Spring Break Trip

I am home from a very interesting trip--interesting good, interesting bad/sad, interesting-the list goes on.

The things we saw in Spain were very interesting, informative, intriguing, historical, unbelievable as much of Europe can be. As I look back at the pictures, I realize that we crammed a lot of education into one short week.

The tour director(s) did not know that people could walk/stroll (see and absorb things) so she had us "running" every where we went, therefore it was very grueling physically, even for some of the younger ones on the trip.

The worst and most stressful part of the trip was the PROFESSIONAL Pick Pockets. Pick pocket attempts on 3 of our men were foiled without any damage. However, another one of our men was left in Spain due to the fact that Pick Pockets got everything he had, money, credit cards, hotel key, and last but not least his Passport. As a former police officer and a current Police Science Instructor he knew all the right things to do--copies of everything in a separate location from the things he lost. He just had to wait for the American Embassy to open Monday morning so he could get a Temporary Passport so he could fly out of Spain. He was actually able to fly out on Tuesday.

Our trip Itinerary was changed for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday due to the British Airways strike. The tour company rearranged the Fri and Sat we were to spend in Barcelona and we crammed all the important things into Friday. Saturday we flew out of Spain into London so we would already be in London on Sunday instead of trying to make connecting flights on Sunday which probably would not have happened. They also added a city bus tour of London and another "running" night tour. We actually flew out of Spain on a different airline. We were able to fly out of London "as scheduled" on Sunday. We were delayed about an hour while they put together a flight crew for our flight.

To sum it up...I am glad I went to Spain, but I will not be returning to Spain.

One more thing. I think all of us headed to the closest TEX-MEX place between DFW and home to eat some "REAL" food. On all of my trips the places where the tour company provides a meal they try to Americanize the food a little. Well the only way Spain knew how to Americanize the food was to add French Fries to the meal. Even deserts were interesting-how can you mess up a desert?

There is no place like home!! This is the first time I have felt it so strongly.

PS When I figure out how to post some pictures the way I want to post them I will do so. I just have to wait for a grandchild to help me.

Spring Break

Today all the school personnel left at the end of the day for Spring Break. Some teachers and students will be doing fun things; and some will be getting some much needed rest.

Since I retired in July, Spring Break is not as significant for me as in past years. However, I still travel with my school friends and retired school friends.

So, I will be leaving tomorrow, Saturday, March 13 for Spain. I will return on Sunday, March 21.

I wish for all my friends and family a wonderful, restful, joyful Spring Break.