU-kR4wOqo_9SplnUYo7HmaUEXQ_SgksB24krGTtnaNfHTRJ15f0lFsZ-bZ1rZPkKW5cYtCbKqlaAawboapHWiIum-PrKlOWuKcYrj62d9gev5z_56jMM/s1600-h/alice2m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 197px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF7rXKnZJ96m2iy2TV5-zQLWLgU-kR4wOqo_9SplnUYo7HmaUEXQ_SgksB24krGTtnaNfHTRJ15f0lFsZ-bZ1rZPkKW5cYtCbKqlaAawboapHWiIum-PrKlOWuKcYrj62d9gev5z_56jMM/s320/alice2m.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444283624904405826" /></a><br /><br /><br />Watch <a href="http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi9503769/">This!</a>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-72374779572614608202010-02-17T00:45:00.002-07:002010-02-17T00:46:39.135-07:00Nautical Trends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8gPl3WjFhRkOcpJ0aKSFlxujqJkSRbIyqYc8PgRK5LClKIuTx1FmpIbrWD2I_BVKBIb98jro2rjr9mftrYkFO5CPggYL7_p3fANL1LXrn_9Vz-hY4xWkntlBUj9tYA40O2ZXw5LBjMJt/s1600-h/sailor.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8gPl3WjFhRkOcpJ0aKSFlxujqJkSRbIyqYc8PgRK5LClKIuTx1FmpIbrWD2I_BVKBIb98jro2rjr9mftrYkFO5CPggYL7_p3fANL1LXrn_9Vz-hY4xWkntlBUj9tYA40O2ZXw5LBjMJt/s320/sailor.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439115619669162386" /></a>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-35806658879710331772010-01-09T17:02:00.001-07:002010-01-09T17:04:45.795-07:00Zootalo!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplbU5BM7tuWge_REUH8AqFVjlX9eArv0fhrrDQ7v1K-UF0fNpEYfAZVwja9iYAtrEb1jbYE-H19nKNGtHkCzK8FGaB8XsUAjESXnzIwsLPcRWabjUfK_YS_zp-I5CsjAHM_45X9jmEzRt/s1600-h/inblue.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 186px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgplbU5BM7tuWge_REUH8AqFVjlX9eArv0fhrrDQ7v1K-UF0fNpEYfAZVwja9iYAtrEb1jbYE-H19nKNGtHkCzK8FGaB8XsUAjESXnzIwsLPcRWabjUfK_YS_zp-I5CsjAHM_45X9jmEzRt/s400/inblue.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424894935072745074" border="0" /></a><br />I am in a blue phase at the moment and this might be one reason why.<br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-74972686961482641942009-11-18T18:57:00.003-07:002009-11-18T19:02:49.229-07:00Help!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh88saLniWJGr97PT8PpkZ6YYWQGEgCjptZC8Z0tVPcY9NPCSs3zzVwpkAzMjNPNxhVuS8ywNy5R8T74ybZ97F4eoZRHXK3k86ZVSeLtrJw4FzlLrM7C9SghR1bnQ7I0oU_VX8XNlOb3oA/s1600/42-21621167.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh88saLniWJGr97PT8PpkZ6YYWQGEgCjptZC8Z0tVPcY9NPCSs3zzVwpkAzMjNPNxhVuS8ywNy5R8T74ybZ97F4eoZRHXK3k86ZVSeLtrJw4FzlLrM7C9SghR1bnQ7I0oU_VX8XNlOb3oA/s200/42-21621167.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405628182586224450" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Only one more month left of this semester, can I make it?</span><br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-63295881367685514152009-08-06T15:16:00.005-06:002009-08-10T15:22:30.339-06:00Two Thoughts<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQDCLsmVs8o-Bhb_NzwHsDNdAsVIWHGhOuncENCKansIIzT__19qTdtTsSsARCGBVKZyVSrIf6Skswf6L3vuW9uWj9_qJQbn4I9ge9CElU03DQIiX7JmdQ9tQj_Hj7x45LBU4htavcefi/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 311px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQDCLsmVs8o-Bhb_NzwHsDNdAsVIWHGhOuncENCKansIIzT__19qTdtTsSsARCGBVKZyVSrIf6Skswf6L3vuW9uWj9_qJQbn4I9ge9CElU03DQIiX7JmdQ9tQj_Hj7x45LBU4htavcefi/s320/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368446563959379986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">photo from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/angies/">angies' photostream</a></span></div><br /><br /><h1 style="margin: 0pt; font-size: 12px; font-family: courier new; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”</span></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: courier new; font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >~Theodore Roosevelt</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div face="lucida grande" style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWsUqAd9Y-jOOwrdOd7nSc_ZzpBmMaxQo_KhULkarw4i-xn_za6DXbDeuzrn2gRe5V6h0U8x_tNz6TtWIkZ-wOlezh5M-c1AmAFHWsjmM3XTSfLKhkug8e_vaRsr703vOi_SBzm7Sf1bj/s1600-h/Image4_H600xW900.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWsUqAd9Y-jOOwrdOd7nSc_ZzpBmMaxQo_KhULkarw4i-xn_za6DXbDeuzrn2gRe5V6h0U8x_tNz6TtWIkZ-wOlezh5M-c1AmAFHWsjmM3XTSfLKhkug8e_vaRsr703vOi_SBzm7Sf1bj/s320/Image4_H600xW900.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368442881475902434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">photo by <a href="http://www.photoeye.com/GALLERY/forms2/index.cfm?image=1&id=28335&imagePosition=1&Door=9&Portfolio=Portfolio2&Gallery=0">Anne Arden McDonald </a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br />Originality is going back to origins.<br />~Antoni Gaudí <br /><br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX0tfengVuzstfk7C8ynlpuhFIA37dLL0mPLj0K19ijpCe1OlWBwA2fYai1Ad4AbQkJnWx6bEKMrPG-UoKtiGutkucBoxZcWoPpM8dzVNlQglUyKnDAAIwjJvuoNNtuuwKGWGJtgfLuhV/s1600-h/8WeKI7RwUmtkwf3dbwl9IzR2o1_500.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZX0tfengVuzstfk7C8ynlpuhFIA37dLL0mPLj0K19ijpCe1OlWBwA2fYai1Ad4AbQkJnWx6bEKMrPG-UoKtiGutkucBoxZcWoPpM8dzVNlQglUyKnDAAIwjJvuoNNtuuwKGWGJtgfLuhV/s320/8WeKI7RwUmtkwf3dbwl9IzR2o1_500.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368447570442200786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/-oliviabee-/">Olivia Bee</a></span></span><br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-32790767732872162382009-07-27T20:52:00.004-06:002009-07-28T18:22:20.491-06:00Coming Soon!<div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Here is a sneak peak of something I have been brewing for a while. Please let me know what you think!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTUzvLNV12xUGfPXvuagIfpy0oNoyArrgNHvLSC30OZODV2MMGiJ9nTT5wDK-t60s8WJ1zF9TyNwg50ax-5id7Nmos5spmI8kgT8BLpj9Zm_CPw3NmFREBH9ar7iGR5ANztYIDfQOKXaQ/s1600-h/sneakpeak.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTUzvLNV12xUGfPXvuagIfpy0oNoyArrgNHvLSC30OZODV2MMGiJ9nTT5wDK-t60s8WJ1zF9TyNwg50ax-5id7Nmos5spmI8kgT8BLpj9Zm_CPw3NmFREBH9ar7iGR5ANztYIDfQOKXaQ/s320/sneakpeak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363665661871015618" border="0" /></a></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-90058459002588085422009-07-27T19:43:00.007-06:002009-07-27T20:38:21.334-06:00Feasting on Photos<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqmLAb9NNX1m9JNu_dGRnTwCLtoAlMHjkd9O_HHCOZzqdem1GD9Z3eZPpn2lJQU6ByEQZelvr103dCH5y4eFdMC64KvWH-RoMsNX6OruYpBnHp5KR-uRWEY4wZvA6hqdt8ZUycjrDnIAm/s1600-h/Image10_H600xW900.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 391px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqmLAb9NNX1m9JNu_dGRnTwCLtoAlMHjkd9O_HHCOZzqdem1GD9Z3eZPpn2lJQU6ByEQZelvr103dCH5y4eFdMC64KvWH-RoMsNX6OruYpBnHp5KR-uRWEY4wZvA6hqdt8ZUycjrDnIAm/s400/Image10_H600xW900.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363320743225440258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: courier new;font-size:85%;" >Photo by Julie Blackmon</span><span style="font-family: courier new;font-size:85%;" > via photo-eye</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">One of the perks to working at the </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.lib.byu.edu/">library </a><span style="font-family:arial;">is stumbling upon books and Web sites that are super fun and somewhat addicting.</span> <span style="font-family:arial;">Recently I have been getting my fill of photography through </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.photoeye.com/Index.cfm">photo-eye</a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://pro.corbis.com/Default.aspx#">Corbis</a><span style="font-family:arial;">.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1M3PR1k5ApGdQxHQ9FWkgbjyhQNBeAHfV_bGmTA0PGcsMq_RdLtyGGnqpmZZx8-UUzRcoQ2MH6KBc3xtDVoGChtW3OEpJJ006FpxOIZEYw0IwUyOaCfs0kaGZl4w3uQCc-_XOHVX7squ/s1600-h/42-18705569.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1M3PR1k5ApGdQxHQ9FWkgbjyhQNBeAHfV_bGmTA0PGcsMq_RdLtyGGnqpmZZx8-UUzRcoQ2MH6KBc3xtDVoGChtW3OEpJJ006FpxOIZEYw0IwUyOaCfs0kaGZl4w3uQCc-_XOHVX7squ/s400/42-18705569.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363331831426371634" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: courier new;font-size:85%;" >Mixed plant pollens via Corbis</span><br /><br />Oh, and by the way, I really really want one of <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/571144-REG/Canon_2762B003_EOS_Rebel_XS_a_k_a_.html">these </a>or maybe one of <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.veer.com/images/merch/VPR0005530_P3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.veer.com/products/merchdetail.aspx%3Fimage%3DVPR0005530&usg=__JCxI96inDBz9qsREhOPlKQ5RzbU=&h=355&w=400&sz=39&hl=en&start=13&sig2=-MpYZkJyjHbNJX_Pu7WXPw&um=1&tbnid=n20d3JuY9Pfs3M:&tbnh=110&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddiana%2Bcamera%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1&ei=GGRuSobIMYmHlAfpvbipDw">these</a>. A girl can dream right?<br /><br /><br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-54635546411636589302009-06-01T14:59:00.005-06:002009-06-01T15:54:36.971-06:00Red Balloon<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtW88yGuqNbZe6Cp7lh6zvnzutgBCZey9p96BVAvT8XU841hAUqT0NRkG7zC71tDW-Y9o20jzKWWztS-zBVpihwuuq7_n7GBwmSjNEULWldS14r64GmlJ_kE13fiRfKFQs1SIjiaP6meGg/s1600-h/red+balloon.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtW88yGuqNbZe6Cp7lh6zvnzutgBCZey9p96BVAvT8XU841hAUqT0NRkG7zC71tDW-Y9o20jzKWWztS-zBVpihwuuq7_n7GBwmSjNEULWldS14r64GmlJ_kE13fiRfKFQs1SIjiaP6meGg/s400/red+balloon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342478262126946354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dreamincolour/">here</a>.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">That red balloon<br /><br />Floating on a warm Spring breeze<br /><br />Is so carefree.<br /><br />Where will it settle?<br /><br />Perhaps in a tree.<br /><br />I wish that it were me up there<br /><br />Sailing in that azure sky,<br /><br />Free and without a care<br /><br />Or a place where somebody expects me to be .<br /><br />I envy<br /><br />That red balloon.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Poem from <a href="http://shadowofdiogenes.blogs.com/shadow/2008/05/a-red-balloon-p.html">here</a>.</span><br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-34541073181210488952009-05-15T13:41:00.001-06:002009-05-15T13:43:22.798-06:00Weekend To Do List<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyXlRwo4k0dzrobkefc42UV1sZilq4UD4arTD7sCIyZD6DLC6UUUjGWwjoFvIl7tByNT9bsDlTFa7madOy1uGdL9x8uDXile2keKJF5xg_EP7GIeaf1ZTEU-FoEp_L9z3GWpKNS4PqdTT/s1600-h/post-it-note+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEyXlRwo4k0dzrobkefc42UV1sZilq4UD4arTD7sCIyZD6DLC6UUUjGWwjoFvIl7tByNT9bsDlTFa7madOy1uGdL9x8uDXile2keKJF5xg_EP7GIeaf1ZTEU-FoEp_L9z3GWpKNS4PqdTT/s400/post-it-note+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336138356070210914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />PS. Enjoy Spring!</span><br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-36594562198991428422009-05-13T17:37:00.008-06:002009-05-13T23:25:39.140-06:00Oh boy, I've got Joy!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8akw79PNTgRW69Z07dGj-mSDdijXzgfkAdQvhNhyg0DdDdV7g-UipRZLwjC1o-32yBTaszeHh8HyAaa38fK6mnls1stq8lsIxz-na6ykKnOcrPstBakNPdnrW6qSd6rf8L15jOdaa5q9/s1600-h/S4020046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335546518794330754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc8akw79PNTgRW69Z07dGj-mSDdijXzgfkAdQvhNhyg0DdDdV7g-UipRZLwjC1o-32yBTaszeHh8HyAaa38fK6mnls1stq8lsIxz-na6ykKnOcrPstBakNPdnrW6qSd6rf8L15jOdaa5q9/s320/S4020046.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="right"><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">Things I am grateful for today...<br /><br />That yesterday was as <em>perfect</em> as any May day gets. It started well, went well, and ended well.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Running into old roommates and friends.