tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43769880577171013602024-01-20T07:11:46.375+01:00Allie in the South of SpainAlliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.comBlogger395125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-88787589223517001132022-04-13T23:53:00.003+02:002022-04-13T23:53:41.415+02:00Family visit-spring 2022<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Although my parents have been over to see us a few times since the pandemic started, it has been almost three years since I have seen anyone else in my family. We were lucky enough to have gone to Michigan in the fall of 2019 during my maternity leave to attend my sister's wedding and then spend the holidays. We returned just in time for the world to shut down and haven't been back to visit since then. So when my oldest sister said she wanted to come visit during their spring break, I couldn't wait!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzjQjZWOqSwlnfW3gN_56xDGdRBAvpjsW0N3F36asejGY6pWajC6YYIHuV3cN0oXkBnpvTXCq-7xw_slLpp09l0rZ8jslm2anrGgHxPZ4gMjgO_2PZ9SGx0BDVKKR_TFMC5raOX3OUJJSoJclHt8csb8X6_xtyvuaqPq9MHIPOXlYdY1s7WfnPJQG/s1544/IMG_1994.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1158" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzjQjZWOqSwlnfW3gN_56xDGdRBAvpjsW0N3F36asejGY6pWajC6YYIHuV3cN0oXkBnpvTXCq-7xw_slLpp09l0rZ8jslm2anrGgHxPZ4gMjgO_2PZ9SGx0BDVKKR_TFMC5raOX3OUJJSoJclHt8csb8X6_xtyvuaqPq9MHIPOXlYdY1s7WfnPJQG/s320/IMG_1994.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>My sister and her family arrived and we spent our first few days locally, seeing Seville and catching up. I sometimes forget with the hustle and bustle of everyday life just how beautiful Seville is and it is nice to be reminded of it when people come to visit and I'm able to play tourist for a while. First we headed to the Plaza de Esp<span style="font-family: georgia;">a<span style="background-color: white; color: #202124;">ña which is one of my favorite spots in the city. It was created as part of the Ibero-American Expo of 1929 and is a located right next to one of the lovely, large green spaces of the city, Maria Luisa Park.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwcQKPQ3ayVNj4F1xmQnlUri6SZ-YruDVj3Hyemt4YT0t-7HRKmHMKa_kQk4NBbLhDex3jzkVgIDMntyQXDy-yvLNcY4eJlI6gbOyZERKGcdR_XtOjuRStkP1QjduKrL_yPU0lb9PvuXwH-xKysnEKUijazLLAjIQcNqfCouxzfEF3rd-hif2f2w-/s4032/IMG_3505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwcQKPQ3ayVNj4F1xmQnlUri6SZ-YruDVj3Hyemt4YT0t-7HRKmHMKa_kQk4NBbLhDex3jzkVgIDMntyQXDy-yvLNcY4eJlI6gbOyZERKGcdR_XtOjuRStkP1QjduKrL_yPU0lb9PvuXwH-xKysnEKUijazLLAjIQcNqfCouxzfEF3rd-hif2f2w-/s320/IMG_3505.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRyC1gpBmHXdxxIiRmSaO_ITLxZ8T0XnbNlGGZsbCkiMsdQzZI9rTG1tAcpjFPcVvJlPbgWhpEGFRPaqj9W6yv1QXbl65BFemD2z-_bHluvzPSWZ4fx7mwqWngW6unDA_WgpBlSG7Zou5XID8Y4rlGroi7p6saXZ5evgJ7FPA5rxtIJIGP5IrV8RC/s4032/IMG_3508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyRyC1gpBmHXdxxIiRmSaO_ITLxZ8T0XnbNlGGZsbCkiMsdQzZI9rTG1tAcpjFPcVvJlPbgWhpEGFRPaqj9W6yv1QXbl65BFemD2z-_bHluvzPSWZ4fx7mwqWngW6unDA_WgpBlSG7Zou5XID8Y4rlGroi7p6saXZ5evgJ7FPA5rxtIJIGP5IrV8RC/s320/IMG_3508.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Then we went by the Cathedral and visited the Real Alcazar which is a multicultural palace located downtown with beautiful gardens surrounding it. To give you an idea, Dorne from the Game of Thrones was filmed there which speaks to its beauty. The girls were probably most excited about seeing peacocks in the gardens. We didn't go into the cathedral but did have an ice cream with a view of the giralda, the tower which accompanies it.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvIAG7MXrCs2Whvn4Wxq3qATqNto4MIuxglzi-DtblMQipJpBv4Nu9PwG8Ony1KbWxUo0pOHcLgBtFEoibjVKchKzgZ-eqbb-EtiNhza5L78P8hSwEwWcpFRRrz1K5RDJYMkU_hM2SQfvfxI9qw4aVOUsb6RkJVnAQz-Tb79mdAfkVc7F37x8cusr/s2016/IMG_1991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCvIAG7MXrCs2Whvn4Wxq3qATqNto4MIuxglzi-DtblMQipJpBv4Nu9PwG8Ony1KbWxUo0pOHcLgBtFEoibjVKchKzgZ-eqbb-EtiNhza5L78P8hSwEwWcpFRRrz1K5RDJYMkU_hM2SQfvfxI9qw4aVOUsb6RkJVnAQz-Tb79mdAfkVc7F37x8cusr/s320/IMG_1991.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKs1sO_ytsbqJ29kCZasXxBmSnnuC9znQOmv1qsC8teUlAm-GWK7hcmPTXMz-ATHlDSi-4mf-y42V_fXABOT9lMSBLKc7CURZ6_5rAMXUbIwTpt9o33PYW1Jnddyr1ECAHqk1dUD1VKO446DDRevbFD61BK9n8DoXjLXgMBx3BdHlhjtQH8jJxrgE/s2016/IMG_1997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPKs1sO_ytsbqJ29kCZasXxBmSnnuC9znQOmv1qsC8teUlAm-GWK7hcmPTXMz-ATHlDSi-4mf-y42V_fXABOT9lMSBLKc7CURZ6_5rAMXUbIwTpt9o33PYW1Jnddyr1ECAHqk1dUD1VKO446DDRevbFD61BK9n8DoXjLXgMBx3BdHlhjtQH8jJxrgE/s320/IMG_1997.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MkszYpGBDLBd5qXG7ejqRWpmI7hTG58TwQFLUoTttiCp0YfJ_jvmXb2wEju0iYyK8rwl_SUy3JWur45JbOw-0fROpu97CDBz8yaaStepyKcexEfJtdwOoKayd4sOKf1Wi8qxdxK1OItMSkeURX5OJRyvBSH4gfks6TsBjmC6UK5BxtGpOGp9w_Fm/s3024/IMG_3702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3MkszYpGBDLBd5qXG7ejqRWpmI7hTG58TwQFLUoTttiCp0YfJ_jvmXb2wEju0iYyK8rwl_SUy3JWur45JbOw-0fROpu97CDBz8yaaStepyKcexEfJtdwOoKayd4sOKf1Wi8qxdxK1OItMSkeURX5OJRyvBSH4gfks6TsBjmC6UK5BxtGpOGp9w_Fm/s320/IMG_3702.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The next day we took the train down to Cadiz, a strategically located town on the coast which is famous for its seafood and its long history. (Food was a big theme of their visit, are you surprised?). We had lunch and a walk about the town, enjoying the absolutely beautiful weather, even getting a bit sunburned.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfft7v3k4NQhDRIYXETiXGmXQSvWqoP_wdp_OhES9S29GAChjJ7BxVuCJg1s4y_yvyr8eryD0CASRX2jZ3iXM1J92QH5IzvBoiNB6cDehExgRmnxDAeyTd-2SfmYytu3HR3SO0LwnbgrX_iyQGRY6ApqZU6Pm09sjPRpdnHSPpYbic5GzZufX55Zw_/s1792/IMG_2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1792" data-original-width="1431" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfft7v3k4NQhDRIYXETiXGmXQSvWqoP_wdp_OhES9S29GAChjJ7BxVuCJg1s4y_yvyr8eryD0CASRX2jZ3iXM1J92QH5IzvBoiNB6cDehExgRmnxDAeyTd-2SfmYytu3HR3SO0LwnbgrX_iyQGRY6ApqZU6Pm09sjPRpdnHSPpYbic5GzZufX55Zw_/s320/IMG_2017.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UixfXAl9oJ8YYMW5eBkGb3cP0Vs5VByuP3GQywebzoq2YRDLbUR_UO6pzKlA-izI0Yx4UIMoRgxw6hYLVPAOc9bgFTc7RyqLkChx9x4oNIZPJ6HwgbAgYsYyNm5Ct2mN5ZCEw5IIWN1Jvir6VPYN2j97WAdicOsiqdIpJEdRk8gfV569AMYj_OfB/s2016/IMG_2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1UixfXAl9oJ8YYMW5eBkGb3cP0Vs5VByuP3GQywebzoq2YRDLbUR_UO6pzKlA-izI0Yx4UIMoRgxw6hYLVPAOc9bgFTc7RyqLkChx9x4oNIZPJ6HwgbAgYsYyNm5Ct2mN5ZCEw5IIWN1Jvir6VPYN2j97WAdicOsiqdIpJEdRk8gfV569AMYj_OfB/s320/IMG_2020.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">We decided to spend the weekend at my inlaws' new flat close to the border with Portugal where we went to the beach and ate out again. The time was decidedly too short with my family and as always, I'm sad when they leave and I have to go back to my normal routine. The girls loved seeing their big cousin and I'm sure they made her crazy. It was nice to catch up with my sister and brother-in-law and honestly some of the best moments were the long-ish car rides we had to get anywhere since we got a chance to talk for a while. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOikirBtSAducI2_BHSY3DGAkJX1Zfl4SpgB6lAoTtgMiKfKYv3mLlcItLN6Relv3W1n8AxHnzjRsezumGC5gXT8OemWGT2_A9sHfk4T7Q4P44wM1UjViroUMnFesercFD2fZHotGEGCqdtpP5a109UmGam6QHz_LjXzwy4unWO7LYySAYaLjIMAh/s2016/IMG_2052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOikirBtSAducI2_BHSY3DGAkJX1Zfl4SpgB6lAoTtgMiKfKYv3mLlcItLN6Relv3W1n8AxHnzjRsezumGC5gXT8OemWGT2_A9sHfk4T7Q4P44wM1UjViroUMnFesercFD2fZHotGEGCqdtpP5a109UmGam6QHz_LjXzwy4unWO7LYySAYaLjIMAh/s320/IMG_2052.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMr5X4bCueW-_hJ4tvd8WW2dDBYxyK-fbY9mHkJM-swaftX0ovHVEKXjV0RON3_TK-0ZJy_Q6xdF_H2KGgqS7WSB5QXztiXMUz1mgu7_665HxdquR9va8nHBRmuKRcGmOZBnwNegj353WrkMvW3-9z7-5tjFPd-Lu1VOpvybduy2-TWp4WDdoWdWE/s1512/IMG_3991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1383" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrMr5X4bCueW-_hJ4tvd8WW2dDBYxyK-fbY9mHkJM-swaftX0ovHVEKXjV0RON3_TK-0ZJy_Q6xdF_H2KGgqS7WSB5QXztiXMUz1mgu7_665HxdquR9va8nHBRmuKRcGmOZBnwNegj353WrkMvW3-9z7-5tjFPd-Lu1VOpvybduy2-TWp4WDdoWdWE/s320/IMG_3991.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSu1lM8JYZdKQohTvWbBWX9a4UXgMIyXAtKaPM-hDGoTXH3ciVOF2cRrzAS9qIrJSbWo1OuBpByUNU44TUgQ1cNPZjaYFmXlXu6TczNLyKQCkQS8M30xgUpPj2VD4Km83K7_tgNAP4RR1qz7EkPHCNwwimp5UVtx16LVULBxb0N_OwIVIhT1Jw5WR/s2016/IMG_4014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuSu1lM8JYZdKQohTvWbBWX9a4UXgMIyXAtKaPM-hDGoTXH3ciVOF2cRrzAS9qIrJSbWo1OuBpByUNU44TUgQ1cNPZjaYFmXlXu6TczNLyKQCkQS8M30xgUpPj2VD4Km83K7_tgNAP4RR1qz7EkPHCNwwimp5UVtx16LVULBxb0N_OwIVIhT1Jw5WR/s320/IMG_4014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now we are enjoying the rest of our Semana Santa, hopefully wrapping up our renovation in the next month and then will be moving before the summer heat really sets in. This is always the time of the year that seems like it flies by as the school year wraps up. I'd like to be able to go visit Michigan this summer and be able to see the rest of my family, so keep your fingers crossed we have the chance!</span><p></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-10056302273546028082022-03-20T22:16:00.000+01:002022-03-20T22:16:01.125+01:00Bathroom and kitchen updates<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the past month and a half we've advanced a lot in our renovation. The floors were installed in almost all of the rooms. The ceilings were all finished and our bathroom and kitchen are almost complete.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJtKzOa1tU2PXe8dIT-cA1okjx61LmnbWXrVcApJIgF3aYUeetPtFMDN54vcgp5TznIVix6xOfqXRafAmHXOwUFdZKF2IS2NpBcVB3In-6cdZpUWF1pfG2QMNcM14SfIczqa4dv0PZgL2QGr1slcuBOx3hYKOZnrmEnqu18dn5e1IRTLpcf_RXbY0/s4032/IMG_1857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjJtKzOa1tU2PXe8dIT-cA1okjx61LmnbWXrVcApJIgF3aYUeetPtFMDN54vcgp5TznIVix6xOfqXRafAmHXOwUFdZKF2IS2NpBcVB3In-6cdZpUWF1pfG2QMNcM14SfIczqa4dv0PZgL2QGr1slcuBOx3hYKOZnrmEnqu18dn5e1IRTLpcf_RXbY0/s320/IMG_1857.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-3ujsg7Y0jzfm077kuiYhTibk5PTxd0-Qvisa-xHlMt2TXhfWTq600xmo-3OkgVTjEr93h3od7COn7CymvcwkFt1M_OTBPN9cAGEdeLP37G_DCoefuFVzI8WT8aev4_NeUpNdRfVX_iMg1kFhNEF6lWwHiFjuFEtOcx0fWEXDUYEZTXFdt4pyF3-/s1600/f3b80ad4-5d23-4b0e-b6a6-5d70c72b60d1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_-3ujsg7Y0jzfm077kuiYhTibk5PTxd0-Qvisa-xHlMt2TXhfWTq600xmo-3OkgVTjEr93h3od7COn7CymvcwkFt1M_OTBPN9cAGEdeLP37G_DCoefuFVzI8WT8aev4_NeUpNdRfVX_iMg1kFhNEF6lWwHiFjuFEtOcx0fWEXDUYEZTXFdt4pyF3-/s320/f3b80ad4-5d23-4b0e-b6a6-5d70c72b60d1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoF2RGh2rFQ3VI-J3-JDog8voJ7glbJG6Guxn2Pbz1D7wre4h1AvgFn7Sg65TWwT56pXJc_scz00c2sdFc7Px9T0m7EO6cZxy6wL-6Y32p-1BwwypXH9c4hYlXyNPbbWQkK8WgAvW-x0inLSlT4tW6v3JOJobLNgaIowhdP_VNCX3a5_zgpGsOkCJ/s4032/IMG_0929%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoF2RGh2rFQ3VI-J3-JDog8voJ7glbJG6Guxn2Pbz1D7wre4h1AvgFn7Sg65TWwT56pXJc_scz00c2sdFc7Px9T0m7EO6cZxy6wL-6Y32p-1BwwypXH9c4hYlXyNPbbWQkK8WgAvW-x0inLSlT4tW6v3JOJobLNgaIowhdP_VNCX3a5_zgpGsOkCJ/s320/IMG_0929%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BadDj-bcElEurlKMCqo0oHLkuSrk6vEolib0gjfT0zZxl3fSrPAclxB-NMju8kzraRF4VndFTYX0uI6POKp5g3C2MJPOc5STIRxuL_uCEEU8gHjlvCh-3l7bOsWIStshWeliHitSbe23_g2doqlpaIsVe97FaOv9SsGmVgJ7TqOvK2JR2NdrExrD/s4032/IMG_0930%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8BadDj-bcElEurlKMCqo0oHLkuSrk6vEolib0gjfT0zZxl3fSrPAclxB-NMju8kzraRF4VndFTYX0uI6POKp5g3C2MJPOc5STIRxuL_uCEEU8gHjlvCh-3l7bOsWIStshWeliHitSbe23_g2doqlpaIsVe97FaOv9SsGmVgJ7TqOvK2JR2NdrExrD/s320/IMG_0930%20(1).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>You may remember that when we bought the house there were two small bathrooms which we decided to convert into one larger bathroom, using some of the space to expand the kitchen a bit. We opted for a shower stall instead of a bathtub and had our builders construct a narrow closet in the remaining space along the back wall. We had enough room for a double sink as well. I'm still happy with our tile choice (it's fake marble with brownish-gold veining rather than the typical grey. We've opted for black accents throughout (faucets/shower stall etc) and although things aren't finished yet, I like the way it's coming together.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9b6lBRp-rm3OoYH7EUFgHzf1qndIyH-GeJZjnoevRuqHKHZ4LD4rD3j2ve2BOqrVtuS9icfX2-AZOwUXbwBIUt7EOMExdvjI_zMQ9KAr53bBOX5B8PvA9dNre0pKrzwLXnaBefm9EZ4uqWhYg7hSqLf1Q_bNAYIECnGTJT7aMYnpRoB3YbDiZCpL/s1600/e1aafe00-e8a4-40cf-8a66-46cc04e186a0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9b6lBRp-rm3OoYH7EUFgHzf1qndIyH-GeJZjnoevRuqHKHZ4LD4rD3j2ve2BOqrVtuS9icfX2-AZOwUXbwBIUt7EOMExdvjI_zMQ9KAr53bBOX5B8PvA9dNre0pKrzwLXnaBefm9EZ4uqWhYg7hSqLf1Q_bNAYIECnGTJT7aMYnpRoB3YbDiZCpL/s320/e1aafe00-e8a4-40cf-8a66-46cc04e186a0.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8s-66GxtI_uJ1uuZ6WwJcpiQLaZ0yrGBoUkSysFh1tCBoX3PPJ3qqVxBXxzGXtss-pFxY-RtgXRuXAe9KQsJqxMm6PUzIUzjN01gXoBscHYQsoUdALZ3CXMzvsr_5BbZ74bZ1LfFt56khm5ADBPJPszQgLOFocxnwqX-9T1Eg4jqY47-OKPXVte5Z/s4032/IMG_0926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8s-66GxtI_uJ1uuZ6WwJcpiQLaZ0yrGBoUkSysFh1tCBoX3PPJ3qqVxBXxzGXtss-pFxY-RtgXRuXAe9KQsJqxMm6PUzIUzjN01gXoBscHYQsoUdALZ3CXMzvsr_5BbZ74bZ1LfFt56khm5ADBPJPszQgLOFocxnwqX-9T1Eg4jqY47-OKPXVte5Z/s320/IMG_0926.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In the kitchen we decided on white cabinetry and will have a white countertop installed. Since the space is still pretty small and the floor is on the darker side, we wanted the rest of the kitchen to be light. The walls are going to be tiled this week and when the counter is installed we will be done (except for the exhaust fan and open shelves which our builder is going to make for us).</div><div><br /></div><div>Over the next few weeks the rest of the floors and walls will be finished off and Jose and I will keep painting (we've already started the back bedrooms). Unfortunately there is a transport strike going on right now in Spain which is holding up our sliding glass door which will go in the living room as well as some other items we will need to finish. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0OF_LwNw2q0SDKWSV261xa8Dtr6oiyMaWgkP1_hgkZqJKa77ANs7_g781yri2pAz5BSmedfL4st2D8_C7mAO82U0QQNRwAjoIYfry7prD-favEgwNOYrtZdb13rGxpD-oPsg4IdwFD82G9vg2FnvxuHzE8eSgKFLbE60PB0ureoZiB0CgMFgiqxC/s4032/IMG_1758.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK0OF_LwNw2q0SDKWSV261xa8Dtr6oiyMaWgkP1_hgkZqJKa77ANs7_g781yri2pAz5BSmedfL4st2D8_C7mAO82U0QQNRwAjoIYfry7prD-favEgwNOYrtZdb13rGxpD-oPsg4IdwFD82G9vg2FnvxuHzE8eSgKFLbE60PB0ureoZiB0CgMFgiqxC/s320/IMG_1758.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We also celebrated the girls' 6th birthday this past month. I would have liked to have been in our new place by now but definitely by Carla's birthday this summer we will be moved in. I don't like to think about timelines since it stresses me out but that gives us months still. We'll be living there by then, right?<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-62063906717223241752022-02-05T19:29:00.000+01:002022-02-05T19:29:12.829+01:00New windows ya'll<p>One of the biggest investments of our renovation so far has definitely been new windows. Jose and I decided to replace all of the old, super not energy efficient windows with what ended up being the most expensive options we could find. They are also the highest rated for sound and energy which we are hoping makes our house much more liveable in the heat of summer. They were finally delivered a few weeks ago and we had them installed.