Hola from Barcelona!

We've just had a wonderful week in Spain with my parents, and it was so sad to say goodbye to them today as they are off on a Mediterranean cruise! We are so grateful to them for showing us such a marvelous time! It was so nice to see a friendly face after 5 months on the road. We certainly enjoyed the best of Spain's big cities with them in Madrid, Valencia, and Barcelona: fabulous food (we liked manchego, queso de cabra tapas, sangria, paella, iberico jamon, fanta limon, patatas bravas, pastries, and so much more) siestas, architecture, Gaudi, museums, a bullfight, the symphony, the beach, high-speed trains, and our own cribbage tournament. We felt very spoiled and will somehow have to resume our backpacker lifestyle for a few more weeks!! As we enter the last month of our trip we are ready for some downtime and are heading to Portugal tonight in hopes of finding a sunny beach.... :)

Here are some photos of our time with them:
1. Palacio Real in Madrid. We loooved it, and was def. a highlight. No photos were allowed inside, but it was quite possible the most decadent place I've ever seen.

2. The newly restored CentroCentro in Madrid, formerly the post office. Really beautiful restoration.

3-5. Jon and my dad went to a bullfight in Madrid and really loved it. They say you can only begin to understand Spanish culture once you've attended one, so they are well on their way. Not for the faint of heart.

6. Paella in Valencia...with sausage, chicken, vegetables and snails!! (I wasn't brave enough to try a snail but the boys did...) So tasty.

7. Jon took this great photo of Barcelona at night from our hotel room.

8. Gaudi's Segrada Familia...still not done, but so interesting.

9. The symphony in Barcelona. A beautiful Art Nouveau building: Palau de la Musica Catalana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well.

10. On the way to the symphony...