10/30 Final Day with the Grands!

 Because of the incident of car sickness we had yesterday we opted not to go to see the Sax Castle today.  Instead we had a grand sleep-in followed by Chocolate and Churros at Valor.  After breakfast we took a long walk along the sea front.

The girls did a great job of devouring all the snacks - so that evening more were purchased for the trip home.  Grandpa took the girls out for a few late night snacks followed by gelato.  

Back in the apartment we had time for a few rounds of Gartic phone and another computer game that involved having to quickly think of and type correctly a word using a 3 letter sequence that flashed on the screen if the arrow pointed at you.  Let's just say some were better at this than others!  

Friday we will get up fairly early and drive to the Alicante airport.  Even though the girls are not using the unaccompanied minor program - we are still not comfortable leaving the airport until their flight is in the air.

Sunday Michael and I repeat the process - even earlier - to catch our flight to Brussels.  We have a little over a day to explore Brussels and then fly home from there.

10/29 Calpe with Lia and Natasha

 The girls had chosen two day trips one to Calpe and one to see the castle in Sax.  Turns out the castle was closed on Thursdays making our choice clear.  Last time we were in Calpe we had no problem finding the old town from the parking garage.  This time we spent a lot of time walking up and down hilly streets before we figured it out.  This city has a lot of murals.

Squares with restaurants with outdoor seating.

And something unique.  The theme seems to be "under the sea".  

Lots of pretty buildings and plants.

And a ton of water fountains.  Natasha wanted to try them all out!

We went into this modern church last time - the girls were not interested in doing it.

Stopping for drinks and bathrooms!

Learning something from the preacher.

There should be a cannon around here from all the signs referring to cannons.  And there was right behind Lia.  

Tunnel from old town to the new town.

And a short distance away another newer statue to admire.

We were tired and hungry by this time.  Options were to walk to the port to see what was on the water, eat lunch in Calpe or go home and cook up what remained of our food supplies.  We all leave in a few days.  We ended up going home.

Unfortunately on the way home, one of us - who kept mentioning that she has gotten car sick before - actually was car sick.  Alas the car will never be the same again!  By the time we got to the apartment she was hungry again.  Dinner went on.  And computer games were played.  

We all agreed that what ever we do on Friday, there last day the girls are here - it will not involve being in a car!

10/28 Granddaughters and the Sea

 Today is the girls first day with us.  Lia has opted to sleep in.  Natasha went on a walk with Grandpa.  I got up a little later and took my walk along the sea.  The girls wanted a quiet day for their first day.

I decided I would stop at the bakery on the waterfront and pick up some sweets for our breakfast.  As I approached the bakery who should pop out but Natasha and Grandpa - with a big bag of sweets!  Great minds think alike!  So I continued on my walk.

As I approached the marina and turned to look back I saw that this gate which is silver - looks golden in the water.

Heading back home - a photo of a street cleaner.   Natasha had asked me how they cleaned up all the mess from the fallen dates from the palm trees.

After breakfast the girls and I went to dip our feet into the Mediterranean sea.  For once I decided to act on a request the first day - you never know how the weather will turn and maybe you can't do it later.  It was fun to feel your feet melt down into the sand, especially after a wave of water washed over you.  The weather is definitely getting colder and the clocks went ahead over the past weekend so it gets dark earlier.

Our big meal of the day was to go to Lami around 3pm - specifically to get pizza which is so good.  But Michael had had his eye on the big meat platter for two.  He has a fellow meat eater in Natasha.  Lia did get the pizza.  I got the Menu del Dia.  First course was Gazpacho - which I don't like.  No problem - others loved it.

My second course was meatball and potato stew.  All four of us loved it.  My primary was fried fish with fries.  It was OK but not over the top.

Lia and her pizza

The meat platter.  Also came with fries for the table.  They didn't quite finish all the meat.  I also got desert of Tiramisu which Natasha choose.  Also eaten by all at the table.

Later we took a walk along the waterfront and stopped for Gelato while we talked about the next days adventure.