Spain!

Our trip to Spain  ( 3/4 of it and last few days another day)

sorry for typos..on my phone!

Everything beautiful usually starts in a chaotic way for us ... It's just how it seems to happen 

I realize theses are third world problems .. Trust me we have have our share of worse.. But always hard ( in an easy way ) when travel gets complicated .

Planned a wonderful trip to Spain to visit my brother and his family . Have been so busy lately that was actually looking forward to our 4 hr layover in NYC at the airport .

Well that never happened ... We ended up ticket counter to ticket counter in Montreal and did that for 7 hrs straight . Finally got on another flight since ours was delayed and then when about to go on runway was told that there was a weather shut down in NYC .

It would exhaust me to write all the stupid details of this extremely frustrating day so I will just say that things went downhill from there and we ended up not being able to pee of eat for a full 24 hrs and then only got to our destination 36 hrs later .

We paid loads of extra money for flights and seats that were horrible and not connected and late and ended up sitting in chairs in the back that did not recline and right beside the bathrooms . (Actually that was supposed to happen and at the last minute bossy tarina made us get normal seats . Hubby complains when I get super assertive ... Quite frankly I don't care to be seen as the nice person and sit in the smelly bathroom seats thanks very much !)

Overall a horrible frustrating experience getting to Spain  . When stuff like this happens to us re really start to question if travelling is for is .

And then what usually happens is we forget all during and after a beautful trip 

Which is of course exactly what happened on this one !!!

Day 1 -( well really day 3 !!! ) we ended up in Seville in the evening vs the morning due to all the flights . So instead of spending 6 hrs to the airport  we decided to start out trip off with some indulging and and paid for a nice hotel near airport to sleep and shower for 4 hrs . I think the reservations thought we were a couple having and illicit affair ... Little did they know I had just gotten my period ,  were both severely jet lagged and the room they gave us had two twin beds . We had the best naps ever and the shower felt heavenly .

In the evening we took a short flight to Sevilla and got to my brother's apartment .

And it soooo nice !!!!! With a huge terrace and everything even with a Bali bed on it ! Cute and cozy and we have a sweet pullout bed . Perfect 

We went out with bro and two nieces ( sis in law is at a conference in USA for a few days and we will be together second half of trip )  we strolled for a long time in the old village and along the river and ended up in a great tapas resto on the water . And most places all have cerveza sin ( beer no alcohol ) in draft ! Excellent welcoming  to this great place as usually this part of travel can be hard for someone who is used to drinking and not anymore . 

They are living in the most central and best location. Any place we go in  Europe we love - but this place especially is hard to beat . Beauty at ever corner literally . Every park .. Every building is rich in history and intricate and stunning .

Went go bed and slept on and off until 11am the next morning !!! Joined them on the terrace  for cafe and Nutella sandwiches with rubbed tomato and oil on baguette with corse salt cheese . Very spainish and yummy 

Then we headed out and walked and walked from 12:30-6:30pm and visited the real alcazar castle and it's beautiful gardens . We walked and walked and admired every corner . Stopped for the cutest mini sandwiches ( 1 euro each and 89 types

To chose from ) and stopped again for fanta limone and beers .

Came home for a rest and I fell asleep in the Bali bed and then got up to go the street around the corner again for falafel and gelato . Ps my brother is just as into food as we are :))

Great first day . It is super fun spending so much time with our nieces and hearing about their lives and interests . This is going to be a great week .

Tomorrow up early as school for girls and we are in the middle of their space so we will clear out and go up to the deck Bright and early and put the rollout bed away . 

Day 2 - we are trying to aim to be the best house guests ever ( they are !! ) so we are being super tidy and clean and like little mice out of the way of the small apt and busy school and after school schedules  . This morning we set alarm for 20 min before they woke up ( 6:30am ) and put our rollout bed away and went up to rooftop to hopefully fall back asleep on the couches up there . Problem was it was raining and soaking . Nothing a few towels the couch and our heads could not fix ! I was on the dryer side and apparently snored while hubby got aggravated and totally soaked ! As soon as we heard the gang had left for school and work we came back down into the house .

We did the whole European food thing and went to the bakery for our toast and then the grocery store for our dinner meal that we will cook for the family tonight . 

That was fun 

Then it poured some more on us and we took our umbrellas out and headed to the Turkish baths I had found on the internet . It was a really cool experience ... Hot and cold baths all in a in a roman Turkish bath setting . There was even a salt bath where your body floats with no effort needed . All in candlelight and really beautiful architecture and music .

I would recommend this experience to all . When my sis in law gets back from USA later this week I think we will need to hit this place again given that it has been our tradition for years now when visiting  do do a spa or shop together ( and sometimes both )

After Roman baths we went to a cute Italian resto and had super delicious pizza . Rain had stopped by then and were able to sit on terrace . Hubby is seriously impressed with all the non alcoholic ( very tasty ) draft beer . It's a staple here !! We decided in about 5 yrs when all kids post highschool we will rent an apt on Seville for 3 months and learn Spanish intensively and I will write a book here. We will travel to all the surrounding areas in weekends . Seville is a great central location. So much to look forward too in 5 yrs !

Then a river tour on a boat seeing all the landscapes of Sevilla and we were so tired we nearly feel asleep but was beautiful . Then a long walk to plaza des espagana where we rented a row boat and did semi circle of the plaza that way . It was really beautiful 

Stopped for beer and chips and strolled  back  and did the long walk home .

We made pasta for dinner an ate on the terrace in the apartment and all caught up about our days . If is a very cozy family feeling . Can't wait to see sista soon too !

