Mucho de viajar! Feliz Navidad a todos!

Feliz Navidad a todos!

This past month has been wonderful, filled with travel, friends and some family. As Aaron embarked on his journey to Morocco, I was enjoying my teaching and spending more time with friends I've made through my job. Aaron had a good trip exploring the craziness that is Marrakech, but his trip was cut short as he became very sick (a bad cough and cold) and decided to come home early. However, the time he spent there was eye-opening and very interesting. He was able to experience the congested outdoor markets with pushy salesmen, snake-charmers, beggars, thieves, yummy but sometimes questionable food, and interesting people. He had a very unique Thanksgiving eating Tagine chicken and vegetables, a common Moroccan dish. But don't take my word for it, ask him! Here you will see some photos of his travels there.






He was lucky to get some video of the sounds and sights, which really give you an idea of the unique flavor that is Morocco. With the Muslim call to prayer five times a day, few women (who aren't tourists) in the streets, no sight of alcohol but no lack of hashish, you know you are in another world! You can hear the different mosques calling for prayer in this video...it is quite amazing.




After Aaron had returned and was feeling better, we met up with Angela (my co-worker) and her boyfriend Jose for coffee and dinner. We had such a wonderful time, and Angela invited us to go with her to Ronda, her home town. Ronda is a beautiful city north of the coast that sits upon a giant gorge, with buildings that peak over impressive cliffs that look out over the countryside below. It was a really wonderful trip and we saw some of the wonderful sights in Ronda, but not all of them because we had plans to return shortly with my parents. I also happened to run into Paula (my old student from Granada) and her family who were having a Saturday lunch in Ronda (el mundo es un pañuelo)...what a small world!




After a nice weekend trip to Ronda, we spent the next week working and anxiously awaiting the arrival of my parents. They arrived in Amsterdam on November 29th and spent time in Brussels as well as in Bruges. They arrived in Malaga to be greeted by Aaron and me, as well as the sun! Their timing was wonderful. Since their departure a few days ago, the weather has been acting more like winter, with many days of rain and some colder temperatures. So, we were pleased to have sun and warm temperatures while they were here, and they enjoyed their time in Fuengirola before we embarked on our roadtrip.


We rented a car and went to Ronda, Jerez de la Frontera, and Cadiz....all amazing places, although one of the highlights of the trip was passing through the "pueblos blancos" (Andalucian white towns) on our way to Ronda. They were absolutely breathtaking, some so isolated you feel as though there is no other world beyond the hills. When leaving Ronda, we also passed through a natural reserve (Sierra de Grazalema) that was so beautiful...green and lush with an occasional pueblo blanco along the way. We enjoyed the views of Ronda, took a tour of the Tio Pepe Sherry Bodega in Jerez de la Frontera (and drank some, too!) and got lost in the small streets of Cadiz. In Jerez and Cadiz, we were lucky enough to stumble upon live Zambombas, which are traditional Christmas gatherings where they sing songs (like carols) but with a Spanish/Flamenco flavor. One of the Zambombas was live in a plaza, performed by the local people from that neighborhood (elderly and children alike). The second Zambomba (in Cadiz) was a wonderful concert put on in a local bar/restaurant by a professional group. It was great! There is no way I can go into detail....this blog is long enough. We had such a great roadtrip....what a nice early Christmas present!











After my parents said goodbye, we welcomed Kacy and Martin, who had been traveling through Andalucia in their fabulous caravan. Kacy is a good friend of Aaron's from his college years who is living in Portland but decided to spend her Christmas break travelling around Andalucia. We were so thrilled to have her come visit. She is travelling with her friend Martin, a wonderful person, as well who is originally from Argentina but has lived in Spain for a long time now. They met in Costa Rica and had since planned this trip through Spain. It was fun to see their pictures from surfing and camping along the coast. We loved having them and although it was quite rainy these past few days, we had some wonderful meals, played some fun games, and had some good laughs (and chilly walks on the beach). Good times were had, indeed. Os echaremos mucho de menos!! (We will miss you guys!)







And so, I guess I have arrived at the present....it's amazing. But the big question is: So where should we spend Christmas?? Hmmmm, ummmm, well....how about Scotland? Ok, sounds good. Christmas Eve is tomorrow, afterall. Nothing like last minute planning (it's a Payne thing, hehe).

Good thing I'm finishing up this blog because it's off to Glasgow tomorrow and then to Edinburgh, then to ??? and then to London to see Claire and Tim for New Year's.

Merry Christmas to all our family and friends! We love you all so much.



Feliz Navidad

(It's our little tree)