Isn't it Ironic?

Part of the reason for my new computer - which I love dearly - was so that I could more easily update the Blog, which I now see that I haven't updated in about a month! At least now I have a lot to write about.

We have left Tarifa and are now in Germany, where we will spend about a month getting ready for the next stage(s) of our trip. We need to buy new equipment to make our next bike ride more comfortable, and get our visas for Russia and China (for the fall.) But first, a little about our last month.

I took two additional weeks of Spanish classes in Tarifa before Matthias' family arrived. His cousin Katja, her boyfriend Thorsten, and Matthias' Aunt Ines came to Tarifa for a one-week holiday. We had lots of fun with them - going out for dinner and drinks, and touring the surrounding area. I was even able to get ready for the Easter season with a Cadbury Creme Egg from Gibraltar. It was fun to feel like tourists again in Tarifa, although I was also beginning to like the feeling of "living" there. Then we had to say goodbye to our new friends at the Circus Bar as we headed off to spend 10 days in Portugal.

On the same day Katja, Thorsten and Ines flew back to Germany, we left Tarifa on the bus to Sevilla. We spent the day there walking around the city and enjoying various tapas before catching the midnight (overnight) bus to Lisbon.

Though we were a little tired upon arrival, we found our lovely and inexpensive hotel quite easily - situated up high in a nice neighborhood near the Rato Metro stop. (Pensao Dinastia was the name, and I highly recommend it.) I also recommend Lisbon - a beautiful city built on seven hills, with lots of great architecture and churches. (Matthias: "Lisbon has about 100 churches, and I've seen them all!") We weren't too keen on the food at first (ever wonder why there are no Portugese restaurants around?) but then we got into the groove and found some tasty things to eat. Two of our favorite dishes were Fejoada (or what Matthias calls "hoof and beans") and Cocido Portugese (also interesting cuts of pork and beef along with veggies.) We also had some good grilled fish.

As far as the sights are concerned - we were able to fill a week by walking up and down the hills of the city and always seeming to find a new corner (and a new church) to explore. We also took some day trips, to the picturesque town of Sintra and Cascais, a nearby seaside resort. And, in the middle of it all, we went to Porto for two nights. Unbelievably, it was even prettier than Lisbon. I'll try to post the pictures soon.

Noting that a year ago today we flew from Argentina back to Florida, I've been thinking about what we've done for the past year. At first I thought that we haven't really done that much (mostly Europe), but then I realized that during this year I fulfilled two of my long-standing dreams: to ride a bike through Europe, and to learn Spanish in Spain. That, and visiting Russia, friends and family back home, and Portugal too. Not to shabby at all. Now I just have to get better at updating the blog....