Missionaries in Burgos

Well, we finally got together with Jesus to present the DVDs that were made of the Mormon Handcart Trek that his students participated in July 2008. We went to his English class and showed parts of the DVD as well as explained what the whole experience was about. We thought it would be even better if the missionaries came with us so that they could speak in Spanish if there was some interpreting to be done. The students loved seeing themselves and their friends in the DVD. The trek experience for these Spanish students was fantastic. And because we had 2 hours instead of the expected 1 hour, we opened it up to questions and English practice. This is where it became fun. The kids started asking the elders questions about being missionaries and what they did every day and who they talked to and why they wore suits, etc. They wanted to know about them and how they got to Spain. Jesus, who has spent lots of time in Utah, knew a lot already and he was pleased that the kids were asking questions in English. I thought he might be threatened a little since we were in a Catholic school. But to the contrary. Afterwards he invited all of us to his "house" for a huge lunch with his "community" of priests. Everyone was super nice and friendly to us and to our missionary friends. It was a really fun experience for us to participated in. A big thanks to the Pleasant Grove Stake for taking the Spaniards on a unforgetable journey.

I forgot to take pictures of us teaching, so you get a photo of the church in Lourdes, France. This is a pilgrimage where there is healing water coming from a natural spring. Saint Bernadette saw visions of Mary at this place. People come from all over the world to drink this water.

A Great Day

Sleeping in is always fun, but then we went to class and had the most annoying teacher ever. She taught once last week and thought she was a fill- in substitute. But it looks like she is going to be teaching on Mondays and that means I'm skipping the next 2 Mondays. She has the most grating voice I've ever ever heard and she taught us words that I really don't think I'll need to use. When I'm trying to learn basic Spanish is it really that necessary to know the name of my ring finger or each particular tooth in my mouth. What a crazy lady!

We were waiting for a break in the weather to go for a ride and we thought we had it until we got outside and it started to rain again. We decided to go anyways and ended up completely soaked and muddy and to top it off, Cory had a flat. That's when you get cold. Stopping and standing their. You got to laugh though, as you're peddling along these country roads in the pouring rain and covered in sloosh, people passing by in cars thinking you're completely nuts. It's the best!

The picture is not what I thought. It was taken at the Gaudi park in Barcelona. I just don't know how to remove photos yet.

This is a picture of a Roman aqueduct in Segovia.

Car

Having a car makes me feel kind of wimpy. After riding our bikes everywhere and anywhere in any weather, we now have rented a car. I know, we sold out. But the weather is exactly how they told us it would be. When they said it was the coldest city in Spain, we just assumed they were exagerating. But when the wind blows (every day) it is bitter cold even though the thermometer doesn't reflect how cold it feels. When Martin and Emilio were in town, I was wearing capris and sandals. Now I want my wool coat and scarves. Hopefully it'll warm up one more time.

This is a statue of a leper. His skin is all falling off.

Halloween in España

The missionaries did an awesome job putting on a Halloween party for our branch. This type party might have been a first. We helped and were in charge of the fishing booth. Of course, Cory had to buy a real fishing pole to play the game and we ended up giving that away to a boy at the end. We couldn't find any small toys ( the kinds that fill our homes) so we used a lot of candy and tangarines, and a can of sardines for the branch president. Dressing up is kind of novel to them and not a lot of adults dressed up, but I think next year they will after they saw how much fun it is. The kids say that none of their friends have ever gone trick or treating. What??!!!

Words can be Sharper than Swords

Madison just learned the hard way that electronic media is out there for the world to see and to do with it what they want. It's a good lesson to remember as we communicate through the internet. Everything we write is out there for others to interpret how they want. Things said can be used not as intended and that can be hurtful.

Talking about things that can hurt, Weston and Cory are out looking for weapons and armor. What could be more fun for two guys to do on a very cold night in Burgos. Last week we were riding in shorts and sleeves and today it just keeps getting colder and more windy. (Is windier a word?) Do you think I could get through airport security wearing a suit of armor. that's what I really want to bring home as my souvenior. Ever since I was a kid, I've wanted to put a suit or armor on and walk around. I think they are the coolest things ever! Those two have looking in every town we've been to in order to find the perfect sword. I wonder what they'll come home with?

P.S. This is a real taxidermied horse!

Lost in Portugal

We went to Portugal last Thursday because the kids had Friday and Monday off from school. Porto was this really charming beautiful city with absolutely no sense of a lay out at all. Freeways went every which direction and if you took the wrong one, good luck turning around. It literally took us 3 hours to find our hotel. I'm sure Cory already talked about it in his blog, but let me just say that it was worse than he said. We finally found a hotel (not ours) and we sere so excited. I went in and got directions and off we went. We ended up so lost that we couldn't even find our way back to civilization. So we stopped in at the neighborhood pasteleria and asked again for directions. This time there were 3 men in there and they couldn't decide what to tell us, so the owner told us to get into our car and follow him. Weston was already car sick and so he was hanging out the window throwing up as we tried to stay close to our escort. His head came a little too close to a few parked cars. After 15 minutes we ended up right back at that first hotel. We couldn't tell him the kind man, so we just thanked him profusely, waited until he was gone and went back in to talk to the very nice hotel staff. they again told us how to get to our hotel. But we were lost within minutes. I don't know how Cory eventually found it, but it was a nice sight to see. My idea was to stop at the telepizza, order a pizza to be delivered to our hotel, and then follow the scooter. I know, I'm brillant!

The next day we took the On and Off Tourist bus and it was wonderful. I love the colors of Portugal and all the amazing tile that covers the exteriors of the building. Very different than Spain.

Posting Pictures

I know how to do this now, so I'm going to go back and put in some pictures. I feel so technologically savvy!