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Growing up. </div><br /><div align="left">Feeling young. </div><br /><div align="left">Letters from sister missionaries. I miss you <a href="http://www.amymelissaarnold.blogspot.com/">Amy</a>!</div><br /><div align="left">Reading <a href="http://www.theboard.byu.edu/">THE BOARD</a>.</div><br /><div align="left">The lilac smell in every room.</div><br /><div align="left">Relaxing pillow spray.</div><br /><div align="left">Allergy medicine.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">My stealthy bike that sneaks up on people. It's so quiet that one might say it has a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetohydrodynamic_drive">magnetohydrodynamic drive</a>.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">That I ride my <a href="http://ajollyholiday.blogspot.com/2008/05/my-summer-ride.html">bike </a>to work every day minus Wednesday because I work late.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">That I wear my helmet and glasses. I confess, 80 percent is for safety reasons, the other 20 percent is because I don't want people to recognize me.<br /></div><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://www.ridetowork.org/">Ride to work day.</a> </div><br /><div align="left">Being home with the family this summer!</div><br /><div align="left">My little bro who is now passing ALL HIS CLASSES!!!!</div><br /><div align="left">The creative genius in Chad that has shown itself lately in his new long board business. He has made six so far and has orders for more.</div><br /><div align="left">Chad's sauce and style. Maybe just his saucy style.</div><br /><div align="left">Sierra's awesomeness and sisterly insight. I can't believe I missed out on having my little sister as my friend until I was 17 years old. </div><br /><div align="left">My creative and beautiful mother who put up with us on Mother's Day last Sunday.</div><br /><div align="left">That mom stocked the fridge, had frozen meals pre-cooked in the freezer, and left cash for groceries while she was gone.</div><br /><div align="left">Dad taking Sierra and I fishing and four wheeling last weekend.</div><br /><div align="left">Dad's hard work and him reading the <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/contents">scriptures </a>each morning while eating breakfast. I have my own "breakfast Book of Mormon" full of crumbs and milk stains because of his example.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Red, yellow, and orange birds. </div><br /><div align="left">The three baby robins in our tree out back and their diligent mother who perches on the fence.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">The effectiveness of hand sanitizer. </div><br /><div align="left">An delightful <a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20667">poem such as this one</a>.</div><br /><div align="left">My laptop. I might still get a year or so out of it after all!<br /></div><br /><div align="left">White skirts and dresses paired with flirty spring shoes. </div><br /><div align="left">Finding a blossom in my hair this morning after our flower fight last night.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Blogger. I need to stop stalking and gawking however. </div><br /><div align="left">Reading the <a href="http://www.heraldextra.com/">newspaper </a>each morning (including my horoscope: "A problem with competition will need immediate attention").<br /></div><br /><div align="left">My six dollar Asics running shoes that are still going strong.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">The fact that I really don't care how good I look while doing my morning run anymore. </div><br /><div align="left">Some conveniences of Facebook and the fact that I have NEVER and <em>will never</em> take a quiz of any kind.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">The regular river trail runners that say hello each morning.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Cookie cutter houses despite it all.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">My smiley bishop who I saw on campus today!<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Linking words while blogging. </div><br /><div align="left">Funny design concepts like <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/home/chi-050911-fancy-toilets-pg,0,6182489.photogallery">this</a>.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Windy days. </div><br /><div align="left">Hot keys.<br />The primary colors, which I happen to be wearing right now.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">10 cent raises and free water bottles.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Waiting lists. </div><br /><div align="left">Seeing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXSovfzyx28">Life in Technicolor</a>.</div><br /><div align="left">The power of a hot shower or a long bath.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Tomatillo salsa. So easy: 10 boiled tomatillos, 1 jalapeno, 2 cloves of garlic, one bunch of cilantro, salt and pepper to taste. Blend it all up baby!</div><br /><div align="left">Returning missionaries.</div><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=090A1wttaS0C&dq=les+miserable&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=L6gLSsXbA5XqtQOWntSNAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6">Les Misérables</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKPTa2hXXj4">Jamie Pugh</a>.<br /></div><br /><div align="left">Temple night, Thursday night. Call me if you want to come.</div><br /><div align="left">Nuvia, my mentee. I also love that we are both major fans of chocolate chip cookies. Oh, by the way, if anyone is interested in mentoring check out the Web site <a href="http://www.safetynetmentor.org/">here</a>. One of the best decisions of my life so far.</div><br /><div align="left">Adobe Illustrator. Do you like my new blog header?</div><br /><div align="left">Laughing until my cheek muscles hurt after finding and perusing <a href="http://www.sexypeople-blog.com/">this blog</a>.</div><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://www.lib.byu.edu/">The Harold B. Lee Library.</a><br /></div><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://newsnet.byu.edu/section.cfm/home">The Daily Universe.</a><br /></div><br /><div align="left">To have two part-time jobs this summer. </div><br /><div align="left">Great supervisors and co-workers.</div><br /><div align="left">My fear of vending machines.</div><br /><div align="left">Garbage day every Monday. Somehow it is very reassuring and comforting to me to know that every monday the garbage will be taken away.</div><br /><div align="left">The crisp and wonderful letterpressing of wedding invitations.</div><br /><div align="left">Toothpast, mouthwash, and yes, even the dreaded floss.</div><br /><div align="left">Harper's random Saturday activity club. What is planned for this week?</div><br /><div align="left">Organization and that now my <a href="http://jschavez.blogspot.com/2009/05/nesting.html?zx=c88d43972b4e33af">sister </a>is feeling the vibe.</div><br /><div align="left">A new baby niece this fall!</div><br /><div align="left">The talent of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3kyNGVK-hI&feature=related">this</a>. I kind of really want to see this in real life, does anyone know how I can?</div><br /><div align="left">Inspiration in unexpected places which make creativy ooze and gush.</div><br /><div align="left">Words of the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Becoming "anxiously engaged" in the full life around me.</div></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-9583962003276909452009-05-04T13:46:00.003-06:002009-05-04T15:34:13.981-06:00Home Again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHksVD5kEUZk7lCsqtkQyDxPpLcgJ_JdTQvI95cPN8j1_VelHTD8PYMjl7jpxUpNUs3tdgb49YOB664owW_HvoHv-b7GCwwuqmO-z7-gbTum37nz7AKEibN5wC1w3BRxx6bP2TTC6reiD/s1600-h/Untitled-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 316px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdHksVD5kEUZk7lCsqtkQyDxPpLcgJ_JdTQvI95cPN8j1_VelHTD8PYMjl7jpxUpNUs3tdgb49YOB664owW_HvoHv-b7GCwwuqmO-z7-gbTum37nz7AKEibN5wC1w3BRxx6bP2TTC6reiD/s320/Untitled-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332081832654484530" border="0" /></a>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-25807678336447913732009-04-05T11:22:00.002-06:002009-04-27T15:59:48.033-06:00Final Farewells to Our Home in Alcalá<div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAprbz5zQqKYXvC1hI4WbX0-65h8hqXgwQu55pMGT8H9NZK4M91zX6_MuTpd3fJaLkXdEBtuyldD0A9wWnoHs6hyaoCH06pTwrMrlwDjFDi5H4_AuCVE8iJGQbSK17WynuMIHSVqqGV5u/s1600-h/S4020027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325000429820043922" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiAprbz5zQqKYXvC1hI4WbX0-65h8hqXgwQu55pMGT8H9NZK4M91zX6_MuTpd3fJaLkXdEBtuyldD0A9wWnoHs6hyaoCH06pTwrMrlwDjFDi5H4_AuCVE8iJGQbSK17WynuMIHSVqqGV5u/s320/S4020027.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Lauren, Elaina, and I. Elaina was the kindest host "mom" anyone could ask for. Everyday I smiled and laughed with Lauren around!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324999269882630338" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBpgItGX1Yvn2OOtlakwPv-9sliCQFs1-h8OnH_diVFn8G7eQlHae9-hSz-FbnLrrPSX9fuxW7LC8gkGwL9qvxS22ipXurwrUCXHwGkWy1VJ0OnakLI2beVnq_ucQ33UOTC2T58Dqpn7R/s320/Our+beloved+fountain.JPG" border="0" /><br />We finally were able to navigate around our little Alcalá and find our apartment after figuring out that we lived next to this awesome water fountain.<br /></div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324999260585667186" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJo57hkBvNRi20YQbjtoTxkhiCAOiZKb0yczOTviYChvmT6URm6677XjZbzsCNRYx4OxCDREo7m4aOlPddGNSQxetwXd3LUH3pL9Zi0qa_jKOBNB0OcTOkkRgnW3DVkqcoxcaGNUiKsfkR/s320/Espere+Verde.JPG" border="0" /><br />Wait for green. Press the button. I think I picked up a nasty habit of jaywalking in Spain though.<br /></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324999257860781842" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtV4dlrZxwvGeswvLp_nF4gnVPLXvR-59H32ZtNi6o0MmOvWtvukQncRqP5cfxW2XcfajBL9fPCvHBptpe8rVtMR0CVpnK65UEv1Y-pnjidYUy854PbSdzzjO5DK-3xa5mQbCyFIbqzdG/s320/Correos.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><div><div style="text-align: center;">We lived right next to a post office which was convenient. I felt so happy when I was able to send a package all by myself!<br /></div><div><div><div><br /><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50dtPGpvq7FMqksqE7E4D4XjX6ivC-Wc-jAaZcpbe-Pr_uezVftqg3M2wRhMD4THGz7apM7YWGUacHYu5i3UWovsIcLgjSEdG58jArrrzAo63myLQYHRwDpdoTQd2I3h2BFp876Srxaiu/s1600-h/Numero+7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324999264953616338" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50dtPGpvq7FMqksqE7E4D4XjX6ivC-Wc-jAaZcpbe-Pr_uezVftqg3M2wRhMD4THGz7apM7YWGUacHYu5i3UWovsIcLgjSEdG58jArrrzAo63myLQYHRwDpdoTQd2I3h2BFp876Srxaiu/s320/Numero+7.JPG" border="0" /></a> Numero siete. Our apartment building.</div><div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310869199780539106" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGF1rpSWq6TPsR2l8p6A3fakSvHv5HAFsVoni9aYQGuyFwZrm7_uW-4uc8Qe_mprlk8MJ-MI0-_yTSPSAoA97JMLzb80SlryT8vYyuNf_ISVblCZHm0-7XiifJnIWcEUm-xZKLBjOuixqM/s320/On+the+way+to+school.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The everyday walk to school.</div><div> </div><div> </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310870093974285906" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNseTyXMZxp1Ufyo1jx1do_mmfzZ9UytigkENF2LXCTgL1TMBejq-frz9AYvYbU6ceWVwSs6tHArXV58mYA_tUA2P6eiWWMONcya0AehKYYl1hIdbpe1YgW889XmXgGwhBixRjaVeOxOs1/s320/Laundy+Day.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's funny to see all the laundry hanging outside of the apartment buildings.<br /></div><div> </div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_VKQj33gIzYTB2meO2S1rCEHH3Cr81CbUnJM8bjzKD2hodCJQydYzpBUuSM85ng7pSNM-v29hFraGuq-brWN_KayEy6ffSXNoawoTXLWsjnL8IPxHQk35uRAf7yzMaSYSDprBOtEO5bG/s1600-h/Telefonica+booth.