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSLB-Px36fTrRJw1PBtDxwKDuXXqiXwfL39Ep-sQlzNmJ3qWLlHZuWT5DW4J5Bw7VZnyiTmtizsm0mzRuRhOyrk6cB_DSvrdPm2B3elE0Xe5O4uk0-2rGigvitF09SA4G9nj-8-XwxqAkLgk7flU2gZF-K8DB5KafLLX0qdYOl1EvsCdS2nkta6llv=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSLB-Px36fTrRJw1PBtDxwKDuXXqiXwfL39Ep-sQlzNmJ3qWLlHZuWT5DW4J5Bw7VZnyiTmtizsm0mzRuRhOyrk6cB_DSvrdPm2B3elE0Xe5O4uk0-2rGigvitF09SA4G9nj-8-XwxqAkLgk7flU2gZF-K8DB5KafLLX0qdYOl1EvsCdS2nkta6llv=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We opted for a dark brown frame which will contrast nicely with what will eventually be a white exterior of the house. I'm not sure if I mentioned in previous posts or not but almost all houses here have security bars on their windows, at least on the first floor. Right now the bars on our windows are in good shape (they are strongly welded and in that sense safe) but they are really retro-looking and will need a lot of work to get sanded and painted. I'm hoping we will have to budget to switch them out this spring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9NAhc3pDKva81pVXoV4ulU-eMfB0NFX3wZmeUYbjghveIfFTqDHUG26Fl0k8KxvW0H-qt1iAiv3qPity0I6bDlC_6X3rezDcKZuEVi0mGjtMkGGPntPC2NXXgRhJYLAXo2dtZk7zBluUJp9F2tqRNtBi80eM8Vud67vLP3kvxtAmwhHXwD3EhqCUf=s1800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh9NAhc3pDKva81pVXoV4ulU-eMfB0NFX3wZmeUYbjghveIfFTqDHUG26Fl0k8KxvW0H-qt1iAiv3qPity0I6bDlC_6X3rezDcKZuEVi0mGjtMkGGPntPC2NXXgRhJYLAXo2dtZk7zBluUJp9F2tqRNtBi80eM8Vud67vLP3kvxtAmwhHXwD3EhqCUf=w256-h320" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The layout of this house was a bit strange when it comes to entrances. There is a door opening into the kitchen from the front porch (my last post has a picture of our new door) which faces the front of the property. In my mind, this would be the main entrance even if it is a bit awkward to walk directly into the kitchen (although I grew up in a house that had the same thing, so what do I know?). When we bought the house there was also a door that opened into the living room off the side of the house, facing toward the back of the property. This entrance just didn't make sense since we aren't planning on ever really having people come in from the back of our lot (there is a fence with a gate). I think originally it was the main door but we decided to eliminate it to install a window and allow more light into the living room. Now we just have to figure out what to do with the little porch that is off it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhm9Y-M7CYYjohCBIhRuoB_0Uicya80htb4XY1p0yoIMAS9AJyRXBCcCCCc0gRFJMOsdPrY98813WbEbKBNSCJMS4Vpefhef7FmoTXP_CZam2PSFvGpleFA2kegXNiSCFgj4AOtTNxZ9k58OTgn0gegE8U-8LlIQggYNbXy4c9C0Vea1yrgS9pK_q_m=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhm9Y-M7CYYjohCBIhRuoB_0Uicya80htb4XY1p0yoIMAS9AJyRXBCcCCCc0gRFJMOsdPrY98813WbEbKBNSCJMS4Vpefhef7FmoTXP_CZam2PSFvGpleFA2kegXNiSCFgj4AOtTNxZ9k58OTgn0gegE8U-8LlIQggYNbXy4c9C0Vea1yrgS9pK_q_m=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weird entrance door from outside</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLNezCyBdpnQftgKQm4-_klzO2New0HILvPCTjrsFpXR220_-qqHPE94QgygKgYkFRohTfkakqWQNqhgjJUuohrLjaVC-oFMzJvGW23Kd4d2eVgQpn-Lp3AD2Bb6BBC1LNbXym36ivrXbBU2k3UenjtJjJLGqU6DdPrCmxyX9MrN81zs4VcgGamVVU=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiLNezCyBdpnQftgKQm4-_klzO2New0HILvPCTjrsFpXR220_-qqHPE94QgygKgYkFRohTfkakqWQNqhgjJUuohrLjaVC-oFMzJvGW23Kd4d2eVgQpn-Lp3AD2Bb6BBC1LNbXym36ivrXbBU2k3UenjtJjJLGqU6DdPrCmxyX9MrN81zs4VcgGamVVU=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weird entrance door from inside</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbtlYZGeq_NF-slXFfwgDycW0rT_BrU9f1wVzlLt6vSeaQoZJ-bKG48j6mh_A3zfgP8rbBbKcvdMOR0c8SwxuQeM2yJ9ksv_LKAzcTJ9MK6_TEUA-WkiXh5q4ZoDyFmuuB4vwtbe9g60zcVVvDsTddRz-SEU_4yebpqhzINghg0zwmnZp5QVA9czNJ=s1599" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1599" data-original-width="899" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbtlYZGeq_NF-slXFfwgDycW0rT_BrU9f1wVzlLt6vSeaQoZJ-bKG48j6mh_A3zfgP8rbBbKcvdMOR0c8SwxuQeM2yJ9ksv_LKAzcTJ9MK6_TEUA-WkiXh5q4ZoDyFmuuB4vwtbe9g60zcVVvDsTddRz-SEU_4yebpqhzINghg0zwmnZp5QVA9czNJ=s320" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New window outside</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid2kIf91J4H1CK9Qp-tLuJWv4Bj7wkcNf1DrLUakEWlGfU1zhkdQr059OJJS3T8yAyARbNquVNQRr-UF_bh-a5K0Ek8W40R5U0C7nXD8n1m7MKwGQS3IOUpkn6UyfVQN_7W8HFZ1aCdZ_WrSV6LEBWtnjVVCO32pdbfqxmz0HZ8sqlbnMvnNq5Gj6k=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEid2kIf91J4H1CK9Qp-tLuJWv4Bj7wkcNf1DrLUakEWlGfU1zhkdQr059OJJS3T8yAyARbNquVNQRr-UF_bh-a5K0Ek8W40R5U0C7nXD8n1m7MKwGQS3IOUpkn6UyfVQN_7W8HFZ1aCdZ_WrSV6LEBWtnjVVCO32pdbfqxmz0HZ8sqlbnMvnNq5Gj6k=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New window from inside living room</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This change will also allow us to build out a false chimney hearth and mantel that is centered (unlike the one that was originally in the house and off-centered). As with a lot of things we asked ourselves, "Whyyyyyy would they do that?" and then decided it had to go. Our contractors bricked in the chimney and we decided to have them build us another one with an electric heating element. It'll be one of the last things finished.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpACB7995dLTCYwzlalJmdv1pCUbaFpZ1O_CQppp4MNOvgEK1Pju63c3AVppoYpQzb-cb4m4wn7F6epurJkZ5UbsG9n9dPV1KzgdLnRL-73AJquWn4wzT4tbs78ZlynbV_aU2FbDqi9qxhQfAfTdVBI1po2oFT4ejnJfcB7s8T03Eb8zEH2A_GAxOD=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhpACB7995dLTCYwzlalJmdv1pCUbaFpZ1O_CQppp4MNOvgEK1Pju63c3AVppoYpQzb-cb4m4wn7F6epurJkZ5UbsG9n9dPV1KzgdLnRL-73AJquWn4wzT4tbs78ZlynbV_aU2FbDqi9qxhQfAfTdVBI1po2oFT4ejnJfcB7s8T03Eb8zEH2A_GAxOD=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New ceilings</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibP7qjG3YpusYiiXmnffvaPLG4IecX-Cl0lTGPfrhd2wANj-5CnNJBf0KnKlSPdaxcKTW-pt2tBUKsQq3Ee9ANjJ7r_QL54MFR6wa6F3iCqcpmq7Z37q2lx8LMJJX1gBoJbL5iy-nbDltP9llwpCA25X28U7bScwYbweq5_cNvX_nVvtYNmHQT2f1y=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibP7qjG3YpusYiiXmnffvaPLG4IecX-Cl0lTGPfrhd2wANj-5CnNJBf0KnKlSPdaxcKTW-pt2tBUKsQq3Ee9ANjJ7r_QL54MFR6wa6F3iCqcpmq7Z37q2lx8LMJJX1gBoJbL5iy-nbDltP9llwpCA25X28U7bScwYbweq5_cNvX_nVvtYNmHQT2f1y=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Our ceilings are also finally being closed. We decided to install central air and heating plus more insulation so the ceilings have been dropped quite a bit. However, since they were originally so high, I don't mind that they are lower now. In fact, I think it looks nice. This part of the process has taken much longer than we expected because our electrician only comes at the weekends. Since all the new wiring is also in the false ceiling, the contractors weren't able to close them until everything that needed to be up there was finished. So far, only two bedrooms are done. <div><br /></div><div>Next will be the walls (smoothed out to eventually be painted) and then our floors! I can't wait to see how the flooring we picked out will actually look in the space. It will still be a while until that point but I'm happy that things are moving forward. Outside a big part of our garden has been dug up to install new plumbing lines so our work there has been a big stalled. There is still a TON to do if we want to have some grass for the summer. And we haven't even looked at the pool yet. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7tt1mh227SqahbLShwecSD7wYkYU5qaKhIwYQZ5NZmxciLEiKc8_zad4KGh2QOTXpqMpYcT0h2fYbtK5N4IVl55dNV_YdnoD2eghcaNtk6DIwwqdhDCiqd9T23_swMMHXT4rYGbyf6C_DicaIDJgu7av16-78p53USKmgVeaDhxtMgSAh2ad4ohqJ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7tt1mh227SqahbLShwecSD7wYkYU5qaKhIwYQZ5NZmxciLEiKc8_zad4KGh2QOTXpqMpYcT0h2fYbtK5N4IVl55dNV_YdnoD2eghcaNtk6DIwwqdhDCiqd9T23_swMMHXT4rYGbyf6C_DicaIDJgu7av16-78p53USKmgVeaDhxtMgSAh2ad4ohqJ=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trenches for plumbing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwhZoc4_ghCXAQ-uI6aqO9-Ia4Edwnlf-HZX9EvakdX61LZk0B9kXIK9Kqn0ESyQXDPRhtxPTTtfQJZKqn3ICMKv6nUB5kU9E9hYHV96v7NuwSVuzcZBwhXBhhl-TjIm8ENrAgsmpJr7_T_hiN1o9GbcCCXeDOhYQFxdsW_Wcm_JAkMG9H0YvAUQGN=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwhZoc4_ghCXAQ-uI6aqO9-Ia4Edwnlf-HZX9EvakdX61LZk0B9kXIK9Kqn0ESyQXDPRhtxPTTtfQJZKqn3ICMKv6nUB5kU9E9hYHV96v7NuwSVuzcZBwhXBhhl-TjIm8ENrAgsmpJr7_T_hiN1o9GbcCCXeDOhYQFxdsW_Wcm_JAkMG9H0YvAUQGN=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Slowly things are finally getting done which makes me happy but there is also still a VERY long list of things that are not done. I had thought we might be moving in the spring but now I'm hoping it will be before summer. With a working pool. Right? Please.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-6961364202253492332022-01-15T19:02:00.000+01:002022-01-15T19:02:22.471+01:00New house update 1<p> I mentioned here previously that we had found a house, put in an offer and were waiting and waiting and waiting for the paperwork to go through but I hadn't been back to say that we finally signed on the dotted line a few months ago in November. My mom reminded me that I have followers back home who would like to know how things were going on our renovation so I've hopped over here to post some pictures of everything that's been going on.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9J_Q8fU5rZIokyRqyEfxonUbDK1cXK__8iZX9kutHrL6hW_uaVtYte_mw9sO7vTvspu2QsWUqvHBqKLBpfgCMjKnFCE9jOAubwoJ70qYZI78KPhDLQy0aYtpTRCuitwLRIg1oEfaIvwuQclbyUc_FSWlpkkvfyqt9ptGTq7iyj0krNrUVPdX-izPv=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9J_Q8fU5rZIokyRqyEfxonUbDK1cXK__8iZX9kutHrL6hW_uaVtYte_mw9sO7vTvspu2QsWUqvHBqKLBpfgCMjKnFCE9jOAubwoJ70qYZI78KPhDLQy0aYtpTRCuitwLRIg1oEfaIvwuQclbyUc_FSWlpkkvfyqt9ptGTq7iyj0krNrUVPdX-izPv=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before shot of kitchen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE-wPJhoZPX7YDo0_5DlJM3I1YLNcrrAURQPlMpyJdRf2GidMpssnQU9nd5kj6kQlhSf7kCba06vAsDYN245739FaiE0_4nNpdfvV_2cCblhsfcHVH_wBD9pDifkyln0wOiApfjtt4RuI6LMxBuB2zSfojGnjRyzCjNPaM9TQ5mFJxCIlcX7fnQ7pH=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE-wPJhoZPX7YDo0_5DlJM3I1YLNcrrAURQPlMpyJdRf2GidMpssnQU9nd5kj6kQlhSf7kCba06vAsDYN245739FaiE0_4nNpdfvV_2cCblhsfcHVH_wBD9pDifkyln0wOiApfjtt4RuI6LMxBuB2zSfojGnjRyzCjNPaM9TQ5mFJxCIlcX7fnQ7pH=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom that was next to kitchen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIRX63OrBepYRURJu4m_1Q4EQnD48GQSqfuE243GCphiA6ocSefX3YdTvnoLcYE90RrNd_YGaDXI1JMypn5jvYt1RD8Enc7YAXQeJJdzp0nv1-RacFNuICUqBX828yrXmtgxW0QlltubUgQya2nym-o6p_fi7XJfYGBlKxzjQXfDl-NMzd__1GHQey=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjIRX63OrBepYRURJu4m_1Q4EQnD48GQSqfuE243GCphiA6ocSefX3YdTvnoLcYE90RrNd_YGaDXI1JMypn5jvYt1RD8Enc7YAXQeJJdzp0nv1-RacFNuICUqBX828yrXmtgxW0QlltubUgQya2nym-o6p_fi7XJfYGBlKxzjQXfDl-NMzd__1GHQey=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall that came down</td></tr></tbody></table><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtY3cLhbXfhkikvggD6FDTYAVpim57VmggwSSRYXCtVB0YUBUOmmWx_vxhr_q-zE6UoJGapFieKxes9DReHOYIPD1D7ehip5Kf0LWgq_22cWoWQRVuhKQ9M8vG05aWNTS66L41cTcAf7qToi6-EOUMZrIPzxpxvmIyve9r5GyvYSFzDFNQx7ZeyDPL=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtY3cLhbXfhkikvggD6FDTYAVpim57VmggwSSRYXCtVB0YUBUOmmWx_vxhr_q-zE6UoJGapFieKxes9DReHOYIPD1D7ehip5Kf0LWgq_22cWoWQRVuhKQ9M8vG05aWNTS66L41cTcAf7qToi6-EOUMZrIPzxpxvmIyve9r5GyvYSFzDFNQx7ZeyDPL=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New wall in the kitchen</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Not long after finally getting the keys the demolition process started on our house. We decided to take down a wall between the tiny kitchen to take up some of the space that had once been a tiny bathroom. We were able to expand the kitchen into a small one and then have a nice sized (for Spain, mind you) bathroom. Basically we combined two bathrooms into one and the kitchen got a bit bigger.</p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2ksa7rF44mmko-6u51LbqKP1LuhP4JlP0oMnv48NB49p-_SLAirgKJm0ef2lm_0QIajsYIqJOuTthHzFIJhRWIb207g-VHVpNeV-uT4ND3nIuxicCxNsHiO-FsrS4iiqHrczFnzhmF7DLpqJzbOJGTBZJ4eIBXsmlr0b6uYU1rqhH1ICVsB2z5Uqj=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2ksa7rF44mmko-6u51LbqKP1LuhP4JlP0oMnv48NB49p-_SLAirgKJm0ef2lm_0QIajsYIqJOuTthHzFIJhRWIb207g-VHVpNeV-uT4ND3nIuxicCxNsHiO-FsrS4iiqHrczFnzhmF7DLpqJzbOJGTBZJ4eIBXsmlr0b6uYU1rqhH1ICVsB2z5Uqj=s320" width="240" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0Te1DWQXkQGpMuex8LPUE_HF4JVEEpSD8Ht2PTGE7NIKmolrLkh0Z8dHcU7iCuStG_AxzAMPF3gbpymGVYiRqm-NKAW8uBXtpxk7nzAqOcmQfMurhG5utoSSIA9dJIcDBJSWAMfSTYzckoRFF5ITVtBa3Ig2z8olk0LQA2bUgZfXRPDWKJ1p1E4x2=s1824" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="1368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0Te1DWQXkQGpMuex8LPUE_HF4JVEEpSD8Ht2PTGE7NIKmolrLkh0Z8dHcU7iCuStG_AxzAMPF3gbpymGVYiRqm-NKAW8uBXtpxk7nzAqOcmQfMurhG5utoSSIA9dJIcDBJSWAMfSTYzckoRFF5ITVtBa3Ig2z8olk0LQA2bUgZfXRPDWKJ1p1E4x2=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall down in the girls' room</td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>We also took out a wall between two bedrooms to make one massive bedroom for the twins. I think they both deserve to have their own space but I know that they also want to stay together for the foreseeable future so we decided to give them the largest room. Eventually we plan on building on an addition on the back of the house to add a master bedroom/bathroom but for now we have two other bedrooms for us and Carla.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht71EgDbKffjnAZwiXlel05tE0mqR_NX6fGp3rsfTKOGc7jAiIKAUo1JZQfMT39znciNl4umCkjhtmap_PZySuk7_gv9GrP7FP1RSqTTG6QsPzvkyrXyV3ZYoxHS3n4ky8Ajn94L2LwMP_VoZPObYQoS6zyIzAXxFHSmHri2B9--7E9fReFO0V_ied=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEht71EgDbKffjnAZwiXlel05tE0mqR_NX6fGp3rsfTKOGc7jAiIKAUo1JZQfMT39znciNl4umCkjhtmap_PZySuk7_gv9GrP7FP1RSqTTG6QsPzvkyrXyV3ZYoxHS3n4ky8Ajn94L2LwMP_VoZPObYQoS6zyIzAXxFHSmHri2B9--7E9fReFO0V_ied=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZldGxnN2Zu1QxgXrFEQyN0QCv3HZOJgtvYWVXwYKl1d0MgCVF1stfyK1hIa0SNtR8hi6cb1EF1Xfph3JUlwehXdQlXDegWWiKXFZxwKMYGgz6AIfQ4mS48RzPxVL67DC4wQZE62mmu7KVWiMJOI3wcFnqpXYZ7cOldJPvPGIIThQ2IzK0F9HT3-AA=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZldGxnN2Zu1QxgXrFEQyN0QCv3HZOJgtvYWVXwYKl1d0MgCVF1stfyK1hIa0SNtR8hi6cb1EF1Xfph3JUlwehXdQlXDegWWiKXFZxwKMYGgz6AIfQ4mS48RzPxVL67DC4wQZE62mmu7KVWiMJOI3wcFnqpXYZ7cOldJPvPGIIThQ2IzK0F9HT3-AA=s320" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tile gone!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>All the ugly, old tile was stripped out of the interior of the house (exterior still not done yet). The old, random, off-centered fireplace was bricked up since it made no sense where it was. We have also had all the plumbing and electricity in the entire property changed and updated. The behind-the-walls stuff that you can't see but that you know is making the house safe/liveable has been expensive but necessary and obviously I haven't got many photos to share.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjykjPSwh6b_i5y2QNnQzKoZ4sVpIjLlwxXIXWkXHm6kXovrzZz_hWJuS4ZyyOt0tGeGpAbinRbwR7pXMlCMvjfjiZ0EMj1-XblkMbKZ6mXAzN8-cRwQPyIwrxPKFyzUrG0v3JmFR3kp9U2WlgPDEcQvhIVjUWVgRNCBqoLqXeiT_-pvWcVPQlw4WaM=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjykjPSwh6b_i5y2QNnQzKoZ4sVpIjLlwxXIXWkXHm6kXovrzZz_hWJuS4ZyyOt0tGeGpAbinRbwR7pXMlCMvjfjiZ0EMj1-XblkMbKZ6mXAzN8-cRwQPyIwrxPKFyzUrG0v3JmFR3kp9U2WlgPDEcQvhIVjUWVgRNCBqoLqXeiT_-pvWcVPQlw4WaM=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbdu_iWru-R8izKzb0JL_uR6dohu-Gf6q8ZlhzrF2Rggzvt3acC64fDwi7W2Jqur2H7mbSwWl4aIhLYiZe86Yh_xIFh5oUUuRtgiuf0lOsXUSEq_7kuPZbM4EiW-13kTPXWAjTUQ-KpAtCDvCvvaYc24JgAwqoh4mLTHcuN8YlJcXYAJRq1yfguqLE=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbdu_iWru-R8izKzb0JL_uR6dohu-Gf6q8ZlhzrF2Rggzvt3acC64fDwi7W2Jqur2H7mbSwWl4aIhLYiZe86Yh_xIFh5oUUuRtgiuf0lOsXUSEq_7kuPZbM4EiW-13kTPXWAjTUQ-KpAtCDvCvvaYc24JgAwqoh4mLTHcuN8YlJcXYAJRq1yfguqLE=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKJOMq1lx50pYFnpp86_yMuNnS2l0-Wc90AwS9twNmrjbeNMcwKEy51zpuO9BJvnKxVyjjwyOV-OEuoTSIFGk8BbY49s_T9PT8qSY4FLY2Hk9Gh-UKbwOXfPSJmtHCTZfmtWNUcjuaoU0aO8gvowX4WufDHVybAsLz5FAaH5h785aV7-qXUHXnnBCY=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiKJOMq1lx50pYFnpp86_yMuNnS2l0-Wc90AwS9twNmrjbeNMcwKEy51zpuO9BJvnKxVyjjwyOV-OEuoTSIFGk8BbY49s_T9PT8qSY4FLY2Hk9Gh-UKbwOXfPSJmtHCTZfmtWNUcjuaoU0aO8gvowX4WufDHVybAsLz5FAaH5h785aV7-qXUHXnnBCY=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New shed roof</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Our contractors found asbestos which we had to have removed. It was used a lot here in Spain for roofing material, pipes, water barrels and more. We had a lot! As the roof of our shed had to be remediated, we have had to have that fixed. Right now it doesn't asthetically look nice but it's water tight and we've moved on to the next project to get the house liveable inside (our main priority at the moment).</p><p>Jose and I have been working a lot in the garden ourselves. We've cut down old trees, torn out weeds, tackled huge overgrown jasmine bushes, raked our fair share of leaves and haven't even made a dent in the work we need to do so far. We are definitely weekend warriors and we are losing the battle. We've also hauled out more trash then I would have thought imagineable. So many dumpsters full of old furniture, old building supplies, garbage. Gross.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFFWjTpn5W4tt-VlaBLYzpIpl-pt0kCBu9I9P07PxYsHloNe-REJqFj_pPrVDKdGnIPzMCDzv0xq3KGeL9k15vLDR50rJNJqP6LRnLQT6V22vWqVgm58uO1-LD5iI4LA_e-VcMQPMvV9g0OJcTlG919tXU_Vbkld6VmDn9mJeeDCIVrlbTe15v9KfR=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFFWjTpn5W4tt-VlaBLYzpIpl-pt0kCBu9I9P07PxYsHloNe-REJqFj_pPrVDKdGnIPzMCDzv0xq3KGeL9k15vLDR50rJNJqP6LRnLQT6V22vWqVgm58uO1-LD5iI4LA_e-VcMQPMvV9g0OJcTlG919tXU_Vbkld6VmDn9mJeeDCIVrlbTe15v9KfR=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFSmTNFkphnwUOwKe1qxQ6_UyForfHe7RlmgomUcGrUrM0C3oPXjhcl2RGtlQ-_YYnJ3qn7A0kuv5mBPFIMQmi0C2vqt9gpTf8MSYNE3yOeXtAGhqmgeQEnnU3G59xVCb-YHlM6KYFDmsUoLcSyuMbkNnx1rA_wZFU1W8CcRNTyP5w5vnyuOhWdgir=s1600" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFSmTNFkphnwUOwKe1qxQ6_UyForfHe7RlmgomUcGrUrM0C3oPXjhcl2RGtlQ-_YYnJ3qn7A0kuv5mBPFIMQmi0C2vqt9gpTf8MSYNE3yOeXtAGhqmgeQEnnU3G59xVCb-YHlM6KYFDmsUoLcSyuMbkNnx1rA_wZFU1W8CcRNTyP5w5vnyuOhWdgir=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New door!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Just this last week our new front door was installed. Yay! It's the first thing I've been able to see that I picked out and one of the biggest changes we have seen in the last few weeks. Hopefully soon the windows/floors/walls/interior walls/bathroom/kitchen will be installed. Ha! We'd like to be living there by the summer which would put us at the two year mark from when we made our offer on the property.</p><p>I'll try to come back here to update again as more things are finished!</p><br /><br />Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-58035289957090347572021-08-03T19:24:00.005+02:002021-08-03T19:24:52.535+02:00Extremadura trip: Trujillo and Guadalupe<p>This is a follow up to my last blog about our trip to Extremadura, 3 hours to the north of Seville. While there exploring some of the monumental cities in the region we stayed in Trujillo in a hotel that was a converted monastery from the 16th century. One of the cool things that Jose and I have done a few times (hoping to do more in the future) is to stay in hotels which have been created in historic buildings. Here in Spain there are lots of options like castles or paradores where you can sleep in a unique place.