At the Beach

Last week was great. One of my favorite things was going to the beach in San Sebastian. Let me paint you a picture. 

Soft warm sand that your feet sink into as you search for a place to lay down your colorful towels. You can hear kids talking and playing. All around you there are people laying out, many only half dressed.

As you near the water the sand darkens and you can hear the small waves crashing in, you can taste the salty air. The water isn't too cold, until it covers your shoulders. Then its freezing. Out there, you wait with those who are patient enough to see a big wave. One that, when it nears, makes you feel like you are going to drown before it even hits you. And then impact. You're flying! The wave carries you back toward the shore until it dies down or passes you by and you tumble to a stop. You go back out to the the shoulder deep water and you wait again, and again, and again. You're having the time of your life. 

We were sad to leave Spain, but it's time to face reality. School and work here we come.

More Barcelona and We Head to Madrid

Saturday completed our first week in Spain. It was a lot of fun! We went to a labyrinth park by the Metro and wound our way through the bushes. E and I tried and tried but Anna had to come and help us find the middle.

That same afternoon, we went to the Sagrada Familia church and enjoyed its amazing architecture and designs.

On Wednesday, after staying in Barcelona for a couple of days, we headed to Madrid. On the way there, every once in a while, we saw a bull propped up like a billboard in the distance. I really like cows!

After a couple hours, we stopped along the way to take a small hike at the Monestario de Piedra. For me, a hike doesn't sound like a lot of fun, so I was not excited. We started off by touring the monastery where we learned the monks who lived there made wine and chocolate, then we started our nature walk.

As we ventured further along, I began to enjoy it more and more. As we journeyed we came upon an enormous water fall. It sprayed mist onto our faces. Continuing, the air started to get moist and as we stepped onto an unfamiliar ground, we looked down and saw IT. The most picturesque scene appeared. The water below us was bright blue with rubenesque fish waiting for food. The light shone off the moss on the walls in just a way that was inexplicable and the drips falling from the ceiling broken away from the grand waterfall ahead of us.

Although I tried, the pictures just didn't turn out the same. But I guess you'll just have to go visit there yourself. You can stop by France on your way.

Soph

Lizards, Bugs and Spain Oh My!

On today's blog post we will be talking about bugs, pets and going to Spain. So let's get started.

This week we actually had a lizard in the house. My mom called me to come catch it. I chased it and was able to trap it but I knocked its tail off. It kept wriggling for the next three or four minutes. We also found a snake curled up in a corner on the pool deck. I kept squirting it with a water gun even though my mom told me not to. I also found a big scorpion on a wall near our garden.

Saturday we left for Spain. It took 5 1/2 hours to drive to Barcelona. We left really early (4 a.m.) because we wanted to avoid traffic. I had to leave my hamsters with some friends so they would have someone to take care of them while I am gone.

In Spain we visited the Salvador Dali museum which actually quite bizarre...just incase you are planning to go there. But the best thing was going to this burger place, which was actually very efficient. The burgers were huge and delicious. I have to say it was the best burger I've ever had in my life.

That's all for this week. Talk to you again in four or five weeks.

Love you,

J

Pigs in the Garden and Other Stuff From the Week

Dear Everyone,

I am excited to tell you about a few things that happened this week.

I go to vacation school (vacances scolaire) in our village every Monday and Wednesday. It's a good way to practice my French and it keeps me from fighting with my brother. This week I spent Monday at the pool. Wednesday we did science experiments. There was one that used a candle, a cup, water, a plate and a coin. It was so cool. I wish I could show it to you all.

We had a big surprise at our house this week. The weather was rainy and we couldn't play outside and my mom showed us something she had been hiding...a Wii. I cried so hard when I saw it because I was so happy.

As usual, Friday was movie night. We watched Space Buddies and it was really fun because I got to watch with my friends because Anna and Sophie were babysitting them.

We woke up Saturday morning to find our garden torn up by boars. They were looking for water and ruined the grass. We had to put it back together by putting the grass side up and the dirt side down. It was a muddy job. It's not the first time they've been in our yard. We hope they don't come back.

Saturday we had planned to go to Lac St. Croix, but it was stormy so we had a game day at our friend's house instead. We played capture the flag. I always ended up in jail, and my team lost, but it was still fun.

Love,
E

PS Peace, cool, peace, cool love ellie mc-chellie