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310870538405883730" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_VKQj33gIzYTB2meO2S1rCEHH3Cr81CbUnJM8bjzKD2hodCJQydYzpBUuSM85ng7pSNM-v29hFraGuq-brWN_KayEy6ffSXNoawoTXLWsjnL8IPxHQk35uRAf7yzMaSYSDprBOtEO5bG/s320/Telefonica+booth.JPG" border="0" /></a>A phone booth. Not as cool as pictures I've seen of vintage phone booths in London, but still a little different.<br /></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7RyCK1Io0vq7gQUOXI9gdKSr3XLCgfudKROXSLfu7L2erwTrBZN9h_WYJfxzpBhQKvcA5rFT-dtmjt1UqRrvBR-ABqC1jV9qalCdydHWTQhE_NhSi6fWTTvb5PP_Pk50qxMLifbTcO1R/s1600-h/ONCE.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310870528542241938" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7RyCK1Io0vq7gQUOXI9gdKSr3XLCgfudKROXSLfu7L2erwTrBZN9h_WYJfxzpBhQKvcA5rFT-dtmjt1UqRrvBR-ABqC1jV9qalCdydHWTQhE_NhSi6fWTTvb5PP_Pk50qxMLifbTcO1R/s320/ONCE.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;">For the longest time I had no idea what these booths were. They are actually lottery booths where you are able to get a ticket for the lottery. I wonder what it would be like to work there each and every day. A percentage of the money from the lottery ticket revenues goes to the blind and disabled (ONCE).<br /><br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310869195889661106" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHVYhmrQDJ-HMfv83pywf68yrKXfCtYvpwDvYgVK5eGzujf1zT4ikD9h_s91A4xvDnG_KP8HhiLXewC2wXXi43j7xXs8fxFLoSGoNhpd4iJf-l7qbHQzIeLu0uR_FhLGv3CtVLw3eo0lk/s320/ATM+machines+EVERYWHERE.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are ATM machines on every corner.</div><div> </div><div> </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310869208618827618" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKVdSsdkISfdzVq6Aw0asxPNzUT3OZkf52rAiCD8nbyMWj-ANFaidw0QMuStRgJnh00FQpHj_KaJRvd1d7-y0VqeVs-JwMsUWoazk8fLVx3AplTvooTJB6jXh3aszO8kM-M0YKhgcTCOb6/s320/S4020015.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">A photo booth on the street.</div><div> </div><div> </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310870104596065490" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1VqrffCxr1xV6IhJAqbxzWdb0QsunUYEh8OLb-d-VgJL_Iu5cLdHFcvCG-bDk3U3CwVdOx4EOKEg9j3ig43c6LU_mq_NhQ_A3qObFZXlVfVr7Ii-E869OzxjYYllgKFg2bjN3hiyXMOUO/s320/S4020017.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">An eye glass shop. The shops put down metal covering things at night and during siesta and sometimes there is some pretty neat graffiti on the outside.</div><div> </div><div> </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310869215831811490" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvlaSmexpCfttQHz-sMC5EdN_7aheB3Lb-Zc3YCH-La3w5v_kH8Heu-uRz-giXu4DJwyXKfi67zzTWo_Szp1VcLqSI9_917llfsPsv4WA7x7aBz4-0XVHgUUksfQuK4ERagxfg8HqXYJ6_/s320/S4020016.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The equivalent of the Dollar Store in the U.S. (except that things are more than a dollar). Think cheap stuff and little trinkets. These stores seemed to be pretty common in Spain.<br /></div><div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjllUWs4Wk5sbVO1JlI5vKfOfo10Qjsa0WyKo_i-7lHvSRdRbsvyUBhRTUzCk8mmblvj5T5tIJrM5pfulhC2q0vACzk0DrzHCoOfdgFKTFinUbA3_yRYWNo47-kmbn5sFNRzvcx9WrpBg/s1600-h/Acalingua.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324999261697244322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjllUWs4Wk5sbVO1JlI5vKfOfo10Qjsa0WyKo_i-7lHvSRdRbsvyUBhRTUzCk8mmblvj5T5tIJrM5pfulhC2q0vACzk0DrzHCoOfdgFKTFinUbA3_yRYWNo47-kmbn5sFNRzvcx9WrpBg/s320/Acalingua.JPG" border="0" /></a>Inside Acalingua, our school.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2oXKkav96kyXAzdVG7Ba7XaJppISXdnMlqJJ49EdzXEvoI1uFZ-8Lja4XnUIkx8rsoPCeJ0mqvurPw4tPuTDysWAXvSVb4AmmEM7bbo2Ng4lXSPEtgaQGISayY5f6wl4HOrqtvy8hAlO/s1600-h/Our+Spanish+Classroom2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325000052184281378" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2oXKkav96kyXAzdVG7Ba7XaJppISXdnMlqJJ49EdzXEvoI1uFZ-8Lja4XnUIkx8rsoPCeJ0mqvurPw4tPuTDysWAXvSVb4AmmEM7bbo2Ng4lXSPEtgaQGISayY5f6wl4HOrqtvy8hAlO/s320/Our+Spanish+Classroom2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Our Spanish classroom.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJQr-jdH7RRvbUOZwi9uqUhds0wsPYdoPz5M4OUjWlgHejVoit-TpHxqNSN02W3HovJWitScGxLedfeel1K5TBCuJHSCXNOqd_5dCSmi6Z09HCRP7OLGXvampNPSpR1VhVBQzbXqnurri/s1600-h/Our+Spanish+Classroom.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325000045634398322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJQr-jdH7RRvbUOZwi9uqUhds0wsPYdoPz5M4OUjWlgHejVoit-TpHxqNSN02W3HovJWitScGxLedfeel1K5TBCuJHSCXNOqd_5dCSmi6Z09HCRP7OLGXvampNPSpR1VhVBQzbXqnurri/s320/Our+Spanish+Classroom.JPG" border="0" /></a>We had only a small space heater so the first month we wore our coats inside everyday.</div><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11qWcnUivanPAm4M1v4vFQWObr1KhL-iOyBR47anW-bbG1_ltKjOfcV3T0siuymOBDxEzUs1lCBj2aHyELcUT8-ptRLrTvgRMFWIJkJwgFFDpwx4uqJI-GetCJAuz3g3NOH-W9tvuWLfJ/s1600-h/Vending+Machine.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325000062106484610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11qWcnUivanPAm4M1v4vFQWObr1KhL-iOyBR47anW-bbG1_ltKjOfcV3T0siuymOBDxEzUs1lCBj2aHyELcUT8-ptRLrTvgRMFWIJkJwgFFDpwx4uqJI-GetCJAuz3g3NOH-W9tvuWLfJ/s320/Vending+Machine.JPG" border="0" /></a>The vending machine in the school. I had to take a photo because I wanted to remember the <a href="http://recipes.epicurean.com/recipe/22397/palmeras.html">palmeras</a> and choco bon bons. So good!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge2hOxCodHPk0irSPjIXXL4zmt_ukG8QX0tTqe61pVR9p9qo2uoFnZbFe6Jv6ZLxyRrnfDpKdvQLuLmQzTN4fGt7Agmcjp83mbsT2f6SuvkBd5Xg6pvYi5E_ZLiyqkH4YGQGSStz8JaYp/s1600-h/Plaza+out+back.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325000054975372482" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge2hOxCodHPk0irSPjIXXL4zmt_ukG8QX0tTqe61pVR9p9qo2uoFnZbFe6Jv6ZLxyRrnfDpKdvQLuLmQzTN4fGt7Agmcjp83mbsT2f6SuvkBd5Xg6pvYi5E_ZLiyqkH4YGQGSStz8JaYp/s320/Plaza+out+back.JPG" border="0" /></a>The plaza behind the school. I did my homework here often. Did you notice the funny walking/leash thing the little baby is wearing?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325000423295873282" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoTPxrRIBWTgfU9gsbKCvMyLjCgpEEyZiKAQcTbtQJF4cwHLBaQ_oZHCGP8NN_GI_U9Xs8w7q6VPZuZhv-UBRlaQu60APP4Q71JRlibvoYtXqV8eMSWmqik_vliA3keiQgdFEEh1kSYdo/s320/S4020036.JPG" border="0" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I fell in love with Alcalá when I went on a walk and saw this. It remined me of floating down the Provo river during summertime. Lauren and I often went running in a park and by this river.<br /></div><div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325000424641060258" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwmhK2THtL1FbWUzHiQVfhY7LgqxEHep8XkfPgQvOdUfNOOR8k4wQYfAZpHx_hBD6UE09AjNKxlLNbl3ob9edIQaKZeF0LcC9SvH2lav3AYYXCC_gZQRPw4YDy4VDgYt8i7dkfmx0np9g/s320/S4020037.JPG" border="0" />Overlooking Alcalá. Part of our study abroad group went on a Saturday hike up above the city. It was interesting to see the size of Alcalá and see the difference between the center of the city near the Plaza Cervantes and the outlying houses and apartments.<br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-81832770407147952542009-04-04T13:11:00.002-06:002009-04-15T22:26:42.360-06:00Coca, León, Santiago de Compostela, the Holy Grail, Salamanca, and Ávila<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Our final week of adventure around Spain!</em></span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">(This post is going to be starting from the end of the trip, sorry if that confuses anyone.)</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiNXQlhyphenhyphen9N3F8M8Nn0paGSH0iWa3CBqmkeGPqzZ6NKuMHJs2SrYffiPglvvWZjcaDoTF7WmcdSfC7ZmMxyJrxkfOE2f_G6pfmbOZDv56rcLVDo-qkUaW8SjCZNJX9cF59HFlqLjWMt9X3/s1600-h/S4020038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324997215136856802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiNXQlhyphenhyphen9N3F8M8Nn0paGSH0iWa3CBqmkeGPqzZ6NKuMHJs2SrYffiPglvvWZjcaDoTF7WmcdSfC7ZmMxyJrxkfOE2f_G6pfmbOZDv56rcLVDo-qkUaW8SjCZNJX9cF59HFlqLjWMt9X3/s320/S4020038.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our last stop on our last trip around Spain was in Coca to see this castle. Sadly, we arrived just in time for siesta and it was closed. On our way back to Alcalá it snowed. And we thought we had seen the last of winter. Ha!<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-fGGQT0GVRmWBFsYcxSw4yig3izAbRO-XUT-lXthqqDLeUZIpIuWT4x_7FklS1kOi2Umb8UJvfCg9hVybMB6ZgXVh-ChDt5o9JH9cSbYa93VCVj6rgF2dXDjpMiZr5NJxtRb92Ermv1z/s1600-h/S4020013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324997217461325202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-fGGQT0GVRmWBFsYcxSw4yig3izAbRO-XUT-lXthqqDLeUZIpIuWT4x_7FklS1kOi2Umb8UJvfCg9hVybMB6ZgXVh-ChDt5o9JH9cSbYa93VCVj6rgF2dXDjpMiZr5NJxtRb92Ermv1z/s320/S4020013.JPG" border="0" /></a> We spent Friday in León. The main highlight of the city is the beautiful cathedral full of stained glass windows.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmlANSqffLk8RrmuKT6X7S97-MuvGCFMb4lu0oEhsqAVcBZ4HOFCsMXkAY-RRjwZf7CuDi0CxVyNom6vD9ry-uLSEuiQkJyXEOhh0lzWgVD80Erv3gHGwhAhBPCF56vjNgjcAzTb0MuCs/s1600-h/S4020015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324997002447721474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmlANSqffLk8RrmuKT6X7S97-MuvGCFMb4lu0oEhsqAVcBZ4HOFCsMXkAY-RRjwZf7CuDi0CxVyNom6vD9ry-uLSEuiQkJyXEOhh0lzWgVD80Erv3gHGwhAhBPCF56vjNgjcAzTb0MuCs/s320/S4020015.JPG" border="0" /></a>Outside the cathedral paper chains made of hand cut-outs hung on the fence and up to the windows. I never found out the reason for the garlands, but I think it was for a celebration.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1Xf4UvXl6V0ahap7hedONr_bUZ6cIEClxUXIrwNF0s4g2-dyRtUWihKAMd2v5jBcfuC-M2idhH_cq0KtTBB0T2gjBFhVGnHjNvdQxvSjgfwPVBI5Lbty-5zgNGfpsq6L_xphen-90PvF/s1600-h/S4020023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324997000074802610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1Xf4UvXl6V0ahap7hedONr_bUZ6cIEClxUXIrwNF0s4g2-dyRtUWihKAMd2v5jBcfuC-M2idhH_cq0KtTBB0T2gjBFhVGnHjNvdQxvSjgfwPVBI5Lbty-5zgNGfpsq6L_xphen-90PvF/s320/S4020023.JPG" border="0" /></a> We took a tour of the cathedral and learned about the restoration project for the cathedral.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73M3Wk41v4V8IZNOGAhC8Jh0x-xJEsoRSP3MT75Y7Yv0IJxHgVMUZ6z8cMihzs3TxDZs9EuxoPxfrQObJh5EaaxyU_96PxX67xSEauw-v9aB-vd5-uuchWtqITNAknwgc8uqw0tTzVYis/s1600-h/S4020019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324996993945231154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi73M3Wk41v4V8IZNOGAhC8Jh0x-xJEsoRSP3MT75Y7Yv0IJxHgVMUZ6z8cMihzs3TxDZs9EuxoPxfrQObJh5EaaxyU_96PxX67xSEauw-v9aB-vd5-uuchWtqITNAknwgc8uqw0tTzVYis/s320/S4020019.JPG" border="0" /></a> Medieval stained glass window.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmvqKVsp4w0HykCclR-R2ffb7v24C7iqM_Xurv6V7eQ9jMlo2arKnq6GJJ6ElF4OmRg8mEiIFuNk725GtrRPL4gs8npp5hMOT_CQ126935pPdahDIvbo8w__R-vEH2MAgtzqa65ZIY2KO/s1600-h/S4020010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324996990662011842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmvqKVsp4w0HykCclR-R2ffb7v24C7iqM_Xurv6V7eQ9jMlo2arKnq6GJJ6ElF4OmRg8mEiIFuNk725GtrRPL4gs8npp5hMOT_CQ126935pPdahDIvbo8w__R-vEH2MAgtzqa65ZIY2KO/s320/S4020010.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>There wasn't too much to do in León. We got some suckers to pass the time!</div><div><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTj9EQU6me_epnNH28SFvNGJs3BkpgcPtBUkrvyi6pC9_s-vmdE8kjsoh3ec0tHtkw2OunRQOX1AUTHZAugjhcEURNEbmX1w4f3J3L4HaMGH20raW0WZCxTKoj_xWFrqk7YD7jYk6I_i8/s1600-h/S4020033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324996983722373346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTj9EQU6me_epnNH28SFvNGJs3BkpgcPtBUkrvyi6pC9_s-vmdE8kjsoh3ec0tHtkw2OunRQOX1AUTHZAugjhcEURNEbmX1w4f3J3L4HaMGH20raW0WZCxTKoj_xWFrqk7YD7jYk6I_i8/s320/S4020033.JPG" border="0" /></a> A león in León.