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYISc6atftjRDY2zbvwxroch39SXIty3kOSz87asugqrNGd6ful2a6xQsGB6x41lMcfSSmkvubXSmCJs7zYI_cYYvf5FEfUX1SZpZvpaBrYe23ijmPpecmA9DE6rIrqoZXBA0RXa8YZQ/s2016/IMG_0517.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYISc6atftjRDY2zbvwxroch39SXIty3kOSz87asugqrNGd6ful2a6xQsGB6x41lMcfSSmkvubXSmCJs7zYI_cYYvf5FEfUX1SZpZvpaBrYe23ijmPpecmA9DE6rIrqoZXBA0RXa8YZQ/s320/IMG_0517.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hdD2xw_aRtXjfeOsa_e2j-w83Xa3683keqduvhOIwsq8APMDmWOvmHUfmZ2sGTSJZhLwP4rZlcypV3-1DX5QN6B3B8dHaEYNedQn66oW6z5s6sMHjzhO-YUeZAShnmWM3ANGZcqP6SE/s1603/IMG_0509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="1496" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hdD2xw_aRtXjfeOsa_e2j-w83Xa3683keqduvhOIwsq8APMDmWOvmHUfmZ2sGTSJZhLwP4rZlcypV3-1DX5QN6B3B8dHaEYNedQn66oW6z5s6sMHjzhO-YUeZAShnmWM3ANGZcqP6SE/s320/IMG_0509.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Our hotel had a pool but unfortunately we could only go for an hour a day due to COVID restrictions. We took full advantage in the afternoons after spending our mornings sightseeing. The hotel also offered a good breakfast which is always a plus.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoKh9LHyw0W7MzHtPH9J5iSpNi9cglyi1F4hZXp6IEi7-vwjgeZavcmoVoNk0-7KWxmezWPIq3WKx7Lc3eczt0Q7JmOWdgkeWarEp7G50Ys8U-lbGQ5yWW6n9C9exy3aJP8fQKrxWgPI/s2016/IMG_0520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYoKh9LHyw0W7MzHtPH9J5iSpNi9cglyi1F4hZXp6IEi7-vwjgeZavcmoVoNk0-7KWxmezWPIq3WKx7Lc3eczt0Q7JmOWdgkeWarEp7G50Ys8U-lbGQ5yWW6n9C9exy3aJP8fQKrxWgPI/s320/IMG_0520.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1OpKBlqrWXumXXD-58xO5fMcJxu_nfV10xbb7PBipW4459pI1WzLph2-TDd4cx7skIBb51UKusW7o4QK-L-Az4449HlJzT3tO8ek8iArt61WN3eY2vsxrSAI-10WjOVhklsrn-4jOug/s2016/IMG_0526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1OpKBlqrWXumXXD-58xO5fMcJxu_nfV10xbb7PBipW4459pI1WzLph2-TDd4cx7skIBb51UKusW7o4QK-L-Az4449HlJzT3tO8ek8iArt61WN3eY2vsxrSAI-10WjOVhklsrn-4jOug/s320/IMG_0526.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Trujillo was the home of Francisco Pizzaro, the explorer, so of course the main square is crowned by a gigantic statue of him. We were pleased to find that there weren't many other tourists around and at some points it seemed we were alone in the city while we walked around the cobble stone streets.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xqiKKCOE5g6_9m0aPEIna8tKvyoxq0snu-nACnTHGjU28hgHCoRG-SVnjx2ufxVuLk8uNu06ROumZd2V_VwVQ0u5Ell3UY39eoI2VH66CTXe8XRuCUAGbO4op8-cxUjB_G9pMeC5LV0/s2016/IMG_0530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xqiKKCOE5g6_9m0aPEIna8tKvyoxq0snu-nACnTHGjU28hgHCoRG-SVnjx2ufxVuLk8uNu06ROumZd2V_VwVQ0u5Ell3UY39eoI2VH66CTXe8XRuCUAGbO4op8-cxUjB_G9pMeC5LV0/s320/IMG_0530.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincLXH8oPzb5vXUCzRepgvVGiCN89ytjY928jUhC02XGO4W_0XXsryu9wCicDjOkm60TYXniCS9QUTwIwonvjddetuG-KshhEOCCKlwn4o1Tpo_2M45LXbm0Ki4P35Fhfy5KguhW372SM/s2016/IMG_0531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincLXH8oPzb5vXUCzRepgvVGiCN89ytjY928jUhC02XGO4W_0XXsryu9wCicDjOkm60TYXniCS9QUTwIwonvjddetuG-KshhEOCCKlwn4o1Tpo_2M45LXbm0Ki4P35Fhfy5KguhW372SM/s320/IMG_0531.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJk9lqTiFEpIeBPlSRJazy7OlbqDld2MJrih_CAXQPpHr3IY7v64Qdwe7XiXnADIDeXiCX250wr-ri7nuw-t_ofdh0I_fzLmWLD9hrzgVr1woOGZKMA7JtkNLtEPPgLL3LRxCwkACKOjE/s2016/IMG_0536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJk9lqTiFEpIeBPlSRJazy7OlbqDld2MJrih_CAXQPpHr3IY7v64Qdwe7XiXnADIDeXiCX250wr-ri7nuw-t_ofdh0I_fzLmWLD9hrzgVr1woOGZKMA7JtkNLtEPPgLL3LRxCwkACKOjE/s320/IMG_0536.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>Trujillo has many well-preserved buildings including several churches and a castle which sits at the highest point of the city which served a strategic purpose in defending the town. The castle was also used in scenes from Game of Thrones, specifically Casterly Rock. I was interested to discover that there are less than 50 residences in the city center and that the majority of the buildings are restaurants, hotels, hostels or government buildings. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_Vjb2N5F0BezeRpiUoxmHf196FqgAwyNTWIL1fZ1_Q33D5Fs70XUtq0xq4OzqwNHYuDUxzEtAlB9AqF2iM5f9d46TQ5xd1SSz12-gGu0KJ5wbQ2ve2UV8sEUhUTyT0IYwfchjfgG2_Y/s2016/IMG_0597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_Vjb2N5F0BezeRpiUoxmHf196FqgAwyNTWIL1fZ1_Q33D5Fs70XUtq0xq4OzqwNHYuDUxzEtAlB9AqF2iM5f9d46TQ5xd1SSz12-gGu0KJ5wbQ2ve2UV8sEUhUTyT0IYwfchjfgG2_Y/s320/IMG_0597.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ5HatoHHVMMIpnluxJD7vtZD1-cP8mvRfBGgvPzZ212f3CtoGk4m6OLyulcTB3eBCLYrDBOFZhpDqLRqjuUZHfNIvEW0wUU7sNhmsv14jPBW2xuWINUe48HElrjNH7Z4DCzn_YAeno8/s2016/IMG_0603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidJ5HatoHHVMMIpnluxJD7vtZD1-cP8mvRfBGgvPzZ212f3CtoGk4m6OLyulcTB3eBCLYrDBOFZhpDqLRqjuUZHfNIvEW0wUU7sNhmsv14jPBW2xuWINUe48HElrjNH7Z4DCzn_YAeno8/s320/IMG_0603.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrlrjtgbZ-mCzt1Wgi0NgJow0dYNGezYGIp-G3UxFZKozrcihTrI_Ke3iBIjSrMMUFdFC_c9rST9lUb8BOskZ8BWjUXwOzeNQYM2TgF3GHSL9Edp-ojoIj_Bfddf_EAHyEsYua6Y733w/s2016/IMG_0606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNrlrjtgbZ-mCzt1Wgi0NgJow0dYNGezYGIp-G3UxFZKozrcihTrI_Ke3iBIjSrMMUFdFC_c9rST9lUb8BOskZ8BWjUXwOzeNQYM2TgF3GHSL9Edp-ojoIj_Bfddf_EAHyEsYua6Y733w/s320/IMG_0606.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We also drove the winding road to visit Guadalupe which is a World Heritage Site since 1993 and was named one of Spain's most beautiful towns. It is most famous for its St. Mary Monastery and the Virgen de Guadalupe which is a figure with dark skin with many devotees throughout the world. We arrived and took a tour of the monestary before having lunch and heading back. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B7C1S_GaUuLwQVI9x6DY69vcBRdUYqdCsI17YEUpfObrmyyE6lFmMCZ_ZEDaWLnZiIqI6tAGTl2YcoeaCZO_Onr3bNNO-QiO1-nKRwG_YpTkqeUYAHlYZJNNktfkk2Y6aLrB7DM8WrM/s2016/IMG_0561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1B7C1S_GaUuLwQVI9x6DY69vcBRdUYqdCsI17YEUpfObrmyyE6lFmMCZ_ZEDaWLnZiIqI6tAGTl2YcoeaCZO_Onr3bNNO-QiO1-nKRwG_YpTkqeUYAHlYZJNNktfkk2Y6aLrB7DM8WrM/s320/IMG_0561.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWZbxXSJUGrGNh2mCWEZJI3zb9JdGwotAZRAymO0nIC8mMOoV0A8vbV3zycWlwRwcQv1jxnbZcJdQ6iEZmF8VMV-MhHY2UJQx8KEus_c0v-Gu-z5Ztlp5Ht_gpM7RDoCrvTjZtta_5-0/s2016/IMG_0563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWZbxXSJUGrGNh2mCWEZJI3zb9JdGwotAZRAymO0nIC8mMOoV0A8vbV3zycWlwRwcQv1jxnbZcJdQ6iEZmF8VMV-MhHY2UJQx8KEus_c0v-Gu-z5Ztlp5Ht_gpM7RDoCrvTjZtta_5-0/s320/IMG_0563.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7u13alCIKNwfjv2Np82uRyrJE5cNR7fOMNyvP_xIHcaL4Gq8vIfJnk3_ol0L5wn4jFPYGVlqMHhal17K95jvL4O4QHguUHonGvhb_ZqCsHGZtSuVM83WMdCfEG_bdO_4THqIms-eJ5Fs/s2016/IMG_0569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7u13alCIKNwfjv2Np82uRyrJE5cNR7fOMNyvP_xIHcaL4Gq8vIfJnk3_ol0L5wn4jFPYGVlqMHhal17K95jvL4O4QHguUHonGvhb_ZqCsHGZtSuVM83WMdCfEG_bdO_4THqIms-eJ5Fs/s320/IMG_0569.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8-MY6WJ0RxLtbq81jf3tLlXdM8SPGP1UJuyTdjwXUYDiGJ99MrqAi9nY8yfkqyvYoslmHj2JiPUabLFLPo36rX9RfbrdWPAHfod9T5OxabuEtFLbsV6L_q7dLKqQJgmkCtcr-pwD3sE/s2016/IMG_0575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8-MY6WJ0RxLtbq81jf3tLlXdM8SPGP1UJuyTdjwXUYDiGJ99MrqAi9nY8yfkqyvYoslmHj2JiPUabLFLPo36rX9RfbrdWPAHfod9T5OxabuEtFLbsV6L_q7dLKqQJgmkCtcr-pwD3sE/s320/IMG_0575.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>Overall our trip was nice and exhausting. We saw a lot of the beautiful towns that Extremadura has to offer and it made me want to go back and visit the more natural settings in the region. The one upside of traveling during COVID is the lack of people around so we were able to enjoy our visits without crowds and without waiting. In Spain in general during the summer lots of people flock to the coasts and the beaches which is understandable due to the heat. We in fact met a few families who were stopping at our hotel on their drive from the north of the country down to the beaches of Andalucia. This mass exodus of people to the beach means that other types of tourism like city escapes can be good if you can survive the heat (and maybe don't have three kids tagging along).<br /><p><br /></p></div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-61154204798728749982021-07-30T18:31:00.002+02:002021-07-30T18:31:30.639+02:00Game of Thrones country: Caceres and Malpartida de Caceres trip<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQsaRjWrJhrFlhoEXbcMePDXJLkTg83YMkG_AFKj6wNY0wQNzM-1-hpj093r0BtwzBnAP5Vom1JuctfKCR7Mcv0VHcd94wLVzMZRrvPMDtC69OL1RGmEUrowinIQ9a2lAHMEKj7ax6Kk/s2016/IMG_0578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQsaRjWrJhrFlhoEXbcMePDXJLkTg83YMkG_AFKj6wNY0wQNzM-1-hpj093r0BtwzBnAP5Vom1JuctfKCR7Mcv0VHcd94wLVzMZRrvPMDtC69OL1RGmEUrowinIQ9a2lAHMEKj7ax6Kk/s320/IMG_0578.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">This past week Jose, the girls and I drove about three hours north of Seville to visit Extremadura, a region of Spain which was used pretty extensively in the Game of Thrones series because of its beautifully well-preserved architecture and natural scenery. HBO shot throughout Spain (including in and around Seville) during the series' run and it's easy to see why.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHZhOjMyN44v0A-iFSknxA56NnF1pkfmM1Jifk3X8g5Wyp97V8tVNmzUPmmUiDpcCVsvj1Fn-7iv9VtWsJpwKrRbTNZu0aTQh6xadh2zdJmbmSOs-4SWCk3pfLMlgVBsPGi_g9mNGF14/s2016/IMG_0543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHZhOjMyN44v0A-iFSknxA56NnF1pkfmM1Jifk3X8g5Wyp97V8tVNmzUPmmUiDpcCVsvj1Fn-7iv9VtWsJpwKrRbTNZu0aTQh6xadh2zdJmbmSOs-4SWCk3pfLMlgVBsPGi_g9mNGF14/s320/IMG_0543.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Although we stayed in another city, we spent one day in Caceres which is famous for its medieval walled city that has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We contracted a walking tour and braved the high temperatures to explore the many palaces, churches and stone streets found inside the Monumental City, several of which were used by GofT.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h1lnE1T8RHlEEQ7DRs4ZJQosT-6FOCQpReoLT3ccn_AJIka_1iCogE5SAmpS4BR4HfWcXKltsRhKFJiY15fBXzJSAYFrR7iXL_BlTCz4HRp25Tl0hhlXFMgaduDbEVS_dppi7Xhf84M/s2016/IMG_0552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h1lnE1T8RHlEEQ7DRs4ZJQosT-6FOCQpReoLT3ccn_AJIka_1iCogE5SAmpS4BR4HfWcXKltsRhKFJiY15fBXzJSAYFrR7iXL_BlTCz4HRp25Tl0hhlXFMgaduDbEVS_dppi7Xhf84M/s320/IMG_0552.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZHMLwcRZA4rzNK-xUI6APw23lHk3LxY7Ha8OqedivmV6Gwxnq6FWBpUE2qkTG2vDIfL3q3yZnpHiF9x6cElRnC3B7Uvj7q41qBFh6VtyvHVXB6LemgY7wptidk3fXKJWd4i-HDkRwgA/s2016/IMG_0545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZHMLwcRZA4rzNK-xUI6APw23lHk3LxY7Ha8OqedivmV6Gwxnq6FWBpUE2qkTG2vDIfL3q3yZnpHiF9x6cElRnC3B7Uvj7q41qBFh6VtyvHVXB6LemgY7wptidk3fXKJWd4i-HDkRwgA/s320/IMG_0545.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I especially liked hearing about how the squabbles and fights between the city's nobility affected the architecture as they tried to outdo one another with family shields, balconies, towers and how one family financed changing the angle of the most famous arch so that a carriage would fit through and they wouldn't have to walk to their front door like a commoner.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHODWJikkc7k1rMlibiFxyrPz7BD0CkiKu4vO8Nt67RmqB8ReJsSVkhOIyUwzbbQrA89u4D7vKtDLL_o9fkzxmfjLmw7mnlHWFT-Bdkp22ury41jhT5VqQlGF6Ya5YZGBdgZQ-E0MCqI/s2016/IMG_0554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHODWJikkc7k1rMlibiFxyrPz7BD0CkiKu4vO8Nt67RmqB8ReJsSVkhOIyUwzbbQrA89u4D7vKtDLL_o9fkzxmfjLmw7mnlHWFT-Bdkp22ury41jhT5VqQlGF6Ya5YZGBdgZQ-E0MCqI/s320/IMG_0554.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOmdMcvm1b50zQ_x6hjtebiid22s3XPebJzBrQbGaRHb073BeCszV5XMohw5nAxK2ztjACTxs4bSh1p5AD-8pzibktF4SRY3LQ8-g_Hjm0XoNNuEyVN5hT8X0dCdCBPTTVx1bHfMhhsU/s2016/IMG_0544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOmdMcvm1b50zQ_x6hjtebiid22s3XPebJzBrQbGaRHb073BeCszV5XMohw5nAxK2ztjACTxs4bSh1p5AD-8pzibktF4SRY3LQ8-g_Hjm0XoNNuEyVN5hT8X0dCdCBPTTVx1bHfMhhsU/s320/IMG_0544.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ph-b9-qZMaC41zpTwX1-5BTJUiPiNIfWFDSjcSai7S8nOEVbx5crzdcwQEr_lmbL_0On_nVrMuqOiE0pF2sZUzQmlJXBdYFll2BcgJHN9S2vpJ-emohewIRIfQdo751niOZGXwWvgC8/s2016/IMG_0556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ph-b9-qZMaC41zpTwX1-5BTJUiPiNIfWFDSjcSai7S8nOEVbx5crzdcwQEr_lmbL_0On_nVrMuqOiE0pF2sZUzQmlJXBdYFll2BcgJHN9S2vpJ-emohewIRIfQdo751niOZGXwWvgC8/s320/IMG_0556.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">It was an interesting tour (at least for Jose and I) but Laura, Vera and Carla were more interested in the gift shops and having lunch. We were rather disappointed to not find many restaurants open. I'm still not sure if that was because of COVID or because it was July. In any case, I was glad to be able to see a gorgeous city in Spain that I'd never visited before and one that seems left off many must-see lists. You can see Caceres in a day if you want and it's worth it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6CETu396j2rnqbnEyIxUnZJKweT7jCl7qA-sGrYdEWb_AfR6kGjQ16j4DP6AiPhZ-R_fTdALcLpLHsbo4ttMyE_Xb356gknKl0MTaoklfrixeZcktuSBa4nQKsDe_3orM10oc_IlylY/s2016/IMG_0582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht6CETu396j2rnqbnEyIxUnZJKweT7jCl7qA-sGrYdEWb_AfR6kGjQ16j4DP6AiPhZ-R_fTdALcLpLHsbo4ttMyE_Xb356gknKl0MTaoklfrixeZcktuSBa4nQKsDe_3orM10oc_IlylY/s320/IMG_0582.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4-IwAKpzbFL_ambS7kQKTqX9m1haq2jflaOy6qOWNIjQC_W4pjoYYX-U12o3s2_sWNN4QMLmUu9BHGVLOXLQQ6-Iqy_OJ0F0TYf7rYCvZnWJJzA3eaxhoQAs3SXU4VeNDm4dy3l6o48/s2016/IMG_0583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4-IwAKpzbFL_ambS7kQKTqX9m1haq2jflaOy6qOWNIjQC_W4pjoYYX-U12o3s2_sWNN4QMLmUu9BHGVLOXLQQ6-Iqy_OJ0F0TYf7rYCvZnWJJzA3eaxhoQAs3SXU4VeNDm4dy3l6o48/s320/IMG_0583.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Not far from Caceres city is the village of Malpartida de Caceres and its natural reserve which was also a GofT shooting site. This may have actually been my favorite place we visited in our four day trip. It was absolutely beautiful with its rock formations and lakes. We drove out, had a walk around and a picnic.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTSvRlY35BmTwUS0R9C3FSgitazboNYUA2GqcL0bNJ-fW4r4HZIWlowU3DaiwhSwqSJ0F6bacH09ttR5irq2-aX_9PKy7uMsaxSFjulAUwif9a6lpWfV9bJyb_fd_z2rrL47VATd3OL4/s2016/IMG_0589.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTSvRlY35BmTwUS0R9C3FSgitazboNYUA2GqcL0bNJ-fW4r4HZIWlowU3DaiwhSwqSJ0F6bacH09ttR5irq2-aX_9PKy7uMsaxSFjulAUwif9a6lpWfV9bJyb_fd_z2rrL47VATd3OL4/s320/IMG_0589.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIMRrNtvzXAYoLkgU_NF9yfZFC5dgV8Hpouy_lKyDYB04YS9TvEbXc7oZEWwFLL3Te564CQ8Ff8Ywn1TPAaj-DCGdj4xTWKBxu_JDUKwk65qZ5S8WuD_6H2fftiFQGWWqyUJ6xVz0Pi8/s2016/IMG_0590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggIMRrNtvzXAYoLkgU_NF9yfZFC5dgV8Hpouy_lKyDYB04YS9TvEbXc7oZEWwFLL3Te564CQ8Ff8Ywn1TPAaj-DCGdj4xTWKBxu_JDUKwk65qZ5S8WuD_6H2fftiFQGWWqyUJ6xVz0Pi8/s320/IMG_0590.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZVWG2wiPCTtjVNQ0kR6NieaN3uRYUlL5n3tewKA4J1ReyjNPzKojuC1MM5zqiVO0meAs6tnbNCcQymjF7CVexI6VtM4FziwchES8mxinVSFktEX6keKur4LdVN8lXGy59VcL9vmS934/s2016/IMG_0591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZVWG2wiPCTtjVNQ0kR6NieaN3uRYUlL5n3tewKA4J1ReyjNPzKojuC1MM5zqiVO0meAs6tnbNCcQymjF7CVexI6VtM4FziwchES8mxinVSFktEX6keKur4LdVN8lXGy59VcL9vmS934/s320/IMG_0591.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qq4yTtuFhQNARA1UX9x6dKNmvzUpaArmeAQUvorND-mLRNFXNmiYq3oY0dadHjxyAPjErHiV5hRZuGFeVUaZe8rFsGA98o7_RN4D71gmyXW09Xzu5yqeinS4xmisEsrmHnhRNz242jA/s2016/IMG_0592.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qq4yTtuFhQNARA1UX9x6dKNmvzUpaArmeAQUvorND-mLRNFXNmiYq3oY0dadHjxyAPjErHiV5hRZuGFeVUaZe8rFsGA98o7_RN4D71gmyXW09Xzu5yqeinS4xmisEsrmHnhRNz242jA/s320/IMG_0592.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">The park had plaques that explained each scene that was filmed there and the pictures I took don't really do the reserve justice. The rocks were so cool and we saw birds, frogs, plenty of cows and people fishing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Our trip to Extremadura was supposed to just be Jose and I but we unknowingly scheduled it the same week my in-laws were going to the beach so our plans changed. Traveling with three kids in tow is not the same and we had to adjust and adapt. This was our first sightseeing trip with the girls and we've decided they are still too small for it. We are going to stick to our regular plans of renting a house somewhere and being more low key. Luckily our hotel did have a pool but we could only use it for an hour a day due to COVID. I think that was the girls' favorite part of the trip anyway. That and spending the ten euros we gave each of them to buy whatever they wanted (it was an experiment that ended exactly as we thought it would with Laura impulsively buying the first thing she saw and Vera choosing the most random thing in the shop).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'll be back with another post on the other two cities we visited during this trip soon, so check back.<br /><br /></span></div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-18418598068768382842021-07-19T14:35:00.002+02:002021-07-19T14:35:45.906+02:00Carla turns 2<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">My littlest turned 2 last week. She's no longer a baby and she will tell you, "yo solita," which means "I can do it by myself." Carla may not be talking much yet but she has quite a personality and it shows. She wants to do everything her older sisters do, doesn't want to be left behind and she's very independent. I guess that's pretty common for kids that have siblings.