Madrid deja vu

The last time I wrote a post we were on our way to Madrid airport from Barcelona. With three weeks still to go on our adventure through Spain some family matters necessitated we return home without delay. Little did we know at the time, but waiting for us upon our return was Xavier, our first grandson. Needless to say, we were disappointed about truncating our trip, but getting to hold Xavier for the first time quickly dissolved any lingering regrets. Ten months on and he is a cheeky and incredibly beautiful little boy, and we are glad we were there to see him barely 24 hours old.

But the feelings of unfinished business was never far from our thoughts. So, with only two weeks of Long Service Leave left before we finally retire at the end of the year, we made the decision to return to Spain to complete what we couldn't last year. Our Return to Spain journey this year starts in Madrid, somewhat appropriately as this is where it came to an end last year, and includes visits to Valencia, Seville, Cordoba, Granada and Malaga, and features heavily around the region known as Andalucia in southern Spain. It is the part of Spain mostly closely associated with that country's Moorish history, and there is a strong north African influence the further south you travel. Unlike the rest of catholic Spain, Andalucia is quite Islamic in its culture. As we are a little earlier in the year this time, we are hoping the weather is a little more favourable, and I think a swim in the mild waters off the Costa del sol is definitely on the cards.

With only a few days left before we fly out, and a wedding to attend before we leave, there is still lots to do around the property. I mow the three acres of lawn one day and before I've finished I almost need to start again, such is the rate of growth. It's anyone's guess what it will look like in four week's time. There is an omnipresent danger in leaving five acres during this time of the year for an extended period, everything grows at an exaggerated rate: the grass, the weeds, the mounds of chook poo, everything.

I invite you to follow our journey on the blog; feel free to comment if you like, as we really enjoy hearing from you. Fingers crossed that this time we complete the trip without incident.