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkbjhRul0xhZ9vdNE8cAFr0ZGZO4DFxvoWGZbTUeN_5GRV-sSE8sgBZwhu9frO_bM98WlSq-Ze6V4rfVAFyjmVBHhwPrf_iqRqmukaCIiEEW_0KfVXyzl84d2hzFNNqdH6BoUOhhecyH9/s1600-h/S4020049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324995919781590690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkbjhRul0xhZ9vdNE8cAFr0ZGZO4DFxvoWGZbTUeN_5GRV-sSE8sgBZwhu9frO_bM98WlSq-Ze6V4rfVAFyjmVBHhwPrf_iqRqmukaCIiEEW_0KfVXyzl84d2hzFNNqdH6BoUOhhecyH9/s320/S4020049.JPG" border="0" /></a> How fitting to visit the pilgrimage site Santiago de Compostela on our final week-long trip around Spain! I'm so glad that we saved this incredible place until the end. The patron saint of Spain is the apostle James, or Santiago in Spanish. In the cathedral are the supposed remains of the apostle. At the center of the cathedral is a statue of gold and jewels of James and you can go up behind it and hug him. Kind of strange, but it is a big part of the pilgrimage to finally be able to hug St. James at the end of your journey. </div><div> </div><div>We spent Wednesday and Thursday in Santiago de Compostela and we were able to attend the pilgrim’s mass (held every day at noon). It was my first mass and I really enjoyed it even though it felt very different and foreign. I'm glad I sat by Megan who had been to many masses before.<br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fcDngw2wSnNAZ8FhpxHnGxQIsHOS5j5zYubms1FhqSg-r4UxZIaCrVzVXdmZnHACUyOC_GsRvaMwI-IT6-iek4WSiCgAxCg5SlGhOHdUPbTP-d-SV4a3vu8VwsxZacZF7ikuZ9sytCkQ/s1600-h/S4020059.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324995916607101874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1fcDngw2wSnNAZ8FhpxHnGxQIsHOS5j5zYubms1FhqSg-r4UxZIaCrVzVXdmZnHACUyOC_GsRvaMwI-IT6-iek4WSiCgAxCg5SlGhOHdUPbTP-d-SV4a3vu8VwsxZacZF7ikuZ9sytCkQ/s320/S4020059.JPG" border="0" /></a> The architecture of the cathedral is extraordinary.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeTW4K7jQM-fI2ypoKnki4_uykrSEpHLpibVPc83lojMIxY5kqk7rXXxAV8_6XC-cfPaq0JmSjnLe7KIFBbcI5HOPYF30NshiRzGdxuinpwWQy9mp4bZhyQWl-uGrxHPLM67YGE6XGkSB/s1600-h/S4020069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324995912223994290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeTW4K7jQM-fI2ypoKnki4_uykrSEpHLpibVPc83lojMIxY5kqk7rXXxAV8_6XC-cfPaq0JmSjnLe7KIFBbcI5HOPYF30NshiRzGdxuinpwWQy9mp4bZhyQWl-uGrxHPLM67YGE6XGkSB/s320/S4020069.JPG" border="0" /></a> Saints. Who is the only one without a beard?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cmKtaxNbo71sh62H25iKD8dqTjWB5yX-AgrgoGfsnSz8VvHyC6MsATE1fLaRDXHlyuJRemgr7xsft3SkfIzkj4BvQ_DHSbTGd6iXcBvbFnh3CGMLtUZbASxlA_iofkDolt7CVYAEDp4i/s1600-h/S4020072.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324995668380009762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cmKtaxNbo71sh62H25iKD8dqTjWB5yX-AgrgoGfsnSz8VvHyC6MsATE1fLaRDXHlyuJRemgr7xsft3SkfIzkj4BvQ_DHSbTGd6iXcBvbFnh3CGMLtUZbASxlA_iofkDolt7CVYAEDp4i/s320/S4020072.JPG" border="0" /></a> A poor shot of the inside. The gleaming gold mass in the center is the main and the statue of James.</div><div> </div><div>On Thursday evening we went to an orchestral and choral concert at the cathedral. The music was beautiful and the setting perfect. Sound filled every corner of the vast cathedral. There is a strong spirit of beauty and there are moments where it can drench our souls.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguci2KZusGJK9fzSsq1j2mr7sT39mANfAGJo84CIgcwPjgcMrNzvCsuBOu5iOJ5emdd2_d4KhTOKQCyUUyWhPM73naIyIXyBLd-nUg-erZa5u5Ut6naBoZ8baS-WOf1IVuZvt5JhcByiLG/s1600-h/S4020058.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324994721583500754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguci2KZusGJK9fzSsq1j2mr7sT39mANfAGJo84CIgcwPjgcMrNzvCsuBOu5iOJ5emdd2_d4KhTOKQCyUUyWhPM73naIyIXyBLd-nUg-erZa5u5Ut6naBoZ8baS-WOf1IVuZvt5JhcByiLG/s320/S4020058.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />There was a bagpipe player next to the cathedral.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFTJS6-Xlei9ogQoJoyCFgI3F8UCkx8xmdnnnMPa_CcpQ0MinaO8Rob00Iygrc8Ym3y8X3bHbTv4AaeWOMNL4pwdflJ4Ny8rTHsn-_5WuLn3xBRT2eIVcZ7GBRpFEieAKa_zW-q44j8TX/s1600-h/S4020055.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324994718906239890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFTJS6-Xlei9ogQoJoyCFgI3F8UCkx8xmdnnnMPa_CcpQ0MinaO8Rob00Iygrc8Ym3y8X3bHbTv4AaeWOMNL4pwdflJ4Ny8rTHsn-_5WuLn3xBRT2eIVcZ7GBRpFEieAKa_zW-q44j8TX/s320/S4020055.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfy_ZhB-CyIP8w5krSv54SuweVK8fvvQTc3pMvzofcz1N0SYD5TT-qmOivbAG7sieK83aWgibWy24hYnE1OJKZKWrcUbG0tLZLB9D8dhxUzOugCSAOxzKb3DSdcx26S71E7TESzzZ3ZZMB/s1600-h/S4020048.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324994713685520978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfy_ZhB-CyIP8w5krSv54SuweVK8fvvQTc3pMvzofcz1N0SYD5TT-qmOivbAG7sieK83aWgibWy24hYnE1OJKZKWrcUbG0tLZLB9D8dhxUzOugCSAOxzKb3DSdcx26S71E7TESzzZ3ZZMB/s320/S4020048.JPG" border="0" /></a> A guy dressed up like Moses(?) outside the cathedral.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0XE8i5LxH-1t1d7bmldHa7QqjZRRZa7pEwJk38coST3vmPEvspGipI1EH6tVZxxUwa7pXFZIRNtJty1kDmYAy0skUzLnR0BJEX261jfUCKySKEzIe2wyDhvg5dcQ1ZqWLH37SVThTHEW/s1600-h/S4020046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324994710679803874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0XE8i5LxH-1t1d7bmldHa7QqjZRRZa7pEwJk38coST3vmPEvspGipI1EH6tVZxxUwa7pXFZIRNtJty1kDmYAy0skUzLnR0BJEX261jfUCKySKEzIe2wyDhvg5dcQ1ZqWLH37SVThTHEW/s320/S4020046.JPG" border="0" /></a> The symbol of St. James (Santiago) is the scallop shell, it is found all along the pilgrimage trail and in the city.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrQ4SVqd6P4MPfAFHsM34ptwLyw8DfVuJUtJfyWfBR4HMvoriUoakM98zRKJj9529pVhUs2WGjoGNvlKtUngH81z37wyUbCq8BRZAhuYfiNqgSNMqt6j_0vWHBQxx7FuIOJcjcayaYC-5/s1600-h/S4020045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324994709692380434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrQ4SVqd6P4MPfAFHsM34ptwLyw8DfVuJUtJfyWfBR4HMvoriUoakM98zRKJj9529pVhUs2WGjoGNvlKtUngH81z37wyUbCq8BRZAhuYfiNqgSNMqt6j_0vWHBQxx7FuIOJcjcayaYC-5/s320/S4020045.JPG" border="0" /></a> On a street near the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. It was like the "Costco" of Spain because people were handing out samples in the doorways of the restaurants, enticing the tourists.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJo85NA2e_7hcm-8DxSO5YF__ghyVk0DwWUVv4hgsYkLbCMfwfgJgqlQH-zKY209FqScxjZ14QTjR1-xVNksFNo0dUJ2Ka_rilAhIHrQnNFiQ_y__p1e5MX1vJ-zJ-tvyVs_oQlxETFUwT/s1600-h/S4020005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324994321304150418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJo85NA2e_7hcm-8DxSO5YF__ghyVk0DwWUVv4hgsYkLbCMfwfgJgqlQH-zKY209FqScxjZ14QTjR1-xVNksFNo0dUJ2Ka_rilAhIHrQnNFiQ_y__p1e5MX1vJ-zJ-tvyVs_oQlxETFUwT/s320/S4020005.JPG" border="0" /></a> We saw the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Grail">Holy Grail </a>in a tiny villagey sort of place, high in the mountains, called Os Ancares.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabvq2k1iiyJfzcsD8kpGPe9bHQ8GhRLFSqxpGl8iVqXkJ9VnrMp2qJmUTpy7NP7Zznrwl6Sn625vbo9Bp5y0vDAfxrLwZX-ktSwKT0v7NxlVCspyTf4RwG9CtRNqG-KRtPxajxuJz61tQ/s1600-h/S4020040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324993632858068882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabvq2k1iiyJfzcsD8kpGPe9bHQ8GhRLFSqxpGl8iVqXkJ9VnrMp2qJmUTpy7NP7Zznrwl6Sn625vbo9Bp5y0vDAfxrLwZX-ktSwKT0v7NxlVCspyTf4RwG9CtRNqG-KRtPxajxuJz61tQ/s320/S4020040.JPG" border="0" /></a> This place is famous for the Celtic-style stone huts, called pallozas.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcB62ffIK6H1fazatO8OV1ae_mnOsDfWoOdUIAFUdLHqMAL8C9IiI2zMf1VU8-CQM-kr35hsXQ0nUqWLN-Sd4j1XYO2inEhHgqevG6quDvpWivcBVzfSP78yXADyHucb-qAtl-vWg2hPKs/s1600-h/S4020037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324993627777318242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcB62ffIK6H1fazatO8OV1ae_mnOsDfWoOdUIAFUdLHqMAL8C9IiI2zMf1VU8-CQM-kr35hsXQ0nUqWLN-Sd4j1XYO2inEhHgqevG6quDvpWivcBVzfSP78yXADyHucb-qAtl-vWg2hPKs/s320/S4020037.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Wildflowers and moss on an old stone wall.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQw51NuH1MdGCT5ekJgMFsndeNj2-GSB5SH22Afo9rYdK0z_x1UKKEP0L6w2hht25mpBu9ElVKAfjtZpX6Y_NjdRXpXlxZrpyW6_XPbq8zeZEvGViPZTaTwcr63HnCEAh7Jwud31Krdke/s1600-h/n692195316_6426058_2744799.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324993627383105954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQw51NuH1MdGCT5ekJgMFsndeNj2-GSB5SH22Afo9rYdK0z_x1UKKEP0L6w2hht25mpBu9ElVKAfjtZpX6Y_NjdRXpXlxZrpyW6_XPbq8zeZEvGViPZTaTwcr63HnCEAh7Jwud31Krdke/s320/n692195316_6426058_2744799.jpg" border="0" /></a> Imagine living in a palloza and having this view to wake up to every morning. I would do it in a heart beat.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBBjOnSa0JcuMJ55UdBlA3a3xSuSxplU1W3b6tFqtRgb6oxHnulInUmN4Cs6d0A7XuV-H7e2i74CobnsEAp-kvZJXPjl4v5mWAHUkFXnOvpWckQwwgd_K_xvLopBtq1EpkAhxX9hDAXio/s1600-h/n692195316_6426030_3021115.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324993620664030066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBBjOnSa0JcuMJ55UdBlA3a3xSuSxplU1W3b6tFqtRgb6oxHnulInUmN4Cs6d0A7XuV-H7e2i74CobnsEAp-kvZJXPjl4v5mWAHUkFXnOvpWckQwwgd_K_xvLopBtq1EpkAhxX9hDAXio/s320/n692195316_6426030_3021115.jpg" border="0" /></a> Pilgrim walking sticks, notice the shells tied on to the tops.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDqeGSjrbAG6q-s9w2oPvW2Ih4S0WYXD0iNVOUZjxJ3S0EeAVtVcEVeLdyY5YRv8XqvxbxJNa7tNNNeUcNWAKA9nqK4eM2eZ3PjeCVJvnpB7Ib55jS-s8ov9j7SWxIE5WLOTvplwCuGcK/s1600-h/S4020020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324992999825832706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDqeGSjrbAG6q-s9w2oPvW2Ih4S0WYXD0iNVOUZjxJ3S0EeAVtVcEVeLdyY5YRv8XqvxbxJNa7tNNNeUcNWAKA9nqK4eM2eZ3PjeCVJvnpB7Ib55jS-s8ov9j7SWxIE5WLOTvplwCuGcK/s320/S4020020.JPG" border="0" /></a> Tuesday afternoon we spent in Salamanca. </div><div>We saw the cathedral (above photo).</div><div> </div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj281PuYCWyZwtp-JcB5ZhYsinT6kpEQeCxkGmCBrC6_Em-yTbRXDhZCvSxKNGJGwWBMbGbhqkBEocGPoRDvfJxdWGBIPa7CTmYWu5gZ249Dh1ofocK8w4QiT7FsNP7mldc5Aw29cxtiI4Y/s1600-h/n692195316_6425931_6782790.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324992994866765954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj281PuYCWyZwtp-JcB5ZhYsinT6kpEQeCxkGmCBrC6_Em-yTbRXDhZCvSxKNGJGwWBMbGbhqkBEocGPoRDvfJxdWGBIPa7CTmYWu5gZ249Dh1ofocK8w4QiT7FsNP7mldc5Aw29cxtiI4Y/s320/n692195316_6425931_6782790.jpg" border="0" /></a> We visited La Casa de Las Conchas. A house with scallop shells all over the outside and fantastic gargoyles in the courtyard.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfsqqyyge50kypAUQ9tRFAsWvHN5ck1rk_2Z5U_hjkoWjvQx0sEMB8QSryq4B5oSZxUBW0MopyEk-_iyove_ogsx2w6qlQFONq-dCUST7E0yGSkqMmJS1tpzpX7gF8CnltgTxykNQ3THx/s1600-h/S4020004.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324992993802678754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfsqqyyge50kypAUQ9tRFAsWvHN5ck1rk_2Z5U_hjkoWjvQx0sEMB8QSryq4B5oSZxUBW0MopyEk-_iyove_ogsx2w6qlQFONq-dCUST7E0yGSkqMmJS1tpzpX7gF8CnltgTxykNQ3THx/s320/S4020004.JPG" border="0" /></a> One of the most famous sites of Salamanca is the Plaza Mayor, famous because of the movie "Vantage Point." It was fun to see people plopped right down on the ground in the middle of the plaza, just taking a little sun, chatting with friends, people watching (I was at least), and eating lunch. </div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9Yw8AHGEpbL00GoqtpoT0A5mx_nEYoZfx0jeguB_Oj8X9-GIwIHAPoOErCbMlup9BGIFF9LiJNlTUEzP2k9a4lTKSpnL8lb21t9K-LhSJan8510iosMCqeZM_ziAnSZr-GIMAgePh3os/s1600-h/n1581960143_30127067_809880.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324992987386734674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9Yw8AHGEpbL00GoqtpoT0A5mx_nEYoZfx0jeguB_Oj8X9-GIwIHAPoOErCbMlup9BGIFF9LiJNlTUEzP2k9a4lTKSpnL8lb21t9K-LhSJan8510iosMCqeZM_ziAnSZr-GIMAgePh3os/s320/n1581960143_30127067_809880.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here is the plaza all lit up at night.