Spain!

We returned from Spain yesterday, Saturday, May 2.  It was a wonderful trip!

We spent 6 days in Islantilla at a conference.  It was a time of spiritual renewal to say the least.  We saw dear friends, ate wonderful food, and basked in the encouragement and teaching of pastors and missionaries.

After the conference we stayed in Madrid three extra nights with our sweet friends Nick and Laura and their little one, Nate.  Nate and Lydia are 3 days apart in age and great friends!

We wondered the city enjoying the scenery.  We visited this palace.  It was beautiful and full of history.  It was pleasant until nap time was over and the little ones were ready to get out and play.

We went to a park to let the kids run around.  Nate was fascinated with nature.  He examined the bushes, found sticks, played in the dirt.  

Lydia followed Nate around trying to make him drink his water.  Maybe she will make a good big sister after all! 

There were immaculate cathedrals to be seen throughout the city.

This trip Lydia found the buckle.  The plane buckle, the car seat buckle, the stroller buckle, it doesn't really matter what kind.  It was a great way to keep her occupied as we were out and about much of the day.

Here is another cathedral.

This is the front of the palace.

The view was breath taking.

These pics are way out of order!!

Back to the conference in Islantilla.  Our meals were provided at the hotel.  It was nice sitting and talking with people serving all over the world.   It was nice to see those we have walked through this process with.  This meal we ate with people we have known since we went through Interview and Orientation in March of 2007.  It was great to catch up.

Back to Madrid.  This is Plaza Meyor.  We came several times because it was one of the few places we could let the kids run free.  It is completely enclosed and there are no cars!  

Plaza Meyor is boardered with restaurants and shops.  It is a nice romantic place to hangout.  You can see in the background there were many couples sitting together.

There are men dressed in costumes walking around the Plaza.  Some of them were pretty funny.

Back to the conference.
During the conference we were able to visit a small city called Huelva

There happen to be a small festival of some kind the day we visited.  There were booths set up with all sorts of goods.  Yummy food, purses, scarfs, clothes, soaps, etc.

We visited a winery and vinegar plant.  I'm not really a vinegar person, but evidently this vinegar is highly regarded.

Spain is beautiful!  Colder than our liking, but absolutely beautiful!