How lucky we are! We have officially decided the Spain has to be on the list of the top 10 best countries in the world! We continue to be amazed at all this beautiful country has to offer. It is diverse in both its landscape as well as its people. It seems to offer a little bit of everything for everyone.
Jeanna and I decided that we needed to take advantage of one of our last weekends here in Espana. As you all can imagine by now, the bicycle played a role in our plans. The second Copa de Espana took place in Oviedo, Spain. Oviedo is a medium sized city that sits in the province of Asturias in the northern part of Espain. Jeanna and I planned our trip around this area to incorporate the bike race into our tourism. We took advantage of our four day work week and headed north immediately after school on Thursday. This was the part of the trip that Mr. Romer was dreading the most! Eight hours in el coche is not so bueno for the gentle giant. We decided to get the majority of the driving out in one day so that the remainder of the trip could be filled with more than the giant’s whining and complaining! Our first of many adventures was making a stop in Aranda del Duero (un pueblo a little over half way between Jaen and Santander). This beautiful little pueblo came highly recommended by some friends as a great place to stop and eat. They did not lead us astray although they did not warn the driver that the co-pilot would be offered an entire botella de vino tinto! The bottle made for a happy, then very soon sleepy, essentially worthless co-pilot but the dinner was enjoyed thoroughly by both sides. The rest of trip was made in the dark. We arrived in Santander some time between midnight and two. The early morning hours made for easy navigation within the city.
A good nights sleep in a cheap hotel by the port, which seemed to be directly from a seventies porno (did not look like that online) had us ready to hit the ground running. We decided to spend an hour or two walking around Santander. This turned out to be time well spent. Santander was absolutely beautiful and left us with the desire to return one day. It was nice to see different styles of architecture, and of course, being a gorgeous city on the beach didn’t hurt us either. Unfortunately, we had to move on as we had lots to do with poco tiempo! This would be a good time to say that this entire trip was done “Eli Style”. “Eli Style” is a glorified way of saying absolutely no planning whatsoever… Well, that is not entirely true, he knew that he was going to race his bike in Oviedo on Sunday. The rest was improvisation. Jeanna (doing her best to not be an organized little Debbie) did an amazing job of going with the unorganized flow!
As it turns out, luck was on Eli’s side. As he drove aimlessly towards the area where he thought that he had heard that maybe there was something cool or something like that (insert Eli Style) a GIANT road sign said this way you unorganized slacker! Whew, saved by the GIANT sign once again! The next several hours involved following the unorganized idiot signs which come and go at will! The luck continued as a stop for un café con leche and a short conversation with the bar tender led us to an incredible little town in the Picos de Europa called Potes. It also turned out that the entire drive had us crawling through some of the most beautiful scenery the two of us had ever seen. The Picos de Europa should be on everyone’s “bucket list”! We are both putting it on ours and we have already been there (yes, it is that amazing)!
Luck continued to be on our side. We headed from the Picos (and in case you want to do some research, some cool towns we saw were: Cangas de Onis, Covadonga, Potes, Santillana del Mar, and Ribadesella) to the Playa hoping to find a place to stay for the night as captain procrastination (Mr. Spontaneous for those who see the glass half full) had not thought that far ahead! It just so happens that Co-Captain On Top of Everything had a book of all the youth hostels in her handy dandy purse of organization. This magic book lead us to a beach front hostel that was almost free! Yes, we stayed on the beach…and I mean ON THE BEACH…back door to the boardwalk… for less than 30 bucks! Go Miss Jeanna, Go! Ohh yeah, and we had an incredible evening learning about the Sidrerias de Asturias and sampling some of the local cuisine (completely different from the food in Andalucia…let’s just say they like their vaca, along with all the other animals that might possibly contribute to the making of a yummy cheese!)! We had a great evening and a great nights sleep with the sound of the oceans waves bidding us good night!
The mission the next morning was to make it to Oviedo and start thinking about the bike race! This was a mission that was easily accomplished even without planning! Captain Organization put a creative spin on the lack of planning and sent us to another city on the beach for breakfast (she is on top of things)! Gijon, was a beautiful stop and was less than 30 miles from our final destination. We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast on the ocean front followed by a little walk around the town.
We made it to Oviedo just in time for an amazing lunch! We stuffed ourselves with great Asturian food! We then went for a little walk around the old city center. It was absolutely beautiful and great to walk around as it was limited to foot traffic only! The city was spotless and the architecture was great! Pictures cannot really do it justice…this is one of those places that one should just visit. Some of our friends came up on Saturday afternoon and a small group of us headed out to pre-ride part of the course. Miss Jeanna came along and went for a run while the boys took off on the bici’s…
Race day did not go quite as planned but we all had a great time. Mario (Eli’s Spanish Coach and good friend) won in his category and took the leader’s jersey. Eli was a little too fat to make it over the decisive climb (maybe a little less “sampling” new food next time?) and found himself in a small chase group behind the leaders, finishing fourth in his category. He ended the race saying something along the lines of, “man I should not have eaten all of that food… but man was it good”!
