Looks like a blast!

Wow...I wish I you would of packed me in your suitcase so I could escape! I want more pics!! Hook it up! I enjoyed reading about your adventures. I'm in for the next trip...just b/c I'm an old married lady does not mean I'm not still a party animal! HA! Want some?? Well thanks for sharing and I'm glad you had a wonderful time!

Sevilla

Just hours from taking a flight from Sevilla back to Barcelona for our last days in Spain before heading home. Sevilla was great.... our hotel was in the heart of the old town area. Cobble stone streets and walking distance to the cathedral, Giralda tower and town square. Lots of cute shops and restaurants. We have seen many signs and references to Sevilla being the city that smells of orange blossom and rosemary. However, we have yet to smell that. Instead we have fondly knicknamed the town square the corner of "Shit Street and Piss Place" for the many horse drawn carriages that ride around the city center. Are you getting an idea of the smell of Sevilla yet? Ha!! Well, other than that it has been fun! We saw an amazing authentic flamenco show last night.... we took lots of pics and video. They even had a male flamenco dancer.... woah!! LOL! Our plan today was to head to Gibraltar to finally see the monkeys Melissa has been waiting for. But today is a major holiday in Spain and we had no idea how difficult it would be to rent a car.... and there is no quick and easy was to get to Gibraltar from Sevilla by train or bus. :( We tried so hard to find a way... but we figured it was not meant to be. So the monkeys will have to wait until the next time we make our way back to Spain! Sorry Mel!! So we will be back in Barcelona tonight... and will write more when we get there. Hopefully we will be able to post pics from there!

Computers with a place to put a memory card are hard to come by in Spain, so once again, for this posting, we have no way to upload pictures. But don´t you all worry...there will be plenty to show you when we come home...in 5 days. Unbelieveable!!!
So, today we arrived in Sevilla. We took a 3 hour train from Granada and arrived safely. Granada was beautiful. On our first day, since we had flown in, we took a taxi to our hotel and our driver gave us his personal insight into Spanish men and why they whistle and hoot at ladies. He also told us what areas to go to for the best views. Once we arrived at our hotel (which was the first to have AC) we rested up and spent the afternoon walking around the city towards Alhambra and the Albycien (old town). We had dinner in a plaza near the hotel and watched kids running around the fountain, and musicians playing for tips, as well as a pseudo acrobat who balanced metal railings on his chin. Very circus-like, but relaxing to say the least. One thing we have noticed about Spain is that there are tons of dogs and they do not seem to have a leash law. The dogs seem well behaved and stay right next to their owners at all times. It made us miss Mandy and Buddy, but full well knowing that neither of our dogs would ever stay right next to us while walking around a park or plaza. Yesterday, we went to the Arab Baths, which at first seems a bit odd, but when relaxing in a warm pool and then getting a massage...nothing was strange about it. It was an experience (a clean one at that). Then we went to The Alhambra. This place is huge and amazingly beautiful. The detail in the architecture is incredible and the history is undeniable. Trust us...pictures will follow. By this point, we have walked mile after mile and are totally exhausted. After a quick dinner of overcooked spaghetti (we needed comfort food), it was off to bed and to Sevilla. Hopefully our next hotel (back in Barcelona for 2 nights) will have a place to upload photos. Love you all! Nikki and Crissy

Last Day in Mallorca

We finally found another computer!! We have been having such a great time in Mallorca.... and wondered why we just didn´t spend our whole 2 weeks here!! It is gorgeous! We arrived Thursday night in Palma.... very cute, picturesque little city. We stayed in the "Old Town" which has narrow, cobblestone streets. Our hotel there was very cool. We had enough time to enjoy Palma before getting our rental car on Friday morning and heading off to the east side of the island to a town just off the coast in Son Servera. We could not pick our jaws up off the floor when we got to our hotel there. Imagine a bed and breakfast, old stone meets modern country estate. The area was amazing... with a pool overlooking the valley and the neighboring ocean. We planned to check in and go back out in our car exploring the area.. but the hotel was so great that we decided to spend it lazying by the pool drinking cocktails and enjoying the scenary. Today we made our way over to the west side of the island to Puerto de Soller. The drive was crazy to say the least!!! Nikki drove (brave soul) and we had to traverse the winding (small) roads of the Tratamunta mountains!! I took so many pictures while trying to hold back from vomiting!! Ha! And we put the first official dent in our cute Mercedes "mini" rental car! (It´s ok though since they don´t let you rent without full insurance..... we should have been known something was up when they told us that!) But we made it and the view from our hotel here is gorgeous too!!! It´s tucked in a little cove with cliffs overlooking the ocean. We are going to have a drink or two now to relax after our insane drive! Tomorrow we leave to go back to the main land. :( But we are excited to see Granada! I wish this computer would let us upload pictures... but unfortunately not. We hope to write again soon! Miss you all!

Friday, April 25th - 11:05 AM

Hi Nicole and Crissy

Received your e mail, Nicole, and am so excited for you and Crissy. Sounds like you're having the time of your lives, and I couldn't be happier for you! When you write, Nicole, I feel like I'm sitting next to you, enjoying all the sights and experiences. Just wanted to take a minute and add this post to your blog just to let you know that I'm thinking about you, miss you lots and hope the rest of your journey is as fantastic as this week has been. Have fun!! Love MOM

Valencia

Valencia = Paella

We arrived yesterday and had a great traditional valencian paella dinner! Yum! Going out tonight to watch the Barcelona vs. Manchester United soccer game at a local Irish pub... with english speakers!

End of the Day - Tuesday - April 23rd

Hi there!! It's about 5 PM on Tuesday, April 23rd, and I'm closing down my computer for the day, but am thinking about you and hoping that you both are continuing to enjoy every minute of your trip. Take lots of notes and let us all know what you're seeing, where you are, and how you are. Well, just wanted to say hello; I love you, miss you and am looking forward to hearing from you whenever you get a chance to write. All is well here!! Have a great time! Love, MOM

It´s almost midnight here on Sunday (end of day 2). We took a train up to a little town north of Barcelona where the Dali museum is. We bought a bottle of wine at the train station and drank it in the town square.... visited the musuem... walked around... headed back to Barcelona. Just finished having a great dinner. We are going to hit the hay now... tomorrow we have to get up early to catch a train that will take us for our day excursion to wine country for a wine tasting day! So excited! We will write again soon!

WE MADE IT!!
Arrived in Barcelona 10 hours ago, which was about 8 am Barcelona time. Since we could not check into our hotel room until 3 pm.... we left our bags at the hotel, washed our faces, brushed teeth, etc and immediately started walking the streets of Barelona to stay awake until check in time!! We have seen so much already, on very little sleep! We walked "Las Ramblas" (which is like Lincoln Road but 10 times bigger and with 10 times more people), had tapas and drinks in about 3 different places, walked through the "Gothic Quarter"´... saw Gaudi´s "Casa Bilbat".... walked through "Boqueria Market"- which was amazing... We finally checked in and got to nap for a couple hours. Now we are off to participate in a Passover Seder in the Jewish Quarter.. and then hang out somewhere for a drink. I found the hotel Mom & Dad are staying at for the second part of their Barcelona trip (Ciutat Barcelona) is right down the street from where we are now! Hope to upload pics soon... this computer does not have a way for me to do it here! Love you all! We will write again soon!!

Leaving in 2 Days!!!