</div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfs5fA3g9wQ4cRD-oTjOw8Fld5Ll3RnbqJya_qxe-B7VKAAPfPedm6H3NV3_fWuExfeOy_r1QscvlbImeyS6hbBieuVkqpYhl6e3Y_Xtu1WlrKKRfYqjmtwjp1zLZwbTGXw8RERhUyx66/s1600-h/n692195316_6425918_8117273.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324992988232620642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfs5fA3g9wQ4cRD-oTjOw8Fld5Ll3RnbqJya_qxe-B7VKAAPfPedm6H3NV3_fWuExfeOy_r1QscvlbImeyS6hbBieuVkqpYhl6e3Y_Xtu1WlrKKRfYqjmtwjp1zLZwbTGXw8RERhUyx66/s320/n692195316_6425918_8117273.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><p align="center">We began our trip on Tuesday morning by stopping in Ávila to see the preserved city wall. The whole town had a medieval atmosphere about it. "Ávila is important because of its association with the great mystic and reformer St. Teresa de Jesus, better known as St. Teresa of Ávila. Teresa was a 16th-century Carmelite nun who reformed her order, had many ecstatic visions, and wrote several books. She is the female patron saint of Spain and was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church."</p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-53637447269036893142009-04-03T09:03:00.000-06:002009-04-03T09:03:01.352-06:00Valencia<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318626666825364402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZigZlLjV5h9YWPwEmjgIs2A4apqtt53lHu1yrVyCyo1Uc73XMzOp00Szwkyq4QL6ErxRYD_-wBmk3UVt6KZc3zjVizYnCFyUAal9pJ8POOha36OQxo-SvjZP3PRdPllcJrw-XQfPYAd8X/s320/S4020058.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">We visited the Lladro factory and store in Valencia on Friday morning. I loved the nativity sets and the mother figurines. For our last institute class, the history of the Church in Spain, we watched a documentary on the temple and saints here in Spain. Part of the flim showed the role that Lladro had in the Madrid Temple and creating a version of the Cristus for the temple.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318626682769891202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgem1Dz4SAuM9f2DQ5OUbFyQV9HmyA6RDQHNbCu9Cq9GKquGTONRGHpAbeS_iyu4LCyK3ZIQyob-3aYz4lwW2_8zsPzihWUOZrRmO679nWx4Xk-edh-k2gbyhJB6jdiF55qy252UyDwC8Je/s320/S4020061.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">In the afternoon we headed to the beach!<br /></p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318625931464436530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iiYlIb9k0FShNwKMqdK_3KJQb-TmgaBKESOonm8rph8sBDSUe2cS-N2qR9BWteNnK0GBDBhJSmpy4YWc6QqGq9zjochoSivKMT-loopYxFV5YcbvKjzeMpjac8V95vIXybUnoiGtyIky/s320/n692195316_6335394_4909276.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318625937713877010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRu8VGuW_poIA00c6hCBPT-b5fhUT0QIMhORoYGB_xCSCj45PB2X6ioraIrfELVyjuXOQ9F_Rphfs0EaDIcoLAkQPFCXRWJcmb2NlzcHQNDBixzTZEFIeQmNh7b0QH_yZipc-H1-YbvkX-/s320/n692195316_6335395_2253602.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">It was the perfect place to watch the sun set behind the city.<br /></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318625917768770306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAAv4RTG-KY1ZEFc-PlapEtXJdCvQrjeIEgEnSw1Y9K7kuwXY9xsgqoeoK1cT_InfS0CGfx7qLfRKC_jCmtE2gqWYQ6PQ5HkEyBlc14ZnAf1hbtmkpOwJg68bZd83VnAhg9E3IhRTdQnN/s320/n692195316_6335169_3731146.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">On our final day Heather and I made our way over to see the <a href="http://www.travelinginspain.com/valencia/arts_science.htm">Ciutat de laes Arts i de les Ciencies</a> and the largest aquarium in all of Europe, also known as the L'Oceanografic (Oceanographic Park).</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswHj1U5cQMZQsLbX2-xZgrEDag7wvkgHZHGAXVio81c9mVIpBA-ez3cSSIN8nhdkgx_lexj2xVjw9eEF-bcngQcM0wtIZJD03tb7hov2lCszJj6rMv6K2Y-lOUIgA2X1axCl6W0WOTdsJ/s1600-h/S4020070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318626693657578034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswHj1U5cQMZQsLbX2-xZgrEDag7wvkgHZHGAXVio81c9mVIpBA-ez3cSSIN8nhdkgx_lexj2xVjw9eEF-bcngQcM0wtIZJD03tb7hov2lCszJj6rMv6K2Y-lOUIgA2X1axCl6W0WOTdsJ/s320/S4020070.JPG" border="0" /></a> I think these were windows, they look very futuristic to me.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIal-SR1xzSN_ddo52DqUqDim955kBv6Uf3MgidIE4faohIhbsO1u-JJVguKoz_sVQEHtalNarBEQOJXVJF_J4gv0FhUcY6HsElgQuvRpncjVBcA4fOo4LpHaTSLcMDIdnJA3U3mbDPXD/s1600-h/S4020065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318626690729921090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIal-SR1xzSN_ddo52DqUqDim955kBv6Uf3MgidIE4faohIhbsO1u-JJVguKoz_sVQEHtalNarBEQOJXVJF_J4gv0FhUcY6HsElgQuvRpncjVBcA4fOo4LpHaTSLcMDIdnJA3U3mbDPXD/s320/S4020065.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The picture doesn't do this building justice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn71t04awN0GsJ784lS0YzhZpXsGJjrHaBL2mEyZCqIN7U1pTp2vNti8tg2JgPjty1t5xsIt7PMKtn7z6e8dzbELtfLFw_RcGzj7bg7Niwi6aqFIAhX4C5GG2_UMnSct3B57ecBH9YsxJ/s1600-h/S4020064.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318626688689214674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQn71t04awN0GsJ784lS0YzhZpXsGJjrHaBL2mEyZCqIN7U1pTp2vNti8tg2JgPjty1t5xsIt7PMKtn7z6e8dzbELtfLFw_RcGzj7bg7Niwi6aqFIAhX4C5GG2_UMnSct3B57ecBH9YsxJ/s320/S4020064.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Yellow irises and pelicans.<br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiva9aTSK49w8XUpwtMS7Fx79dmioBU2sBcObAcO1uzQ2yy5xE3wfqcn8F5Jx3LFr26MhNZ21WoE3q7UNB9hSyJglflQw-vSOgNSnXzBBKuBRySo9UnvAqSwsjbl02ZhO0BGcwu3cHv4hI/s1600-h/S4020069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318626276596764626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiva9aTSK49w8XUpwtMS7Fx79dmioBU2sBcObAcO1uzQ2yy5xE3wfqcn8F5Jx3LFr26MhNZ21WoE3q7UNB9hSyJglflQw-vSOgNSnXzBBKuBRySo9UnvAqSwsjbl02ZhO0BGcwu3cHv4hI/s320/S4020069.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Don't these birds make you think of Valentine's cards or jelly beans?<br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPriqJ-uJmH11zEAgPQH8wuCyqCDjl6N70Lu9god1LPUhIOmp3m0fiKEWrVBVF4vx93FUEnYntV8tG8rf0fwG3z_cbpkQZR-UgsN82lapb6hx88HGbN1QVnzDLPzCLElT-5TL49WVJKAX1/s1600-h/n692195316_6335409_1407853.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318626276311388962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPriqJ-uJmH11zEAgPQH8wuCyqCDjl6N70Lu9god1LPUhIOmp3m0fiKEWrVBVF4vx93FUEnYntV8tG8rf0fwG3z_cbpkQZR-UgsN82lapb6hx88HGbN1QVnzDLPzCLElT-5TL49WVJKAX1/s320/n692195316_6335409_1407853.jpg" border="0" /></a> He posed for us!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6R1VLHlgFIMVoHf_NFdQVJ-f-kohsAc1Zk197MIYltt2VLYNHguhXbLfsNbLtlNC0bOzOHtzm1IGQm2sWtzP6s4IX5scKY1Mt1DEmbYlwUh9MN9xC4hxuG1liS-M57yrPvxLUBscAZHp/s1600-h/n692195316_6335408_2778330.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318626275895115922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6R1VLHlgFIMVoHf_NFdQVJ-f-kohsAc1Zk197MIYltt2VLYNHguhXbLfsNbLtlNC0bOzOHtzm1IGQm2sWtzP6s4IX5scKY1Mt1DEmbYlwUh9MN9xC4hxuG1liS-M57yrPvxLUBscAZHp/s320/n692195316_6335408_2778330.jpg" border="0" /></a> Jelly fish are incredible and so delicate.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQU8gjXSPpMBQa-k3SUUylWxnEdTJz0uPozI8fITVPxtMwOaMVOzFHJSQn6pmabv-sAhZgZ6XRxCBr7b7c72oCXtFmtaGtiu4AbHg4ebc7HS7XN_CBEUGEXlqKdgaRNV9edpiJ5PTFZcU0/s1600-h/n692195316_6335407_4166013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318626273926416930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQU8gjXSPpMBQa-k3SUUylWxnEdTJz0uPozI8fITVPxtMwOaMVOzFHJSQn6pmabv-sAhZgZ6XRxCBr7b7c72oCXtFmtaGtiu4AbHg4ebc7HS7XN_CBEUGEXlqKdgaRNV9edpiJ5PTFZcU0/s320/n692195316_6335407_4166013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This big daddy star fish was almost 2 feet long.<br /><div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ5-PrGWvQJ_jfu4_oszUuFZrcJtHHwCsm25iofI3QkGc6r9yKLtOIT7zLGXLYMFO0IjnNoBRysEHgjSqC6tVPe7yFA45m2uXuC-YB86ibCoYyS3X9ONb2ha6d6hgbaub9DrUa0A22Pib/s1600-h/n692195316_6335402_941294.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318625944534756562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQ5-PrGWvQJ_jfu4_oszUuFZrcJtHHwCsm25iofI3QkGc6r9yKLtOIT7zLGXLYMFO0IjnNoBRysEHgjSqC6tVPe7yFA45m2uXuC-YB86ibCoYyS3X9ONb2ha6d6hgbaub9DrUa0A22Pib/s320/n692195316_6335402_941294.jpg" border="0" /></a>One of the strangest fish that I've ever seen. What kind of fish is this?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvSRm30nLK5Ci8RwWqjKOiJhT05sva4ajw5zcwbnhfI6TwAICVRyWh9sDD6EUry2SXmiNO2YuNiEDlAW28bOQNfDJw5an6HahtIYHR7UG4KwQ1ydX7OqcfakcVJEjqIhTbvC7JhEFSzxu/s1600-h/n692195316_6335401_3969389.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318625943427232946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvSRm30nLK5Ci8RwWqjKOiJhT05sva4ajw5zcwbnhfI6TwAICVRyWh9sDD6EUry2SXmiNO2YuNiEDlAW28bOQNfDJw5an6HahtIYHR7UG4KwQ1ydX7OqcfakcVJEjqIhTbvC7JhEFSzxu/s320/n692195316_6335401_3969389.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><p align="center">It was crazy to be walking in a tunnel, separated only by glass, with sharks all around you.<br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318626266475343506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNLoDdT0q6O13hWWybcpPuMa72zABAwYOCzVGxaq3NqKisXhQ9QKOg3b011ujbdsdTL1nYxYoVfnT3RUPavtebNQxeGggitegD6z-3n-6uSkXpji_nwdgdrL2U7OvGtRND61wYMcA45ES_/s320/n692195316_6335403_2609918.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Side note: Once upon a time I thought that I would be a marine biologist. That dream died when I realized that fish could be just as frightening as dogs. I still love fish though and had a great time at the aquarium!</p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-25171123069244360212009-04-03T08:48:00.000-06:002009-04-07T09:52:04.424-06:00Las Fallas<div align="center">Okay, <em>where</em> to begin?</div><p align="center"><a href="http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/fiestas/lasfallas.asp">Las Fallas</a> is "one of the most unique and crazy festivals in Spain." The main event of the fiesta is to set on fire the huge cardboard, wood, paper-machè, and plaster statues (known as ninots: “puppets” or “dolls”). The reason to part? Most people believe that the fires evolved from the pagan rituals that "celebrated the onset of spring and the planting season."</p><p align="center">And we got to go! Let me just tell you, it was one of the craziest days of my life!</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318622654664328754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHUTlwuh7Fa30h2h8UFRYyjbslYRy_8kJ-GKbARsYLx-Tt9B-Q0v_ETvuRvH5e5X9Ff9_LwdHCaFOqpGLiqkiDahHFdPdPXUhDzH9XUhsPId1iQ2v5UzVydR21odZvP2yS04J7XHeBt63/s320/Animals.jpg" border="0" /> One of the ninots.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318623835454716658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD2rhTImZOB3yeW0S-vpZT_1tGvVCYlP4raa1Mze3_3V4jKhgJBuw7wb4EeTn18UzMYscMZcrp0KSSK1RBkuvxC9dij-zyc94GRz_EXDzZNA2ro805YZ9iSvy_FytAIbe9u87f38BxKpXV/s320/Two+little+girls.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Many people dress up in traditional clothing for the parades and to celebrate the festival.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318622968975194722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZafk3kMhXlNocrb_pVhKcaHTpG5UoSgbGE4RP4mW3yjFyfd4Mw6wqqByii4aG8LsrKnS7kFpGA5n0-b-0pmufMGAkmos4qW4v5MvYqCEOD795Yz8uI2z32yKLuSK_U-pmMggow3y5hd1/s320/Moustache.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p align="center">Some of the ninots can get pretty extravagant. </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318623392706042194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgfSXxMneSmqQn-On4wOpgcAH4TFhHA8tYMM2_dUsg-AOG1sL_VnOvG3bMu6Vob97keCKg4IWiBRqIWrPWdLh2D24q5wIU-Jtg4kjBfp8f35NWuyBenPwRcHjGLjoMWeOa2EdNt48on0f/s320/S4020023.JPG" border="0" />The main falla that we waited for about two hours to finally to be lit at 1 a.m.<br /></p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWquHU43N3hTaChoLYgLwuINYRNGnhzW-i6HSREEMqH4R5L_ag8z4ycIBf9ATxddVGe3igNyYkVsKapOf5xOQ6Mbnpj_V87RURQV00jU9Rf6gijMVQOR_t5ttKI25xEknjBn54Yb57MKFT/s1600-h/S4020027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318623825270370290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWquHU43N3hTaChoLYgLwuINYRNGnhzW-i6HSREEMqH4R5L_ag8z4ycIBf9ATxddVGe3igNyYkVsKapOf5xOQ6Mbnpj_V87RURQV00jU9Rf6gijMVQOR_t5ttKI25xEknjBn54Yb57MKFT/s320/S4020027.JPG" border="0" /></a> The crowd.