Quick Update

Just a quick update, since it's been so long! We flew into Madrid after three days in Rome only to find that the first place we were supposed to volunteer at was having some problems. Problems with harvest and health and just about everything else, poor people, so it wasn't the best time for us to come and help. This sent us into a bit of a panic, because here we are in beautiful but expensive Madrid with no where to go. We tried a few other places that weren't too excited about having a family of five move in to "help" (we know how it sounds) and even checked into flights home. This would be the worst way to end our little adventure, of course, a total anti-climax and we were pretty bummed about it until we found a little apartment to rent on the coast of Spain until our next volunteer place opens up. It sounds pretty fantastic, actually, with a pool, hiking trails, vultures, a kitchen (and a nudist beach- yes!)- all week for the cost of one night in Madrid (OK, maybe one and a half, but still). So, back to our Europe adventure, no sad ending where we arrive in Calgary two months early with our head hanging. And we still get to pick olives (we're not giving up on this volunteering thing, we're very slow learners).

Madrid is stunning, though, I feel I should say that. It deserves more than a quick disappointed mention. I feel like I'm always looking up, because everything is so decorative and elaborate, especially the rooftops (elephant gargoyles? I love elephant gargoyles!) We took the kids to the best park we have ever been to. Really, park isn't even the word. I guess it's where the king used to lounge and row his boat and stroll by the many fountains. It was full of people laying on the grass (in a nice, reading a book way, not drunkenly), kids playing, puppet shows, music, food, dancing. It was so huge and fun we're going back tomorrow before our train to Valencia.

I'll leave Rome to John. He's been waiting for Rome his whole life, so be prepared!

Ang