In October of 2020 an article about cheap airfare to Europe popped up on my apple news feed. I figured that COVID would certainly be long gone by summer of 2021 and therefore snatched up cheap tickets direct from Phoenix to London. Well, things didn’t go to plan, but we did manage to get you all overseas for your first European adventure.
I figured out
about 2 months prior to departure that the UK was not going to open, all the
signs were pointing towards it, so I decided to pivot to a country that said it
was going to open, Spain. Well the opening in April turned to May, and May to
June and June to June 7th, and I had the joy of re-booking us 4
times. I am kind of surprised I didn’t get an ulcer from the stress of planning
this vacation. I had my mind set to this trip, and my heart longing for
adventure, and so I went boldly into possible financial folly and aggravation
and a host of other bad possibilities. Yet in the end, we triumphed!
We arrived in
Spain June 10th, 3 days after they lifted restrictions on Americans.
Until we departed on the 25th we were some of the only English
speakers in the country. Our Itinerary was 4 nights in Madrid (with two day
trips to Toledo and Segovia) 2 nights in Cordoba, 2 nights in Sevilla, 3 nights
in Estepona, and 3 nights in Granada, with our final night in Madrid near the
airport. You three were so excited, especially you Cora- as you had the
greatest understanding of what we were about to embark upon. I will say you all
travel far better than your mother and I ever did as kids, we bought lounge
passes as we had a long layover in Miami. Was pretty fun to see you all
enjoying the comforts that brings…. cause it would come to an end on our Iberia
Airlines flight. It wasn’t really that bad- but it was packed and since they
want to nickel and dime you they split up our seats as I didn’t want to pay for
selecting them. Cora and Deacon I sat with you, while mom took Quinn the
seatmate kicker along with her. We may have been 5 of the 10 total Americans on
the flight.
I don’t think I
can recap the whole trip so I wanted to hit some of the highlights. Day one in
Madrid was fun just to be with you all on an adventure in a foreign country. We
toured the Royal Palace and it went just as I thought it would. Cora you
enjoyed all of it, Deacon you perked up when there were weapons around, and
Quinn you mostly wanted to find slippery floors, distract your brother, or try
and get me to carry you/ find somewhere to sit. Later that day we went to
Retiro Park, which was beautiful and expansive. Quinn you were dragging and
pretending to be on deaths doorstep, but as a rose garden came into view you
found new life and sprinted forward and preceded to run all round it smelling
different varietals of roses. The park was this beautiful green oasis in the center
of the city with a large lagoon, huge amounts of trees and rolling lawns, and a
Crystal Palace that hosts various art displays. We made it to a very fancy
dinner that night right before the sky opened up on us and had a wonderful
dinner with a man I work with who is based in, and from Madrid.
We did a few day
trips from Madrid, one to Segovia and then Toledo. Segovia had a beautiful
castle and was surrounded by a small town perched above a river. We had a great
time wandering around. Cora you bought a necklace and earrings and Deacon after
being inspired by the cannons and swords in the Castle bought a toy crossbow.
It was so fun seeing you guys shop and try and find things that would help you
remember the places we were going to. Toledo was also a great day, we started
by driving to an overlook of the city, which in this case is totally surrounded
by a river and was built on the high ground in the middle. It must have been a
great defensive position and I believe we read that the city was never captured
by force. We walked up and down so many beautiful streets…. Also due to the
fact I got us lost when trying to get out of the city and we went in circles a
few times in the fun summer sun. Cora and Quinn you found some more jewelry,
Deacon I got you a Toledo steel hunting knife that I hope you will keep until
you are old enough to hand it down to your son or daughter. Cora we also did a
zipline ride that went next to one of the bridges across the river to the other
shore. It was an awesome way to see the city and I was so proud you were brave
and did it. When we went to turn in our harnesses they let us ride again!
Leaving Madrid
was a bit sad, but I was not going to miss parking in the smallest parking
garage I ever imagined, I had nightmares about that damn thing. We headed to
Cordoba next with some white washed homes and a large cathedral that began its
life as a roman temple, then Muslim mosque. It was really beautiful inside and
was certainly the highlight of the city. After Cordoba we went to Sevilla. I
wanted to mix in some different adventures so I booked us a horseback riding
trip outside the city. Deacon you got the tallest horse as usual, Quinn and I
rode together. Quinn you spent most of the trip talking about how great of a
horseback rider you were, telling me everything you knew about horses, and
remarking how much our horse must love you. As usual the horse sensed I feared
it, and decided at the end of our ride to simply lie down! I quickly stood up
as it did and picked you up while stepping to the side, I wasn’t sure if the
damn thing was about to roll over. The main wrangler came out as we were right
by the stables and Quinn you actually rode it home as he walked it.
