Still Summer

   Tennis this morning ....and sooo hot! The temperature reached 34C today , and that's without the humidity factored in. I only played one short set as I was manning the board. No one played too much even early before the heat started to rise. Tomorrow will be more of the same but it is due to cool off a bit after that. The house has stayed relatively cool (downstairs anyway) but I don't think I will be opening any windows tonight.

Departure

   Much to tell and where to start? Well, first off, the departure flight was delayed for 3 hours for a mechanical problem, and we sat on the tarmac at Toronto while a repair part was sought. At one point the captain promised us sandwiches but they never materialized. So we had a very long wait for dinner, by my calculations, a quarter past midnight.

   Needless to say, we missed our connecting flight in Frankfurt; but here's why it's a good idea to travel with a group - a rep from AHI was waiting for us with a new flight arranged and our new boarding passes for Barcelona. Even our luggage managed to make it onto the new flight! So we arrived there just a few hours after and made it to the welcome reception and dinner. This was our first experience of the great food and wine we were to experience on this trip - interesting tapas, lovely fresh fish and salads and yummy desserts.

    Our first day was a tour of the city including the Palace of Ferdinand and Isabella (where Christopher Columbus brought them the news of the New World) and the Cathedral. Their court was in Barcelona in the 15th century as the Muslims were occupying the rest of Spain.

Entrance on main square



16th Century Cathedral

 







a tranquil inner courtyard

Ferdinand and Isabella's Palace. They greeted Christopher Columbus on the these steps when he returned from the New World.

In Packing Mode

   Clothes all washed and dried, ready for ironing tomorrow, then into the suitcase. Have spent the day scurrying up and downstairs with additional items to pack, but I think I have everything ready. We depart Toronto at 7 p.m. tomorrow and arrive in Frankfurt Monday morning just before 9:00 a.m. The flight to Barcelona leaves 50 minutes later so I can only hope we get there on time. I'm hoping to be able to post some news while away but that's not always possible. Will be back September 3rd. Goodbye!!

  

Last Days of Summer

   Grandkids over for their last day in the pool. I will probably be in on Friday, but the "pool guys" will be here Saturday morning to close it for the year. It is sad to see the end of summer but there was really no point in keeping it open while I was away. When I get back there wouldn't be too many opportunities for swimming.

    They had an excellent time this morning, coming over to the park to meet me after tennis (including snacks and play at the splash pad), and returned home for an hour in the pool. Then we took a break for lunch, after which Natalie and Elliot were back in the water for further fun while James slept. When he woke, he was back in the water for another half-hour as the jollity continued. It was sad to see them leave, but there's always next year.