We have just finished four days in Spain, our first port; we are back on the ship and on the way to Morocco. But first some family news, good family news. Gabe has accepted a new position for Worldmark, a sister company of Wyndham, in Seattle. He has responsibility in 7 locations in 3 states. On the brink of moving to Puerto Rico this all worked out. We are thrilled to have all of the Hogans and Armstrongs, including their dogs together in Seattle. Tristan went to Las Vegas to help with the move. Everyone arrived safely after some quick planning and arranging. Funny highlights- as the furniture got moved out of the Las Vegas home Malachi had nothing to hold on to as he cruised around the house so he became more daring and confident in his walking. He also now has three words and a few signs in baby sign language. Once in Seattle Scout had to lay down some ground rules to newcomers, Pete and Malachi. Scout is not interested in sharing the #1 in cuteness spot with either of them. The Armstrong house in LV is on the market and they will be looking for an apartment in Seattle, probably near Tristan and Elizabeth as that is also near Gabe’s work. Tristan and Gabe have enjoyed golf together in LV and Seattle in the past week. Tristan and Elizabeth hosted a dinner party for 10 to celebrate the Armstrong arrival. What a great big brother. Guess where we are going as soon as we can in May?
So during the wee small hours Weds. morning the ship stopped rocking and I was vaguely aware that we must be in Cádiz. Many watched the docking from the top of the ship. We were extremely well prepared for Spain through several great lectures by a UVA faculty who was on the ship just through Spain. He has written 13 books related to Spain and has been knighted by King Juan Carlos. We had drinks with him and his wife in the evenings in the faculty lounge with more tips on dining and enjoying. We have covered Spain’s history as well as its culture and great artists. Once in Spain we saw 4 cities. The quick summary is that we went to each city, had a tour, saw a cathedral and/or palace and/or mosque, had paella everywhere, great coffee, lots of tinto (red wine) and got to know several faculty couples and lots of students.
The detailed summary follows. First stop the port of Cádiz, Hóg and I took the Big Red Bus tour for a city orientation then went back to the areas that we liked best. We spoke to some teachers who were demonstrating in front of their school. They are being asked to work more hours and do not want to, sounds familiar. Had a nice lunch at Casa Lazo. The art on the wall was a black and white photo of a single pig. His relatives were on the menu. We did try the boar as well as sardines, dried tuna loin, always wonderful olives and cerveza.
The second day we took off in two buses for a three city trip to Seville, Córdoba and Grenada. We liked Seville best, due to its age and charm.
First stop in Seville was the Plaza de España, an enormous building from the 1929 Exhibition, lunch at Hosteria Del Laurel, followed by Santa Maria Cathedral, the third largest in the world and the largest in Gothic style. It took 100 years to build and certainly had us thinking of Pillars of the Earth. Christopher Columbus, or at least part of him, is buried there. He was moved numerous times after his death. Many churches began as Muslim and were shifted to Catholic. They are proud of the coexistence of Muslims, Christians and Jews in Spain now but acceptance was not always there. Lunch was excellent, many courses in a charming place, dried herbs, garlic braids and hams hanging high. We drove to Córdoba and checked into our hotel next. Walked a bit in the city and had dinner in our hotel. The students find the bars and stay out late. So far we hang with the faculty but have not stayed out late. We have been asked to come along and will definitely get to it. My nick name for some is M2, for Mom #2. Friday morning we had a guided tour through the walled city. All enjoyed the Mezquita, a mosque intended to surpass all other mosques in grandeur, the Alcázar constructed in 1300s and the medieval Jewish quarter. Hóg and I had great coffee at El Caballo Rojo. Best event, a student asked me if I were an artist because I was sketching for my drawing class. Loved that! Next we drove to Grenada and checked into another hotel. Dinner was there and quite good. This morning we toured the Alhambra, the most popular sight in Spain, building began in the 13th century. Today the fortress and the royal palace remain. The king’s area and the queen’s area in the private section are the most spectacular. The king had four wives. The first one to present a son was the recognized queen, unless an “accident” befell that son and then the one to present the next son was recognized. Watch your back, tough times for charity. After lunch we drove back to the ship and departed.