We had an incredible weekend. We had the opportunity to see more of this beautiful country we have both grown to love. We had the opportunity to see some new towns, try some new food (although some of us could have done without hahahahaha), and meet some great people. Maybe one day Eli will learn how to eat less and ride more but until then, we will continue enjoying and making the most of every moment we have left here in Espain! Thank you again to all of those that have supported us in this adventure. We look forward to seeing all of you again!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
¡Andale, Andale!
The virgen! It is amazing how quickly time seems to fly by when you are having a good time! It has been awhile and a lot has happened since the last time we posted! We are extremely sorry for having the time of our lives over here and not taking the time to write a word or two on the RomerTravels blog… On second thought, not too sorry as we have both decided that the more fun we have here now the better our stories will be upon our return state side. I am sure that none of our family can wait to hear us talk about how little we worked, how much great food we ate, how many breathtaking places we saw… Then again, they might just revert to be monkeys and start throwing… well you know… the brown stuff at us!
Our lack of postings began with the remodeling of “our internet café”. It was during this same period of time that Kristy Elaine Moore and her OHH SO PATIENT HUSBAND ROB-O FLEW ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO VISIT! Yes, you are reading correctly; Kristy “You are going to fall and break you neck”, Kristy “that won’t get within 100 miles of water without a life jacket”, etc. Yes, that same Kristy made it across the Atlantic Ocean. I hope that you all purchased stock in Captain Morgans Rum before her departure! Rob was more than happy to “take care of ol nervous nelly” as he heard that Spain was the capital of decent beer that comes with free appetizers (aka. Tapas). With her last living will in the hands of older brother Jeremy, Mom and Rob took off for the adventure of their lives! They said that they wanted to hit the ground running and that they did. Jeanna and I visited more places with the two of them in one week than the two of us had seen in the sixth months prior. Eli’s school also spoiled them with an incredible lunch in the CASTLE! Yes, they ate in a castle in Espain. Mom didn’t even make a comment about the possibility of it collapsing while we ate! We also managed to get the two of them out for a drink or two! Cheap drinks and free food made it difficult to get the two of them to come back home to our apartment, but we somehow managed! We sent them off to Madrid in a train and the two of us headed for the beach with some friends (I know terrible hosts). We hope that the two of them had a great time and now have a better understanding of why we have grown to love this place.
Jeanna and I took one big deep breath before our other loving parents took their big leap over the pond. The leap from T-Lake to Espain was a long one but this was a trip that Mom had been waiting her whole life for. She to was ready to hit the ground running upon exiting the aeropuerto en Barcelona! With camera in hand and elk pepperoni never too far away, Mom and Dad set out to see their first of many magnificent cities. 1000 (yes that is three zeros) pictures later Mom and Dad headed south to Denia. They had scored a beautiful little place on the coast for the week and invited Miss Jeanna and myself up for a visit during yet another Spanish holiday! With bikes in tow, we headed up the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. The weather was not as cooperative as it could have been but was perfect in the eyes of two recently retired teachers who spent the last 30 plus years of their life in a place that would give the Amazon Rain Forest a run for its money! We saw some incredibly beautiful places with Mom and Dad. One week later found us back in Jaen. Mom and Dad did an incredible job of exploring the city we have come to call home, while Jeanna and I went “back to the grind” (all twelve excruciating hours of it). We even hit Granada and the Alhambra for a day (maybe you’ve heard of it?) They said that the tapas were nice but were most thankful for the opportunity to have met an incredible Spanish family. A teacher and good friend from Jeanna’s school invited all of us over for dinner…twice! The food was to die for and the company even better. The Spanish/French cuisine left the two of them longing for more of Europe. They left us two weeks into their trip and headed northeast for France and later Italy! I am sure that they will have some great stories and a “couple of photos” upon their return!
Beyond catching up with family and working like dogs (albeit dogs with no legs and pampering owners) Jeanna and I have been enjoying every moment we have here. We spend the majority of our time here on a bike or walking around…ohh yeah and working! Race season is finally in full swing. Eli will be spending the majority of his time traveling around with all of his team mates disputing every race within 1000 miles of our apartment! As much as Miss Jeanna loves playing the role of the bike fairy she will be opting out from time to time in search of the next, “most beautiful place she has seen in her entire life”, or, “the most amazing food she has ever tasted”! Instead of having a baby, Jeanna and I have decided to “pollinate” our two objectives and make a little “Touristy Bike Trip” up north this weekend. Eli likes to think of it as disputing La Copa de Espana with blood, sweat and tears, while Jeanna likes to think of it as great photo taking opportunities, memories, new food to try, and time with her husband in his little “happy place”. The most important thing is that we are truly BOTH loving every minute of it and are incredibly happy to have one another along for the ride. We both realize how incredibly fortunate we are to have one another and to have had this wonderful opportunity! Thanks again to all of those who have helped us make this dream become a reality! We hope that you enjoy the photos and forgive us for not writing with more frequency!