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQjPe2UL11yd-yJAaewkph_7y4US9B3bGxfePH_V3WYifppSDa0r5HlhYvPUTu341b52T365zIC_ObNUeo9iBF-0hxwW_DYf9qn1-MwiUyCKoupU7pHFohsNUM0V4zFnT_6-_TA7O3SQ/s1024/c60a5d48-9d3c-42bd-89c0-c8513a73687c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="769" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQjPe2UL11yd-yJAaewkph_7y4US9B3bGxfePH_V3WYifppSDa0r5HlhYvPUTu341b52T365zIC_ObNUeo9iBF-0hxwW_DYf9qn1-MwiUyCKoupU7pHFohsNUM0V4zFnT_6-_TA7O3SQ/s320/c60a5d48-9d3c-42bd-89c0-c8513a73687c.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Her birthday fell on a Friday so she celebrated at daycare first and then with us at home in the afternoon. She was pretty spoiled by her friends and family both here in Spain and from abroad. Thank you to everyone who sent gifts and well wishes. We appreciate all the messages and posts for our girl.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDwEdyhAd5grWrhgWid9JnfXoYkyJFsfnkgGFAaG-ksW3hz-OMD9juPLRy5kUSyPQXQzKSfLgak3Ngxyh-a8KIq_wg6P_1n1587bn2qeKSOZajgpO6JvNrZi0E9nNh8JsXr970R4VE88/s2016/IMG_0474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDwEdyhAd5grWrhgWid9JnfXoYkyJFsfnkgGFAaG-ksW3hz-OMD9juPLRy5kUSyPQXQzKSfLgak3Ngxyh-a8KIq_wg6P_1n1587bn2qeKSOZajgpO6JvNrZi0E9nNh8JsXr970R4VE88/s320/IMG_0474.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The next day we had a small celebration with some of Jose's family in their village. Carla didn't have a first birthday party at all due to the pandemic. This meant that this was her first (second) birthday party and she had a blast swimming in the pool and playing with her cousins and sisters. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPlWqJRQBHh6SLEEigXj4vmW0FoQPsQ3ybe7h-dM5XGvMd5oSJNpmGuWuMQSJDQaShfMxxbMmT_QNbLtiWftW02BcNiWP41JsyYEGftyl1AU46Hf2_fj2cZSuj-gXm9nBWN3GieD-r7s/s2016/IMG_0484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPlWqJRQBHh6SLEEigXj4vmW0FoQPsQ3ybe7h-dM5XGvMd5oSJNpmGuWuMQSJDQaShfMxxbMmT_QNbLtiWftW02BcNiWP41JsyYEGftyl1AU46Hf2_fj2cZSuj-gXm9nBWN3GieD-r7s/s320/IMG_0484.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">It's hard to believe that it's been two years since Carla was born after taking her sweet time to decide she was ready for this world. Although she was difficult in being born (my mom flew over from Michigan for a two week stay right around my due date and Carla wasn't born until the day before her return flight so she just got to meet her and then leave), she has always been an easy child and continues to be a nicey girl. She loves her baby dolls, lining things up in rows and reading books. She enjoys an ice cream and teasing her sisters. Her favorite person in the world is her abuelo. She goes to daycare happily each day and it doesn't seem to matter to her that people around her are masked all the time. Children are amazing in what they adapt to.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">As I write this post I can't help but to reflect: Carla's first two years have been quite intense. She was born and almost immediately after I was having ultrasounds and biopsies done on my thyroid, which led to surgery. Weeks later we took off to spend a few months in the USA for a wedding, baptism and Christmas. When we returned early in 2020 I had a radioactive iodine treatment and consequent quarantine before we were smack in the middle of a worldwide pandemic. Spain had one of the most strict confinements in the spring which took us into a strange, locked-down summer. We all went back to school (teaching, studying, masters etc) in the fall before selling our apartment and moving twice. It's been a crazy past two years and Carla has taken it all in stride. In fact, all three girls have been incredible and I'm proud of them.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Happy birthday, Carly Darly! Here's to many more and a HUGE birthday bash next year when we are in our new house (hopefully).</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwet9Gm2VxKN03PK4xn1-0qneoujxjj3R4ZMEyxyYVEA4fmNYZ4SjZZOo99U7d93yDh8LkpLl-d6-AeFjMxM6nsVBwDbr2ePcnixevqQMCVGQYo0FMl-fXDZ_U9TAQoxz8HeAgm6I3XS0/s2016/IMG_0480.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwet9Gm2VxKN03PK4xn1-0qneoujxjj3R4ZMEyxyYVEA4fmNYZ4SjZZOo99U7d93yDh8LkpLl-d6-AeFjMxM6nsVBwDbr2ePcnixevqQMCVGQYo0FMl-fXDZ_U9TAQoxz8HeAgm6I3XS0/s320/IMG_0480.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-25932328193228917922021-07-11T12:36:00.000+02:002021-07-15T23:15:34.948+02:00Summer adventures: Eurocup soccer and Algarve beach<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Eurocup soccer hopes ended for Spain in the semifinals in a match against Italy last week. Of course Jose has been following the national team's advancement through the tournament and admittedly there were some exciting games which went into the penalty phase (which is completely unfair in my opinion). But alas, his team neither won, nor could he convince any of his girls to share in his excitement. Maybe next time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjZsGcCdF-XCNHjLOi76owJEzWFJSrTn1mbbQ8515ejCuL59eCxpcydyTHPHWaMGUgELdVomBUHu_9vCsX1P46w_qWsrTk5Y_CvTss4ymQIYm7Tay_qmTXZkdmVz-x0Du3umEXdWuvng/s640/be6d4716-a47b-47b2-bd57-bac1aaf18cbe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjZsGcCdF-XCNHjLOi76owJEzWFJSrTn1mbbQ8515ejCuL59eCxpcydyTHPHWaMGUgELdVomBUHu_9vCsX1P46w_qWsrTk5Y_CvTss4ymQIYm7Tay_qmTXZkdmVz-x0Du3umEXdWuvng/s320/be6d4716-a47b-47b2-bd57-bac1aaf18cbe.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDUS6QMd4QRvjNEgG-JGdiA1pvu3oMK-9BBG1T3rN6paGvrWSRQKVWhHlrCQbLdoO4dqUATqNd2eTvkZzggaBZorlgrMHDqW9_K-YbbOb5dDNP4Rdj9LTFFk6xhPo2uvWu4y6a_7wkww/s640/IMG_0417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDUS6QMd4QRvjNEgG-JGdiA1pvu3oMK-9BBG1T3rN6paGvrWSRQKVWhHlrCQbLdoO4dqUATqNd2eTvkZzggaBZorlgrMHDqW9_K-YbbOb5dDNP4Rdj9LTFFk6xhPo2uvWu4y6a_7wkww/s320/IMG_0417.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESZZTnxknLt9Mlx8XAHngC4XD15hi59CaINSueEi1mAFxePF6l8auMmJgruE7O1PmOJ7jRLMe2x_-mEYXMaZVhpcWtaHuOF93jabMDUjxRZWF7kcr-hLAgdrj8HVQWYUsMO0yJc9ruqc/s2016/IMG_0394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESZZTnxknLt9Mlx8XAHngC4XD15hi59CaINSueEi1mAFxePF6l8auMmJgruE7O1PmOJ7jRLMe2x_-mEYXMaZVhpcWtaHuOF93jabMDUjxRZWF7kcr-hLAgdrj8HVQWYUsMO0yJc9ruqc/s320/IMG_0394.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ok so I don't particularly like soccer (not football which is another sport entirely that I'm not interested in) but I do enjoy the social aspect of watching soccer when important games are on. It's like the Super Bowl. I probably don't know who is playing but getting together with people, eating food and "watching" is fun. The same thing happens here in Spain. One game we watched with my in-laws and another with some friends while our kids swam in their pool. I'm bummed for Jose that his team didn't advance but I also think the stress may have killed him.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-gJtm3pNVHY5quiAazjcY2S2SGk_uMoJJ2PC9gkd7Mi8xzi3AO009os6E9a0RAv0FeafqcJut1md5psmtIe0wN2cbkvlrsPloq32S5EkybWxeztTcaYKNEld0ZKhyphenhyphen1nq7uJfP5Ag7pc/s2016/IMG_0404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-gJtm3pNVHY5quiAazjcY2S2SGk_uMoJJ2PC9gkd7Mi8xzi3AO009os6E9a0RAv0FeafqcJut1md5psmtIe0wN2cbkvlrsPloq32S5EkybWxeztTcaYKNEld0ZKhyphenhyphen1nq7uJfP5Ag7pc/s320/IMG_0404.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YkK1geh_aeEcYTQUDkc1QL4RYlT7F3DjS3vWYj79YJTC_cRSLGNIS4v1FeaNURZXUivDqVxzaGfJ6gceB6QpveKM9TYY2SuIoZ7GYumqp-0GhLm-vcSG2PxAxZo7L7ZJ4i9oJHuozWI/s2016/IMG_0405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YkK1geh_aeEcYTQUDkc1QL4RYlT7F3DjS3vWYj79YJTC_cRSLGNIS4v1FeaNURZXUivDqVxzaGfJ6gceB6QpveKM9TYY2SuIoZ7GYumqp-0GhLm-vcSG2PxAxZo7L7ZJ4i9oJHuozWI/s320/IMG_0405.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wO7KhwCEu9Ip1qwomewSSAeoh8t0s4dwE5t-ZPCG2Od6YGYEZLrVXT4kGDSxW6A9r0QbXzIyJ2BQuowmWQngGEj4BXnZqwc3lI9wgVDjkAnalVZKHI0ofE49htMnNgkGFrauyZ1T8Yw/s2016/IMG_0408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wO7KhwCEu9Ip1qwomewSSAeoh8t0s4dwE5t-ZPCG2Od6YGYEZLrVXT4kGDSxW6A9r0QbXzIyJ2BQuowmWQngGEj4BXnZqwc3lI9wgVDjkAnalVZKHI0ofE49htMnNgkGFrauyZ1T8Yw/s320/IMG_0408.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">We also spent the day at one of our favorite beaches in Vila Real do Santo Antonio in Portugal. We first got to know the beaches there because my in-laws had an apartment that we would frequently visit all year round. They recently sold it which sort of breaks my heart but I understand that they weren't getting to use it as much as they would have liked and are looking for beach property in a place with more things going on. That is precisely the reason why I love this area of the Algarve so much. It is quiet, the beaches are gorgeous and not crowded and we even had local haunts where we have been going for over a decade.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_5ZthHfuxuDZrk7cxcvM2_LLtIv_NGZJLB2Y-HLVupdacZmStx1As4RxawIY09l7BPcOZTCOrmSjCafFj-RM0rUhteRCBePsLK0KJNwCPdSCuUJ3WwwCfeZtHa3TxsQ1WmcDF0rszXw/s2016/IMG_0407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_5ZthHfuxuDZrk7cxcvM2_LLtIv_NGZJLB2Y-HLVupdacZmStx1As4RxawIY09l7BPcOZTCOrmSjCafFj-RM0rUhteRCBePsLK0KJNwCPdSCuUJ3WwwCfeZtHa3TxsQ1WmcDF0rszXw/s320/IMG_0407.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxH4Gey2M6oajDv10yB27V6wvl1_MzyQEgTwWPInoGhZ7it3VFEWWrqKZHFSSkTqVz9cJIZCLO5HS5Ae8hREbfZi7ClsZSc1yoBEhNCqJ2xBzFiRwjUQ9syc5z7AjpwMfk_s79F1NvfQ/s1544/IMG_0409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1158" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxH4Gey2M6oajDv10yB27V6wvl1_MzyQEgTwWPInoGhZ7it3VFEWWrqKZHFSSkTqVz9cJIZCLO5HS5Ae8hREbfZi7ClsZSc1yoBEhNCqJ2xBzFiRwjUQ9syc5z7AjpwMfk_s79F1NvfQ/s320/IMG_0409.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div>That said, we drove out on a Saturday morning with picnic and various other beach-related gear (which only seems to multiply when kids are in the equation) and spent the day in the sand and sun. Gone are the days of Jose and I going to the beach for a relaxing day with only towels and beer. Now I am in full-on Mom mode at the beach, complete with sun visor and copious amounts of sunscreen for all. (Although admittedly we all got a bit burnt on our first day out, especially Jose). It was a beautiful if not exhausting day and I look forward to a few more this summer.</span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62JRl7RbPajZ_XH5o4kfGe4QTx_kl_B2gVvnDe-SYmBn3474i2t4yHtDA9fb7A_eyQ5YqfBTVNu_LNxF616exzlOkNkUG29bPbaatzm2VKQ3xerUFAnCzmR-D_rkcgpKlZSCsUIYbTXg/s640/IMG_0435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg62JRl7RbPajZ_XH5o4kfGe4QTx_kl_B2gVvnDe-SYmBn3474i2t4yHtDA9fb7A_eyQ5YqfBTVNu_LNxF616exzlOkNkUG29bPbaatzm2VKQ3xerUFAnCzmR-D_rkcgpKlZSCsUIYbTXg/s320/IMG_0435.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoCiWoEQKCbME8NwTRFrAy38a5lXncayuuaFoRDKCcfgd67jmPOtAQGgD4WMHFgPtrVofRZEte0SoCYLDPUm-0gap0sh2T61mM1m-eT1m5YQVCUKNC8RfQ_zroP-Cc6mbQ0RkSn7rUUk/s640/IMG_0436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGoCiWoEQKCbME8NwTRFrAy38a5lXncayuuaFoRDKCcfgd67jmPOtAQGgD4WMHFgPtrVofRZEte0SoCYLDPUm-0gap0sh2T61mM1m-eT1m5YQVCUKNC8RfQ_zroP-Cc6mbQ0RkSn7rUUk/s320/IMG_0436.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm also happy to report that I successfully defended my Masters thesis this past week and have completed another degree (with another on the schedule for this upcoming year as well). Although I finished my undergrad and grad degrees in the US before moving to Spain, they don't allow me to find the kind of work I'd like here so I've decided to continue studying now that the girls are a bit bigger. This has meant that Jose has had to watch them in the afternoons when I had my classes and that I only went back to work part-time this year (and probably next). I know the sacrifices we are making will be worth it and we went out with the girls to celebrate (see pictures above). Now that I am truly done with everything, our summer adventures are to be continued...</span><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><br /></span><p></p></div>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-27460417810635818832021-07-11T11:55:00.000+02:002021-07-11T11:55:09.184+02:00Visit to Smurf Village (Blue Hamlet) Júzcar<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Since we are without pool this summer and things are heating up we decided to make a Summer Bucket List with the older girls of things we can do, adventures we can take and places we'd like to visit. This weekend we hopped in the car and drove to </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Júzcar in Malaga which is a couple of hours away. This small village with only 228 inhabitants wouldn't normally be on most people's list of places to visit until it was elected to become the Smurf Village in 2011 as part of a promotion for a movie release. The village later lost the rights to call itself the Smurf Village and now is known as the Blue Hamlet but that hasn't stopped the townspeople from maintaining the blue hue on all the buildings or the various Smurfs to be found throughout.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanQCPiexxKPMxSN0A7ljwWhDcGoO_pfP3MsSP0yCk0beMynbhBhBdB0mE1v719jJ-rEiVDIg-mzHPiMerB_fX2OXQLGyD13arMgmMAklo8SO2O-8p3NaRKfVlD4DBQo7NV4czlcpEbbk/s2016/IMG_0450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanQCPiexxKPMxSN0A7ljwWhDcGoO_pfP3MsSP0yCk0beMynbhBhBdB0mE1v719jJ-rEiVDIg-mzHPiMerB_fX2OXQLGyD13arMgmMAklo8SO2O-8p3NaRKfVlD4DBQo7NV4czlcpEbbk/s320/IMG_0450.jpg" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The village itself is found after driving down a winding mountain road which was quite beautiful. The surroundings are gorgeous and it was about five degrees cooler in </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px;">Júzcar than back home which was nice.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QXAgc_F_R_xHxcdizgQp7nOrRGDCoPT9auiJFuLaqAWXwJlxJFOfScWySxVzAvqm0KeljqelMq1gzVsPpkc8t1yQlH4hR-cXzDi6y6rFiCDAW11gb_CKRQe61eaEaWqns4XIDQK-KMI/s2016/IMG_0451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3QXAgc_F_R_xHxcdizgQp7nOrRGDCoPT9auiJFuLaqAWXwJlxJFOfScWySxVzAvqm0KeljqelMq1gzVsPpkc8t1yQlH4hR-cXzDi6y6rFiCDAW11gb_CKRQe61eaEaWqns4XIDQK-KMI/s320/IMG_0451.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">We had a walk through the town and lunch at one of the several restaurants which had outdoor seating with a view. Sadly I think that a lot of the attractions which the village offers are not working due to COVID. There were rock climbing walls and a zipline located throughout the town but they weren't functioning at the time (although according to the local website they should be at the weekends </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="http://www.juzcar.es/">http://www.juzcar.es/</a>). </span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSRfJJ9XjApRP5FSRWJvJUFtXps82unY2P0oucLyQzw6Zyv5C98EK0KXDcOzzX1K7hwK7-InVqIGmNQy6QjnK2ObwP1_2ULKuyClLTIgtubaN1dA_LYhPABrO57G11_oFyvNbzvOcjZw/s1544/IMG_0452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="1158" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSRfJJ9XjApRP5FSRWJvJUFtXps82unY2P0oucLyQzw6Zyv5C98EK0KXDcOzzX1K7hwK7-InVqIGmNQy6QjnK2ObwP1_2ULKuyClLTIgtubaN1dA_LYhPABrO57G11_oFyvNbzvOcjZw/s320/IMG_0452.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWjIKBQys33qCPbVXOMKLVhOJctHqvQqs3nPJKDKRLtFEVihQjANOx0HjzmBq0M49AxWa89aWl6rgz9rZWHLD-qXltwrhdutVHnnvewIJ-bpxUcfp0Xydh-FlQ1T7PLPw927JOHZOOAs/s2016/IMG_0460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTWjIKBQys33qCPbVXOMKLVhOJctHqvQqs3nPJKDKRLtFEVihQjANOx0HjzmBq0M49AxWa89aWl6rgz9rZWHLD-qXltwrhdutVHnnvewIJ-bpxUcfp0Xydh-FlQ1T7PLPw927JOHZOOAs/s320/IMG_0460.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I only somewhat jokingly told the girls that we should paint our new house blue. They really did look beautiful when contrasted with the green mountains and the flowers that were still blooming throughout. There were also hidden Smurfs to be found around if you were paying close attention. Can you spot the Smurf in the picture of Vera above?</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdOZsrStkX0yA2lMbseu1uD8o0-C327X7u3ujqM_QSaBn5T3YqUij1E7HudPhxUgUsGh7lthiKP1GiOgp1wNlNvtHUvrsz5-YOU_JwCSfhYPbyiPuLewtIjWlVTCtGoKvTbHEl81K6lU/s2016/IMG_0456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikdOZsrStkX0yA2lMbseu1uD8o0-C327X7u3ujqM_QSaBn5T3YqUij1E7HudPhxUgUsGh7lthiKP1GiOgp1wNlNvtHUvrsz5-YOU_JwCSfhYPbyiPuLewtIjWlVTCtGoKvTbHEl81K6lU/s320/IMG_0456.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNevEstIlmzhWKoYyrU5ZrTxMFav49jh22DX0Kc57mIlfAuNBvWRYdydamHwqx2fabY2y7vqTrAFKjloVwEfTg-Ws4qlGX2y10pPwjq-tKf-jxFzalatmi89Afx_OPAMUcYqDR6hlflts/s2016/IMG_0459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNevEstIlmzhWKoYyrU5ZrTxMFav49jh22DX0Kc57mIlfAuNBvWRYdydamHwqx2fabY2y7vqTrAFKjloVwEfTg-Ws4qlGX2y10pPwjq-tKf-jxFzalatmi89Afx_OPAMUcYqDR6hlflts/s320/IMG_0459.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Although started as a clever marketing ploy, the Smurf Village aka </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Júzcar has been able to capitalize on its uniqueness to attract tourists from all over. While there we heard people speaking French and saw several foreign license plates in the parking lot that was created right outside the village to accomodate visitors. In a region dotted with white villages or pueblos blancos, a blue one really stands out and it was a cute visit. We even came home and watched the Smurf movie so the promotion is still working to the benefit of both locals and film.