Traveling home

We were up at 3 am for our flight from Madrid to Amsterdam. We took the airport shuttle and arrived in less than 10 minutes The flight
itself was pretty full and we experienced a fair bit of turbulance along the way. Arriving in Schiphol, we were informed our boarding time was to be in 1 hour 40 minutes before the flight was scheduled to depart. We thought we could do some leisurely store browsing only to be held up at passport control and then a strict and lengthy lineup at the gate. The flight was good and we watched lots of movies. We are touching down around noon PST (9 pm Spain time which is Central European Time).
More Passport Control, more Customs and yet more security screening and X-Ray in Seattle. We will be glad to see the last of them for a while. The flight to Victoria is on time and it will be good to get home and see the family.
Ray & Debra

Last photo from Madrid

Back in Madrid

We are staying in Clementhoteles very near the airport for our last night. The highspeed train was good and navigating the local commuter train and the Metro is getting easy. We have to be up at 3 am as our flight departs at 5:55. The hotel has complimentary Wifi and airport shuttle.

Goodbye to Barcelona

We leave Saturday morning back to Madrid on the AVE. Barcelona has exceeded expectations. We also say goodbye to our friends Paul and Anne and two of their children Alex and Jo. Thanks guys, it was great!!!

Sagrada Familia

Transbordador Aeri to Jardins de Miramar

Great views!! We were told that the tram started operating at 10 am only to find out it was at 11. We wandered around the beach area and dipped our hands in the Meditteranean Sea.

Barcelona Friday morning

Another beautiful day in Spain. The view is from the balcony of the front of the apartment on Carrer Sant Pere Mer Alt 23.

Will find the name of the place ...

After dinner Debra and I took a walk around the apartment and went past this ancient building.

Dinner at the Arabia Restaurant

This place is 20 meters from our flat. The food was awesome with unique spices and flavouring. Authenic Arabian cuisine with atmosphere to match. We left before the belly dancing started. (they were late)

Jo netbook shopping at El Cortes Ingles

Jo was looking to a buy notebook laptop, but you cannot change the Spanish to English on the operating system. The salesman wasted 20 minutes of our time trying thinking it could be done. It can't.

Barcelona city bus tour - Thursday #2

Arc de Triomf

Torre Agbar (aka. Agbar Group tower)

Love the tree lined streets in Barcelona

Bullfighting Ring

Sagrada Familia

Barcelona city bus tour - Thursday #1

Happy 18th Birthday Clayton - November 25, 2009

Mom and I wish you a very Happy Birthday from Barcelona Spain. The Lord's blessings on you son. We love you and look forward to seeing you soon.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Alex in a Barcelona cab

Our destination from Madrid Atocha station.

Yes, it did go this fast for the majority of the trip.

We started out from Alphen with Rienus driving us in his car to Schiphol. We boarded an airplane to take us from Amsterdam to Madrid. When we landed we took the Metro and a commuter train to Puerta del Sol. After meeting up with Paul and Anne, we took a taxi to Puerta de Atocha (train station) to take the Renfe AVE high speed train to Barcelona. Upon arrival, we caught another cab to take us to the apartment. Whew!!

I love these road signs

This sign is in the center of Alphen. I would like to visit them all.

Andyvea met spek

Debra and her Oma at Rienus and Audrey's. Jack and John......it was heerlijk.
(one of Oma's favorite meals)

Tuesday in Amsterdam #2

Inside the Nieuw Kerk. It is used for exhibitions.

Quintessential Amsterdam photo

I laughed so hard seeing this little car

Narrow little corridors in Amsterdam

We had the most wonderful of days. (a big thanks to Rienus and Audrey for making it happen) We walked around the center to look at all the architecture and great buildings and houses. We ate delicious Dutch food and took a boat tour on the Rijn. Yesterday when we arrived we went by Debra's Oma's place for coffee and later that night some of her Aunt's came by (Annie, Rene and Yvonne), her Oma along with a cousin Miranda. Tonight Oma came over for a nice Dutch andyvea met spek.

Tuesday in Amsterdam #1