Monday, June 22

Monday I did more meandering.

I enjoy seeing these beansprout-looking trees everyday in Plaza de la Gavidia.

Chloe - this is the crib that Rosa thinks the two of you should have for your baby.

I love walking around Sevilla and seeing so many plants outside of people's apartments.

I walked after I'd taken advantage of my down time and had gone to a pilates class.  I was trying to stay away from our apartment which was getting a deep clean.  I did stop in for a minute to drop off payment, and the cleaning person was very sweet to meet.

When we returned home, Rosa stated that her bed was set up like a massage table.  I was instructed to lie on it, face down. Cody then covered me with one of his soft blankets and then the kids gave me the royal treatment of a foot massage.  My feet were so slippery that they then used paper towels to help dry off my feet afterwards.

Later that afternoon we had Spanish class with fabulous Antonio.

Sunday, June 21 - Happy Father's Day & Happy 1st Birthday cousin James!

Happy Father's Day!  We started the day by giving cards to Scott!  While Spanish Father's Day was back in May, I was able to still find a few cards on the shelves at a papeleria (stationery store).  

Cody in his fire truck pjs.

Cody writing or drawing.

Devon jumping on the hotel beds in his and Cody's room.

Ready for the next jump.

Landed it.

Rosa trying to draw a head of lettuce for Spanish class.  She had a youtube video she was following while she sat at a desk.

While the kids loved going to the beach on Saturday, none of them wanted to go on Sunday.  Instead, they first played at the hotel playground after another filling breakfast and then they tried to swim in the pool.  Since it was morning, the water wasn't yet warm enough to stay in for too long.  And so we returned to our suite to get clean and to prepare for our return to Sevilla.

Cody loving bath time.

Devon loving bath time.

Rosa and Scott working together.  Scott's wearing his new Tour de France shirt he bought in Paris.

On the drive home we passed by this soccer stadium.  It almost looks like tall ship masts and sails - reminiscent of Christopher Columbus days.

On our drive back to Spain, we stopped in the town of Tavira, Portugal to walk around and to have lunch.  While we've heard it's a neat town, there were hardly any people around when we were there.  We assume that's because it was a Sunday, it was hot, and it was siesta time.  It'd be neat to go back and check it out one summer evening.

We ate inside at this cafe.  

Rosa enjoyed her crepe with ice cream.

Devon loved his ravioli.

Cody enjoyed his sandwich.

And then it was back to Spain.

Border bridge in the distance.

Border bridge up close.

While we try to adjust our schedule to the Spanish schedule on weekends and school breaks, it's still not always doable.  On this Sunday, we were all in need of getting to bed early.  But, we wanted to have a nice Father's Day dinner.  Luckily, I'd found a restaurant on Friday during my meandering that has the kitchen open all day.  Most kitchens are open from more or less 1-4 and then 8-midnight.  We left the apartment around 6pm and actually found the restaurant I'd scouted.

The restaurant was associated with this 5-star hotel, Gran Melia Colon.

Devon

Cody

Rosa

Flower in a cool vase

Scot and Devon

The gang

Rosa making a silly face

We had a lovely meal and I was glad to treat Scott to Portugal and such a nice top off to Father's Day.  He's an awesome Papa!

Saturday, June 20

Our hotel had just over 60 suites.  We don't think all were being used.  July and August are the busiest beach months in Portugal (and Spain).

Breakfast buffet was included, and it's the kind we like.  There were loads of options and we all pigged out.

Then it was off to the hotel playground.  Cody and Rosa had fun climbing the spider web.

Devon had fun swinging.

And all 3 kids had fun twirling each other around.

Next it was time to get ready to go to the beach.  Here's an excited Cody on the move.

And Devon ready to go in his swim goggles.

Cody and Scott digging in the sand.

Rosa playing in the sand.

Cody and Devon working together to carry a heavy pail of water.

Look how deep Rosa's hole is.  Her legs are gone.

Buried Devon.

Like father like son.

And Rosa running in the background.

We ate lunch practically on the beach at a great beach bar.  Scott and I had seafood and the kids had hamburgers.

Sand dunes surrounded us.

Beautiful deck.

After lunch it was back to the hotel (10 minute walk) and to the pool.  There, Rosa saw this lizard.  

For dinner, we hopped in the car and drove for 5-7 minutes to another beach area called Vale do Lobo.  This one has more tourist stuff happening including a number of restaurants and nightclubs.  

It also has a few of the cliffs that this region of Portugal is known for.  This is as much of them as we saw.  On another trip to Portugal we'd like to travel further and see more.

We ate dinner outside overlooking the ocean at Sandbanks.

We ate outide for dinner overlooking the ocean.  Devon loved his pasta.

Rosa enjoyed her chicken nuggets.

Cody enjoyed his fish sticks.

I had sole.  It was recommended by a waiter.  And then it was brought over to me (the entire fish) to verify that I thought it looked good and that I'd want to eat it.  Check out the ocean in the background.

Scott also had fish.

The kids loved the sail flags in their dishes.

Papa with brownie love.

Rosa sporting Scott's sunglasses.

Cody coloring like mad.

Picture of one of the golf courses in the area.