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMJtRAOG8KwywciDjscoCjxRsDF13H2YV6zRiXDyBx80qfXVLVGbMYfZWCoiIDKs1gKfVNoRP8UrYyBtuq_9EkOu6HJl5EytXKLOyglmOaT_k7CNcQCAg0MZzWsEdxqd_gUQSWpKSy8I/s2016/IMG_0462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMJtRAOG8KwywciDjscoCjxRsDF13H2YV6zRiXDyBx80qfXVLVGbMYfZWCoiIDKs1gKfVNoRP8UrYyBtuq_9EkOu6HJl5EytXKLOyglmOaT_k7CNcQCAg0MZzWsEdxqd_gUQSWpKSy8I/s320/IMG_0462.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I would recommend a quick visit to </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">Júzcar especially if people are also visiting nearby Ronda which is BEAUTIFUL. On a side note, we even took Cooper along with us on this day trip because it is so hot and we didn't want to leave him home all alone in the house (I'm not 100% sure he hasn't been barking a lot when alone which is probably making our temporary neighbors crazy). One of the good things about Spain in general is how dog friendly it is. There is not usually an objection to having them in restaurants with outdoor seating and I've found that villages are especially not a problem for dogs since a lot of times there are local dogs just wandering around.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW6oMprv-15ODzg20UgkiEwpetiX3aQEvYUDDtmkrXZKPuXfWMndBO_e-CpM2xmiQkWN66UNuVCgZEb2n_MbK4NLKoDTbMIk2V0UcuLrmXXtemMeOY321M1QcAQyJOzndrUsCn60uKpE/s2016/IMG_0443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW6oMprv-15ODzg20UgkiEwpetiX3aQEvYUDDtmkrXZKPuXfWMndBO_e-CpM2xmiQkWN66UNuVCgZEb2n_MbK4NLKoDTbMIk2V0UcuLrmXXtemMeOY321M1QcAQyJOzndrUsCn60uKpE/s320/IMG_0443.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJNn7jYbp3ke4WowmDjh1-2_GB5Ldevl5a73VfIU06DVBHeNXCbdV6Nqzrp7yeGbsPTTFiFG6iM0JbLrurp-36ssADHe9cQDmjk3lOFsgHAYeNTmdVlnUsBitcfSJ3YwvDh4FvWuLRv8/s2016/IMG_0446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJNn7jYbp3ke4WowmDjh1-2_GB5Ldevl5a73VfIU06DVBHeNXCbdV6Nqzrp7yeGbsPTTFiFG6iM0JbLrurp-36ssADHe9cQDmjk3lOFsgHAYeNTmdVlnUsBitcfSJ3YwvDh4FvWuLRv8/s320/IMG_0446.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 15px;">We've planned several more road trips and getaways for the summer which I will continue to post about as we check things off our Bucket List with these beauties.</span><p></p><p></p>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-40543324848501569972021-07-03T21:17:00.002+02:002021-07-03T21:17:54.505+02:00International House Hunters drama<p> <span style="font-family: georgia;">As promised I'm back to tell the tale of our house hunt. And all the drama that has been associated with it so far. After our family grew by three in as many years our apartment was starting to feel small and Jose and I started discussing looking to move. In 2019 when I was pregnant with Carla we started to casually go and look at houses, mostly in the area where our apartment was located since there was a ton of new building going on.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It took a pandemic and having to quarantine in our 900 square foot apartment with five people and a dog (without being able to leave or step foot outside) for 6 long weeks that finally pushed us to make a decision. In the summer of 2020 we put our apartment on the market and started to seriously look at houses. We decided we didn't want another apartment but rather needed more space for our growing girls to run around and hopefully some outdoor space which was so incredibly lacking when we were stuck inside all of last spring. The pandemic really changed our mindset in that we need to have some outdoor area, whether that be a yard, garden or large-ish patio (regardless of how much work people feel the need to remind us it will be).</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxamJ5T0m_9dDKkbcaiYGjXl-19yoOle5UlRo39kxfe8qnfptz6h5mzBwtcdqrk05_wild1nKUO_liQx7kOYK7ROD2jXpRugzDtED-gGKyb8gtJkXscWKT_Pbzcy0rL0YEYBdldr5lLA/s2048/piso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpxamJ5T0m_9dDKkbcaiYGjXl-19yoOle5UlRo39kxfe8qnfptz6h5mzBwtcdqrk05_wild1nKUO_liQx7kOYK7ROD2jXpRugzDtED-gGKyb8gtJkXscWKT_Pbzcy0rL0YEYBdldr5lLA/s320/piso.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jose and I sat down and made a wishlist for our new place:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">3-4 bedrooms</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">2 bathrooms</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Green space and access to a pool (it gets disgustingly hot here during the summer)</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Chimney</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Storage</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Honestly, we were pretty open to a lot of options but would prefer to stay close to the girls' and Jose's schools so that they don't have to commute too long each day since their school days are already so long. I have my dream neighborhood that I continually look at to see if any houses go on sale and are within our budget but alas, it remains a dream. We started to expand our search into some of the peripheral areas in our town and I saw a listing online that looked questionable but checked a lot of the boxes of things we were looking for. So we scheduled a visit.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jose did NOT like the house when we went the first time. It is definitely a diamond in the rough, like rough rough. But I can see the potential in the house. I can see what it could be if we put in some work and renovations. I just had to convince Jose. Which I did. We put in an offer that was accepted LAST July. In our contract we were given until the end of the year to sell our place which became more difficult as most people had the same idea as us after the pandemic and weren't looking for apartments. In the end, we found a buyer in January and sold in February.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYlqnt2QcMcHEaSuNs7vRh969gSpR7REDZuRrkNPriok78uXSrW-SqEDz0N80Ir57TE1dH-F0JJviFTS_PS38l_uWJ63ew_zKBFW1_Yz-kF4pF0VKDs5YfkH-VFoatXaeB1Ma40eRoj8/s960/53574186_10107307216696178_4894434985517252608_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYlqnt2QcMcHEaSuNs7vRh969gSpR7REDZuRrkNPriok78uXSrW-SqEDz0N80Ir57TE1dH-F0JJviFTS_PS38l_uWJ63ew_zKBFW1_Yz-kF4pF0VKDs5YfkH-VFoatXaeB1Ma40eRoj8/s320/53574186_10107307216696178_4894434985517252608_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Our hope was to be able to start our extensive renovations ASAP and be living in our new house in the summer. With that thought, my inlaws graciously allowed us to move in with them for what we thought would be a couple of months. So we packed up our lives into a storage unit and took the basics (clothes) with us to our temporary digs. That is when the problems began.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">It turns out there was an illegal structure on the property. A chicken coop. That started the first delay as we had to get it legalized before our bank would sign off on our mortgage. That happened in March. We are still waiting for this paperwork to go through and it is currently July. We've been told it won't be until at least the end of the month. Things move slowly here in Spain, anything that has to do with the government is tricky.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Luckily about two months into our never ending stay with my inlaws one of their rental properties opened up so we decided to move AGAIN to have our own space. It was honestly great timing and I'm pretty sure the universe decided to cut us a break by giving us this opportunity to live in a house just the five of us while we wait and wait and wait and wait for our new house. We have unpacked just enough to survive and the majority of our stuff is in the basement still in boxes.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX3pY5xY9uuCiBwe7f2iyJgcc1Q8pFnuIum_t9LsedemvwXEMF9XkUX_T0Gxxv6MSj2aJ9BKKnHsuEQHrm5Y4uLdY1xUCdgYK0FhSgFj0eXXwvJ0ZBJlt7uFpETCIfkkltIqNKIXHNPs/s960/93576211_10108746924440318_7406213228373475328_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSX3pY5xY9uuCiBwe7f2iyJgcc1Q8pFnuIum_t9LsedemvwXEMF9XkUX_T0Gxxv6MSj2aJ9BKKnHsuEQHrm5Y4uLdY1xUCdgYK0FhSgFj0eXXwvJ0ZBJlt7uFpETCIfkkltIqNKIXHNPs/s320/93576211_10108746924440318_7406213228373475328_n.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">So here we are, stuck in house limbo. I've gotten to the point where I'm not sure what our next step should be, to wait for this house or to start looking for something new. I was so excited to be doing a renovation to make the house ours but now after so much time and being told it would be a few weeks longer for months on end, I'm frustrated and wanting out. Especially considering that we sold our apartment which had so many memories (Jose and I started our lives together there, we brought home our three babies there etc), where we had great neighbors, were close to our schools/jobs, in a growing area. Laura still talks about going back to "Mommy's old house." We took the plunge and are stuck. Hopefully this summer our paperwork will come through and we will be able to get things under way. Fingers crossed.</span></p>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-71571879497304839632021-06-27T18:16:00.000+02:002021-06-27T18:16:32.515+02:00School year 2020/2021 sum up<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'm back again to update on how our past school year went since it just ended last week. My last post was written just having started back and I was nervous. I'm here to report that things went much more smoothly than I thought they would. Carla was in daycare and LOVED it. She walked in happily every day and went with her teacher (who constantly had to wear a mask) without even waving goodbye. Laura and Vera were in their second year of preschool and have learned a lot. They are starting to read in Spanish and have started to learn chess. Jose was back at his school full time and I went back to teach part-time while finishing another Master degree in bilingual education.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIQiHiXGvmM2zpUixmd_QNNPWm8fnUG5-_YpADaO7OD6oj13eRQrJcttgcaidLMi4wbp2LbTvvyjiUzQOppm8s_7o32-PKGMb69j_s7qStR3oOqmjd_89xlG-Pu_bQY2s1RLSPLSrLPs/s2048/0ef9700e-5259-4f5f-9f81-29a42b51d35f.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIQiHiXGvmM2zpUixmd_QNNPWm8fnUG5-_YpADaO7OD6oj13eRQrJcttgcaidLMi4wbp2LbTvvyjiUzQOppm8s_7o32-PKGMb69j_s7qStR3oOqmjd_89xlG-Pu_bQY2s1RLSPLSrLPs/s320/0ef9700e-5259-4f5f-9f81-29a42b51d35f.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Here in Spain there were a lot of health restrictions at schools (and in life in general). Kids from primary up had to wear masks all day, there was social distancing in classrooms and windows and doors were open for ventilation. All that said, we were in-person schooling for the entire course and besides one two week quarantine in the girls' class in the fall, things went surprisingly well. Jose and I were also vaccinated fairly early compared to other people our age because of our teaching profession. Spain has done a terrible job sourcing vaccines and thus getting people inmunized but that's another story for another day. I'm happy to say that we stayed healthy albeit a bit bored this year.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMg6ODVUO-liB7cp8XJONs7WSCWI-p1FlALWQODzuTZNdkAeq27_8fBiW1aeAHuoW5ycalOiFZ1CvrnBXsOxUVr7M7HX9obBbazL3KkIDYeihSYXo-j2mPVdS2C4yJKaGsjcqlyWL2cbo/s2016/IMG_0099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMg6ODVUO-liB7cp8XJONs7WSCWI-p1FlALWQODzuTZNdkAeq27_8fBiW1aeAHuoW5ycalOiFZ1CvrnBXsOxUVr7M7HX9obBbazL3KkIDYeihSYXo-j2mPVdS2C4yJKaGsjcqlyWL2cbo/s320/IMG_0099.jpg" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">For most of the school year Spain had a lot of other restrictive measures in place, including mandatory masks EVERYWHERE, limitations on social gatherings and quarantining communities depending on how pandemic numbers looked. That meant we spent a lot of time at home with just our family unit or with my in-laws until basically the spring when things started to open up as more people were vaccinated and numbers started going down. Our Christmas was unlike any we've ever had before. We spent it just the five of us instead of the regular huge family gatherings we are used to. We haven't been to any birthday parties and the normal cultural celebrations here in the south of Spain (Holy Week and the April fair) were canceled again. We've chosen to do outdoor activities where we can avoid people when necessary. It's been a bit surreal and we are looking forward to things getting back to somewhat normal, slowly, so slowly.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYmZOIxnx4tt3rYNyiUkqzKoylai0Vk1IvBL7LQSAmOPZKtG_emoB3e-ax5K4t4m6oflXsTv6ltngv_kAumKsY-DdVoPevpu09FFqguPnTKhA_USb0nasPp0Z4EdVVcr5SmqKi04P52s/s2048/16a0fe59-cf02-40e3-823c-798f5e41bd50.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYmZOIxnx4tt3rYNyiUkqzKoylai0Vk1IvBL7LQSAmOPZKtG_emoB3e-ax5K4t4m6oflXsTv6ltngv_kAumKsY-DdVoPevpu09FFqguPnTKhA_USb0nasPp0Z4EdVVcr5SmqKi04P52s/s320/16a0fe59-cf02-40e3-823c-798f5e41bd50.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Another big change for us was finally deciding to sell our apartment and buy a much-needed larger home with outdoor space for our growing girls. We sold in February and moved in with my in-laws for what was supposed to be a few months to do a complete renovation. We are still waiting. The drama of this process deserves its own post which I will write soon but suffice it to say that currently we are in a rental, trying to decide what is the best move for us for the future. We are in a holding pattern and it is frustrating.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeIXphDBsPPaLbTV7StCCqcIY7M44SG270wlI0-TsPhJN48ravMZ-e-8Ch51_CMProymsB5cWTuNAgPgsRJKkWrGI1RjvUQ7OzbAcVeW7qvAodp-7I0jmxVfE1p1eebKukd8pBZenBBs/s2016/9b35bb61-c1c3-4d18-9645-1f7630cddef7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPeIXphDBsPPaLbTV7StCCqcIY7M44SG270wlI0-TsPhJN48ravMZ-e-8Ch51_CMProymsB5cWTuNAgPgsRJKkWrGI1RjvUQ7OzbAcVeW7qvAodp-7I0jmxVfE1p1eebKukd8pBZenBBs/s320/9b35bb61-c1c3-4d18-9645-1f7630cddef7.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now were are looking forward to the summer and disconnecting a bit. I wish we had access to a pool like we did in our apartment but that is one of the must-haves for our new place. We are hoping that things continue to open up and that people stay healthy and safe. Things haven't been easy for anyone this past year and a half but it looks like we may just be seeing the light at the end of a long tunnel.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcJhvX16vP4RTnQ27UAEF6KnW81pd2_8iPfsjn1x1og9Xnv8W2iRBTDKdXktMgF49LiM0lYraSsf6G4hzNIHofXclzynuiYkqyDSq4ynsZueD6BJJJiGgfr5e2qvm7wDh4wAxz3NH9kE/s2016/68a81a94-5618-4eed-ad30-24629b64bf18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcJhvX16vP4RTnQ27UAEF6KnW81pd2_8iPfsjn1x1og9Xnv8W2iRBTDKdXktMgF49LiM0lYraSsf6G4hzNIHofXclzynuiYkqyDSq4ynsZueD6BJJJiGgfr5e2qvm7wDh4wAxz3NH9kE/s320/68a81a94-5618-4eed-ad30-24629b64bf18.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCio6TGKOtNS8SrJp0bxr2Lt-1aXIzCp5H9aCBQ0g91ah_jw7cn8L1u79pOnYHITZOo0OgW8D_anm2w_LhpvteZDGbaYLVdaH1AydaCgR_grKuHSJCi6CF5RlJkSjq2b6LuPlc1rSYTA/s2016/e329f491-67af-46e6-bc37-3dbbf546ed92.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWCio6TGKOtNS8SrJp0bxr2Lt-1aXIzCp5H9aCBQ0g91ah_jw7cn8L1u79pOnYHITZOo0OgW8D_anm2w_LhpvteZDGbaYLVdaH1AydaCgR_grKuHSJCi6CF5RlJkSjq2b6LuPlc1rSYTA/s320/e329f491-67af-46e6-bc37-3dbbf546ed92.JPG" /></a></div><br />Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-5865415827221101612020-09-15T12:24:00.000+02:002020-09-15T12:24:37.773+02:00Summer 2020<p> <span style="font-family: georgia;">After what turned out to be a strange spring, we followed it up with a summer that we struggled to make as normal as possible. Online school ended in June for both the girls and Jose and I think everyone involved was ready for a break. Our community pool thankfully opened after much debate between neighbors and we took full advantage as the heat started to bear down on us. Summer here in the south of Spain is awful and after having spent months inside all day we used the pool as a much needed break.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYewD4ldzEfG2JPH5IlWDMkSel-YWjBawLRc798ZdeZKUg41aWuF8CDpzHHW1M1XpfSlDqy-o9e6CmynL0MxutTyjme-D1ucMfVwNKgE_ysjTqtWIhKr1thArr_g2cr_-XM2U8ksImwlI/s640/a0ece78b-d48e-4ff2-88f1-6c90ddd7730b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYewD4ldzEfG2JPH5IlWDMkSel-YWjBawLRc798ZdeZKUg41aWuF8CDpzHHW1M1XpfSlDqy-o9e6CmynL0MxutTyjme-D1ucMfVwNKgE_ysjTqtWIhKr1thArr_g2cr_-XM2U8ksImwlI/s320/a0ece78b-d48e-4ff2-88f1-6c90ddd7730b.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p>We also decided to book a house in the mountains for a few weeks early on when we saw what travel restrictions were going to look like. Since we weren't sure what the beach scene would be (and because going to the beach with three small children is a daunting task), we decided to head to the nearby mountains to a place with a pool all for ourselves. We stayed in a tiny village with about six houses so social distancing was not a problem and our days looked pretty much like they do when at home: breakfast, pool, lunch, nap, pool, dinner, bed, except with a beautiful and much needed change of scenery. Oh and we went to a drive through zoo and saw the giraffes again.