Andalucia: Seville and the road to Granada (by Michelle)

We had 2 great days in Seville although its never enough time. The cathedral, the lovely Alcazar, the incredibly beautiful parks and the Santa Cruz Barrio - I love Seville. Simon and Eva loved it because we played at a park by the river for a while and they both learned to do a flip over a bar. This was the significant horizon broadening in their book. Simon said, "That was one of the best times I've had here."

The doorway photo to the right is one of my favorites. I confess that I took it last time that we were in Seville, but it is a mostly un-posed picture and I love it. The whole Alcazar palace is beautiful, but I especially love this door to the lovely gardens. This time that doorway was always crowded with tourists. I was looking for another photo-op and even tried to force a picture, but I stopped after I sternly sat Eva in the doorway and said, "Now just stay right here and don't move!" Yikes, I realized suddenly that I was getting a little out-of-control with the photos. They really can't be forced. And neither should your children. kmmm, sometimes I have to remind myself not to get too caught up with my camera and I have to re-prioritize a bit. Later I calmed down and let Alex borrow my camera and he took the one of the Giralda tower below--a great picture.

Anyway, after two busy days in Seville we were off to Granada. We usually have the same bus driver, Fernando, who we request for our outings. He was our favorite bus driver from the last time we were in Spain and we really like him. We were delighted that he brought his wife and daughter on the trip to Andalucia. (David invited him to do this on any of the trips.) Anyway, Fernando secretly asked David if on the way to Granada we could stop at the small town where his wife was born and spent her childhood which was not too far off the main highway. She hadn't been there for 6 years and their daughter had never been there. We felt like this would be nice and it was a good chance for the students to explore a real (not touristy), small, and rural town for a few minutes. Anyway, she didn't realize where we were going until we got pretty close and then she was so touched and excited. I can still hear her voice in my mind, "Que fuerte, Fernando!" she kept saying.

The kids loved this little town because there was a well-kept, but very old fashioned play ground. Everything made out of metal (merry-go-round, teeter-tooters, swings, a slide with a very painful landing.) It was fun watching the students give our kids merry-go-round physics lessons. Anyway, for those of us at the front of the bus who could see Fernando's wife's reaction, this quick stop was well worth the time. I regret not getting a picture of them in the little town, but here they are at the windmills on the way back to Alcala.