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Day 10 - last day in Spain. We toured the Real Madrid stadium, which is under significant construction. We let the boys play in the pool while I packed, and then did lunch followed by a walking tour of downtown. We had a bit of time on our own, then a final tour dinner. We saw a LOT of the city!

Day 9 - kind of a bummer. We spent most of the day on the bus traveling from San Sebastián to Madrid. We are staying at the Melia Castillo, which is nice but had weird bathrooms. We hung out by the pool and ate on-site.

Day 8 (I think …) - we abandoned the tour and did our own San Sebastián family day. Such a wonderful time exploring a beautiful city with our beautiful family. Many bucket list items checked off - art, religion, culture, shopping, and seafood paella … Ended with a weird rave for Austin, and a wonderful Michelin star dinner with new friends.

Day 7 - started with a really terrible game with a home town ref … but then boys got to play on the beach and we ended the day with some pizza and a mean game of Taco Cat … it was a really great day in San Sebastián.

Day 6 (July 5) - we started with a tour up the funicular to the top of Mounte Igueldo (note to future visitors - everything up there costs extra, even the WC). We played another Spanish team in the afternoon and lost 6-1. We finished the day with finally having a family dinner.

Day 5 pm - first international soccer win! The most fun I’ve had at a soccer game in a long time. Followed by opening ceremonies of Donosti Cup. It’s unbelievable how cool this is - the countries paraded in Olympic style.

Day 5 am - happy 4th of July!! New hotel, new scenery. Breakfast followed by a walking tour of San Sebastián. Best loaf of bread ever.

Day 4 - we started with the beautiful 4.5 mi trail run along the Mediterranean Sea. We packed up from Evenia Hotel and boarded a bus. We thought it was a 5 hr trip, but turned into a 9 hr ordeal. We stopped for lunch at a roadside gas station and finally made it to check the kids into the Donesti Cup and then to NH Hotels in San Sebastián. Thank goodness for good wine and fun friends on this tour.

Day 3!! Gorgeous day! Started with a 4 mile run along Costa Brava, then joined the tour group for visit to Pals and then a beach afternoon at Calella. Bus ride back to Lloret was pretty fun too. BTW I love Spanish wine ….

Day 2 afternoon (July 1, 2022) - guided tour through Barcelona … interesting with so many people but enjoyable NMW! Minus the two English soccer players that decided not to meet the bus on time and caused us to miss dinner. No more brown bags.

Beginning of Day 2 - kids were training so we went for a run going south along Costa Brava from Lloret de Mar. Best trail run ever!

Day 1 - we made the connection in ATL and flew overnight to BCN. Bus took us to Lloret de Mar about an hour outside Barcelona. The boys got to train while we went for a lovely walk followed by drinks by the pool and dinner (wine is included) at 9:00 pm (it’s Spain …).

First day - flew into BCN and drove 1.5 hrs to Lloret de Mar. it’s beautiful! We went for a little walk by the beach while the boys napped. Lunch included wine, so I was happy. Boys get to hear a scout discuss what college recruiters look for and then go to training, followed by dinner (which is of course at 9:30 pm)

We made it to ATL and on the BCN flight on time!

India - the Elephant Edition

I didn’t want to post this until back home. One major highlight of the trip was this elephant ride. On New Year’s Day, we asked our favorite guide if we could find a place to ride a camel or an elephant. Now, I’m an animal lover, so I was concerned about what we might find. But this place was run by a private group that has passed elephants down through the various families like heirlooms. The animals appeared well cared for, and happy. We rode Ronnie and LaDue, and both clearly loved their handlers. We petted, painted, fed, hugged, and rode the elephants through a neighborhood. It was one memory that will never be forgotten!

India - Another Travel Edition

Whenever we travel abroad, we just expect that some level of adjustment will be required. Our trip started with a delay, sprinting through the airport, a 2 hour customs line, luggage that didn’t make it, and severe fog upon arrival. That part, though, didn’t phase us.

See, as I explained I an earlier post, Indians drive on the left and the steering wheel is on the right. There are really no rules, expect stop on a red light. Animals, mainly cows, wander in the middle of the street. Dogs cross at whim. At heavy intersections, beggars tap on the windows asking for money. Little kids sell balloons, books, pens, and show of their acrobatics in hopes of a handout. We learned to just not look.

Horns have all kinds of meaning. There’s the friendly “here I am” and the long blast meaning “stop you idiot.” Horn noise is constant. But that is no road rage. No one gets angry, and you even see drivers laughing. They also don’t play on the phones at all. Driving here takes too much concentration.

There is no space. Yesterday, we counted 10 lanes of traffic where 6 lanes are painted. I did not see a car that wasn’t scratched up one or both sides, and bumpers all had dents. Even when parking, a pedestrian can’t squeeze between the vehicles. And it’s even closer when on the road moving.

But the lack of rules cause catastrophe. 150,000 people a year die in car accidents. We are shocked that only 14,000 of those are pedestrians. Literally, people just walk out in the street.

We saw a cow get hit by a bus on the highway. We hit and killed a bird. We saw at least 3 different accidents, and another where a guy ended up laying in the highway after wrecking his motorbike. Only one person stopped to help him back up.

Dogs routinely run around on 3 legs. We saw at least 4-5 people on crutches or with no legs at all. I saw lots of people with mangled toes, because even when driving rickshaws they wear flip flops.

We are so thankful for Sumit. I truly cannot wait to be back on the safe roads of the US.

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