August in Spain 1 - Danganans & Mejias Arrive
For those of you who’re interested to know, El Juli the bullfighter, survived. He got gored on the upper thigh but survived. Incidentally, his father, also a matador, died sometime ago when a bull gored him on the groin.
Saturday, Aug 4
The four of us went on base to pick up our van rentals from the terminal. Robert didn’t think it a good sign when he noticed only 1 van sitting in the car rental parking lot. We were told the other one that was reserved for us was ‘out of order’, whatever that means and one will be available Monday. Since we’ll need one to pick up Emy and family tomorrow, Robert called his buddy to help us pick them up since he drives a BMW SUV.
Donna stayed home and cooked while the three of us went to the airport. I drove the Renault van (with manual transmission – most cars over here are so equipped) so I can familiarize myself with the directions when it’s my turn to pick up Emy and family tomorrow. On the way, Robert got a call from a friend of his asking if we have some company coming. It turned out this guy picked his wife up from the airport and they saw Dan, Imelda and kids and started a conversation with them. Robert told him to tell them we’re about 10 minutes away.
Robert’s friends kept them company till we arrived. It’s good to see Imelda, Dan and their kids; John-John, DJ, Crystal and Andrew. Imelda kept on saying, “Pinch me, pinch me! Are we really in Spain?”
After a few pictures taken and a bunch of kissing and hugging, we loaded their luggage up and headed home.
Like every one else before them, Dan and Imelda were pretty impressed with Robert and Mary’s house’s size and location. Dan unpacked a small Balikbayan box full of various goodies that they brought from California; espasol, suman, bagoong, dried mango, etc.
Mary and Robert took them around Rota real quick and they took a glimpse of the beach over there. When they got back, we went to Puerto Sherry so the kids can take a dip in the beach. We left Dan and Robert to prepare some sisig. When we got to the beach, the kids started running and playing around in the water. Then we noticed DJ come out of the water to wear his glasses. Have I mentioned that some people go topless here? Yup, people, as in girls and women from age 6 to 66! There were even three young women who had Donna take their picture! I wanted to volunteer but they might think I may have some bad intentions!
We had dinner when we got back home. This was almost 10 pm. It was a fairly warm night so sleeping outside was a welcome idea to DJ and Andrew. Robert put up a tent and some netting over the porch swing.
Sunday, Aug 5
They all woke up early except for me, Donna and Mary. Every one else will go to Sevilla today. It was our first day here that we woke up with the sky overcast. On our way to go to the base to go to church there was even enough rainfall to warrant a couple of swipes of the car’s windshield wipers.
We got on base a little early so I had the time to check my eMail pretty quick while Donna and Mary went to the commissary. Stacy sent an eMail saying Daniel finally got his passport at the last minute but they still got delayed one day so they won’t get here till Monday. But tomorrow is when Robert and I will take everyone to Gibraltar. After church we dropped Donna to cook some more while Mary and I went to the airport to pick up Emy and them. Robert’s friend Rey (yup same name!) was already there so he met Emy and Nido right off. Of course, hugs and kisses, pictures, load luggage, etc. Then we’re off to home to have lunch. I followed Rey’s SUV at a breakneck speed of 150 km/hr, about 30 km per hour over the speed limit!
It’s Nido’s turn to unload his goodies for us; empanada, ensaymada, a bunch of guitar strings for Robert, extra T-shirts for me and quite a lot of leftover euros for us from Rose and Jun, bless their hearts. We had to call Stacy to tell her that no one’s available to pick her and Daniel up from the airport but I got her voice mail so I called her dad Nestor instead. It was about 6:30 am in Phoenix and he said he took them to the airport a couple of hours ago. I gave him Robert’s address and telephone number here to tell Stacy to get a cab when they get to Jerez airport. Donna will stay home for Stacy and Daniel who’ll just have to miss Gibraltar tomorrow.
An hour so later, Robert and everyone came back from Sevilla. They lucked out because it wasn’t as hot as when we went. After a late lunch, they went to the beach for about an hour or so. Then Robert took all of them to watch the bullfight while Donna and I stayed with me singing Karaoke and Donna coloring her hair.
I booked us a flight and accommodations to Frankfurt so we can go with Nido and Emy. To get the cheaper flight however, we have to stop by London for a couple of days. I sent Alice and Sister Lita an eMail letting them know we’re coming.
