Night on the Town = Next Day Chill Day

Our first few days with Katrina & Ryan involved some local fare. We didn't want to get too crazy or plan TOO much in the first few days since we knew our friends would be a bit jet-lagged. Friday night we headed into Rota for a tapas festival. The food was great and the drinks were scrumptious... but...
The laughs with good friends were the GREATEST.

Our long night led us to the decision we all should have a chill day on Saturday. My favorite part of this whole "chill day" thing was the difference between the ladies' idea of a chill day and the men's idea of a chill day. Allow me to demonstrate such differences by a series of photos:
The ladies' idea of a chill day: Casually exploring a local town.
The men's idea of a chill day: ... the couch.
The ladies' idea of a chill day: Browsing the fish market in search of dinner.
The men's idea of a chill day: zzzzzzzzzz... more couch.
The ladies' idea of a chill day: A few hours of sun & tapas on a spanish beach.
I think you get the picture. :) Regardless of the differences between us, we all had a fabulous day and sat down to a delicious smorgasbord of fresh spanish bread, grilled veggies, baked fish and rib-eye steaks. YUMMO!

POD "Going to be a Great Day"

I awoke last night at 3 AM to some of the loudest thunderstorms I've heard in a while. In fact, it hasn't rained all summer! The house shook and the windows rattled. I've always loved thunderstorms. ALWAYS that is, until we moved to southern Spain where our house sits 120 feet from a slowly eroding cliff that drops 300 feet to the ocean. :) So yes, when the whole house shakes, for a minute, I must admit that I do pray the large piece of rock we're sitting on isn't going to break off and send us all for a ride.
The storms passed and I laid in bed wondering if our jet-lagged friends were sleeping through the storm okay. I wondered how the weather was going to be the next day for exploring, going to the beach, etc. Well, it was still cloudy as the darkness slipped into dawn, but sitting here at my computer next to the window I watched as the dark sky began to open up. At first only a small pink cloud appeared, then it turned white, then the the cloud stretched and grew and blue sky began to take the place of the dark ominous clouds. :) I think it's going to be a great day.

POD "Doggy-lovin Visitors!"

YAY! Ryan and Katrina made it safe and sound! We are SO happy to have them here, but I don't think we're the only ones! Takoda has taken a liking to A) Ryan, B) Ryan's facial fuzz, or C) food that is stuck in Ryan's facial fuzz because he has been licking his face since he got here and won't stop unless told so! The boys are SO happy to have more doggy lovin' visitors around! SO are WE! The Spanish vacation begins!

POD "Now Boarding... SPAIN!"

HOLY SMOKES! Our BFFs leave TODAY for Spain! That's right, two of our best friends in the whole world arrive tomorrow. Our two friends who introduced us in college (they were just friends at the time) and then later got together and got hitched themselves!

I'm finding myself anxious and excited this morning. I have SO much I'd like to do before they arrive! Let's see. Buy delicious spanish olives... check. Pick up some fabulous spanish wine... check. Clean house... (ahem) clean house...... yeah, I knew I was forgetting something! :)

Anyway, I'm finding it CRAZY hard to focus today as both Matt and I cannot WAIT to share our new life/world with Ryan and Katrina. As my soon-to-be visiting girlfriend explained: "When friends or family visit your home, it's always exciting. BUT having them visit you in a strange, foreign country... is just... CRAZY!"

YAHOO! Lots of amazing fun pictures to come of their spectacular spanish visit!

POD "Da Best Pihwoh EVUH"

Koda decided his sqwuwill (aka squirrel) would make da best pihwoh (aka pillow). Yes, Matt and I frequently use doggy language in our house. No, but seriously, this is how I found him with his new gift from daddy. He is not letting that thing outta SIGHT! ;)

POD "Exhibit A"

Most people in Spain have GREAT fashion sense and spend a HECK of a lot more money on clothes than people in the US. For further proof, try going to any Spanish mall on ANY Friday night and you'll witness the long lines we Americans can only associate with Christmas shopping.

When in public, (walking the dog, running out to get the paper, going to the market...etc.) spaniards prefer their "Sunday best" over jogging suits, sweat pants, or pajama pants. OH, and the nasty, ratty, stained clothes that frequent our United States Walmarts, here in Spain, those are TOSSED without second thought. In fact, I'd say beachwear is about as dressed down as they get here!