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0KqJH8qyLM9fLAYqfrB7x1US1AUEGCmsJzPBWFhyphenhyphenD39wnBJFe_BHrNiSiqunGk0KXmIrWxNaNyRYXLo34SoWk378zcDppSxMTV7RYlt9r6sjCzFQgsvUt0dKbAJcbLWRkAlNqdk_tccH/s1600-h/S4020018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318623393645511026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR0KqJH8qyLM9fLAYqfrB7x1US1AUEGCmsJzPBWFhyphenhyphenD39wnBJFe_BHrNiSiqunGk0KXmIrWxNaNyRYXLo34SoWk378zcDppSxMTV7RYlt9r6sjCzFQgsvUt0dKbAJcbLWRkAlNqdk_tccH/s320/S4020018.JPG" border="0" /></a> At 2 p.m. fireworks go off to begin the party. An ambulance tried to get through the crowds which was pretty crazy.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxU1C-waBrP53xEDjjw91CQl3OeYHrFtSInSJDAuWvORNrPbHhe6Hi8UW8SnC6ZedgxcN2YBxHhHL2n4FYM3Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318623376859546850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1FtDl5ns7ukjc5NpJEn0gCGu-hhgYC800aslHlOo8JWPAhAmPOD53kZfARlD4dP1w9aZPqor7BI5nL4TqK0PmF6HmlHGuG2TkqObcLI-Mno6HStpqp3cSlI13doAGdgtinIIKA9_Os8_/s320/S4020005.JPG" border="0" />Bull fight posters.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFhG8RSCyb6UV81Po4IvGJpQdYUuA5BUJjjM_qlXerAFxmAPEz5AIfRljNkH1MplLveazUuvaBfoCosQHcCUCkImhyphenhyphenIBjCj_Z9YCRFb2kfefnU7fShXcP0nC53LRGnuVvs-OBj1MhHjKT/s1600-h/S4020011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318623386157084850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFhG8RSCyb6UV81Po4IvGJpQdYUuA5BUJjjM_qlXerAFxmAPEz5AIfRljNkH1MplLveazUuvaBfoCosQHcCUCkImhyphenhyphenIBjCj_Z9YCRFb2kfefnU7fShXcP0nC53LRGnuVvs-OBj1MhHjKT/s320/S4020011.JPG" border="0" /></a>Outside the bullring.</div><div>I originally had planned on just skipping the bullfight, but somehow I ended up going. It was a good experience and I really felt like I was immersing into the culture, even if there were lots of tourist at the bullfight also.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56i8Y4WgMB2UaWeceYsLuQBi1jsYg6eii0xVRvc2wr-X6rMThMyL6VnQj8buy3Nl0tqUyRDvBb38YfyflUdN59k2kk_9Oi9mu8A1XhPd9nHlpVHOfHw4IeB1k-RR90QdleSpIYuQI_N3o/s1600-h/Pink+Tights.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318623379066832530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56i8Y4WgMB2UaWeceYsLuQBi1jsYg6eii0xVRvc2wr-X6rMThMyL6VnQj8buy3Nl0tqUyRDvBb38YfyflUdN59k2kk_9Oi9mu8A1XhPd9nHlpVHOfHw4IeB1k-RR90QdleSpIYuQI_N3o/s320/Pink+Tights.jpg" border="0" /></a> Got to love those pink tights!</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318623829151957058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-_DUaBDk633fZmVddRfKckU9TxlgedJXdQX04O3Lj4vXJJzA0ARdpRfGUqIfoU4qjagvJMxa4SdxzZ-gvojmUJ26DjP1Ya1pfoxSIbeSgraGiJlXVMfobZWPVwJ6Vf6cD13jUJUnrvu_/s320/The+Best.jpg" border="0" /> This guy put on quite a show and the people loved him. He won the bull's ears from his fights.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhFybBt3UzPUGYqmtQIU7i7lrQj7-kZE8zgRrOnAGXGhN68I55rtJG6Yg0qq311IzTEP-4rP8cU4qS3zXDU5n6qSUJdSatM_que-z4GJWvsX8Zxq7e39irAiJq2Chn8VMSQO8mxv0XAir/s1600-h/Ole!.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318622975436662050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuhFybBt3UzPUGYqmtQIU7i7lrQj7-kZE8zgRrOnAGXGhN68I55rtJG6Yg0qq311IzTEP-4rP8cU4qS3zXDU5n6qSUJdSatM_que-z4GJWvsX8Zxq7e39irAiJq2Chn8VMSQO8mxv0XAir/s320/Ole!.jpg" border="0" /></a> I learned a lot about bullfighting and why it is a tradition. There were some pretty intense moments where I could feel my own heart racing and I had to turn away.</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318622679436743618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Z1GcPYI90OnFOK-F8NCqozcAsUMkePmUs6dD2leWDQsfhZMqSgpdZ1frxH0I1HLktZqpS7WfAD1oUbrgMd6XE_0Rj54D8SSywQ5V_dHYXPEFLDgJrBsim7FmXT2iolp_QDv7rN_77y5u/s320/Cigar.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>This guy smoked three or four cigars during the bullfight and we reaked of smoke afterwards.</div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318622681567776914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrhnv8Uz3bfeMohyLiidtzuyOmiNmoQUZXOSuxrSrldRQNhsts3LLz-Lm3Smha6z3Jt7ubxvTg3oULLm7WsqTTCd3MHzW0mF1YczgqfqT7ZK1y6wPxLBdVkU8WFs2caw95BJgoJtMtnlw/s320/Crowd.jpg" border="0" /> I loved to see the reactions of the spectators. It was so much fun to say "torro" along with everyone when the bullfighter had done something well or daring.<br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36nwfxOQBZYYzxyAl5UtMMf2F4nrY7zxZSz2rYMqLUTBBtoS03xXQuee81rIk7nNueYKRXBa0Rv2GBJzG_oT4c5vVFr0k3VPrueFnv6U8FlCmWU_Bkf7yUQPow-vJ4CqmUsGjQqC3g_tf/s1600-h/Jose+Tomas.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318622957732907362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi36nwfxOQBZYYzxyAl5UtMMf2F4nrY7zxZSz2rYMqLUTBBtoS03xXQuee81rIk7nNueYKRXBa0Rv2GBJzG_oT4c5vVFr0k3VPrueFnv6U8FlCmWU_Bkf7yUQPow-vJ4CqmUsGjQqC3g_tf/s320/Jose+Tomas.jpg" border="0" /></a> Sitting right behind us during the bullfight was Jose Thomas, the BEST matador in the world. Courtney, a girl in our group, got a handshake.</div><div><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-sJ_TixLDEPTPZRl7Mr1s7gBh14jLRu2jrRvzxAPaKuvfmef1rRt1qkKInMYaqH2VwKvHbAH4nRkFTfTF1mrXp6rb_51bNn_uN5vaHoYW3U-iOUp3uW54aceTfj9p-WFFfDLVoJ8su_1/s1600-h/Clock.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318622683743655330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-sJ_TixLDEPTPZRl7Mr1s7gBh14jLRu2jrRvzxAPaKuvfmef1rRt1qkKInMYaqH2VwKvHbAH4nRkFTfTF1mrXp6rb_51bNn_uN5vaHoYW3U-iOUp3uW54aceTfj9p-WFFfDLVoJ8su_1/s320/Clock.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>So much work and detail goes into the plaster statues that it is almost a shame to burn them up. The best are saved and put into a museum.</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318623833481608258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfM4ZDzqth28E1MOL7cFRBaZFQPJyYtgZYGRC4I-FsO0lRdFbS5XcFFehyphenhyphen6_vcm4XAzsJ2LZk57Dp_BA7jJaYTJa1Ei-pR6WD7D3MN-JmAzOEhXxIdGCH2xrjcljK9wXaTht5CWJ5fvjU/s320/Street+Lights.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div>When it got dark the streets lit up. There were hundreds of booths lining the streets for the festivities, selling trinkets, food, and what-not.</div><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318622681397691650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VFvEQGfg_hbTM2GYPiupat9KEesDSzu0Xutow7IhENIGA7Oa5TAKr3XyHZesgBYBG-y4uebMHwSmRpQnp8kS78qbzCD8eL-31ll9J9BzHDs6GVS35jMrv-aUS4T1dXZEcpBCIP6LemV_/s320/Fireworks.jpg" border="0" /> The fireworks were spectacular! There was so much variety and some that I've never seen before. It was literally raining ash on us because we were so close to were they were going off. You couldn't hear yourself let alone the person next to you during the show.<br /><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318622972095665410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigm5eR5t7oV8eIkT_DOGfIJeJVb6l95ktZaAun2V_a9CAZ3x0tU1vY_0FEBGoHBQYYK73JLyYqppkmRLlcSHtTap5MQx5G3nEYehqtTTyhmz2mSm8RgQrQRX3U-JwaIs2AJBfJ98cA45g/s320/Las+Fallas.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div>I don't think I will ever be satisfied with the Stadium of fire or doing fireworks at home again.</div><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318622970357828194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNOAP0bgMl-zokQD3V1gh0NT7I-s3mH-WRG6zUE-d1dyp5Ffz5KIR-9kxTL4KOrChUEso3NxitLHYSQlZxcwMspYJByIokt0rdpNv4xZhAu60VzxSQQmQGxB-jUcfjCzv37a-Tw1l3q-d/s320/n692195316_6335202_6165600.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /></div><p align="center">The grand finale!</p><p align="center">(We didn't get to our hotel until 3 a.m. and then we slept in until 10:30 a.m.) </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">*Thanks to Kim for a few of the photos!</span></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-56488308489684346602009-04-02T08:43:00.000-06:002009-04-02T16:11:49.636-06:00Bilbao<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318620799451338130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpvE0PqtNpvxphOmI6WYItyyQokHHUdrvjRj5dsK4SNDfH6f1EEdy8GYx-IvJRjtcE-OV_F_CArwhx38sDXj3RwboBu73cfE6rx6tfLoa8PYtJNGogEiOgy2xl4FBe06orqbTgXBm9HNEr/s320/Bridge+and+River+in+Bilbao.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">Bilbao was on our agenda while visiting the Basque Country in northern Spain. The hotel we stayed at was super bien!</div><div align="center">We celebrated Jenna's birthday with a Chinese dinner and toast (con agua).<br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318620807298850434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hhk8-KYtJQLVDBhkJxsBxA1H_y0P_jwTOF59dppfPieW-usGaO1nNaWwcCne7EhR7mIXeP82YE1KKvam3DLXXhOloMKdtfhv0ttWWpsE7aFmINMzFdub5vnu-jeK1o5K7qCRhbZpH7bL/s320/Guggenheim.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">The next morning we went to see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guggenheim_Museum_Bilbao">Guggenheim</a>. Bilbao is a the place to see some amazing architecture like the museum and the bridge.<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318620811516054098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqN01q0Rk6FBuMwXEzO8PPwtBkSTyXgpGWxKO4XCTP0q_gAc1RUK69wMhtupobfYALem90HmxluQztk-NiGDapRVLqZjpWDmO4wZAROkK8Ax8YhSDPX027HsM950nafhT1FAiiU8sB7GBL/s320/Guggenheim+on+a+cloud+in+Bilbao.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">The "pond" surrounding the museum made a mist and I felt like I was in a cloud.</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumfA_l98xQaTldJW8rZsIQJ0CexjSK7V5sLmcbACglT-2eSqMp7Fc-y2VY3UqOYnIBML-7o-J-hq468zlrR9BZ0Sf6MqTctTy5460ClfESUq_4EC-BhFphi4m78dGFNIoCb9hvfJNHI1j/s1600-h/S4020134.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318621094050166466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumfA_l98xQaTldJW8rZsIQJ0CexjSK7V5sLmcbACglT-2eSqMp7Fc-y2VY3UqOYnIBML-7o-J-hq468zlrR9BZ0Sf6MqTctTy5460ClfESUq_4EC-BhFphi4m78dGFNIoCb9hvfJNHI1j/s320/S4020134.JPG" border="0" /></a> Me in the mist!</div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOTk2sh4FKnmaF3YT8CI2BxeLhvt3YiyRkAJjs8ws2gm9BG5n_PsJ_uwdg8xpmf8XzfRm1qRNvRFTDRkvr5zd_jxI2cqHdwRM4mAQ_0E-7CgTee5dc7bmk3E6fpIxVTihnA1ljHdVzZCA/s1600-h/S4020129.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318620824379074882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKOTk2sh4FKnmaF3YT8CI2BxeLhvt3YiyRkAJjs8ws2gm9BG5n_PsJ_uwdg8xpmf8XzfRm1qRNvRFTDRkvr5zd_jxI2cqHdwRM4mAQ_0E-7CgTee5dc7bmk3E6fpIxVTihnA1ljHdVzZCA/s320/S4020129.JPG" border="0" /></a> A creepy spider statue.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYtktPY6gg_6dl4QoFhRQoeGp8pjoDRVzGvdky8cgOLsaWcheNKGgrOEtevot71S6iRkb0gEFCxvq3Mr_lJXyCfqmjrIuW_67nFahBJiRwsL49bQqLUMNwTV1ELXTlarMlPPTVrD-AxvT/s1600-h/S4020126.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318620815827188258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYtktPY6gg_6dl4QoFhRQoeGp8pjoDRVzGvdky8cgOLsaWcheNKGgrOEtevot71S6iRkb0gEFCxvq3Mr_lJXyCfqmjrIuW_67nFahBJiRwsL49bQqLUMNwTV1ELXTlarMlPPTVrD-AxvT/s320/S4020126.JPG" border="0" /></a> I noticed this little suprise underneath an overpass!<br /><div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318621102341276594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJlw30ph02NfuCp5Fbu9mqrTkn7xweWDUzJHTjOyS1OENoCw0rsNl6Am_U059A2ymq_vRUYEpvZpQdIC_m77fMrX2GIvuAWg7WtUUyFYA9ZMDtE-BCgJjfJQCm8sT3khnf7cuvxCeWDMgg/s320/S4020137.JPG" border="0" /> There is a super fun park next to the Guggenheim full of out-of-the-ordinary toys. I didn't get a good picture, but the little guy sitting underneath the jungle gym thing was doing tons of acrobat tricks and stunts while we were there. So cool!<br /><div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318621102863851906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqZwFT2-hhc31hLaYj1aGkPeziaqOWyrKE6i83MMDuyNZSb58f-fjYELIilhKu6GEBSbMIcq3ntAPduR6adKkZYNtkshItjwQIKwzYOuT633-6PIoQCL-2K6q2iiKEUTfZeeLvu1Xf-eA/s320/n692195316_6334829_5763384.