Andorra

A few days after the new year began we headed off to Andorra, a small beautiful country in between Spain and France. Some good friends of ours live their and played hosts to us, taking us around Andorra La Vella, Encamp, Escaldes, and some of the ski hills. The country really is only one or two valleys in the middle of the mountains and is known for its skiing, spas, and tax-free shopping.
Tricia spent the morning in Caldea, one of the spas, which has multiple mineral baths that are famous for their therapeutic effects. While she was being pampered, the rest of us headed up a mountain to another spa and ski hill, absolutely breathtaking. This is a jewel of a country that most North Americans never really visit.


Eve and Mark on one of the streets in Andorra La Vella (the main city in Andorra)


This is the view outside of the Muir's window (they were the friends we stayed with). How lucky they are to wake up to that every morning.


One of the interesting parts of the area are the many churches that are built with a Lombard Tower which were built in Romanesque times. This is a famous type of tower from England and their are over 40 of these very old churches in Andorra. (All the information I got from the Muirs)


We took a gondola up the ski hill and checked out the breathtaking view; unfortunately, there was no view due to the heavy but beautiful snow fall. It was freezing and we didn't bring any of our winter clothes to Spain. I didn't think I was going to see snow here.

Sagrada Familia

A Roman Catholic Temple, this building was started in 1882 and is still under construction. The building is in Barcelona and we waited until some family came before we went and found that it was amazing and interesting.


The inside is definitely under construction. It is full of scaffolding and plaster moulds. I found that the outside was more beautiful.


The dove is not part of the statue (just is case you were wondering).


The outside of the building is decorated with a variety of nativity scenes: Mary riding the donkey, Mary and Joseph with Jesus at the manger, Mary and Jesus when he is an older baby. We loved the outside.


This is my favorite picture. This is the main window and what I would guess will be the main entrance is just below.

When in Rome, do as the Romans...

On Canadian boxing day (26th of December) it was a holiday in Spain and so nothing was open for us to go shopping as would normally be the case if we were back in Canada. Instead, we headed to the airport to go and spend a few days in Rome.

Tricia was our tour guide and had an excellent schedule of things for us to do and to see. Our first stop was the Vatican museum, the home of the Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel. It took us a good 1.5 hours wating in line outside the wall to the Vatican city but we finally got into the musem. There were many interesting things to see, especially the statues and busts, some of which were from the first and second centuries (100-200 AD). There was one incredible bust of none other than Julius Caesar himself. Mark also really enjoyed the man who had the dozen children playing on him and playing with alligators as well.


Other sites that we visited also included the catacombes, Trevi Fountain, The Colisseum, Ancient Roman ruins, and of course the St. Peter's Basilica-this was incredibly large and the artwork also incredible.





Next we will be showing Mark's mom more sites from Barcelona and then off to Andorra for a few days. Stay tuned...

Merry Christmas from Barcelona..

Mark finished all of his exams in a week that was a marathon of exams, presentations and projects. To celebrate the end of the school term and the beginning of his Christmas hoidays, Mark and Tricia went to see a production of Handel's Messiah which was performed by an excellent choir and orchestra from the Czech Republic. The venue was the Basilicia Santa Maria del Mar, which is one of the oldest cathedrals still in its original existence. The basilica was incredible and built over 1000 years ago. It was in this same basilica that Christopher Columbus brought the first indian slaves back from the new world and there they were baptized christian.

Mark and Tricia also went to a FC Barcelona soccer game to celebrate their 3rd wedding anniversary. Barca lost 0-1 against Real Madrid.


Christmas was excellent! Mark's mom came to spend the holidays with us. We have started to do some of the tourist things around Barcelona but there was also much to prepare for Christmas. We went to a fantastic Christmas party at our church where everyone was supposed to bring a traditional dish from their country. There was Mexican food, Peruvian food, Spanish food, Salvadorean food, and Tricia's Canadian Chicken surprise-which was a big hit. Mark also made his debut as choir director for some special musical numbers.

Christmas eve we had a fondue. Meat/cheese and fruit/chocolate... it was all very delicious. We also went to see a special Christmas musical presentation at the Basilica where Tricia and I had gone to hear Handel's Messiah.

Christmas day we slept in, then opened up a ton of presents. Thank you to everyone for all of the wonderful things, especially all of the comforts of home that we cannot obtain here in Europe. Tricia was especially pleased to increase our DVD collection several fold.

Mark made waffles for breakfast and then we prepared for our Christmas dinner/lunch. We had several of the missionaries from our church over, as well as others who did not have families in town. We had a feast of sweet and savoury crepes. It was not a traditional meal but it was inexpensive and could feed alot of people.

We had a great Christmas and wish all of our friends and family the very best this season and that they may remember the most important things in life!

More Madrid Christmas pics...

I just had to post a few (Mark)....

Madrid Part II

This is a view of the street just outside of our hotel. They really do alot of street lights for Christmas. We went on a walk that night, despite the cold, and saw all the lights they had set up. The city really is beautiful.


Calle de Alcala, this is just off of Plaza Independencia. We wanted to take even more pictures of the streets, but after 9pm all the lights get shut off, they can't afford to power all the lights that long. All the main streets were decked out, everyone was out shopping that night.


THe traffic circle and plaza, I thought that it was beautiful. Plaza Independencia.


Eve just being cute while we waited for dinner. This was the first resaurant we found since we have been in Europe that had other children eating in it. They even had highchairs for the babies.


This is why we went to Madrid. We went to the Madrid Temple on Saturday, it was so beautiful. I was sad we couldn't stay longer.

Madrid part I

Madrid, a beautiful and cold city in the winter. We came during a festival, and so did everyone else in Spain. This is Plaza Mayor. It is here that they have their Christmas market and the tackiest things we have ever seen. Everyone wears horrible wigs, and masks, and goes around blowing on the most annoying toy trumpets. It was fun to see some of the Christmas traditions on this side of the world.



Probably some of the best of the Spanish culture is in the Prado Museum. Full of Velazquez, Goya, and Van Dyck; this museum is wonderful. We were lucky to be in town during a special exposition, "The Fables of Velazquez." Even though it was busy we were able to jump the line because of Eve. The paintings inside were amazing.


The Que. This line-up was enormous, there had to be over 2000 people in the line at any given time, it moved quickly though.


Mark in front of the Velazquez statue. Just outside of the Prado Museum. (This is Mark's favorite painter)


The masks and wigs that people buy and wear. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a horrible mask or a bright green wig. I still don't get the festival they were celebrating.