We Made It!

With thanks to our Daughter Natalie who set this Blog up for us to keep track of our adventure we enter our thoughts and adventures for you to ponder as well. If you haven't been to Europe before I can tell you that you must make the trip. If you have made the trip before please forgive us as we learn along the way.

Well we made it!
We were supposed to leave Calgary on Monday January 11, 2010 then they cancelled our flight. We finally got out on Wednesday the 13th at 9pm. We flew overnight non-stop into Heathrow at London and spent a few hours on a layover. I can say that British Airways is one of the finest airlines I have been on and what a meal - it was great!

Finally we got over to Madrid where we stayed the night in a neat little hotel called "Novatel."

The next morning (which was now Friday) we got up and had a nice breakfast. A Shuttle took us back to Heathrow Airport and Iberia Airlines took us over to Palma de Mallorca landing around 1pm on Friday (15th).
It's hard to believe now we are in southern Europe on an island in the Med off the coast of Spain!

Tony met us at the airport and we begin our real adventure! We went and picked Julie up from her new job at School (she's a wonderful Teacher). Tony & Julie just moved here from Guernsey approx. 5 months ago. We came home to their new place and wow...

Its like a magazine location. Their home is Located right across the street from the Med ocean and down the street a few houses from our own little community beach. Julie & Tony live in a great 3 bedroom condo on the second floor. You must trust me when I say that it has a "world class" ocean view. One that I can admire for hours as I sit here in my new-found leather chair (sorry Tony!). I mean; as I sit here and borrow Tony's chair!

On the other side of the bay are a bunch of hotels and pubs, restaurants and so on. On this side its all homes and the odd condo complex like ours complete with gardens and a rooftop terrace to suntan and relax on. Im told the residents here in our area are a mix from Spain and other countries. Many of the homes are second homes for people who come and go with the seasons. Speaking of seasons it is winter here right now and it is cold. Today we hit about 16C but at night it gets into the low single digits. Don't forget we have to fight the humidity too which makes it feel even colder! Many people wear winter coats and scarves to keep warm. I guess I'm joking as how can you call this cold. It is a little chilly at times (when the sun hides behind a cloud) and many of the homes don't have furnaces. But let me say this; I'd take it any day. You don't have to shovel it, you don't have to plug your car in and there's no such thing as ice and they still call this winter! The grass is green the trees are green; need I go on! In many ways it reminds us of Victoria this time of the year. So far there is no rain.

I could see myself living a lifetime right here in any of these homes - no problem! In fact the home next to us is for sale but its just a tad out of our price range and slightly too big for just the 2 of us so Julie and Tony you are safe for now!

Last night after a great dinner prepared by Chef Tony we went out on the town. There are no tourists here but us (we are undercover tourists and non one knows we are here until they try to speak to us) so the town is pretty quiet at night. Many of the pubs and cafes (even McDonalds) close down for the off-season.

We found a great English Pub and went in to join the crowds; but seriously there was hardly anyone there?
Someone told me the Spanish don't go out until 10 pm or so (for dinner etc) and wow by 11 they were starting to come in. I don't know what time it was when we walked home and went to bed but I can tell you it wasn't until 2pm (Saturday the 16th) when we woke up! We thought we didn't have jet lag but.... perhaps just little?

Its now Saturday evening; as I sit here and think about all that we saw today from some of the old buildings to the modern means of everyday life I can't help to think about all the changes that have been witnessed in Europe over the centuries. It reminds me that I am a very nieve Canadian on the trip of a lifetime and its only just begun. I cant wait to see what we can see and at times feel overwhelmed when I think of all the wonderful spots, cities, countries and history and we want to see it all! We just got here and I know already that another European Adventure will have to be booked as even 6 months won't be enough. Its 8pm and time for some Pasta and a relaxing evening.