Olá Portugal

This Memorial Day weekend we had the chance to take a short road trip (3 1/2 hours) east to the resort town of Albufeira, Portugal where we stayed at a wonderful family-friendly resort with some friends from Rota.  It was a weekend packed full of fun with friends, swimming at the pool, beach fun, water park/aquarium fun, and a winery trip to top it all off.  While we were not celebrating the holiday with your traditional b-b-q we were in the company of great friends with lots of good food and kid/adult beverages.  Our friend took on the task (which it was with all of the people who came!) of organizing some activities off of the resort grounds which made for some fun for all. 

On Friday we visited a local winery called Quinta dos Vales (http://www.quintadosvales.eu/) where we had the chance to sample some wines and take a tour of the grounds which are complete with a wine cellar, a park for the kids, a petting zoo, and some lively art work which is on display all throughout the winery.  While the art appeared to be simple in its nature (but with some interesting poses), some of the pieces sell for as much as 50,000 Euro.  On Sunday many of us headed out to Zoomarine (http://www.zoomarine.pt/index.php), an aquatic park/aquarium/theme park all in one.  It was a fun day in which we were able to see a dolphin show, a sea otter show, ride some rides, visit an aquarium, ride on the water slide, and play in the pool.  This was a perfect outing for all because it is so rare that you can visit a park and partake in all of the fun activities that it has to offer for one price.

Overall it was a great weekend enjoyed by all but in the end I think the most fun had by all was at the pool while we were all just hanging out and socializing!

Some of the artwork on display...

 Enjoying the wine tasting

Kisses for MJ

Morning fun...

The view from, and hanging out, on our deck...

On the Ferris wheel

Tatum's friend Drew was selected to ride alongside, and play with the dolphins

Spring Fling

Well it was that time of year again, the annual Rota Spring Fling!  This past Saturday all of the children who have been learning ballet, jazz, tap, and piano throughout the year had a chance to showcase their talent in front of the Rota community.  Tatum and her fellow pre-ballet classmates did wonderfully in their performance and they looked just darling in their costumes.

Spanish Immersion Graduation 2012

Today marked the last day of Tatum's Spanish Immersion class for the 2011-2012 school year.  It is hard to believe that the end of the year has already come.  The day was celebrated by the class with songs, a diploma ceremony, and a small reception complete with some traditional Spanish foods.  While we are not certain as to whether Tatum will continue with Spanish Immersion next year, attend a school out in town, or begin Pre-K here on base, we will always treasure the wonderful year that she had with Ms. Cristina, Ms. Maria Jose, and Ms. Ana.

Getting ready for the "Fiesta" to begin

Sitting nicely with their caps and gowns

Tatum receives her diploma

Spring Adventures with Uncle Mark and Aunt Al

In our first of a series of upcoming trips, we were fortunate to be able to meet up with Uncle Mark and Aunt Al.  This was Mark's first trip to Europe, so what better way to spend your first time here than with 3 small children aged 4 and under!  It was an ambitious itinerary, but we were able to see the cities of Toledo, Madrid, Segovia, and Cordoba.  We braved the confusing streets of Madrid in our minivan, learned the high-speed rail system, the Madrid metro, and many other new firsts on this trip.  The kids also  had to adapt to "Spanish hours" which involved eating dinner at 9:00 p.m. and going to sleep close to midnight on most nights....that is one thing we don't plan on adopting permanently!   In the end it was an exciting and exhausting trip and we hope that Mark and Al had as much fun as we did. 

 

Toledo-the adopted home of the painter El Greco

Uncle Mark meeting MJ for the first time in Toledo

The Cathedral in Toledo

Entrance to the Cathedral in Toledo

Enjoying a beer in the Plaza de Zocodover in Toledo

Aunt Al and Owen catching up

All 3 kids ready for bed in Madrid

Walking down a street near the Prado in Bourbon Madrid

Enjoying the Madrid spring weather

Walking in Madrid

Statue of Goya outside of the Prado with the Ritz in the background

View of Palacio Real from the top of our hotel

Mom and MJ enjoying the view

Tatum and Owen enjoying the high speed rail system

The ancient roman aqueduct at the entrance to the streets of Segovia

Family pic in Segovia

Owen falling asleep in Segovia

The Cathedral in Plaza Mayor in Segovia

Lindsey and the kids enjoying the view in Segovia

The Alcazar in Segovia

Garden in the Alcazar

Another view of the aqueduct

The view of the Mezquita bell tower from the orange groves in Cordoba

Beautiful arches inside the Mezquita

Doorway inside Mezquita

Walking the narrow streets in the Jewish quarter of Cordoba