The Mediterranean

YEY!! The Mediterranean, as beautiful as expected. We swam, collected the smoothest stones ever, sat in the sun and wandered the town (Nerja). Loved it!!

In Toledo, we separated  paths from Shelley and Rick (they stayed in Toledo when we headed back to Madrid). Our last lunch together.... (sad..) Thanks Shelley and Rick for a great trip!

Granada

The Alhambra was really quite spectacular. The carved plaster walls and tile were incredible. There is an extensive garden area there as well, which is really beautiful (love to have those gardeners!!)

There were lots of opportunities to buy fresh spices. Have you ever seen such orange safron?

Seville

The view from the Giralda shows the rooftops of Seville.  

We watched a great show of flamenco dancing, music and singing too.  (Front row seats!)

Yep, a meal of bread and peanut butter....very spain-like...

but much cheaper than eating in a restaurant (and not quite so late!)

Madrid

Madrid was great! This is the royal residence, which is directly across from the cathedral. The cathedral allows you a view over the city. 

We rented bikes and rode around the parque retiro, which was beautiful and the weather was perfect. Not quite Stanley Park (hard to beat...)but very nice.

We went to see Real Madrid play (they won). Also, several trips to Starbucks!!

Black Tusk

Black Tusk 2008!!

Black tusk was gorgeous as usual. We had a great hike up, and a warm camp-out. Thanks Candace and Mark!

Whistler

Whistler 2008! We had a great time hanging out in Whistler...solving puzzles, riding bikes, and browsing the town. The weather was PERFECT!

More Cairo

The step pyramid - the first pyramid ever built - was designed by Imhotep for King Zoser.

Another statue of Ramses 2 in memphis.

Stone carvings in the walls of a tomb. (Saqqarah)

A view from the minaret of Al Azhar mosque.

Cairo - the crazy city!!

Blocks that weigh 2.5 tonnes....and nearly as tall as me! Pretty amazing feat. The statue is of Ramses 2 in Memphis, Egypt's first capital - it is enormous.  I don't think that I even reached his ear. (It's lying in the museum there, and takes up the whole building.)

Cairo continued....!

Bruce at the Egypt museum. The crazy market (Khan al khalili) where we hardly dared stop to look at things for fear of the shopkeepers!

The Nile was really beautiful - lots of trees were in bloom so it was very colorful. In Coptic Cairo we visited one of the Christian churches that had some really beautiful mosaics. We visited the pyramids too - here's Bruce with the sphinx!