Nevertheless, for some, dressing up isn't always fashion friendly. I give you: Exhibit A. Talk about two perfect examples of fashion gone wrong. Men: a touch of pink or a little splash of purple isn't going to kill you when paired with the right jeans or khakis. BUT, a combination of both... well... that is just deadly. Come on, lilac pants? Can I also say that I'm loving the beach shorts paired with red... what are those... loafers??? ;)
Ahhh yes, I'm learning the DOs AND the DON'Ts of fashion here in Espana. :)

Matt's Wetting Down: Partaaay on the Beach!

Friday night was Matt's LT wetting down! A "wetting down" is a fun wardroom gathering a sailor holds when he/she moves up in rank. With the rank comes a pay raise, so the newly promoted gets to treat! :) For this fiesta grande, Matt chose our favorite chiringuito on its last night of the season! The party started at 7pm and lasted until the wee hours of the morning. Everyone shared yummy tapas, sipped on cool beverages, enjoyed the sounds of the waves and kids playing on the beach, and watched the beautiful puesta del sol (sunset). It was SUCH a great time, the weather was amazing, and we were SO appreciative and happy to have so many people come out to celebrate Matt. Some of us (ahem me ahem) even got a little bit silly! As a result, there were LOTS of funny photos taken. Unfortunately for you, they aren't blogger friendly!!! :-O I will, however, share the photos that made the cut! For the PG13 photos, please see me! ;)















Someone was bound to get wet at the "wetting down!!!" IN the ocean he goes!!!

POD "Hello Deliciousness"

Lunch anyone? Hellooooooooooo deliciousness. Don't worry. That's not all we're eating. The tapas are on their way. :) Ahhhhh I love lunch with a new friend.

POD "Totally Turtle"

The POD today is just a shot of our little friend Mr. Turtle. He belongs to our neighbor friend's children, but they are away on a spectacular mediterranean cruise, so he's been hanging at our place. I think he goes home tomorrow, and I will miss his scratching at the tank in the morning for food. He's a cutie. It's a good thing people travel alot here so that he can visit again soon!

POD "Hoop- Hoop- Hooray!"

MUAHAHAHAHA! I finally got a picture of the sweet woodpecker looking bird! Yesterday I was mid-sentence blabbing on to Matt about one thing or another when over his shoulder I spotted this guy in the backyard. HOLY ***!!!! (Insert profanity of choice here.) I ran (carefully and quietly) to grab my camera and made sure Matt held onto the dogs so that they didn't get excited in the commotion and scare away my lil guy.

I have been dying to get a picture of this bird for you all since we GOT here. I first saw his neat flashes of black and white in the pine forest, and I've seen him a few times since then, but never have been able to get a shot. This picture was taken through the glass and screen of the back patio door, so it's not the best quality, but AT LEAST I got it! I have done some searching online and I believe he's called a Hoopoe. Check out his neat long curved beak!

Ain't he a beauty?!

POD "Bird or Bug?"

Yesterday while Matt and I were out and about running errands, we decided to swing downtown Rota for some chocos fritos & cazon en adobo (Spain's version of fried seafood!) While Matt was taking a few euros out of the cajero automatico (ATM) I spotted this ... thing... buzzing around a beautiful bush near me. I'd seen one of these whiz by me before, but I've never been able to get a close look at it.


Watching it zig zag around I was convinced this was some rare species of hummingbird. Buzzing all over the place, not staying in one spot longer than 2 seconds, it took me (and Matt) about 40 shots to catch it on camera! Matt laughed when I told him it was a hummingbird. He said that it was some sort of moth or insect. Well... what is it? Is it a Bird... or a Bug?
..................................

It's BOTH! ;) Just kidding. I had to figure out what this cute little critter was, so I did a little research when I got home. It's a Hummingbird Moth. It moves JUST like a hummingbird and eats a lot like a hummingbird, but it's a moth!

Found this slowed down video footage of the hummingbird moth on youtube. Don't mind the corny music. Seriously... I HATE when people take good footage and put it to worlds dorkiest music. Anyway, check it out!