I´ve been in Spain exactly one week! Last week just zoomed by. So glad I have more time here! It was amazing picking up Holly. The taxi driver dropped me off outside the mission home and I had to explore a little to find the right door to enter. Got scared a bit, thinking I was in the wrong place. When I walked in there were all these hermanas and elders just grinning at me. I walked down the hall and there was Holly off to the side. We ran to each other and hugged and had a shed a few tears! and hugged some more! Since then I have been her constant companion. Poor thing! So good to get her back safe and sound. I've missed my little buddy so much, and I'm so proud of the wonderful work she accomplished in Spain! She is one energetic hermana who is hard to keep up with. That's what I've heard over and over from the missionaries, even from her Mission President!
Palma was amazing. It´s so beautiful. Words just can´t do justice! Had a beautiful flight over. There are old time windmills everywhere. And buildings in town made out of stone. Windy roads and beautifl scenery. Lots of mountains and hills. And yes, the deep blue mediterranean! In the evening we went to the central shopping area walked around the little shops. We went to a castle the day we arrived and a monestary at the top of a mountain, where we could look over the entire island. It was amazing! Holly is doing so well. She DROVE the rental car here in Palma, and she was so cute the first time she sat in the driver´s seat! We had an awesome ¨villa¨ to stay in way out of the way. Marriott rocks. They treated us so well! It was beautiful. Truly the trip of a lifetime! We ran so fast to get everything in that we could. We didn't hardly stop to eat. We went to a grocery store and got stuff that we keep in the car and we just snacked on it. But we have had some authentic spanish food that is so good. Tortilla potatas sandwiches are so yummy! And I had real spanish chocolate and we went to the Barcelona central market. What an experience!!!!! The food and presentation of it is incredible!!! It was great having a car to get around ,... made our time really productive. The weather was beautiful. Holly is happy and cute as ever. Barcelona was incredible. There was so much to see that we already have an agenda for when we go back there for out last afternoon before flying home.
In our second day in Palma, we woke up to beautiful weather and a cloudless sky. We drove to the far side of the island to a place called Formentor. It´s a point way up high in the mountain where you can see out to the Mediterranean forever! Try googling it. The wind was blowing mightily up there but the view was to die for! Wowzer! On the way back we stopped at a couple of little villages and took pictures of an old church and a place where there are caves. In the afternoon, we went to the Quierolos for dinner and Carolina cooked up a masterpiece. I finally see why Holly said that we would be fed well. They are so hospitable! Amazing family. It was so fun to see Holls rattle off the Spanish like it was her native tongue! She is absolutely amazing! Then we went over to another couple´s home and other people showed up to see Holly. She is loved so much in Palma! And they fed us more food! Holls navigated the island like a pro in the rental car. What a great time we had!
We are now in Valencia staying with Paquita, who is a hoot! She is a member who doesn´t come out very much, but loves the hermanas. Her husband died 16 months ago and she misses him so much. She has made us feel so much at home. She is a talker!!! The fallas are going on. There are fireworks going off constantly! Yesterday after church, I watched the primary kids get fireworks out of their scriptures and light them right on the street outside of the church! I don´t even know how to describe the fallas! Huge satiric statues painted bright colors everywhere. People people people everywhere. Streets and plazas blocked off to cars and people milling aroung everywhere. Street vendors selling everything! And I look up and there are the most amazing buildings...some like castles and some very old and ornate. Beautiul parks! Oh my, it´s just so much to take in. I feel like I´m on a movie set and it isn´t real.
Church yesterday was amazing. The spirit was so strong. They actually sing like they mean it! Beautiful voices in espanol! Everybody loves Holly so much. You should have seen the hugs and tears. She gave her heart here. It´s amazing. I don´t know how to describe it. We have appointments to visit and eat with several members while we are here. Today we are going to see some of the biggest fallas statues and try to get to the lladro factory outside of town. Oh! The metro is just like in Japan! We were squished in like sardines last night when coming home! I´m going to try to attach some photos. Well, doesn´t like like this computer will let me. Sorry! Maybe another time!
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