Europa

The statue of Europa and Zeus is quite impressive.

Alfarnate

As the tour was coming to the end, we were guests of the local hosts in the village of Alfarnate, who welcomed us to their cozy homes and served their home cooked four course dinner, with wine, of course.

Castellar

In Castellar we visited medieval castle, high on the top of the mountain.

Nerha

After lunch, we drove to Nerha, where we visited enormous caves with stalactites and stalagmites.

Frigiliana

Today we were driven to Frigiliana, walked on narrow, uphill streets, with immaculate white walls of the houses, decorated with flower pots, with bountiful plants and flowers.
( Thanks, Dave, for lending me your arm to hang to! )

Ronda

On the way to Ronda, we went over Sierra de la Nueve. Someone spotted a wild mountain goat on the cliffs. Ronda is a beautiful Andalusian city dating back to ancient times, of Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Moors. The streets are narrow, lined with orange trees. We visited an oldest and largest bull ring, and the museum with collection of clothing, saddles, bits, etc., of the famous matadors, then an old baroque chuch.

Antonio the guide

Guided by Antonio with his vast knowledge of the history of this land, we admired the beautiful landscapes, with the rocky mountains, the valleys with orange groves, blooming almond trees, endless rows of olive trees and cork oaks.

Olive Factory

Today we drove to Exargia region, a countryside with narrow winding roads through the fields of blooming almond trees and rows of olive trees. We stopped at Panderia ( the bakery) to buy hard crusted bread. Then we drove to the olive factory and tasted the extra virgin oil dipped in the bread. Antonio assured us, that it was the best extra virgin oil produced in Spain.

Flamenco!

Each evening there are different kinds of entertainment. I loved Flamenco dancers.

Rock

Our first excursion was to Gibraltar, where we visited St. Michaels cave, then outside we were entertained by the Rock's monkeys. Of course I had to take their portraits.

Beautiful Spain

Here I am in beautiful Spain. We are staying in Sol Timor hotel in Torremolinos, one of the many hotels along Mediterranean Sea. I have a private and quite comfortable room with private bathroom and the kitchenette with microwave, toaster, a range, refrig and the sink. Each room has the balcony facing the sea. What beautiful sunrises!

The meals at the hotel are plentiful with varied fish, which I love, also plenty of vegetables and fruits.
I loved to stroll on the Boulevard, the wide paved promenade along the sea. The sunsets are as exquisite with the beautiful skies and the waves licking the shore.

On the way

From O'Hare the Iberia airlines took us over the ocean to Madrid's beautiful, huge airport. Lots of walking to the next plane to Malaga.

Finally the Trip Begins

The final day arrived. Irenka took me to Dutch Mill Park and Ride, where the Badger Coach was already full with the people from the West Side. I was eager to meet my new traveler friends.

On the way to O'Hare I was saying "Good Bye" to the fields covered with snow. When I'll come back " the crocuses will be popping up from the ground!"

Off to Spain !

Good bye, my dear ones, I am ready for my big trip. Leaving Madison tomorrow in the midst of winter, with the snow on the ground and temperature below 20 degrees. Just checked temp, in Malaga 61 degrees, something to look forward! See you in three weeks, when the crocuses will be popping up!

just four days

It's just four days till I go to Spain. I've had a bad cold in the past week, unable to plan my last details. Stas came from Mineral Point, bringing me bags of food, and cough medicine, cough lozenges, vit C and D,big bag of oranges, orange juice, grapefruits and more.
I woke up at 10 AM! Feeling great! Now I will finalize my packing and all other details. I've decided not to take my little Apple laptop. Too much worries. If I'll be able to get to the computer at the hotel or Internet Caffe's , I'll continue my notes on the Blogger, then I'll attach the photos later. Conferred with Irenka and she concurred.

Winter arrived

Winter finally arrived in Wisconsin. Delight for the young, but not such a thrill for the old ones.


My steps were covered with beautiful, fluffy snow, which I had to shovel, so the postman would have easier to deliver my mail.

Michael and Irene thought that they escaped winter by running off to Texas, but look at that ice on their car! Whoa!

Happy Birthday!

What a happy birthday! Although Irene and Michael are in Texas so they could not visit me or bake me a cake, they were with me in spirit!

No Internet cafe?

Now it's even less then three weeks till I go to Spain. I've been considering whether to take my little Apple laptop, when I'll be continuing writing my notes and inserting some photos on the Blogger. But suppose I'll be not able to get into the Internet? In such case, the laptop will still be handy. I still will be able to transfer my photos directly from the camera to the laptop and write my notes in the Word. This morning Irenka guided me how to do it. We used "chat". What a marvelous way to communicate! Did not need to hold the receiver and hear her voice like she would be here beside me!

My trip to Spain

It's just three weeks til I'll go to Spain. I would like to log my experiences, maybe insert one picture or two and record this on the Blogger.
I've done that when I went to Eastern Europe last Spring. But I got a little rusty, not using it since that time. So Irenka guided me again( I marvel at her patience). But this time we got connected using "chat" on the computers. Amazing! Didn't have to use the phone receiver.

Ok, now lets learn this Blogger!

Today Irenka and I worked together. She is in Austin and I am in Madison.
Success!

White Sands, New Mexico

I took this photo of my daughter almost 50 years ago. I scanned it as a gift to Irene for Christmas. Irene then worked on it in Photoshop Elements, fixing some of the imperfections and adjusting the color, and gave it back to me for my birthday! We were curious what it would look like here on the web, so we put it here.

Today she will come to Madison and we will work on photos and this blog.

Now how to post photos?

Usually I take lots of photos. I only need to put one or two or three photos here, just enough to help me remember the day. If I have more photos, I can put them on Flickr.

A New Year

In the new year I have a new stuff to learn. At this time it seems overwhelming. At this time I am transported to a new surroundings, new spacious desk, new computer and a new space in a new world, which at this moment seems so far to reach. The New Year will be busy for me. I don't want to become "a mouse potato", but I want to learn more on the computer with my photos.

My daughter, Irene (or as I call her, in Polish, "Irenka") will help me, as her time allows. She is moving to Austin, Texas, very soon! But now we have the Internet, and I have a new laptop now, too, so we can work together even if she is so far away, and even when I am traveling, like when I go to Spain next month.

I did a blog last year and it was great fun. I kept notes and pictures through the year, and then Irenka and I then made a photo book for Stas' (my son) about his Red Horse Farm in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Who knows what the New Year will bring?