We are underway and feeling the waves again, in fact, I felt them for days on land too; the sea to land transition is more than anticipated. Tomorrow we stop for fuel in Gibraltar. It takes six hours but we cannot leave the ship. Fuel is hugely expensive and we use 2000 gallons per hour. The ship runs largely on autopilot and only two people are actually up there piloting. Our bridge tour was very interesting. Extended families have not been assigned yet. We only have a day until Morocco and they will be cramming in the prep. I do answer all emails so please write if you want to. I can add you to my contacts easily that way too. If you sign up as a friend of the blog you will be notified when entries are posted. Otherwise, just check once in a while. Miss you all but having a great time.
(Uploading pictures to the blog is internet time-consuming, especially when activity levels are high. We still intend to post pictures as we go but we may miss sometimes.)
So during the wee small hours Weds. morning the ship stopped rocking and I was vaguely aware that we must be in Cádiz. Many watched the docking from the top of the ship. We were extremely well prepared for Spain through several great lectures by a UVA faculty who was on the ship just through Spain. He has written 13 books related to Spain and has been knighted by King Juan Carlos. We had drinks with him and his wife in the evenings in the faculty lounge with more tips on dining and enjoying. We have covered Spain’s history as well as its culture and great artists. Once in Spain we saw 4 cities. The quick summary is that we went to each city, had a tour, saw a cathedral and/or palace and/or mosque, had paella everywhere, great coffee, lots of tinto (red wine) and got to know several faculty couples and lots of students.
The detailed summary follows. First stop the port of Cádiz, Hóg and I took the Big Red Bus tour for a city orientation then went back to the areas that we liked best. We spoke to some teachers who were demonstrating in front of their school. They are being asked to work more hours and do not want to, sounds familiar. Had a nice lunch at Casa Lazo. The art on the wall was a black and white photo of a single pig. His relatives were on the menu. We did try the boar as well as sardines, dried tuna loin, always wonderful olives and cerveza.
The second day we took off in two buses for a three city trip to Seville, Córdoba and Grenada. We liked Seville best, due to its age and charm.
First stop in Seville was the Plaza de España, an enormous building from the 1929 Exhibition, lunch at Hosteria Del Laurel, followed by Santa Maria Cathedral, the third largest in the world and the largest in Gothic style. It took 100 years to build and certainly had us thinking of Pillars of the Earth. Christopher Columbus, or at least part of him, is buried there. He was moved numerous times after his death. Many churches began as Muslim and were shifted to Catholic. They are proud of the coexistence of Muslims, Christians and Jews in Spain now but acceptance was not always there. Lunch was excellent, many courses in a charming place, dried herbs, garlic braids and hams hanging high. We drove to Córdoba and checked into our hotel next. Walked a bit in the city and had dinner in our hotel. The students find the bars and stay out late. So far we hang with the faculty but have not stayed out late. We have been asked to come along and will definitely get to it. My nick name for some is M2, for Mom #2. Friday morning we had a guided tour through the walled city. All enjoyed the Mezquita, a mosque intended to surpass all other mosques in grandeur, the Alcázar constructed in 1300s and the medieval Jewish quarter. Hóg and I had great coffee at El Caballo Rojo. Best event, a student asked me if I were an artist because I was sketching for my drawing class. Loved that! Next we drove to Grenada and checked into another hotel. Dinner was there and quite good. This morning we toured the Alhambra, the most popular sight in Spain, building began in the 13th century. Today the fortress and the royal palace remain. The king’s area and the queen’s area in the private section are the most spectacular. The king had four wives. The first one to present a son was the recognized queen, unless an “accident” befell that son and then the one to present the next son was recognized. Watch your back, tough times for charity. After lunch we drove back to the ship and departed.
We are underway and feeling the waves again, in fact, I felt them for days on land too; the sea to land transition is more than anticipated. Tomorrow we stop for fuel in Gibraltar. It takes six hours but we cannot leave the ship. Fuel is hugely expensive and we use 2000 gallons per hour. The ship runs largely on autopilot and only two people are actually up there piloting. Our bridge tour was very interesting. Extended families have not been assigned yet. We only have a day until Morocco and they will be cramming in the prep. I do answer all emails so please write if you want to. I can add you to my contacts easily that way too. If you sign up as a friend of the blog you will be notified when entries are posted. Otherwise, just check once in a while. Miss you all but having a great time.
(Uploading pictures to the blog is internet time-consuming, especially when activity levels are high. We still intend to post pictures as we go but we may miss sometimes.)
Sounds like you are having a great time, I do feel sorry for Mike having to hang around all those young females. I adjusted my sexual orientation on my blog and am starting to get some photos up.
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