Olé

I just got back from Spain, and instead of the next time I see you folks we exchange the ever so engaging
"How was Spain?"
"Great!"
I'll post some thoughts here. Spain was great. My trip consisted of visiting the following cities/areas: Madrid, Cordoba, Seville, Granada, Costa del Sol, and Barcelona.

A lot to pack into 2 weeks. Every day was crammed with so much walking and sightseeing that I weighed myself last night and found that I had lost 5 pounds(gimme a week, I'll gain it back).

However, I found on this trip that my priorities when on vacation are starting to shift. I always used to think that I was a "doer". So I'd go on vacation to do stuff. Like go to Orlando to do the theme parks. As opposed to someone who kicks back on a beach in the Carribean for a week. I always thought that was a bit of a waste of time.

Well, looks like my age is catching up to me because I'm finding that the slower, more unique moments of the vacation are the ones I enjoy most, not pinballing from one sight to the next. And therein lies the dilema. How to see the famous sights and yet how to stop and smell the roses.

I guess proximity is a factor. I've been to New York a couple of times recently and I've never been to the Empire State Building. Nor the Statue of Liberty. Am I torn up about this? Not really. Because I've shopped at vintage stores in SoHo, watched breakdancers in Washington Square and hung out in Greenwich Village. But if someone chides me enough about not seeing the famous landmarks it won't be all that hard to go back.

On a completely different note, Spain was also a hotbed for Simpsons references. Whether it was Bumblebee Man, the little brother Pepe, churros or any other Mexican reference that can ignorantly be applied to Spain. It really broke the ice when my brother and I got stuck in an elevator at 6am in our Madrid hotel and a voice comes over the intercom and goes "Uno momento por favor."*

Anyway, all this being said, here are some of my highlights from Spain:

Feeding doves in Maria Luisa Park in Seville:




Having scored free tickets to a concert of classical Spanish music held in a bullring in Granada:




Swimming in my uncle's pool at his "Fabulous Life Of"-esque Spanish mountainside villa(note the Mediterranean in the background...unreal!):




Parade during the Patron Saint Festival in Barcelona but more importantly...KFC!!:




Wen


*
Jimbo : Hey, there's no monster!
Ralph : You're deceptive...
Otto : I don't see anything!
Milhouse : Hey, who's driving the bus?
Otto : Oh, uno momento por favor!