Tomorrow, Robert will drop off Mary to work and we’ll pick up the 2nd van so we can take everyone to Gibraltar.
Saturday, Aug 4
The four of us went on base to pick up our van rentals from the terminal. Robert didn’t think it a good sign when he noticed only 1 van sitting in the car rental parking lot. We were told the other one that was reserved for us was ‘out of order’, whatever that means and one will be available Monday. Since we’ll need one to pick up Emy and family tomorrow, Robert called his buddy to help us pick them up since he drives a BMW SUV.
Donna stayed home and cooked while the three of us went to the airport. I drove the Renault van (with manual transmission – most cars over here are so equipped) so I can familiarize myself with the directions when it’s my turn to pick up Emy and family tomorrow. On the way, Robert got a call from a friend of his asking if we have some company coming. It turned out this guy picked his wife up from the airport and they saw Dan, Imelda and kids and started a conversation with them. Robert told him to tell them we’re about 10 minutes away.
Robert’s friends kept them company till we arrived. It’s good to see Imelda, Dan and their kids; John-John, DJ, Crystal and Andrew. Imelda kept on saying, “Pinch me, pinch me! Are we really in Spain?”
After a few pictures taken and a bunch of kissing and hugging, we loaded their luggage up and headed home.
Like every one else before them, Dan and Imelda were pretty impressed with Robert and Mary’s house’s size and location. Dan unpacked a small Balikbayan box full of various goodies that they brought from California; espasol, suman, bagoong, dried mango, etc.
Mary and Robert took them around Rota real quick and they took a glimpse of the beach over there. When they got back, we went to Puerto Sherry so the kids can take a dip in the beach. We left Dan and Robert to prepare some sisig. When we got to the beach, the kids started running and playing around in the water. Then we noticed DJ come out of the water to wear his glasses. Have I mentioned that some people go topless here? Yup, people, as in girls and women from age 6 to 66! There were even three young women who had Donna take their picture! I wanted to volunteer but they might think I may have some bad intentions!
We had dinner when we got back home. This was almost 10 pm. It was a fairly warm night so sleeping outside was a welcome idea to DJ and Andrew. Robert put up a tent and some netting over the porch swing.
Sunday, Aug 5
They all woke up early except for me, Donna and Mary. Every one else will go to Sevilla today. It was our first day here that we woke up with the sky overcast. On our way to go to the base to go to church there was even enough rainfall to warrant a couple of swipes of the car’s windshield wipers.
We got on base a little early so I had the time to check my eMail pretty quick while Donna and Mary went to the commissary. Stacy sent an eMail saying Daniel finally got his passport at the last minute but they still got delayed one day so they won’t get here till Monday. But tomorrow is when Robert and I will take everyone to Gibraltar. After church we dropped Donna to cook some more while Mary and I went to the airport to pick up Emy and them. Robert’s friend Rey (yup same name!) was already there so he met Emy and Nido right off. Of course, hugs and kisses, pictures, load luggage, etc. Then we’re off to home to have lunch. I followed Rey’s SUV at a breakneck speed of 150 km/hr, about 30 km per hour over the speed limit!
It’s Nido’s turn to unload his goodies for us; empanada, ensaymada, a bunch of guitar strings for Robert, extra T-shirts for me and quite a lot of leftover euros for us from Rose and Jun, bless their hearts. We had to call Stacy to tell her that no one’s available to pick her and Daniel up from the airport but I got her voice mail so I called her dad Nestor instead. It was about 6:30 am in Phoenix and he said he took them to the airport a couple of hours ago. I gave him Robert’s address and telephone number here to tell Stacy to get a cab when they get to Jerez airport. Donna will stay home for Stacy and Daniel who’ll just have to miss Gibraltar tomorrow.
An hour so later, Robert and everyone came back from Sevilla. They lucked out because it wasn’t as hot as when we went. After a late lunch, they went to the beach for about an hour or so. Then Robert took all of them to watch the bullfight while Donna and I stayed with me singing Karaoke and Donna coloring her hair.
I booked us a flight and accommodations to Frankfurt so we can go with Nido and Emy. To get the cheaper flight however, we have to stop by London for a couple of days. I sent Alice and Sister Lita an eMail letting them know we’re coming.
Tomorrow, Robert will drop off Mary to work and we’ll pick up the 2nd van so we can take everyone to Gibraltar.
posted by reyjay @ 8:29 PM
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