SPAIN DAY 3- RONDA

Day 3 we spent in Ronda which is about 65 miles northwest of Malaga. I never had the chance to visit Ronda on my mission, so I was excited to see the beautiful city that sits atop a canyon in the mountains.

The Plaza de Toros ("bullring") in Ronda is one of the oldest operational bullrings in Spain.

Cara and Jeff above the cliff

This shows where we were standing before.

The Bridge that connects Old Ronda to the Newer part of Ronda

Walking the narrow, hilly streets

The countryside and olive groves

On our way home from Ronda, we stopped in Puerto Banus. Puerto Banús is a marina to the west of Marbella, on the Costa del Sol. It was built in 1970 by José Banús, a local property developer, as a luxury marina and shopping complex for the jet-set and the super rich. It has berths for 915 boats, including those of the King of Saudi Arabia and several of the world's wealthiest individuals. Behind the harbor lie streets filled with bars, boutiques and nightclubs. I bought my first Louis Vuitton here......knock off of course!!

SPAIN DAY 2- SEVILLA

Day 2...we set out early for Sevilla. What a beautiful city.

You know you are in Spain when you pass these "billboards" on the Freeway!

Beautiful Plaza outside the Cathedral

Sevilla Cathedral....is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. It was completed at the beginning of the 16th century.

The outside is so incredible. All hand carved.

I LOVED seeing the Organ pipes inside the cathedral. They were getting ready for an Organ concert that evening so we heard them practicing. WOW!!

They "say" Christopher Columbus is buried here.

View from the Giralda Bell Tower. Over 700,000 people live in Sevilla. Can you see the Bull Ring??

The Giralda Bell Tower is the city's most famous symbol.

My Tortilla de Patata with Garlic Mayonnaise. I was SOOO excited for this!

The Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza is the oldest bullring in Spain. It is the site of the annual Feria de Abril in Seville, one of the most well-known bullfighting festivals in the world.

I love the colors and architecture

Plaza de Espana was built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. It is a landmark example of the Renaissance Revival style in Spanish architecture.

We went for a boat ride around the Plaza de Espana.

Jeff rowed the whole way...but no serenade!!

I couldn't stop taking pictures of the beautiful artistry on the building.

Day 3....coming soon!

SPAIN DAY 1

JP and I finally had the AMAZING opportunity to go to Spain last week with my sister Cara and her hubby Jeff. I served my mission in southern Spain, 15 years ago, and haven't been back since. We have been talking about returning to Europe together since we got married. JP served his mission in Germany (that trip is next year)!!

Cara and Jeff booked a last minute week at their timeshare in Southern Spain and they invited us to join them. I screamed and ran to the passport office the next day. We had the best time. Cara and Jeff kept us running the whole time. We saw and ate EVERYTHING.

First things first, grocery shopping!

ColoCao for Chocolate Milk

Milk in a box..not refrigerated

Fresh Pigs Leg...Hoof included

Yummy, Cured Ham

The men with their grocery bags

Our Apartment

Kitchen

Here is Day One in my favorite area of my mission......CADIZ!

Cara and Jeff

Cadiz lies along the Atlantic Ocean. The older part of the city is on a small peninsula (almost island) out in the Atlantic. So Beautiful!!

La Caleta Fortress

Cadiz is said to be one of the oldest cities in Europe

One of my favorite Cathedrals...probably because of the palm trees!

Authentic Spanish Food...paella, croquettas, calamari, fried fish, prawns, etc.

City View from Bell Tower of Cathedral

Zulima was my FIRST investigator in Spain. She was 17 years old at the time and her parents refused to let her get baptized until she turned 18. We worked hard on them. After a lot of work and prayer, they finally agreed to let her get baptized before her 18th.

Zulima's parents. Mi Familia Espanola. Within a year or so of Zulima getting baptized, the whole family was baptized and sealed in the Switzerland Temple. What an amazing gift to see how the gospel spreads and changes lives. This day was one of the best parts of the trip for me. What a blessing to see the work I took part in on my mission.

La Capilla where I went to church in Cadiz