Beautiful Valencia

In the Spanish alphabet the "V" is pronounced like a "B," just so you all know. I'm typing on a foreign keyboard again, so it will be a miracle if this gets published, especially since Ann just concocted me a nightcap which is currently waiting for me on the table below. Valencia is currently hosting the World Cup, where the winner will compete with America's champion. Lots of boats, the horizon during the day was beautiful. The city was like most of those, lots of shops, gorgeous, clear beaches. Big city though. I'm currently staying in Alcalali, between Valencia and Alicante. Ann and Brian are kind enough to be my hosts for the next few days....for those of you that have been reading along, Ann and Brian are Sarah's aunt and uncle who recently relocated to Spain from England and I met them in the South of France a short month ago. They live in a beautiful hacienda in the mountains, about 20 minutes from the sea. When I think of Spain, the area where they live is what I think of and the place that I love. Cool breezes on the veranda at night, beautiful sun during the day, romantic language to go along with it all. That's the Spain I fell in love with. They are my tour guides for the next few days and then I'm headed down to Alicante, where I studied in college. Meeting a friend there and then closing out my trip with a former colleague, which should be fun, help me get my tolerance back up in time for my summer family escapades, and I'm hoping she won't get me kicked out of any bars in Spain. I attended my first "quiz night" in Spain, which was a ton of fun. I was able to answer a few questions about the US, given that the locals were all brits, so I felt useful at least! The view on American intelligence in the South of Spain has been saved. ha-ha. I will update pictures at a later time, as I still need to figure out how to compress the files when I download. Ridiculous, but then again, I don't really have the time to look at the directions.

Happy birthday Christie!