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNfIELxDZjyGYcRAHjXE5y-UIn4bTzoaFvIKEwDes5SiM6yg8FVFaO7RUbf9wWXZnil-Uge1Ci80JyzSagsV5Pq8JkVyzOWFaEV8YlLM6kfaT5RstYKgRVLUBCmLEORkIMN9H2EbHxxE/s640/18f7a265-be06-4b5d-a2cb-fb6ac7575ae4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNfIELxDZjyGYcRAHjXE5y-UIn4bTzoaFvIKEwDes5SiM6yg8FVFaO7RUbf9wWXZnil-Uge1Ci80JyzSagsV5Pq8JkVyzOWFaEV8YlLM6kfaT5RstYKgRVLUBCmLEORkIMN9H2EbHxxE/s320/18f7a265-be06-4b5d-a2cb-fb6ac7575ae4.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">After the mountains we came home in time to celebrate Carla's first birthday. Unfortunately she wasn't able to have a party this year but she won't remember and we are hoping to be able to celebrate next year with fewer restrictions. (Here masks are mandatory and gatherings are limited to fewer than 10 people). We had birthday pancakes, a special lunch from Burger King (chosen by her sisters) and then cake with my in-laws.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAc5vzTPRa85cGW9SlSwCSky-O_YWVoTAv7JczEqGMsq46iEooBYO7Jwr1kOVyocSai-NcABbm5M321EvWPYQu6a5BrhH9QN_Ipbm_OGL3Mjs9uH8ZbhAU96da2YgByBjb9s7mCFjerA/s2016/030f8028-34c5-46a3-ba3c-27258c45ce0a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAc5vzTPRa85cGW9SlSwCSky-O_YWVoTAv7JczEqGMsq46iEooBYO7Jwr1kOVyocSai-NcABbm5M321EvWPYQu6a5BrhH9QN_Ipbm_OGL3Mjs9uH8ZbhAU96da2YgByBjb9s7mCFjerA/s320/030f8028-34c5-46a3-ba3c-27258c45ce0a.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">In August we headed to Portugal to spend a few weeks at an apartment that Jose's parents have by the beach. We were later joined by his sister and our niece who live in France and who we rarely get to see. She is the same age as Vera and Laura and although they sometimes struggled to get along, I think they had fun together.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmkBt7JhXmOiex_1Q_zjx6zRCzUEZNomLZ2M8zBGrQdRSrS1LiKqZX9NHt2CW1eO9IncRb5IcUqAVYc2Xni8iI0UDX2toqWcWRnmxSE3cJ6rQt2GsKvphncdS2tdBewGypr-uPD8HL7o/s1600/8261bcd6-5232-4f74-9a98-84769d0932e0.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmkBt7JhXmOiex_1Q_zjx6zRCzUEZNomLZ2M8zBGrQdRSrS1LiKqZX9NHt2CW1eO9IncRb5IcUqAVYc2Xni8iI0UDX2toqWcWRnmxSE3cJ6rQt2GsKvphncdS2tdBewGypr-uPD8HL7o/s320/8261bcd6-5232-4f74-9a98-84769d0932e0.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">The end of the summer found us back at home which hopefully won't be our home for much longer as we put in an offer on a house which was accepted. Now we are just waiting with our fingers crossed as our apartment sits on the market. The place where we will be moving has its own pool and a fairly large yard for Spanish standards. After having been inside with the girls for 44 days we decided it was high time for us to have some outdoor space. Plus we have outgrown our apartment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Now we are back to school and Carla has started at daycare. There are a lot of unknowns with this school year and like most parents I am nervous about sending them all back but I know that they need the in-person classes and to see their friends. We are all just hoping that things remain pretty normal and don't shut down again. We survived it once, but I'm not sure how we would do it again.</span></p>Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-54358139138908544892020-04-27T12:09:00.001+02:002020-04-27T12:09:16.617+02:00Quarantine in Spain, Weeks 5 and 6<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">45 days. It's been 45 days that we have been quarantined in our small apartment and I am happy to announce that yesterday Vera and Laura were finally able to go outside. With the latest relaxation of our lock down kids are able to go outside one hour a day, with one parent up to one kilometer away from their home. It's not much, but I will take it. If all goes well, adults will be added to this measure next week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was wonderful to see them be able to run and stretch their legs, to shout hello to birds as loud as they wanted and to discover that it really is spring in the south of Spain. Vera and Laura have been amazing this past month and a half. Before it would have been impossible to imagine two four-year-olds staying inside for longer than a few rainy days. And they did it for 44 days, with no complaint, accepting the situation and trusting that we were doing what was best even if they could not understand it at times. Many people out there complaining and protesting could learn a thing or two.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was a busy weekend as we also celebrated feria, albeit at home. The girls wore their flamenca dresses and we set up a caseta in our living room. We got a lot of the typical food and even had a drink with our neighbors outside in our hallway (maintaining our distance and staying in our doorways).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Besides these latest developments life has remained pretty much the same. Jose and I have moved on after having watched all the Marvel movies and are now revisiting the Star Wars films. Having kids during quarantine certainly gives us something to do each day, a routine to follow. I think in some ways it makes things easier as there is always another activity on the horizon, breakfast, getting dressed, straightening up, class, play, lunch, nap, etc. Now we get to add outdoor time to our days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are hoping that this truly marks the beginning of a de-escalation of the lock down measures we face here in Spain. There are still a lot of questions though. Will school restart at some point this course? What will this summer look like? Will our pool open? (This is one of my biggest concerns at this point as summer is so brutally hot here). When will people begin to travel again? (My parents had a scheduled visit this week and we are sad that they won't be able to come). How big of a hit will the economy take here in Spain? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are trying to remain optimistic and hopeful that when this is all over we will still be working and more importantly healthy. I'm wishing the same for everyone who is reading.</span></div>
Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-40062461145988176552020-04-15T16:35:00.001+02:002020-04-15T16:35:47.406+02:00Quarantine in Spain, Week 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This update is coming a few days late so really we are about four and a half weeks into our quarantine and still no end in sight. This past week has been hard since it's starting to really sink in how long we have been inside and not knowing when this is going to end. I've been reflecting on how fortunate we are (still healthy, Jose still working, the girls are still behaving better than I would have ever expected) but also how a lot of things seem to have worked out before this crisis to put us in a better position right now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">For example, as many of you know I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer this past fall after having surgery to have my thyroid removed. I had to have a follow up radioactive iodine treatment when we got back from our visit to the US which required me to stay in the hospital isolated for a few days and then to self isolate at home for about a week. (Really I have been in quarantine more than not in 2020). I was able to get all of this done in February and have the girls and Jose back home before COVID-19 made its way to Spain. If not, I would still be waiting to have a treatment that hopefully killed all the remaining cancer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have also been house hunting (perpetually it seems sometimes) and we were just about to put an offer in on a house that although lovely would probably have been a bit of a stretch for us financially. We had all of our paperwork together and yet someone beat us to the punch and we didn't get the house. In the end, it has been a blessing in disguise as although I would LOVE to have an outdoor space to play in, with the uncertainty going on right with the economy I feel much better in our smaller space. Not to mention the idea of moving right now or adjusting to a new space with all that is going on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thirdly and this sometimes seems like divine intervention, I took this course off of work to take care of Carla. This was decided before I had been diagnosed with cancer (before surgery and recovery, before further treatment and recovery and now before this quarantine). I wanted to stay home until Carla was one and it is working out perfectly. I didn't have to take time off when I was sick, I was able to have a nice long visit to see my family before Christmas and now things are much easier since only Jose is working from home and I am able to take care of the girls. I feel so much for people who are juggling both right now. I'm not sure how they are doing it. So really in some ways I feel like we were being prepared for these trying times without knowing it. All those things that at the time were a disappointment I am now trying to look at in a positive light. And the what ifs no longer bother me. I feel so fortunate that we were able to spend six weeks visiting family this fall because we aren't really sure when international travel is going to start again or when it will be safe to go (I really doubt this summer). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This past week was Holy Week and it was definitely strange not to be out seeing any processions or enjoying the springtime. The Meester Bunny came and brought the big girls chocolate eggs, slime to keep their hands busy and as tradition, new flip flops to wear down to the pool and to the beach. (Fingers crossed that we get to use them). It was also my birthday and Jose and the girls made me a cake. We ordered some food to celebrate and I got a new Kindle to try to get some reading done when I have a spare minute.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Vera and Laura are still having weekly classes online with their teachers. They are keeping busy most of the time and we are still keeping up with our routine. Carla has gotten two teeth now and started crawling tentatively this morning. She refuses to nap in the morning anymore and instead complains and tries to stay awake until she crashes (the other day directly falling asleep with her head on the floor). It's like she has to be awake when her sisters are. This does not bode well for the future I think...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All in all, we are hanging in there. There has been talk of allowing kids to get some fresh air each day and even if this initiative is limited I am hoping that it gets pushed through. Jose and I get our ten minutes a day when we take out the dog but it is weighing heavily on me that the girls do not. At least for the past few days it has been rainy and overcast so we aren't missing out on the otherwise normally gorgeous spring in the south of Spain.</span></div>
Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-72058678201570854492020-04-06T10:00:00.001+02:002020-04-06T10:00:20.598+02:00Quarantine in Spain, Week 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Week three of quarantine in Spain recently ended. Not much has changed for us. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We try to wake up at about the same time each day, have breakfast and get dressed. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are still doing lots of "projects" as the girls have come to call our arts and crafts time each day. The latest addition to our arsenal of activities has been beads. We've made just about everyone we know a bracelet. I really think our routine is making things easier all around. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jose is still teaching his classes online and we are making good use of technology as we've been using Zoom for some family chats as well as having some classes with the girls' teachers. I am really thankful for the technology that is allowing us to stay connected with everyone. I'm used to using it for my family but we've been forced to do the same with Jose's family and our friends as well.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jose and I have continued our Marvel Universe movie marathon. We have only 10 left of the twenty or so films that exist. It's what we do after we put all the girls to bed around 830, dinner and a movie. It's something we haven't done in a long time (usually we watch a series instead). This week we ordered in from our favorite Mexican restaurant and the food was amazing as usual. I think it's important to support local businesses that are still open as much as possible right now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We've been dressing up quite a bit and there are days that I miss being able to dress the girls in their school uniform because now I actually have to think about what they will wear. And argue with them about why they can't wear certain things. Four year olds have really clear ideas about these sort of things in our house.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm going to have to plant some trees after this quarantine because we are using so much paper each day. Our girls love to draw and color, especially Laura. She likes to draw pictures and then tell stories about them or play that she is a teacher. Besides being budding artists, we have some future chefs as well. This past week I've been trying to bring Vera and Laura into the kitchen more. I've also found myself cooking a lot more now that we are all home for lunch. Before we would eat simple dinners together but really lunch is the main meal here in Spain so I've been able to cook more complicated recipes than before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Carla has finally gotten her first tooth! She hangs out in what we call her habitat in the living room (a gated area to keep the dog off her soft puzzle flooring) and she is super nosey and wants to know what is going on with everyone else. She has been sleeping and eating like a champ but has started to express her opinions about certain things (don't dare take away something she thinks she needs but shouldn't have) and has discovered pulling hair.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This week is Holy Week and it is strange not to be going to see any of the typical processions that should be happening right now. Nothing right now seems typical but we are trying to get through it. Our quarantine has been extended until at least the end of the month but I recently saw something that said it might be until summer. I try not to think about that or about the fact that my favorite singing competition Eurovision has been canceled this year. I just try to think that this is all worth it and that we are making a difference. And to take it one day at a time.</span></div>
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Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-39104707238874926212020-03-28T18:20:00.000+01:002020-03-28T18:20:36.494+01:0040 before 40 update 1 (I did things!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">So here is my 40 before 40 list and I am actually sort of surprised by how many things I have accomplished so far. I find these kinds of lists help me to motivate myself to actually get out there and get things done. Plus I like to see how my goals change and develop over time. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13.2px;">1. Buy a house (We are currently house hunting since it seems like we are quickly outgrowing our three bedroom apartment. I love my place now but would also really like to have some outdoor space for the girls. We aren´t in a rush but we have been out there visiting houses and have seen some we really liked. The area where we live is absolutely blowing up so we will probably stick pretty close to where we are now, just looking to get into to something bigger. Wish us luck because international house hunting isn´t what you see on TV).</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">2. Go back to school (This is also in my plans for next school year after Carla is a bit bigger).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b style="text-decoration-line: line-through;"><strike>3. Grow our family</strike> </b> <b>Done and done! With our latest addition, Carla, we now feel we have the perfect sized family and after our struggles to even have children at all, I feel blessed.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">4. Go on a cruise (In the plans for our tenth anniversary and we are already socking away money to have a great vacation!)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">5. Go to Ireland</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">6. Restart my Italian</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">7. Walk part of the Camino de Santiago</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><strike>8. Visit our family in France</strike> This was something we actually did over the past summer 2018. We had a great trip up to visit my sister-in-law and niece, complete with a trip to Disney with the girls!</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">9. Explore more of the north of Spain</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">10. Go back to Italy</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">11. Go to Nashville</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">12. Read at least ten books a year</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">13. Continue my blog (Here´s to hoping I can get this going again!)