home sweet home for some....

Well, right now in Amsterdam it is about 2pm. I'm assuming that the group has returned home and that all or most are probably asleep right now. =) As you can probably gather, I have arrived safely to Amsterdam. I had a good nights rest and I washed all my clothes and now I am trying to figure out how to work a computer without a mouse. hehe...
Our last day in Madrid was fun and relaxing. I think most were quite ready to go home and I must admit that I was a bit jealous. It's weird to think that I may have said goodbye to Spain forever. But I am thankful for the time I had there. My three weeks with this group were definitely weeks of learning. I learned many things beyond the different cultural influences we observed. Things about myself, group dynamics, different cultures and people in general.
I'm now getting ready to further my journey through Europe with my good friend, Erica. She arrives to Amsterdam tomorrow and I'm hoping that that kicks in the rush of adrenaline and excitement. I'll be sending out emails when I can and pictures, too. I may or may not use this blog but I will let you know soon. Please be praying as we embark on this journey. Thanks!!!

gRaNadA

Violet, Leilani and Kaitlin enjoying some snacks.

Kaitlin playing around in the Arab market.

The girls smelling roses in the royal gardens of the Alahambra.

Leilani, Kaitlin and Violet trying to get a picture with Granada in the background.

Just one view of the Alahambra in Granada, Spain.

a quick update

look below at the pictures we've posted. we hope you enjoy! we're having so much fun and seeing so many sites it's been hard to keep you updated. please forgive the randomness but enjoy!!!

mAs fOtoS...

A couple of nights ago our professors surprised us with tickets to a flamenco show, a popular Spanish dance.

In Córdoba we decided to embark on a biking adventure. Behind us in this photo is the Mezquita.

Along the way we stopped and played. Here is Kaitlin climbing a wall. She's such a kid!

Monica admiring the soldier in the old Moorish castle wishing she too had a sword.

The professors posing with their water for a picture on the Seville Tour bus. Silly ladies....

Posing in the gardens of the Real Alcazar.

All the girlies in front of the fountain of la Plaza España.

Sitting in front of the Granada picture in la plaza España. =)

Walking in the rain on the city streets of Madrid. (Las profesoras y Violeta)

Posing for a picture outside an old Moorish castle in Segovia. Only the person taking the photo forgot to capture the castle in the picture. (Alisha, Monica, Violet and Leilani)

Visiting the Real Alcazar, an old Moorish palace in Seville with beautiful grounds.

Taking a break from our bike journey to pose on some old ruins. (Monica, Leilani, Violet and Kaitlin)

Pretty smiles for the camera. =)

Debbie and Monica standing in front of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compestela.

Leilani enjoying her Spanish dish--Paella.

Monica, Kaitlin and Violet posing next to the statues outside the Cathedral of Santiago de Compestela.

Alisha, Monica and Kaitlin posing for the camera.

The beautiful Cathedral of Segovia, Spain.

Some long awaited photos.....

Enjoying a nice boat ride on the river.

Some foxy ladies posing for the camera on the waterfront.

Porto from the view on the boat.

Our group with Ivonne, a missionary here in Portugal who has been so gracious as to open her home to us and serve as our guide in Porto.

Viki and her new man that she ran into on the street. Too bad he's planted and can't leave. :)

Just a view of the one of the many city's streets that we strolled down today.

Debbie patiently waiting on the waterfront for us to unboard the boat.

We were able to ride in a boat like this. Our guides really wanted to go to the wine cellar but since Fox's contract takes all the fun out of that we opted for a nice cruise along the river. Not that we would ever go wine tasting, anyway..... (wink, wink)

The Pena Palace in Sintra that we breezed through in an hour.

Most of us girls with one of the Popes. Can you guess which one???

Fatima-- a holy place that we were able to spend hours visiting.

Violet and her Portugese hostess, Maria. She's been teaching Violet lots of Portugese.

Riding in the most beautiful, luxurious van ever!

sight seeing in Lisboa...

Here are some photos of our day spent in Lisboa with captions by the one and only, Monica. :) I hope you enjoy!!!

Such a good looking group soaking up the sun and the goregous structure of the monastery. (Jeronomias)



Kaitlin and Leilani posing for a picture on the plaza near a monument.




After walking and walking, we took a quick seat with the fountain mist blowing on us before hopping down for ...yep..more walking.



Viki and Monica stopping to smile for the camera at our visit to the monastery.




Our instructors wishing it was the night of the ball, and there were a lot of carriages to chose from at the Cinderalla Carriage muesum.





The custard was sweet at the old sugar refinery that is famous in Lisboa, but not as sweet as our waiter was on Alisha.






A bird's eye view of Lisbon.










Something about forcing Christianity on the people of the new world but also discovering a lot along the way, like how the world is round. Beautiful and Giant, it was constructed in the 1960s and is 267 steps to the chilling top.







Debbie, who has a lot of resouces and information and is happy to share with us, was giving a quick lesson about the Discoveries Monument. Obviously we are soaking it in.



All smiles..... Kaitlin, Violet, Alisha and Monica














Driving away from the monastery with a great view of the day ahead.





Thanks Monica for your humorous comments! We had a lovely day in the city of Lisboa and we are very much looking forward to our day in Sintra tomorrow!!!

after almost 24hrs of traveling....

We have arrived safely to Calavarcas, Portugal which will serve as our home base for the next couple of days. We are exhausted but yet ready for the adventures that lie ahead. After missing our night of rest due to the change in time we tried to rest as best we could whenever possible, including the airport.


Kaitilin, Alisha and Monica snoozing in Frankfurt


After arriving to our hotel the girls decided to take a walk on the beach and celebrate, for many, what was their first encounter with the Atlantic Ocean. Here are some pictures from our beach visit:

Alisha, Violet, Leilani, & Kaitlin

Monica showing off her dancing skills

5 sets of sandy feet