From Spain!

Hey All,

It has been a few days since I have checked in! It has been so busy and time flies when we are in port. Our time in Cadiz was really fun. The first day I went on a dolphin watching tour and expected to see about 4 dolphins. We ended up seeing about 200 or more! It was really fun.
        The second day I went on a hike to Grazalema Natural Park! I had been there before and it is still one of my favorite places! You pass the white town route and go on about a 5 hour hike where you reach the Puerto de las Cumbres and at the top you can see the Andalucian Sierras, the boarder of France on one side and Morocco on the other. This is also only one of three forests in the world that has the Pinsapo pine tree and they have been around for over 600 years.
        The next day I went to Arcos and Rhonda. I have been to these places too, but I couldn’t wait to go back! Both are part of what they call, “The White Town Route.” These are small white villages that are tucked into mountainside. Arcos is this perfect little town with cobble stone streets that wind up the hillside, with one little church at the top of the hill with tiny little cafes that line the sides of the street. Once you reach the top, the views of the mountains, gardens and valley are spectacular.
        Rhonda was the last great uprising of the Moors against Ferdinand and Isabella and sits on the ridge of the Sierra, split by the Tajo Gorge and the sides of the cliff drop 400 feet. It was much busier than the last time I was there because at the Plaza de Toros (Bullfight Square) they were getting ready for a Bull Fight! They only have a bull fight three times a year, when everyone comes and watches the fight and it is a really big deal. The whole town comes to watch the fight– even the Royal Family was there! I made it to the Palacio Bosco, which is a house that was built in the 18th century and you are able to take a tour to see what a typical Andalucian house looks like from the inside. This house has AMAZING gardens and views of the Tajo River. While we were there, a tour guide told us that when Michelle Obama visited Rhonda she came to this house and spent a half an hour enjoying the gardens and the view!
        Then I headed to Seville and explored the city. There was so much to see and do. I had never been there before, but was hooked the second that we got to town. Some of the highlights included the Real Alcazar (Royal Palace), the Cathedral (we walked all the way to the top and could see views of the whole city)…the bell tower was 320 feet tall, we also went to the Archives museum and I was able to find Vogue, Vanity Fair and Elle in Spanish! YAYAYAY!
        The last day in Spain, I spent in Cadiz with friends. We walked all over the city and went out for breakfast for the famous churros con chocolate! If you haven’t ever had this—it is just heaven on a plate. It is this fluffy pastry that you take and dip into a bowl of hot chocolate syrup and then you wash it down with café con leche (Coffee with milk). We found the post office and I ended up doing a little shopping and found two FABULOUS coats that I can’t wait to wear back in Portland. If any of you have ever seen the Seinfeld when Jerry buys that new leather jacket (with the pink lining) and is so excited that he wears it with his pajamas that was me last night. I had on my pj’s with my new jacket!