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">14. Take the girls to a show</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><strike>15. Go see snow with our kiddos</strike></b> <b>We did this when we went to Michigan this fall for a visit until after Christmas</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">16. Have another bird as a pet</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">17. Learn how to make homemade bread</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">18. Join a book club (Supposed to be starting a book club in October, so hope all goes well).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">19. Donate my hair again</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><strike>20. Start going back to church</strike> We started attending a new church which is very close to our house and it´s actually something I look forward to each Sunday. It is full of young families like us, there is a daycare for the girls and I find it is relaxing and a time to reconnect.</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><strike>21. Find/create a mom tribe here in Spain</strike> I can´t even say how important this has been to me over the past few years and I love my group of mom friends. They are mostly all expats and can relate to having a family far from family. I love our weekly coffees, mom dates out and that we celebrate birthdays and holidays together. I am blessed to have them!</b></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">22. Create a new holiday tradition at Christmas</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">23. See a big Broadway-esque show</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><strike>24. Get my Spanish driver´s license</strike> This past year while heavily pregnant I decided to finally go ahead and get my Spanish license. I had to take both written and driving exams but I passed! </b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;"><b><strike>25. Take an official Spanish language exam</strike> I also prepared my C1 Spanish exam last fall just in case I need it for future studies.</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">26. Start a business</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">27. Get chickens</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">28. Visit a new country</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">29. Spend the day at the spa</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">30. Go camping</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">31. Go to a concert</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">32. Get a flamenca dress</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">33. Continue my Christmas ornament collection</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">34. Introduce the girls to another language</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">35. Be debt free</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">36. Learn to dance for the feria</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">37. Got to Disney again</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">3<b><strike>8. Finish the Game of Thrones series (show</strike></b> and books) <b>The GofT series finally ended and of course I was up at 3am to catch every episode at its release time. I have to say I was disappointed with the character that finally ended up on the Iron Throne but was otherwise happy with the ending (not that it ended).</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">39. Go on a road trip vacation</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 13.2px;">40. Go to a paint and pour class</span></div>
Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-53576246450832633552020-03-28T18:02:00.001+01:002020-04-06T09:29:40.876+02:00Quarantine in Spain, Week 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Week 2 of our quarantine has ended and we have another two (minimum) to go. In Spain the lock down has been extended until mid-April but few of us think it will be over by then. I follow the news enough to know that things don't look great and that there are still a lot of very sick people and over-worked hospital staff. I would prefer this to be a longer quarantine period rather than ending it too soon and having to do it all over again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have continued with the same rhythm of life more or less as the first week, although the addition of the Disney plus app has certainly made things a bit easier. The girls have been enjoying watching a few movies and shows during down time each day and Jose and I have taken on the Marvel movies challenge. We are trying to watch all of the films in the MCU and have gotten through four of them so far.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are still doing a craft activity almost every day and trying to get everyone running around or dancing for about an hour. Jose and I are still able to walk the dog for a few minutes and get some fresh air. But not the girls. It's been two weeks since they've been outside. This is perhaps the strangest part of the quarantine for me. Vera and Laura have accepted this abrupt change in their every day lives without really questioning it. They have asked a handful of times about school, or about their friends but they haven't seemed to mind that we no longer go out to play. Before, every morning they would wake up and ask where we were going that day. They've stopped doing that and understand (to the best of their ability) that we have to stay home because of the coronavirus.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These past two weeks have made me realize how lucky Laura and Vera are to have each other. They spend alllllllllllllll day together playing, lots of times pretending to have a birthday party for their dolls or acting as a teacher. They occasionally fight or argue of course but for the most part they entertain themselves. This is a really nice age because they are more and more independent but are still sweet and innocent. Yesterday we watched a livecast of the Cirque du Soleil show and Laura had so many questions about what she was seeing on the screen. They are curious and imaginative. In reality, I think they are keeping me sane while we are locked down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Carla is about to get her first teeth and is nosey about whatever her sisters are doing. She has a dedicated space in the living room where she can be on the floor with her toys and not be bothered by the dog. She likes to be in there pushing herself around on her belly or scooting a bit on her butt. She has been sleeping through the night and is still our sweet girl although I can tell already that she wishes she could keep up with what the older sisters are doing.</span><br />
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Not very much has changed in our second week except maybe that we have become more comfortable in our routine. Jose has been to the grocery store once. I've ordered a few more art supplies and activities from Amazon. Our neighbors are still playing Bingo from their windows and people still go out on their terraces to applaud the efforts of everyone who is working hard to keep people safe, clean and fed. We are trying to remain positive and healthy. So far, so good.</div>
Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-37614210263839042252020-03-22T11:20:00.004+01:002020-03-22T11:20:57.544+01:00Quarantine in Spain, Week 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have been on lock-down in Spain for a little over a week ever since the government announced that schools would close, most businesses as well and that life as we knew it would drastically change in an attempt to slow down the transmission of COVID 19. Spain has been hit hard by this virus and I won't go into how I feel about how the government has been handling things but suffice it to say that I am hoping things will begin to look better sooner than later.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Our quarantine is more than just social distancing. We are unable to leave our apartment except for necessary and justifiable reasons (going to the supermarket, the pharmacy, the hospital and little else). We are currently living in about 850 square feet of space, without the ability to go outside and play since that would risk us getting a fine. We are able to take Cooper out for a short walk in the vicinity of our apartment twice a day so at least Jose and I are getting some fresh air. The girls, not so much. Instead we have been trying to do YouTube exercise videos, dance parties and obstacle courses in the small space we have available.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have also been passing the time doing lots of arts and crafts. Thank God for Pinterest. The girls have even come to expect and ask for a project each day. We are lucky in that Laura and Vera are young enough that there isn't any real school work that needs to be done. I feel for everyone who has all of the sudden been forced into homeschooling as well as working from home. Woof.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Although we are all going a bit stir-crazy, the girls seem not to have noticed that this is a stressful time for their parents. My goal through all of this is that they look back on it with fond if a bit strange memories. So even if we can't go anywhere we have been making forts, setting up libraries, helping with cooking, watching movies (the countdown to Disney + is real folks), wearing princess dresses and make up every day and drawing/coloring more than you can imagine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am thankful that we are all still in good health and that as far as I know at this point no one close to us has been affected although we have family and friends who work in the medical profession and security forces and I worry about them all the time. I am concerned for all of the older family members that we have and I pray that they stay healthy. I am also thankful for my group of Mom friends who from the start agreed to stop sharing alarmist and possibly false information and rather only pass along uplifting and positive news. Right now being online at all raises my anxiety because of the amount of memes, posts, articles, blogs etc. about Covid 19. Technology has been a double edged sword in that it is keeping us connected to people but also is spreading information (whether true or not, whether helpful or not, whether necessary or not) like a virus itself. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So here we are one week into the quarantine and although it was originally supposed to be 15 days I have a hard time believing it will be over so soon. We are doing ok, have been able to get the food and supplies that we need, are in good health and are keeping busy. Please be patient, be safe and be positive. I will try to keep you updated.</span><br />
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Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-66842594372000521682019-10-05T09:27:00.001+02:002019-10-05T09:27:15.672+02:00Summer 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are officially getting into autumn and so I want to record what we did, where we went, who we saw and the important stuff from the past summer. You know, so I don´t forget because one of the things that I really love about blogging is being able to look back at posts and have my memory jogged. I feel poorly about basically skipping a year but will try to go back and write about specific things that we did, like Christmas and having my family here to visit. The past year was sort of typical of our life (daycare for the girls, work for Jose and I, being pregnant, our routine). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The past summer was a waiting game for Carla to arrive. Her original due date was July 7th and my mom wanted to be here to meet her and help out. So she bought a flight from the US to arrive on the 4th of July. My doctor had been telling us all along that she would probably be born early (around 38 weeks) due to the location of the placenta. I even took off work in May because I was supposed to be taking it easy. Turns out that things would not go as planned and Carla wasn´t born until two days before my mom flew back home. At least she got to meet her, spend a few days and help at the hospital. She also got to be with Laura and Vera for a few weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">While my mom was here visiting we went to see lots of animals. We spent an afternoon at Seville´s aquarium where we got to see all kinds of fish. The last attempt we made to visit the aquarium ended abruptly as Laura freaked out and refused to go past the first room. This time was a success and I think the girls enjoyed it. Another day we drove up to La Reserva which is a drive-through zoo. You take your car on a safari and get to feed a lot of animals like zebras, emus, deer etc. The more dangerous animals like lions and tigers are viewed from your car at a distance. My favorite animals were the giraffes and we saved a lot of the carrots that we brought to share with them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We (or rather I should say Jose and the girls) spent a lot of time at our community pool. This was a must-have for me when we were looking for our apartment and now that we have kids I am so happy to have it, especially considering the blistering heat we get here in the south of Spain during the summer. It is something I would add to my needs for our new house as well. Jose was great and took the girls down to swim almost every day to give me time to rest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the end of August we decided to finally get out of our apartment for a while and rented a house close to the beach. We spent a little over a week there and although there was no TV, we read a lot of books, the girls colored and drew pictures, we spent time in the garden, went to the pool, to the beach, out to eat and got to spend some relaxing time away before having to start back up at school again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Towards the end of the summer I went to the doctor after my mother-in-law mentioned that she thought my neck was looking strange. It turns out I have several large lumps in my thyroid so fast forward to now and I am having surgery this week to have it out. The whole experience has been stressful as there have been lots of trips to the doctor and trying to figure out exactly what it is (still not confirmed). I am nervous about the surgery but am happy that they are able to do it so soon and that I should be healed for our trip back to Michigan later this fall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am hoping that the weather finally decides to cool off here and that it starts to feel like autumn before our flights home. The girls are adapting well to their new school and Carla and I are developing our routine in a quiet house during the day. It was a good summer and I was sad for it to end but I can´t wait for the opportunity to spend the holidays back in Michigan! Soon!</span></div>
Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-46162068531090119272019-09-18T17:07:00.002+02:002019-09-18T17:07:55.464+02:00Surprise baby shower and pregnancy story<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Surprisingly I felt like this pregnancy was harder than with Vera and Laura. I felt worse than when I was growing two babies and I chalk this up to already having two three year olds running around as well as working. I didn´t have morning sickness but was tired all the time and felt out of sorts. This pregnancy also seemed to go on forever since Carla was born at over 40 weeks. She was just too comfortable in there. Thankfully with how crappy I felt for a while, she has ended up being a nice baby so far so I will forgive her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We found out I was pregnant in the fall and by Christmastime I was already feeling gross which affected my family´s visit from the USA. I was bummed about that and tried to take it easy as much as possible. It was an overall uneventful pregnancy with no major complications and towards the end I did start to feel better (although I never got to experience that pregnancy glow that other women seem to have, what the hell?). Unfortunately we didn´t get a lot of good ultrasound pictures when we would go visit the doctor. Mostly Carla wasn´t interested in showing her beautiful face for the camera.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jose and I had a difficult time trying to pick her name this go round but ended up with a short list of a few that we liked. We couldn´t nail one down until the day of my surprise baby shower thrown by my group of wonderful friends. One of them toasted to Carla (not knowing we hadn´t landed 100% on that name) and so in my mind it was decided.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I was completely surprised by my baby shower as I hadn´t expected anything for baby number three. One of my friends, Mariel sent me a message on the day before Memorial Day saying that she had met another American woman at a park mind you, who had invited her and a guest to a party at the fanciest hotel in downtown Seville (Alfonso 13). She asked me if I wanted to join in and although I thought it was a bit odd (having lived here for years and never hearing about a party for Americans and Memorial Day) I agreed to meet her, telling Jose I would probably be home soon. He was in on the whole thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Little did I know that my friends would be waiting in the beautiful patio for a tea to celebrate. It was a great surprise and we had fun chatting and playing some games. I feel so lucky to have found this group during a tough time for me when Vera and Laura were young. I felt pretty lonely during the day and when I saw on Facebook that a group of moms was going to start meeting for coffee I decided to join even if it meant dragging myself and two babies across Seville via metro. The first meet up I had to convince myself to go and I am so glad I did! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As summer seemed to drag on and get hotter and hotter, Carla stubbornly stayed put. My mom flew in on the 4th of July since the doctor had told us she would probably be a bit early due to where the placenta was (he assumed we would schedule a c-section at around 38 weeks). That turned out not to be the case and my mom´s visit was coming to an end and still no baby. We went to the doctor on a Monday and finally decided on another section since she wasn´t coming any time soon and Carla was born the next day. My mom got to be with us in the hospital for two days before her flight home. She was a lot of help and I know that is part of the reason why I was able to go home with baby so soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now Carla is two months old and is the sweetest, nicest baby. We are so lucky! She keeps getting chunkier and I love it.</span></div>
Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-58559989151135634322019-09-17T15:25:00.000+02:002019-09-17T15:25:27.711+02:00Life updates <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It has been a year since my last post so as you might guess, there´s been some changes around here. The biggest being a new addition to our family, Carla who was born this past July. Obviously that means I spent the better part of this past year pregnant (and not feeling great). Jose and I both taught the last school year in our respective schools and we´ve been doing well overall.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We celebrated Halloween with a group of friends at a park and the girls dressed as ladybugs. They also did some quick trick-or-treating with the neighbors on our floor at our apartment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At Christmastime my parents, sister Katie and niece Daphne came to visit us for a week or so and we loved having them. My favorite part was our ride on the Christmas train and our trips in our big rental car to visit close villages. We celebrated the holidays with Jose´s family as well and I am excited to say that this upcoming Christmas we will be visiting home in Michigan! I am absolutely kicking myself for not doing my annual Christmas list and blog but most of all for not taking a family picture of us in front of our tree which we have been doing for what seems like forever. I was feeling particularly terrible around Christmas but I would have had a belly in that picture. Oh well, next year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the springtime we went to feria in Mairena as is our tradition, celebrated Holy Week and we finished out the school year. </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Laura and Vera were in daycare last course and they LOVED their teachers (Seño Clara) and their friends. They have since started preschool and seem to be enjoying it so far although I wouldn´t know because they keep it all top secret and never tell us anything about school. They seem like such big girls especially when compared with their little sister.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My mom came to visit us in what was an otherwise uneventful (except for new baby) summer. We pretty much stuck around our apartment and pool except for one week at the end of August at a house we rented by the beach. My mom arrived right around Carla´s due date but Carla decided not to arrive until two days before her flight home. She ended up being born by scheduled c-section and everything went quite well. She´s a great baby and I feel very lucky that she eats and sleeps so well. The girls love her so far and we haven´t seen any real jealousy yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">My plan is to write some more in depth updates about our past year soon now that I am on maternity leave and should have some extra time on my hands. I would really love to get into blogging regularly again. Part of my problem is my 10 year old computer. Think I need a new one? Yeah. So be on the look out for more entries soon!</span></div>
Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-46292834471452539662018-09-01T14:06:00.000+02:002018-09-01T14:06:04.109+02:00Summer 2018<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Summer is coming to an end and I am not ready. I am never ready. It means going back to work and our usual routine. Although July was not great for us (Jose and I worked part time for the first three weeks, we painted our apartment the last week and had a lot of not super things happen/bad news throughout), August ended up being pretty wonderful. So all in all, it balanced out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This summer has not been as hot as summers past and yet it is the first time that we have taken FULL advantage of our pool. We have been swimming almost every day and it has been a life saver. If I had to pick a theme for </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">this season it would be bathing suits and Frozen since both have accompanied us throughout. I have that damn movie memorized by now and so does Vera. The girls probably watched it five times on our drive to and from France to visit Jose´s sister and family for the first two weeks of August. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We went to Paris for the first half of August and stayed part of the time with Miriam and cousin Eva and the other in a rented apartment. The highlight of our trip was visiting Disneyland and hanging with family. The girls loved both Disney parks and we were able to visit one of them with Tita and prima. The other we went just the four of us for the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Disney is a MAGICAL place. I love it despite its expense and crowds and heat. It was special for the girls who got to ride almost all the attractions and meet a few different characters (which Laura hated and refused to get close to) including Aurora and Cinderella (who both girls LOVED). We rode the tea cups, Dumbo, It´s a small world...all the classics. We had a GREAT time even if the girls were exhausted and missed the daily parade.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We also did a few day excursions while in France, one to Versailles and the other to Fontainebleau (both of which are Cinderella´s castle according to the girls). We also went into Paris city one day and walked past all of the most important sights. Unfortunately we weren´t able to inside anywhere with the girls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The weather was gorgeous during our visit and we ended up having a great visit and were sad to have to drive back home. The worst parts: the crowds and the LONG drive. I wouldn´t recommend two days in a car with two two-year-olds but they were champs and we all survived.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We spent about a week at home, hanging out with friends, going to the pool, working on potty training (Laura is killing it!), etc. when we got the opportunity to spend a week at Jose´s aunt´s new apartment at the beach in Torre del Mar, close to Malaga. It was a very relaxing visit; we spent most of our time either at the pool or the beach. We did do one afternoon trip to the nearby village of Nerja which was beautiful. All in all, a great five days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Now we are facing reality and waaahhhhh, I don´t want to. It won´t be bad once we get started but I am like any kid, I don´t want to go back to school yet. I hope everyone else had a nice summer as well.</span></div>
Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-89472066601980999512018-05-27T22:05:00.000+02:002018-05-27T22:05:37.325+02:00Strange spring in the south of Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am back again for another update on the happenings around these parts and honestly there is not much to report. We have had a strange spring here in the south of Spain when it comes to weather (very cool and rainy) and the girls have been sick on and off so we have been taking it easy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We went downtown Seville to see a few processions on one day of Holy Week. The girls were not impressed so we didn´t last very long. Laura and Vera looked cute though! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We went to a few different ferias, both in Mairena del Alcor and in Dos Hermanas. Vera and Laura LOVE wearing their flamenca dresses. In fact, given the choice they would probably wear them every day. We have also been to a bunch of birthday parties of the girls´friends (they have a serious social calendar, highly in demand).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jose and I have been starting to plan our summer since we will be staying here in Spain. We are trying to take advantage of our time here to work and get some projects done around our apartment. Plus we are planning a road trip up to Paris to visit Jose´s sister and our niece. My parents are coming for a quick visit this week as well, so even though we won´t be back in Michigan for a while, we will be seeing family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are also starting to think about maybe beginning a house hunt as our apartment seems to be getting smaller day by day. Think the scene in Star Wars where they are in the garbage compactor room. That´s basically us. I realize it is probably a ways off still but it never hurts to look right?????</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So really that´s about all which is why I haven´t been on here in a while to update. Things are going well but we just aren´t doing anything all that exciting...maybe sometime soon : )</span></div>
Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-34644006562057406242018-03-24T17:26:00.001+01:002018-03-24T17:34:12.421+01:00We have 2 two-year-olds<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is official, we have 2 two-year-olds at home and although I was afraid, very afraid, things have been pretty good so far. We haven´t had many meltdowns or tantrums but we have been hearing a lot more NO! The girls want to do stuff for themselves and they have their own ideas about everything. Laura and Vera have been talking a lot more in general, too. They are still mixing languages and using their own twinspeak but have a lot more words and are making short sentences. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We hosted a birthday party for the girls at the beginning of the month and invited both family and friends. We ended up having a lot of people come and I think everyone had a good time. First we had a paella with Jose´s family and then later cake and treats with the rest of the guests. Vera and Laura had a blast playing in the bouncy castle and ball pit. It was a great day that started with birthday pancakes and ended with two exhausted toddlers and two wrecked parents.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the actual day of their birthday both Jose and I had to work so we had a pretty normal schedule except it just so happened to be music class that afternoon which the girls love so that was special. They go with Jose to music class once a week to sing and clap, play instruments and have fun. I took them last year to baby music class and I wish my schedule would allow me to go this year as well : ( Boo to working in the afternoons but alas, it is very important for us that I am home with the girls as much as possible in the morning to help consolidate their English before they eventually start school in the majority language. Perspective people! Sometimes I have to remind myself why we make the choices we do for our family. At least I can say that they align with our values and goals. (I plan on writing a post about our bilingual journey soon).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It has been raining a ridiculous amount the past month or so and we are hoping that it slows down soon because these girls need to run around outside. We are getting a bit stir crazy here. Being stuck inside so much has only reinforced in my mind that we are gradually outgrowing our apartment. We have been living in a tiny house before it was cool, and let me tell you that having two small children in a tight space is a chore. We are looking for solutions for our space like storage units and reorganizing. We even looked into taking the wall down between the living room and the kitchen but have since decided against it. Instead we are trying to make our apartment work for a while longer so that we can eventually start another house hunt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The girls love coloring, which they call "cole." They are readers and LOVE books which means that Jose and I have memorized a lot of them from having read them over and over again. They like Peppa Pig and Nemo. We have tea parties almost daily and we bought them a kitchen for their birthday so we have also been cooking a lot. Vera and Laura play with their baby dolls and like pushing their strollers around. They are busy all the time! It is so fun to watch them develop their personalities and likes and dislikes. They are so different from one another, both physically and in personality. But of course, they are equally as adorable!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On a final note, I have found a group of other young, English-speaking moms with kids around Laura and Vera´s age and I couldn´t be happier. We meet about once a week for a coffee and a chat and besides the fact that I genuinely like these women, it is nice to have people who can not only relate to my stage of life but also to living outside my native country. Shout out to these moms! I am so happy that I made myself go to the first meet-up months ago even when I really didn´t want to. </span><br />
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Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4376988057717101360.post-13404173118291364862018-01-28T21:40:00.002+01:002018-01-28T21:40:48.395+01:0040 before 40 list<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A few years ago, before I turned 30, I created a list of thirty things that I wanted to do before my next big milestone birthday. I had a lot of fun creating the list, revisiting and revising it and of course, crossing things off. That list helped me focus my goals, what I wanted to do, see and accomplish over a few years. It was a good experience for me and I have been throwing around the idea of doing it again.<br />
<br />
I recently finally decided to try to do the same thing before I turn 40 which is still 8 years away but is looming out there in the future. At first I thought making a list of forty things I wanted to do, experience, try, accomplish, see, etc. would be easy. Turns out in some ways it was, I mean, I want to visit more than 40 different places. But my idea was to try to focus on more than just a travel bucket list. I wanted to include goals for different aspects of my life. It actually had taken since about the start of this year to come up with my first definitive list of what I would like to do over the next almost-decade. Some of them are lofty goals and others I could probably do next weekend if I wanted to. Some of them are brand new and others are repeats of my last list or things I didn´t end up getting to or finishing.<br />
<br />
So here you have it, my list of 40 things I would like to do before reaching the big 4-0:<br />
<br />
1. Buy a house<br />
2. Go back to school<br />
3. Grow our family<br />
4. Go on a cruise<br />
5. Go to Ireland<br />
6. Restart my Italian<br />
7. Walk part of the Camino de Santiago<br />
8. Visit our family in France<br />
9. Explore more of the north of Spain<br />
10. Go back to Italy<br />
11. Go to Nashville<br />
12. Read at least ten books a year<br />
13. Continue my blog<br />
14. Take the girls to a show<br />
15. Go see snow with our kiddos<br />
16. Have another bird as a pet<br />
17. Learn how to make homemade bread<br />
18. Join a book club<br />
19. Donate my hair again<br />
20. Start going back to church<br />
21. Find/create a mom tribe here in Spain<br />
22. Create a new holiday tradition at Christmas<br />
23. See a big Broadway-esque show<br />
24. Get my Spanish driver´s license<br />
25. Take an official Spanish language exam<br />
26. Start a business<br />
27. Get chickens<br />
28. Visit a new country<br />
29. Spend the day at the spa<br />
30. Go camping<br />
31. Go to a concert<br />
32. Get a flamenca dress<br />
33. Continue my Christmas ornament collection<br />
34. Introduce the girls to another language<br />
35. Be debt free<br />
36. Learn to dance for the feria<br />
37. Got to Disney again<br />
38. Finish the Game of Thrones series (show and books)<br />
39. Go on a road trip vacation<br />
40. Go to a paint and pour class<br />
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Alliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03589791599242003607noreply@blogger.com0