Christmas in Spain - Andalusia

We were so fortunate to be able to spend a week in Southern Spain over Christmas. We flew from Stuttgart to Malaga on Christmas eve morning. We exchanged a week of our time share in the US for a week in a resort in Marbella - just west of Malaga (between Malaga and Gibraltar). Our week was wonderful and filled with all kinds of new adventures - I'll have to post it in several sections. In the course of our week we were in four different countries (which spoke four different languages) and on two different continents! Wow!

The Southern Coast of Spain was more mountainous than we expected. The terrain was very dry and there were lots and lots of olive trees - fields upon fields of olive trees up the sides of the mountains. The mountains spilled onto a very sandy Mediterranean coast where we also found lots of orange trees.

The winding roads through the mountains were really something!

Our resort was nice. The room was spacious and clean and it was conveniently located. The kids enjoyed the pools when we had some free time. It was warm enough some days to swim outside in the heated pool but the indoor pool felt best.

The Mediterranean Sea was too cold to swim in (for us - we did see some swimming in it) but we had to get our feet wet in it!

Jeff got in two rounds of golf - one of them at a dream course - Valderrama!

Andalusia is known for its beautiful whitewashed mountain villages. As we drove through the mountains we saw many of them. One of the most famous is Ronda. We drove the narrow, steep, winding roads to Ronda on Christmas eve afternoon. One the way we stopped to buy some fresh produce from a roadside stand.

Ronda sits on top of a huge rocky mountain outcrop. Because of this it was easy to defend and was one of the last Moorish settlements to fall to the Christians. It did not fall until 1485. Ronda consists of two parts, old and new, separated by an amazing 100 meter-deep gorge - so deep you can hardly see the bottom. A bridge, built in the 18th century crosses the gorge, joining the old and new parts of Ronda.

Notice the olive tree fields in the background.

This is the archway of Phillip V built in 1742. It is believed to have replaced another archway or doorway built by the Moors, previous inhabitants of Ronda. Notice the beautiful white buildings of this white-hill town in the background and the church, a style typical of this area.

Here we are walking toward a house built on the sight of the house of a Moorish King. The foundations are believed to be the original ones as well as the steps leading down the gorge.

A churro break!!

Ronda is very important in the origins of bullfighting. This bull fighting ring was built in 1785. We understand that bullfighters from all over Spain dream of fighting in this ring.

Our week in Spain was wonderful and this is just the beginning - stay tuned for Christmas in Spain - Sevilla!

Mom and Dad came to visit!!! Part 3

Day 8. Friday, after getting the kids off to school we walked through the Altstadt again. We stopped at Gundel for some soup, cake and coffee and Mom and Dad wanted to see the Alte Bruke once again and the view of the castle from the Alte Bruke. We were heading toward Philosopher's Way, thinking that if we felt like it we would make the climb.

The weather was really nice and we were feeling pretty good so we decided to take the steps up to Philosopher's Way from the base of the Alte Bruke. Here we are on our way up - it did try to rain a bit as we climbed but not enough to stop us!

We were so glad we made the climb. The weather cleared for a while and Heidelberg was looking its finest for Mom and Dad's visit!

Friday evening we went to Ellen's school to watch her play basketball - go Lions!

A close one but a loss - bummer!

Day 9. Saturday we got in the car and followed the team bus to Ellen's second game of the week. We hoped to stop along the Weinstrasse along the way (wine road - lots of winerys to tour) but to get to her game we had to go in with the bus. So we watched a lot of basketball and ate some American food - Burger King! Joseph and Daniel ate like they hadn't been fed in weeks!

The fans!

Day 10. Sunday we went to church, came home for dinner and then walked to the Heidelberg castle. Mom and Dad had gotten a preview the day we went to Konigstuhl but not the full tour. Ellen, Joseph and Daniel served as tour guides, again remembering all the interesting stories our professional tour guide told us last March.

We think this is the room where Ellen will have her prom this spring. Poor thing, prom in a castle...

Is this the big wine barrel?

Nope!

Grandma is stepping in the footprint! She will live a wonderful life that will bring her back to Heidelberg! Yay!

Always climbing...

After climbing the 315 steps up, touring the castle and grounds and then taking the sloping way back down it was time to find the car and drive to Dilsburg.

Mom and Dad had read the Dilsburg section in Twain's "A Tramp Abroad" and were anxious to see the place his story described.

Unfortunately, the castle was closed for the winter so we couldn't get inside or climb the tower.

However, Dilsburg's Weinachtsmarkt was in full swing so we were able to enjoy that. I think everyone in the whole town was out and about. Bands with members from kindergarten to senior citizens were playing music as well as individuals. The food and gluhwein were smelling great!

Splashing chocolate and gluhwein in Dilsburg - a great way to end a fabulous week! Thanks so much for coming Mom and Dad! We love and miss you bunches! When are you coming back? :)