Hola de Espana!

Welp, I made it across the Atlantic Ocean!  It was quite the trip.  Luckily, we didn't hit any major storms and the seas were not too rocky.  But I did get a little tired of not seeing land for so long!

We found ways of entertaining our self, by going to the specialty restaurants, reading, and sleeping until noon!

Dinner at Silk Harvest the Asian restaurant with Matthew, Brook and Sanci and Tim (not pictured)

Cast Picture before Dinner at Tuscan Grill

Our first stop on land, after being at sea for 8 days was Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands.  I was lucky enough to be a tour escort on a Shore Excursion! We went to Taganana, a small fishing village. It was beautiful!

View from Mirador de Jardina, looking down on La Laguna

At Playa de las Teresitas, a beach made of sand imported from the Sahara Desert

Our next stop was Lisbon, Portugal.  I am officially a cultured woman, as I have been on European soil! I got to do another Excursion.  This one was called "Sintra and Cascais 4WD Safari".  Andrew would have loved it! We went in this Jeep-like vehicle called a UMM.  It is a Portugal-made car. 

We stopped in the fishing town of Cascais, Pico da Roca, which is the Western-most point in Europe and have the same latitude as the Statue of Liberty!  That was the closest that I will be to all of you in the USA until October!  We then went off-roading in the National Park.  It was awesome!

Cascais

Pico da Roca

Our final stop was the picturesque town of Sintra.  I got Euros out of the ATM for the first time.  They look like play Monopoly money and I bought some postcards.  Even with the rain and fog, it was an incredible day in Portugal!

Sintra

Yesterday we were in Cadiz, Spain.  I got to go on a tour to Seville!  I saw the Plaza de Espana, Real Alcazar and the Cathedral de Seville.  Real Alcazar was a fortified castle built in the eleventh century.  It was absolutely beautiful.  To think that this building has been around for so many years and still looks just as great as it did then is incredible.  The Cathedral de Seville is the 3rd largest cathedral in the world.  It was awe inspiring to walk in there and feel so small.  Inside the Cathedral is actually the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Seville is a beautiful city with over 3,000 years of history.  It is hard to imagine. 

Plaza de Espana

Real Alcazar Courtyard

In one of the gardens in Real Alcazar (this picture was actually taken by one of the guests on my tour who was born in Westbrook, Maine!)

The Cathedral de Sevilla

Cathedral de Cadiz

I am so honored to be able to be adventuring and exploring the world at this time in my life.  I wore one of the belts that I got from Grandma Cuffey around Seville yesterday and I know that she would be so proud of me.  She loved to travel the world and I know she is watching down on me from Heaven with a huge smile on her face.  My mom says that certain traits skip a generation.  I guess I got the adventurous gene from her.  I think we just need to convince my mom and dad to come cruise with me in the Mediterranean! I miss and think about my family and friends everyday and wish you were all here to share these amazing places with me.