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div></div><br /></div><p align="center">Sorry Mr. Brown, I think I liked this bush clock better than the famous tree stump when we went to Guernica (the city that was devestated by German bombs in 1937). On our way back to Alcalá we ran into snow, crazy. </p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-83103387654882523342009-03-30T08:33:00.000-06:002009-03-30T14:58:20.966-06:00San Sebastian<div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318618805571218258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMT_qtuAmAZ8B0QnD-MhxAly3DkjxfQTolj_wam3IW64gw2uO7ImZDJnUN7Zldq49isuR7iiQK8UGmG3ckk1UIXwXXrPR9_yS8iGNxSkq3FyqBQk7XM3amTli6OZ49Cva8i2k7QVxaIQ-/s320/S4020102.JPG" border="0" />San Sebastian was fantastic! There is no wonder why people write of the sea. </div><div align="center">A sense of wonder, excitement, insecurity, freedom, and bliss.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318618799999231458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdU2WDCiiFM8ecNEidHYVvrEJ8WUPJYt8Ba86x81zIdPC55X4DUM5CBq7UNnIDPCmulc0qSBnLA5HeeeV8eox4-FruGPknhy7iIBCG1iWEAFA34c1NaXz1B65nszOpCDlTdUdV2SL04UsV/s320/S4020101.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">We hiked up to a lookout over the coast and beaches.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318618811535285762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQyVTk02uGbO9oP92WnKhxY3tYEvU_NEbEGLQctIb0IxFEmSipVWzHTkmXLskBaDXMN8T9CB2v3lvwJIE7WwA_2AczbCvyUICCpzmhDXRgPSpPyOunot__4-VdnezF38Vu6qV9SOvMesvy/s320/S4020100.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">There is an awesome castle and statue of Christ at the lookout.<br /></p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318618805399498082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qoz3WatR44tVehuh9VeEBMHyW85uLr2gXOa28ceaaAhzTFN6dIAEuSXrSKQF6Zd1URlbzxCFS3dZzvwc3D-30zEDHWtNZ0YxlYKDyrwU4FlB2Fq5Q8Jnd5OdXG9zlOpVrxYxudThwIcU/s320/S4020105.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">The boardwalk was quite a lively place full of people and things to see.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318618810632734290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9dsKTrNuBsVGmsWWy3oXHvBYey5bKAAgq-fS5k25d5-w-JIqIrEDg9n_Y0E1qpbrHYhj30yEj0GYhXDFxSMmURjOQvOmq8Hxat5AhRLl0fRovxlsMUOI0DbpkvfzEBScV4xSnZcLABqW/s320/S4020106.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">My favorite lamp posts of Spain.</p><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318619262807086450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiFusSVjNUm5P3ZfTFiLpsLGnOZnKODpf_1v2uEx64K_GW9BCDb1uucNJiAO4o09vJucZPM5ngPrrUjSJP_v_Weq5I9rs1lLRBU22pqAtF-UNyvUnfNN8iZGtIRdsPZrzLLM5WbwEqsve/s320/S4020108.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div align="center">The water was a little chilly so we just waded.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJN7wR3RnSh21j6clzuKOnomrR52iVeYOM5zfPNmpuhn9uTlCMlC6BgnXIEDW2_iDRo5dWqhHI2euyvkinYNkKP2ehFxE7EMglQ4G1djAjuz7Vd68Ydj4k03vckfq_csFvX8jFOgs8VWVH/s1600-h/S4020116.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318619249649072050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJN7wR3RnSh21j6clzuKOnomrR52iVeYOM5zfPNmpuhn9uTlCMlC6BgnXIEDW2_iDRo5dWqhHI2euyvkinYNkKP2ehFxE7EMglQ4G1djAjuz7Vd68Ydj4k03vckfq_csFvX8jFOgs8VWVH/s320/S4020116.JPG" border="0" /></a> There were a lot of surfers who braved the cold water.</div><div> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318619237176732914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cFTjrTVBKEBK1Ymd_jEts2N515e0kWRq44t-bGZYhlM-HXQP0gsKGEDjjKTdRwk8LBS9kSH8Ikyxmujc6i1p2ZbqWpM6lTJbPlGNJ38HkbH-sASzEygqA9pLpa25i-LXAlkau_9RUcLX/s320/S4020118.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /></div><p align="center">All in all it was a beautiful day at the beach!</p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-11805629158453114212009-03-30T08:30:00.000-06:002009-03-30T14:48:02.509-06:00Roncesvalles<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFAE9MUgS_o7tZebsfQFB3BamdNMGF9C4mHvYZLNPo5CE30aqc-MEs-2ofHT5eS3IjkSHhguYaPs2kJFBcUnRurf2myh9e-qK5honzwM6erFMCdj_vkUWadxI43vcp8DlfV8J0sm-g_md/s1600-h/S4020088.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318617667242906418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFAE9MUgS_o7tZebsfQFB3BamdNMGF9C4mHvYZLNPo5CE30aqc-MEs-2ofHT5eS3IjkSHhguYaPs2kJFBcUnRurf2myh9e-qK5honzwM6erFMCdj_vkUWadxI43vcp8DlfV8J0sm-g_md/s320/S4020088.JPG" border="0" /></a> We took a windy and beautiful bus trip up through the Pyrenees, the mountains in northern Spain/souther France to see a pilgrimage sight called Roncesvalles. This was the setting for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Song_of_Roland">"The Song of Roland."</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGFtKTiFsrKHINaqL-sCZmyN2Zz_F_e0sBgrP46KwjZ1thApAO_jZn09r-2NT837PPq4DPJD7QiZYxfVEOjhVc6Splqn8ZQ-saN0eO0V-_9s37x3RvdNJVnLdxZyora4Rh8lWZXdxr8y1/s1600-h/S4020085.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318617658432808002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGFtKTiFsrKHINaqL-sCZmyN2Zz_F_e0sBgrP46KwjZ1thApAO_jZn09r-2NT837PPq4DPJD7QiZYxfVEOjhVc6Splqn8ZQ-saN0eO0V-_9s37x3RvdNJVnLdxZyora4Rh8lWZXdxr8y1/s320/S4020085.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5_hC0GRdvuvifJcCD__4eA7IIeUmpO1EHfxeuktLvBqIVN1EI0uPs-z_dFkU6MbOxeF_Nix32ljP3yPOZIV56zN9D0LAHUi1JjDl4jKsFIHYyHCMCJuVc3uOsYc9dfkDxOoA-cwxBJ5v/s1600-h/S4020081.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318617655035241058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid5_hC0GRdvuvifJcCD__4eA7IIeUmpO1EHfxeuktLvBqIVN1EI0uPs-z_dFkU6MbOxeF_Nix32ljP3yPOZIV56zN9D0LAHUi1JjDl4jKsFIHYyHCMCJuVc3uOsYc9dfkDxOoA-cwxBJ5v/s320/S4020081.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP27U3kHzbfc_kQWj5WTMuXS4sQZjM2LHRJ9LUPuq6CKwp5IleZqEZIBf5caIpxtBnirOR85D7zbdkcvnnyDUd8YfcS8JXgtJRj6upB0CDCMncYkO3EfVQTqvEiJcT21Hlhj9adMRgiFxb/s1600-h/S4020077.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318617644649453874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP27U3kHzbfc_kQWj5WTMuXS4sQZjM2LHRJ9LUPuq6CKwp5IleZqEZIBf5caIpxtBnirOR85D7zbdkcvnnyDUd8YfcS8JXgtJRj6upB0CDCMncYkO3EfVQTqvEiJcT21Hlhj9adMRgiFxb/s320/S4020077.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318617663700443106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprCUzzhPVQGQkYYkyRc002PJ98BR-265WcLAb2o2T6JZ3oyz4NoNVrhNRNfNT3rkuEJdV7z7F_1_1vxnvKsbfuvqv2FnNpBHrC3DcEQEfWSLhVAUbK-9HDZ_f2T4GkU-HpAtxq4JDPk91/s320/S4020089.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><br /><br /></div><p align="center">A view out my window. What a long bus ride that was.</p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-57881839672239341542009-03-30T08:26:00.000-06:002009-03-30T14:40:09.597-06:00Pamplona<div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318616761864296738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBGNU1TWkm2BtndXRDcbiGv_rQNN7fMAlRmgFc3wr1SmaMi0S7lhK7bU8StbXzSJTay3T6lDKMyTIehOwuAhPUdv8XATqQjcIbZt4I8sEAd5zuXqG6lDqbAAvELNR-A9wpHylkmipLdXyJ/s320/S4020075.JPG" border="0" /> Pamplona is famous for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_running_of_the_bulls">Running of the Bulls</a>. </div><div align="center">Even though we didn't run with the bulls, Lauren and I went on a vigorous morning run and got to see the city in the wee hours, including a bunch of wasted teenagers.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKVr1g7c4NMfPm-MY_wVr6p8kR4lpobYI9RbSAJUSf-k5bCEYHvfnKp2ARVE4kDxp69tyR403dbDvAv9IeFNitCCqlzAtVoegAphv4RXVJwnxEwy_h5wHdsp7xf71GxdMCndzUQpLiUkN/s1600-h/S4020068.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318616761723161906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYKVr1g7c4NMfPm-MY_wVr6p8kR4lpobYI9RbSAJUSf-k5bCEYHvfnKp2ARVE4kDxp69tyR403dbDvAv9IeFNitCCqlzAtVoegAphv4RXVJwnxEwy_h5wHdsp7xf71GxdMCndzUQpLiUkN/s320/S4020068.JPG" border="0" /></a> We wandered the streets and discovered some fountains and beautiful buildings. I love seeing all the kids playing out in the park while the parents and grandparents socialized on the benches.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTTUT0eOF-p2hBx3Khp6VXfqAUWg3u-564fNnVOS29yMpnfGpy6Mwntg4k2J1YSaZQRRWzmHd6Qz8ySznD2JDn8hw_51ZG0z1kHviyV0172WUdh32hNvIyynj5vOQ1MXXfRZdwycRMtFy/s1600-h/S4020065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318616752294482626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTTUT0eOF-p2hBx3Khp6VXfqAUWg3u-564fNnVOS29yMpnfGpy6Mwntg4k2J1YSaZQRRWzmHd6Qz8ySznD2JDn8hw_51ZG0z1kHviyV0172WUdh32hNvIyynj5vOQ1MXXfRZdwycRMtFy/s320/S4020065.JPG" border="0" /></a> We went to one of the <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>cutest</strong></span> stores ever! <a href="http://www.intermalla.es/index_.html">Click here,</a> you know you want to!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318616768935284418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJK3Ncj_CP8pJqbxCiQt29n0L4kH-3odw16255IRvMhqZNLJOej4F7QBXohXQVqLPQ-xv7vQjFHPNtj82OETT4Xm6_sdHdvy9bGe2d1dYsyk67KunxE1-IxKLBbH5PK1TWmH8CoY1qoa7/s320/S4020076.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><p align="center">I really liked Pamplona.</p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-60072676885800657252009-03-30T08:11:00.000-06:002009-03-30T14:31:49.748-06:00Burgos<div align="center"><em>Burgos, the "Provo" of Spain.</em> </div><div align="center">(Our director said this because Burgos is one of the most conservative cities in all of Spain.)</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318614136287840098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xM4DGdemxoJ5eXx5IUAoIbZ26az3D8xs2XPDdCva46mC2_QqDAB71JQvKInTxGbXuNMDyzgEMynIQT6E_7YUcUCXzOximdIvJ0Bal1ukV-A_agMbiS-Lwc7OH6IWSkzdc5OsoGRMTezN/s320/Burgos+Catedral.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div align="center">This cathedral was full of light, very different from some past cathedrals.<br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvN1tpVMYROwwn0gaL2Dtr0ff-TQTzBA8aWKTR15-9q0Mb9gGhroay-tfAeWRowAi0rtU6wYdtdO5iUdZh-JH_0sT4mJs4-U7-oooN0RblgV2LkA9rs3HG_SBgUmKv8p3M7zasKo1em8z/s1600-h/S4020016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318614157610948962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrvN1tpVMYROwwn0gaL2Dtr0ff-TQTzBA8aWKTR15-9q0Mb9gGhroay-tfAeWRowAi0rtU6wYdtdO5iUdZh-JH_0sT4mJs4-U7-oooN0RblgV2LkA9rs3HG_SBgUmKv8p3M7zasKo1em8z/s320/S4020016.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center">We were able to take photos sin flash!</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318615535192096082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOh-PNIJe1ffdk-F1grzHgm6-7l2Pst_phahuUV02qgSBbB98U-SZXYcCMoyiRAzcB0QVTOzh1ZEkkg0Kgo_JW880udKdS8eei_ToTGt2JPxxLqSRv5ehxx3nAetSx6k3737Tl1PLHQa2i/s320/S4020026.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div align="center">The final resting place for El Cid, or the hero of Spain.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOaML5RpCv5wqFPowBDkIXB-s2UOSkQn1xb43heGGFzKYEsIZH7YiY-mj-hB1xBw9RdLeJfERjM2nsALou9lNxS1FBTbAFp4NMXiQJil-mo7T8PqadE6yfM5n32sFHQS-UKBJQkHi8M9-/s1600-h/S4020033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318614150447074162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOaML5RpCv5wqFPowBDkIXB-s2UOSkQn1xb43heGGFzKYEsIZH7YiY-mj-hB1xBw9RdLeJfERjM2nsALou9lNxS1FBTbAFp4NMXiQJil-mo7T8PqadE6yfM5n32sFHQS-UKBJQkHi8M9-/s320/S4020033.JPG" border="0" /></a> I cannot remember who these monarchs are but I love this sculture/coffin.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318615545465941202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8nvMVcoi19-baJqrJahLSj3QxYhMV2b27GDumW3o9YiMbjfS0qhcBjfckzYSXXLq2Zku7JWUX8m-5E40gWTNwQs6xFOiCpZu9-w8ixFkMHGO1VrVeROZbzubZneghO2p72YHLLjVOnoZ/s320/S4020042.JPG" border="0" /> More magnificent ceilings and windows.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318614592156951538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFjsj48m60Q8q6yLOv6cgtT8IJrIdauLkohyphenhyphenT40rDzzQKHaxoC_9nn1KA0lp_af1aM3t5pwb-Og93QTIApGRGGZhu-NooveLPUs8RFx7I8VS14DsseeOQpLZzMhTCbS2UqwawWYEF-XBq/s320/Ceiling+in+Cathedral.JPG" border="0" /> </div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-89247632696296619982009-03-29T09:17:00.003-06:002009-03-29T09:21:40.423-06:00A Little Behind...