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A sight for sore eyes

Meaning

A welcome sight; someone or something you are glad to see.

Origin

This phrase was first recorded by Jonathan Swift, in A complete collection of genteel and ingenious conversation, 1738:

"The Sight of you is good for sore Eyes."

Not that our eyes were really sore, but that's the phrase that came to my mind when we waited and waited and then finally saw my parents coming through the gate at Madrid airport.

And after showing them around familiar sights to us, and exploring some new sights and sites with them, none of our eyes were the least bit sore. We had a fabulous two weeks! Not many words will be needed. Warning: this post is picture-heavy...they should speak at least a couple thousand words.

We spent the first few days showing them around the area where we live:

Segovia Cathedral and Castle and Aqueduct

Some very cool, very old villages within an hour of our village of La Granja:

Sepulveda ~ an extraordinary little village that retains its authentic narrow cobblestone streets and local craft shops.

 Pedraza ~ equally as quaint and authentic. Walking through these streets makes you feel like you have been transported back through history. Evidence has been found that suggests people lived in the area as far back as 400 B.C.

 And in our very own village of La Granja, we visited "our" palace...as we've begun calling it, to distinguish it from other palaces we have visited. We were a bit disappointed the weather didn't cooperate to wander the palace gardens very much, but it did give us time to rather go and visit  the Royal Crystal Factory, also right in our village. Both the past and present works of art were astounding and we even got to watch live exactly how they make the stuff. Here, they are making a fairly simple drinking glass.

Then we all packed up, drove for 5 or 6 hours, and spent a week on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, near Denia. Along the way, we stopped to peek at a very unique city, Cuenca, partly built directly on the rocks.

We also drove through amazing countryside, with orchards and vineyards as far as the eye could see, and mountains and plateaus taking turns marvelling our eyes.

We were pleasantly surprised to see some large grain fields on the way as well. It ALMOST made my dad think about seeding time back home, but then we snapped back to reality, "oh right, there's still two feet of snow on our Manitoba fields! No rush to get back home!"

Our rented villa in Pedreguer, home for the week:

Terra Mitica ~ a most enjoyable amusement park, complete with rides for the old and young, for the faint of heart and not so much, street performers and its own circus. It was like Disney (I think, although I've never been) but with Rome, Greek and Egypt themes.

Yes, Emery and Braden braved this "one where your legs are dangling" and yes, we all got wet at the bottom of this second picture of "the boat ride".

Another day was spent hiking up the mountains that we kept looking at from the pool deck of our villa. Very very cool au natural hiking ~ not at all including guides, guard rails or helmets! A true adventure!! Those little specks at the top are the kids.

No pictures allowed in the factory, but a free tour, complete with free taste-testing afterwards of the Valor Chocolate Factory:

And, of course some time at the Mediterranean Sea

Water temperature only for the very brave...

And then there was one lucky young lady who got to have a one-month-early impromptu birthday party because a Grandma, some aunts and uncles, and some cousins were really on the ball and sent along birthday gifts. And there was no way we were going to wait until her real birthdate to open them when no one else was on the same continent!!!

The very last day with Grandma and Grandpa we fulfilled one of Rayna's life-long dreams and took a red double-decker bus tour of Madrid. It was Sunday and we were a little weary of tourist-ing, but it proved to be the perfect ending to our holiday.

Soccer Stadium ~ home to Real Madrid "Football" Club

 

 We rode all afternoon until dark ~ a wonderfully warm evening. Then we hopped on the Metro (oh, tourist note: Driving in Downtown Madrid Not Advised), and said our dreaded Goodbyes for another few months.  But oh so thankful to have shared the once-in-a-lifetime experience.

First Visitors from Home*

(*Actually now living in Norway, previously in Houston, but still from Steinbach)

The weekend before last Delnor, Kim, and Josh came for a visit. They arrived on Sunday and continued on their Spanish vacation on Tuesday.

It was a wonderful time of reconnecting and visiting as we stayed up each night into the wee hours. Though we have made some wonderful friends here, it is still a bit different when family comes to visit. The things you have in common are so much greater; the ability to share some of the deeper things is so much easier.

The kids really enjoyed the time they spent with Josh, playing games and wrestling…that tournament will have to be completed the next time we get together!

Even the rain each day didn’t dampen our time. It actually stopped long enough for us to enjoy a wonderful walk through Segovia as we shared the sights and sounds of the city.

Delnor and Kim, thank you so much for including us in your vacation plans. As I left the train station I must admit it was with some sadness that I began my bus ride back “home”.

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~Submitted by Emery