Una visita de Mom and Dad

Dad looked over the brochures I sent him and couldn't resist, so they bought their tickets on Iberia and landed in Valencia! Yes, they had lots of luggage, including one large suitcase to carry back for us filled with our winter clothes and accumulated stuff. But before it could be packed, we got to unpack all the goodies they brought us, including: a Rick Steve's guidebook to Portugal for our up-coming trip, books in English for Linus, and american candy, also for our sweet-toothed teenager.

We took them everywhere during their 11 days with us. Driving the rental car up to Barcelona for 2 days was an adventure, the first time Mark and I had driven in Spain. What was it like to drive in the densely packed city of Barcelona, you ask, surrounded by enormous buses and buzzing moto drivers? Well, @#@#$@#$ are words which can be translated easily into Spanish. No matter, because driving was not the heart of our trip - strolling was.

Our hotel provided a great view of the Ramblas, the central strolling boulevard in the old Center. We enjoyed seeing the still-unfinished Sagrada Familia, eating a fabulous house-made Comida at a nearby restaurant (our cab driver knew it well), a Golandrina boat tour of the harbor, and visiting architect Antoni Guadi's Casa Mila. Most of all, we enjoyed each others good company.

Back in Valencia, we had a tour of the Lladro factory (fantastic craftsmanship), walked the narrow streets of Barrio Carmen until Dad had to plead for mercy, and made a daily sojourn to our local pastry shop. (Linus and Grandma made bonus trips to find ice cream bars called "Magnum Doble" - sounds dangerous, doesn't it?).

Maybe our favorite acticity was the chance to SWIM and play in the beautiful Mediterranean, first on the beach in our old "hometown" of Peniscola (imagine a wavy line over the n), and then at El Saler, the lovely beach 15 minutes from Valencia.

At last the morning came to load all those bags into a taxi (whew, they all fit!) and see them off at the airport. Mom and Dad, your visit made our time in Valencia complete. Muchas gracias!

Besos from all of us, Mark Linus and Margot