Tomorrow off to Portugal ( only 2.5 hrs away ) to the algarve to a really cool hotel hubby booked as an early bday present for me :) we were supposed to book a cheap hotel but this luxurious one is a bday gift and I am getting a little spoiled 

Day 3 - we woke up this morning and gave up trying to be guests of the year and just stayed in bed while our hosts ate breakfast and got ready .  We kinda slept in their faces given that the bed is right beside the kitchen and the breakfast table . Oh well we did it for the first couple of days !

We chatted with my brother after he dropped the girls at school and we then left to get our car rental to take off for out two day stay in the algarves in Portugal . I slept in the car while hubby drove and then we found a beautiful little beach resto and enjoyed omelette and pizza ( and Portuguese na beer of course ! ) the beaches here are fab and all caves and rock . 

Then we arrived at our beautiful resort . A huge resort and gorgeous pool on a cliff overlooking the ocean and the beach is also very beautiful . It is October so not pure beach weather and a very rough ocean but the perfect temperature to put our feet in and slash around .

We then went up to the most amazing huge Bali bed ever on a cliff and overlooking ocean and shared a sirloin sandwich and brownie icecream .

Then we read and fell asleep for a couple of hours ... We both adore napping .

That is a good thing about us as a couple we are very very in sync of what we like to do .

After our nap we went back to gorgeous room and read on terrace in candlelight and then chose a close Italian resto for dinner . 

Going to shower soon in the beautiful bathroom and have a great sleep in the big bed . What is cool about this room is the wa

y it opens up onto a big terrace .

So far Portugal is a real treat ! Tomorrow going to

explore two more beaches and do a cliff hike between them and end up at what is known to

Be ( and confirmed by our family ) as the best Indian food ever !

- I am liking this trip a lot . A few conclusions I have come to so far :

-It is good to take breaks from email and texting ( tomorrow will be the mid way and I will check only then once (

- I am a really good person when I am not busy and stressed ( and on phone all the time ) I am so much better of a person when I am fully present ( hence my rules of no or limited use of technology often on weekends and evenings and vacations  !!)

- my brothers family is way more peaceful and zen and quieter than ours !!!! Omg ... What a contrast ! Our kids are so LOUD ( and so are we !! )  sometimes this loudness is Great and fun but sometimes it is Annoying too 

- I miss our kids and think about them lots but it is also good to just be a couple and go on our rhythm. Usually every year we take an alone trip but has been two years for us ... So therefor this year we are making up for it and doing two alone trips 6 weeks apart :))) crazy ! But since in severance package until two more months only time in our lives this may be doable and feasible from a flexibility standpoint 

Day 4 - I think today might have been my fave of all trips ever taken ( and up there high on hubby list too ! ) such a romantic night last night in our awesome hotel and candles lit by staff on the balcony .The perfect sleep . Felt like a little cocoon :)

Up early this morning ( we set alarm ) and could not tear ourselves away from the hotel so asked for a late check out and they gave us 4 extra hrs !  Slept on beach .. Swam in cold but amazing ocean towards caves on other side of beach .. Ate lunch .. Read ... Left hotel at 4pm and drove to Paria da marinha and was soooooooooo stunning ! Have never seen anything like this place except in the movies . Took tons of pics .. Felt so close and in love ... Rested and splashed in the waves and caves . Portugal will be high on my list to return to one day !!!

Then found best Indian resto ever bro referred and was worth every minute getting there . Yummy !!!!! What a super fab day . We are loving this trip . Also connected to home tonight and two kids and one mom and two friends wrote back so far . Everything is great at home . Being with my mom is a vacation in itself for our kids !! Words like fun and relaxing are used a lot by our kids . I am so happy for them that they get a break too !!! They truly deserve a break from us ( me ! )

I just feel so happy right now .

Looking forward to another great day Tomorrow with sista . An early start and late end in store filled to the brim with fun and beauty and rich history . Gosh I love Europe 

Day 5 - an early wake up again and left on train with sista and hubby to cordoba ....

Found our way through the winding slim streets to the cathedral cordoba and made our way of truly the most original and elegant and huge church I have ever seen 

Sista and hubby used the audio guides to go through and I used mine a bit . In these places I just love to walk around and soak in all the beauty and then usually find somewhere wonderful to sit and admire the view . This time it was in a church pew that was truly heavenly and a great place to just think and write and POnder and even pray a little 

We then went to lunch on a quaint inside patio . Very beautiful decor ... And I watched my hubby and sista indulge in the food . Nothing for me To eat in Corduba ! Lots and lots of eggs and pork and quail eggs ! After many amazing meals in delicious Sevilla and Portugal I am fine with a salad actually . I am a very picky ester and just could not do the cow tongue and pork lips .

Then we went and explored the Roman baths ( the real ones and not the spa ones )

Then a castle with gorgeous gardens and by mid way ( 6pm now) I am sitting at a park bench in front on flowers as fountains . I am tired ! My mind and body are tired out . Walking back soon for the long and scenic walk to the 7:30pm train 

I don't think can do flaminco tonight :( too tired ! Want to sit and chat and then set myself up with my great novel I brought and fall asleep reading 

Had a great dinner ! Fried tofu with red pepper ... Spinach with mushrooms , rice and a super yummy peanut sauce . And a huge assortment of chocolate for dessert . My brother had prepared this for us as we came in .Oh ya ... And of course fanta limone 

I am loving this trip but slowly getting all toured out ! Tomorrow I want to sleep a bit ... Eat a bit ... Go to a nice park and read and stroll along the river . Given it's my bday I think I will be allowed ! Hubby will visit the cathedral and ruins on his own while I read a book in the park and shop a little . We will meet up for pizza on a terrace and walk the girls to school together hopefully in the morning .

Happy almost bday to me :))