<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I apologize.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">With all this traveling, doing school work, and embracing the relaxed Spanish lifestyle, I have put off posting on my travels.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">The next few days there will be <em>LOADS</em> of posts so watch out!</span></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-14429237981651712342009-03-11T10:21:00.000-06:002009-03-11T16:01:37.298-06:00On the streets of Madrid<div align="center"><em>Let me share with you some streets scenes from Madrid!</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center"><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310855343053844226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPM8sMZ_DdWQ_HgwrWPidVo4wAqP-ZKZvmu9Dh1jK0J9NIXP2O3XKS6ASO7qSD-gLC02-YaWHq4EqWszuMVhCpEtx-51c6GwkytocGpTNwTGe6HQwIfvkJvXi50F3U2q2B8tgofbX-xlNh/s320/S4020044.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310857544169242850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ8ANXNY2sVrXWWisItaKX-Mn_HqmXoZ7mlYiGnbEXu5k-jUu8JHLIQlp63tdsc1FN_SnCAFK1uxonRS8WzrrOgAsupT0BXWiAHW9VYfA9Q7OAMHSXngH-2m9wdLBz2TiTV2LxiUBy8xRP/s320/Atoche+Renfe+Train+Station.JPG" border="0" /></em></div><div align="center">This is our arrival point for most of our trips into Madrid: Atocha Renfe.</div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310856822622599682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVEqrSLIoVr3-WRruZR92TZP-fY-FXwS1LMIL8v6ELHnQaA-eKX_CmEDgsAEtOAt_hs30E6iYqkKu3MwZM3g9li07pa7DDC1Ex0OTp85Xr_QoHZcKM24dR8GGMh-knOQJPa1gU5cXDkUk/s320/The+US+is+even+jealous+of+Madrid%27s+Metro.JPG" border="0" /> <div align="center">Riding the Metro is a different experience every time. Sometimes we see drunks pass out. Sometimes we are targeted by pick pocketers. Sometimes we are squished into those cars with people literally on our laps. We ALWAYS are running to catch the next train back home.</div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310857558467906402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqD9qxTKxVtRkC8kTU2s0B7u5-AKjcXVUBD7epLztX0HAppFTPq3gHiNaxlo_NyeV6mmCrHhajno2952Kt154GLvVZWT-xZvrYeK8BxxHqMNHwAr70s3bhHq9kG3j71R9VTTFTLrj9KbG/s320/Musician+in+the+subway.jpg" border="0" /> People like to play all kinds of instruments for some dinero. I like to listen to them, especially the opera lady.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310857547314798034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc2IWhC0pp2fZKrIOHdViZWlRXQRUqakBf10VKtKMn5XVRRF4AtIkZ35T4UqvZWXr1kcmKLS_BoMBXDzSSQRCK-WnbYu36izWlfUQ8_u2npXMLMg99G1TBw7gXyBaTGckM9boStQMLMX6/s320/Plaza.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">This plaza was my first view of Madrid.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310856812752589634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuACGh73JY1pRAM3TjHUo8E_iuGXGQjZaB_cR7ZXEh0-ThYR-fbwj63l9K3a3XOR4dEXcAOYaXtYMaSiy5rDt6z6TzLhO5udJHCfyHjglrpDyGpArYNjLPY-WqHHITsMJ0zVshGbVW2hCk/s320/Graffitti+everywhere.JPG" border="0" />A city canvas.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310856213200914418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrz8VKSeC7JDkBVUA2i43yD9Ifr41yl4KHxSw6ORuicRQpy1BS9jrARwcdZxIDjVCQALq5QMj3KLEnIz43aM4bmjT3-P7JRBdIBtTq3PwN2h3dY4pdviLPO5_6Xkw3D-lzMYQOVss5YK1r/s320/Doggies.JPG" border="0" /> It is funny to see all the little "accessory" dogs.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310854355609382514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvndJ_o8c5pKZsWlaJXxuRGkzQ1oh_xqLkme5zE8Nn8cq2DTZvs3ckq4aK-LFvsutQ-a7og10Uie276tLyxe78PtxZHg9uSNjg8TjkEBoDTYOzz720Xt69rTlPqvNZpJ9DYERnbo5Zo11s/s320/Landscape+Cow.JPG" border="0" /></p><div align="center">These painted cows are part of a traveling art exhibit. Some of them are kind of pretty.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAEtgLNNZSjPH_LUofUOBi_g2zI6vE1vT9fpC-QQYf6xv4XJC-6kJCJfOjZ8pyBqkmN-21BAKLVaWCnRDu7VVn9UF5tyDsJNhPK5ieHFIIDaO_r4Rwk5VnEQBVkh1t6WxwAoSxWb0zxLu/s1600-h/S4020075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310855356624027714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAEtgLNNZSjPH_LUofUOBi_g2zI6vE1vT9fpC-QQYf6xv4XJC-6kJCJfOjZ8pyBqkmN-21BAKLVaWCnRDu7VVn9UF5tyDsJNhPK5ieHFIIDaO_r4Rwk5VnEQBVkh1t6WxwAoSxWb0zxLu/s320/S4020075.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiCoDFLc8PysGBS4FTqnO8n1Zac9_mJRw3NIoNsXIpgvXj0npGzdFEDzECSP9v-CWL9cPqj0xedNFGsXgHcs3Jtk8dRWjYIj4DdBYppXeu75e245FNSz4KOuJ7YfHt-cnKFlmQmaWwSAi/s1600-h/Street+Statue.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310856216051619778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiCoDFLc8PysGBS4FTqnO8n1Zac9_mJRw3NIoNsXIpgvXj0npGzdFEDzECSP9v-CWL9cPqj0xedNFGsXgHcs3Jtk8dRWjYIj4DdBYppXeu75e245FNSz4KOuJ7YfHt-cnKFlmQmaWwSAi/s320/Street+Statue.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a>Earning daily bread courtesy of tourists.</p><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN5SRmLNsmBvDc4YZWPu-57G_cpi-YhoapOC0TTE6mSsVvrjW9fqk6nCxqR3GHBnMKiGMf90OqTJWiNHEcBV88zGSGy47aMeIiEOeRJd_JyAWxJi6_pXB5x71RUkTMr6yQXcfx4k-1oRN/s1600-h/Street+Statue+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310856207743051602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkN5SRmLNsmBvDc4YZWPu-57G_cpi-YhoapOC0TTE6mSsVvrjW9fqk6nCxqR3GHBnMKiGMf90OqTJWiNHEcBV88zGSGy47aMeIiEOeRJd_JyAWxJi6_pXB5x71RUkTMr6yQXcfx4k-1oRN/s320/Street+Statue+2.JPG" border="0" /></a> I feel bad because I never put any money in the pot.<br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qkMdM4mzC_SNsxzQdw46ZkuB_TCAiberYuvvUvmO5GEP5cuxgfl24rj11S2Y0G-LVX0mwskQwR5wSjV8WJW-wqVn4h29bT56sT5JVMc4vtqt8p7gO6cSb4GKS3lqugvnZLIwKsNfNrWa/s1600-h/S4020002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310854371421647394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qkMdM4mzC_SNsxzQdw46ZkuB_TCAiberYuvvUvmO5GEP5cuxgfl24rj11S2Y0G-LVX0mwskQwR5wSjV8WJW-wqVn4h29bT56sT5JVMc4vtqt8p7gO6cSb4GKS3lqugvnZLIwKsNfNrWa/s320/S4020002.JPG" border="0" /></a> This guy reminded me of <em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Invisible_Man">The Invisible Man.</a></em></div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310856199553549186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyV8dp2k6oUJ4JIs3Kovx2uHQ78ac2R6zmptNRfGQr73FLdVJnO0doZU5jnZowxZoLkpVbrw6hrr1pRivKA40su_WFXrHEiTIdn5lFMV9iUoDpGobIIH6DvLEaUlXOoTupGfaio_xN1bp/s320/Street+flamenco+dancers.jpg" border="0" />These flamenco dancers were not as good as Valencia or "Carmen," but still fun to see.</div><div></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310855333347851362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp_yO1ZkYYuM2MOk5FQ1r17Qmgn2I0Jwrg1afUff6-uGu98ByyABjs9HfbRtgkLteuGk-Tay04wDP_4-uO4Tffn9H2w07nqa9p74z4Pb9yK2yy4plL6476fyPXC8Tv_520Sx8MGWTHMgM/s320/S4020006.JPG" border="0" /> Very different, very awesome.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0rfraWFeWAJhdCUCRbaIf8yx7p4_ol13WEpNI172ErfDH9Bf_00vKR1Se78MxaWxXgE-09UjIoSOxnmnJ7ZvvlxbBwKdhcYwwP86ZnMkW7IbuYzcfOasmsjbbmXvVTDTvxmVyevmx-r8/s1600-h/S4020001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310854367962877250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0rfraWFeWAJhdCUCRbaIf8yx7p4_ol13WEpNI172ErfDH9Bf_00vKR1Se78MxaWxXgE-09UjIoSOxnmnJ7ZvvlxbBwKdhcYwwP86ZnMkW7IbuYzcfOasmsjbbmXvVTDTvxmVyevmx-r8/s320/S4020001.JPG" border="0" /></a> This small ensemble was super good and made that trip five times better because it was a cold and cloudy day. They played classical pieces and attracted a large crowd.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4q-zbpnqxu4aBFiBWtpmTWq4BwIW2nP6umzJ5oT-ZgDHdOgXohxoT-I1TtfHY78QXbEO0XdPoZdnV_JoURuyJBkeYq50m0hiLtxA31XaOQobV8bR9fLT8hzaCy-oZgAFozBtB-tbbzeH/s1600-h/Mariachi+in+Madrid.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310854355930290194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA4q-zbpnqxu4aBFiBWtpmTWq4BwIW2nP6umzJ5oT-ZgDHdOgXohxoT-I1TtfHY78QXbEO0XdPoZdnV_JoURuyJBkeYq50m0hiLtxA31XaOQobV8bR9fLT8hzaCy-oZgAFozBtB-tbbzeH/s320/Mariachi+in+Madrid.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><br /><div align="center">Mariachi in Madrid? The famous statue and symbol of Madrid, the bear and tree, is in the background.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY66O92HSa04WcxYG6om2_EbOR78V7WeAAoebF9VxdpbwykybKpDTRp4C9RrKAeNNHlYxeO5ktyG13o2yk258TM5HwrV_WSNCSZuvl14QRySR0xlTd7M6oqZV3ncjFX1kIbU1_hEEjWbnp/s1600-h/KFC+in+Madrid.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310856818821979634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY66O92HSa04WcxYG6om2_EbOR78V7WeAAoebF9VxdpbwykybKpDTRp4C9RrKAeNNHlYxeO5ktyG13o2yk258TM5HwrV_WSNCSZuvl14QRySR0xlTd7M6oqZV3ncjFX1kIbU1_hEEjWbnp/s320/KFC+in+Madrid.JPG" border="0" /></a> Obviously you can find a McDonald and KFC restaurante most places in the world. I confess I have gone to McDonalds a couple times, but only for a yogurt and once for cherry tomatoes.</div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310857567121791330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji91IZJVTxaVV9jBJJRTUtJiIIyIyw7kZ3bm53_tQJSacImbnl9-104cf9JA3fl72APScOkqYPk0s5HSsem0i0xaFSgw4HXtxI1DcjAXBksfC2w97KxgfCatRiJH1veuH6oZsv38zQxj-_/s320/Yummy+castena,+roasted+chestnut.JPG" border="0" /> Speaking of la comida... this my friends is a <a class="l" onmousedown="return clk(this.href,'','','res','2','&sig2=3psGy6MwfVWe842iY5EseQ')" href="http://flickr.com/photos/lubre/251097935/">castañ</a>a, roasted chestnut. Back in January when the weather was begging me for a warm belly I miraculously found a street vendor. </div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310867060383016674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2Ed4Q6QXQY_vuTMfdXgvAH-hdrpyBW2Qbkta7kPOhv70v-sElGlRXZH3F8C0-YCSeafM9rDlRIdsSS-QOnVoIJNstXppoYtEeoOr4Eha8dnh1K69ucKErF2H9Ffh0LJDxoobNAoMoVrs/s320/Valor+Chocolateria.jpg" border="0" />And yes, the famous chocolateria. This was by far the best chocolate and churros I have had in Spain. I am seriously contemplating opening a place like this to battle all the frozen yogurt places in Provo.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310855345213245986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hXg1dUYkhfiLVGqC1SV1uTaGXoVHqyDU4Vto9Ht2Vdv8prWTSxuQmov9rA-ky1MV0VcV5dOL_tMUBM3Exvchzeiz_ipAnYMyWV1yyXauBNiSalVkiha4PlWJ2IwElO5gXb0HW6Jy-cMf/s320/S4020073.JPG" border="0" /> At the entrance to El Parque del Buen Retiro there is a street lined with books stalls. You betcha I have spent a couple hours of happiness here!</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310855354391291314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0W2GYr1s-10_o1Buh4ybw4kfRjJkRvbcGqZKj089my-FVpY8JJC8GIl6uwshshRwutTTs77Dh7Kt74FH_5J886RuyjomD53QvpNKvBIRsZHfflSCw8iTMv7trwxv8ig5oX7_EKh0OLrkV/s320/S4020074.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">(The only downside to it is that all the books are in Spanish.)</span></p>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331062249389898379.post-80853511655547458222009-03-09T15:08:00.003-06:002009-03-09T15:17:09.159-06:0018 Months<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-et7ZTM0TnxmtZpP9em25zjBh3wG6KxQ2ncfeo4BGtO3eAfA3e24IC5Wrl3px4QMYnSdHkMlySkL0qeZRsvM-gnSzICSmfrB_eY8sxjhMppJzm_MXaYllyqHDYDDmpD6hxzLCEAzIvjm6/s1600-h/IMGP5296.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311299732996567378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-et7ZTM0TnxmtZpP9em25zjBh3wG6KxQ2ncfeo4BGtO3eAfA3e24IC5Wrl3px4QMYnSdHkMlySkL0qeZRsvM-gnSzICSmfrB_eY8sxjhMppJzm_MXaYllyqHDYDDmpD6hxzLCEAzIvjm6/s320/IMGP5296.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:courier new;color:#000099;">I'm going to miss this girl.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#000099;">Buena suerte en Chile Hermana Arnold!</span><br /><br /><br /></div>Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12540063886058724105noreply@blogger.com0