Sevilla was
another beautiful city, bigger than Cordoba but still filled with a lot of
history. It actually used to be a big port city before the river was diverted,
and was home to the Kings and Queens of Spain after the reconquesta when they
retook the country from the Moors. The first evening we were in the city we did
a paddle boarding trip on the river. Cora you got your own board while mom took
Quinn and I took Deacon, you did a pretty good job keeping up with the adults
on the tour. That night we ate along the river at 9:30PM like real Spaniards
and were actually pretty chilly which was a nice change. The next day I almost
made us late for our tour of the Cathedral and Palace by walking to the wrong
tour office after finding the wrong location for the start- so the sprint
across the city was great fun and the passing Spaniards got to hear some real
American curse words!
After Sevilla we
headed for one of our favorite stops, Estepona, which is right on a beautiful
stretch of beach overlooking the Mediterranean sea with a view of Gibraltar and
North Africa in the distance. On the way to Estepona we stopped in
Zahara-de-la-Sierra and Rhonda. Our stop in Zahara was so wonderful, it’s a
tiny white washed city on a hill overlooking olive groves and lakes. I drove
our car through the city- including a square that they closed to traffic about
10min after I drove through it… up to a trail head for our morning adventure.
We hiked to a stone watchtower and got some great pictures while the clouds
swirled around us. We had the top to ourselves and it was just so peaceful and
beautiful, it ended up being a perfect day. We also just barely made it down
the hill to wait out a rainstorm in the car before having an amazing lunch in
the town. Rhonda was a briefer stop with the highlight being a bridge that was
built above a deep gorge to connect the two sides of the town. Beneath it we
did a really fun hike through some low fig trees and followed a really chilly
creek towards the river and some good overlooks.
Getting to
Estepona was just a breath of fresh air, quite literally, as we had a beachfront
condo. You guys were all so excited to explore the condo and get down to the
beach. We spent a lot of time hunting for big seashells. Some of my favorite
memories are walking along the beach in the morning with you Deacon as we
hunted and found some great ones. It was quiet as the sun rose with a few
locals doing their morning walk. Cora you and I did something similar one
afternoon, and all of us were collecting unique rocks and bartering with one
another. Quinn you set up quite the little rock store, but as usual were very
kind in your pricing for me! One of the evenings mom and I just sat back
keeping each other warm as the wind started blowing stronger- watching the 3 of
you build and play in the sand together. It was so fun just to watch you enjoying
your lives, this place so far from home, and most of all each other.
We did a day
drive to Gibraltar- and so in a way ended up getting to the UK after all. Our
dolphin watching excursion was a blast, there must have been 20 of them dancing
all through the water around the boat and we had a great spot near the bow to
watch them. We took a pretty creepy steep cable car to the “top of the rock”,
being up there was beautiful, and the views of Morocco and Spain incredible,
but made your mom very nervous about any of you getting too close to the edge. We
also did another horseback ride- this one turned out better with no horses
laying down. Deacon you still got the tallest horse, and Quinn you got a very
spirited Pony named Mattias. He had long flowing hair like yours, and we have a
great picture with the wind blowing his hair across his face while yours was
doing the same thing. You loved him and spoke about him for the rest of the
trip, and these months later still do.
Leaving Estepona
was difficult for many reasons, but one of the most beautiful cities in Spain
was next, Granada. After mom and I managed a very stressful drive through some
medieval roads more suited to those on foot or horseback than in a Volvo SUV we
arrived at our condo. The view from its patio was magnificent, there in the
distance dominating the town on the highest point around was the Alhambra. Part
fortress, palace, and royal residency it belonged to Moorish Kings and
sometimes Spanish ones. We spent most of the day there and saw almost all of
it. One of our favorite parts was walking the walls and the gardens that surrounded
them. At one point we accidently walked down a very steep path… only to realize
it did not lead where we thought and so had to climb back up again. Quinn you
might not have made it but I distracted you with a giant fig leaf which you
then watered for the rest of the trip in hopes it would live.
I think the last
big highlight of the trip was a Flamenco dance we attended just up the hill
from our house in Granada. We had a nice dinner prior and then went in for the
performance. Honestly my expectations were kind of low, but the show was a lot
of fun, and riveted all our attention for the entire time. It was just great
seeing the artistry and passion of the dancers and musicians. Quinn you
obviously could not leave Spain without a Flamenco dress, and the night after
Cora did your hair up with flowers and you performed a dance for us- that you
completely made up on your own, you have quite a bit of confidence when it
comes to singing and dancing.
We spent one more
uneventful night in Madrid near the airport, happy to be heading home but
nonetheless a bit sad that our great adventure was drawing to a close. For a
trip that was so stressful to plan and pull off it sure did turn out perfectly.
We got to enter the country, have it mostly tourist free and to ourselves, and
we all stayed healthy. Most importantly we all bonded over a shared adventure
which was full of discovery and beauty. Travel is really one of my favorite
things, and it was so fun to share such a big trip with you, you guys are so
lucky to have had such an experience so young. Mom and I are so lucky to have
you to adventure with as well.
