Can you guess what Albacete is famous for?!?

Family...

Rosa's family was so nice! Everyone lives very close, so they can see each other often. Her dad and step-mom (Paco and Sole) and her brother and wife and children (Antonio and Aurelia, Daniel and Marta) live in a nearby town and her sister, Ana, lives in Albacete. We all (with the exception of Aurelia) had dinner at her parents house on Sunday.

Rosa's house...

Rosa lives in a three-bedroom house/flat in Albacete. It is the house she grew up in. It is on the 3rd of the building. And just when you thought you were at her door, you had one more flight of stairs to climb!

La Comida...

The food in Spain was great! I took pictures of everything that I ordered or that friends ordered... I was definitely a typical tourist!

Scenery...

More scenery...

Not bad, eh?!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Saturday we arrived in Alcoi and met Rosa's boyfriend, Enrique. He has a business in the public market, selling different kinds of meats and cheeses, among other foods. Saturday night Rosa, Enrique and I drove to Alicante and walked along the pier and did some shopping before attending Cirque du Soleil at 10 p.m.. It was an amazing show. Afterwards we stopped by the local McDonalds for some icecream and then headed back to Alcoi. Sunday we drove to the coast. We had lunch right on the beach and then just hung out for the rest of the afternoon. I saw a few too many men in speedos and topless women. I did NOT join the women! We left the beach around 8 p.m. and headed downtown to sightsee and do a little more shopping.

Tomorrow, Monday, we will head back to Albacete. We'll buy our train tickets to Madrid, as we'll want to leave early Tuesday so we can sight see before I leave on Wednesday.

August 1, 2008

What a loooooooooong day! On Friday we started out at about 1. We drove all over Albacete and did some shopping. I bought a few things, we had lunch at an American restaurant and I took lots more pictures. We got home around 8 p.m. and got ready for the bachelor/bachelorette party. It was a Flamenco-themed party. All guests were instructed to wear either red or white and the engaged couple was going to wear black. We arrived at the Italian restaurant around 930 p.m. - 18 to 20 of us. There were red and white carnations on the table in a vase. The bride-to-be gave each female guest a carnation to eventually put in our hair. Then Flamenco-style hats were brought out and the groom went around the table and had his picture taken with each guest, each of us wearing a hat - each male guest received a hat to wear. Then came dinner - tapas and pizza, sangria and beer. After dinner the bride and groom were each taken away to change clothes - into typical Flamenco clothing. Then came dessert and coffee. We finally left the restaurant around 1 and then headed to some different bars. The streets were PACKED with people - it was definitely a Friday night. They tell me that some bars close at 3, other later - often not until 5 or 6. We got home at 515 a.m...... And that's exactly what Rosa told me to expect!!!

Today, Saturday, we're going to Alicante to the beach and tonight we will see "Cirque du Soleil". We will stay in Alcoi, at Rosa's boyfriend's house and then tomorrow we will be going to Valencia. We'll stay with a friend there and then come back home on Monday. So probably no updates until then.... or later. Time is flying by!!!

July 31, 2008

Thursday we got up early (9 a.m.!) and went to meet one of Rosa's friends for breakfast - and had churros and hot chocolate. Then we drove towards the city of Cuenca. On the way we stopped in Alarcon. There are many castles to tour - they have been converted into hotels and churches and museums. Most are from the 12th century and are amazing! We had a great lunch - roast chicken - and then went to another castle/restaurant for a diet Coke and to sit and relax and read the paper and get out of the heat. After Alarcon we drove another 45 min. or so to Cuenca. There are houses built into the side of mountains and are called "casas colgadas", hanging houses. The balconies are definitely hanging over the gorges. The streets of Cuenca are so narrow and STEEP. We got a good workout, walking all over town. We got home around 11 p.m.
Today (Aug. 1) we are going to stay here in Albacete and tour the city and do a little shopping. Tonight there is a bachelor/bachelorette party for Rosa's friends.

For some reason my computer won't charge with the adapter that Rosa has, so I may not be able to post any more pictures, as my computer has died. I've ONLY taken about 200 pictures so far and I've been here for two full days!

Here...in Albacete...

We traveled for at least 24 hours to get here! After we arrived we both needed a nap, so we slept for about 2 hours...then to the grocery store...then to pick up a friend and the three of us went out for tapas and a few drinks. Wednesday, our first full day, we didn't get up until about noon, had a small breakfast and then traveled south, to Ayna. We picked up Rosa's friend, Eva, and had lunch - bread, sausage, potatoes, fried eggs and lamb. Also had SANGRIA. Yum. After lunch we went to the river to cool off a little bit. (Hey Dad - I picked up some rocks for you!) By this time it was about 6 p.m., so the 3 of us we headed back into town to another friend's house (Angela) and cooled off in her pool. More friends came over later and we had dinner.... Spanish tortilla (without onions! yay!) and other tapas and drinks. Didn't get home until 2:30 a.m. Today (Thursday) we are off to Cuenca.

Celebrating...

Rosa is here!!! We celebrated with a beer and came up with a plan for my time in Spain... anything written on a napkin is set in stone, right?!

Waiting.......

Left Omaha at 11:50 a.m.; arrived in Newark at 3:50 p.m. (eastern) and will depart for Madrid at 10 p.m. Rosa arrives at 8:20 p.m. - I hope her flight is on time!! I wouldn't want to go to Spain without her!

I paid $8 for this internet connection and this is all I can think to write...

¡Felicidades!

¡Mi sobrino mexicano ha llegado! Diego Manuel nació el día 8 de julio - el cumpleaños de su mamá, Pamela. ¡Qué casualidad!

My "Mexican nephew" has arrived! Diego Manuel was born on July 8th, and he shares his birthday with his mother, Pamela.

19 days until I leave for Spain!

Bienvenidos a España...

Check back in a few weeks and see what I've been up to while I'm in Spain! 23 days and counting...

Welcome...

Welcome to the world, Chloe Kathryn Mar! My niece was born July 3, 2008, at 10:23 a.m. She weighed in at 6 lbs. 9 oz. and was 19 inches long. She joins big brother, Brady, who is not quite sure what to think of her yet...
(25 days until I leave for Spain!!!)