PS: Kristy flew back over the ocean and she is still alive! Reports say that she was seen walking out of PDX with a flotation device around her neck singing “Praise the Lord and Praise Captain Morgan”!
Our lack of postings began with the remodeling of “our internet café”. It was during this same period of time that Kristy Elaine Moore and her OHH SO PATIENT HUSBAND ROB-O FLEW ACROSS THE ATLANTIC OCEAN TO VISIT! Yes, you are reading correctly; Kristy “You are going to fall and break you neck”, Kristy “that won’t get within 100 miles of water without a life jacket”, etc. Yes, that same Kristy made it across the Atlantic Ocean. I hope that you all purchased stock in Captain Morgans Rum before her departure! Rob was more than happy to “take care of ol nervous nelly” as he heard that Spain was the capital of decent beer that comes with free appetizers (aka. Tapas). With her last living will in the hands of older brother Jeremy, Mom and Rob took off for the adventure of their lives! They said that they wanted to hit the ground running and that they did. Jeanna and I visited more places with the two of them in one week than the two of us had seen in the sixth months prior. Eli’s school also spoiled them with an incredible lunch in the CASTLE! Yes, they ate in a castle in Espain. Mom didn’t even make a comment about the possibility of it collapsing while we ate! We also managed to get the two of them out for a drink or two! Cheap drinks and free food made it difficult to get the two of them to come back home to our apartment, but we somehow managed! We sent them off to Madrid in a train and the two of us headed for the beach with some friends (I know terrible hosts). We hope that the two of them had a great time and now have a better understanding of why we have grown to love this place.
Jeanna and I took one big deep breath before our other loving parents took their big leap over the pond. The leap from T-Lake to Espain was a long one but this was a trip that Mom had been waiting her whole life for. She to was ready to hit the ground running upon exiting the aeropuerto en Barcelona! With camera in hand and elk pepperoni never too far away, Mom and Dad set out to see their first of many magnificent cities. 1000 (yes that is three zeros) pictures later Mom and Dad headed south to Denia. They had scored a beautiful little place on the coast for the week and invited Miss Jeanna and myself up for a visit during yet another Spanish holiday! With bikes in tow, we headed up the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. The weather was not as cooperative as it could have been but was perfect in the eyes of two recently retired teachers who spent the last 30 plus years of their life in a place that would give the Amazon Rain Forest a run for its money! We saw some incredibly beautiful places with Mom and Dad. One week later found us back in Jaen. Mom and Dad did an incredible job of exploring the city we have come to call home, while Jeanna and I went “back to the grind” (all twelve excruciating hours of it). We even hit Granada and the Alhambra for a day (maybe you’ve heard of it?) They said that the tapas were nice but were most thankful for the opportunity to have met an incredible Spanish family. A teacher and good friend from Jeanna’s school invited all of us over for dinner…twice! The food was to die for and the company even better. The Spanish/French cuisine left the two of them longing for more of Europe. They left us two weeks into their trip and headed northeast for France and later Italy! I am sure that they will have some great stories and a “couple of photos” upon their return!
Beyond catching up with family and working like dogs (albeit dogs with no legs and pampering owners) Jeanna and I have been enjoying every moment we have here. We spend the majority of our time here on a bike or walking around…ohh yeah and working! Race season is finally in full swing. Eli will be spending the majority of his time traveling around with all of his team mates disputing every race within 1000 miles of our apartment! As much as Miss Jeanna loves playing the role of the bike fairy she will be opting out from time to time in search of the next, “most beautiful place she has seen in her entire life”, or, “the most amazing food she has ever tasted”! Instead of having a baby, Jeanna and I have decided to “pollinate” our two objectives and make a little “Touristy Bike Trip” up north this weekend. Eli likes to think of it as disputing La Copa de Espana with blood, sweat and tears, while Jeanna likes to think of it as great photo taking opportunities, memories, new food to try, and time with her husband in his little “happy place”. The most important thing is that we are truly BOTH loving every minute of it and are incredibly happy to have one another along for the ride. We both realize how incredibly fortunate we are to have one another and to have had this wonderful opportunity! Thanks again to all of those who have helped us make this dream become a reality! We hope that you enjoy the photos and forgive us for not writing with more frequency!
PS: Kristy flew back over the ocean and she is still alive! Reports say that she was seen walking out of PDX with a flotation device around her neck singing “Praise the Lord and Praise Captain Morgan”!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Chiclana de La Fontera (Cadíz)
Last weekend was filled with great friends, awesome food, incredible weather, visiting new places throughout Andalucia, y la primera carrera del año para Tito Elias (and the first race of the year for Uncle Eli)! Yes, it is true that Uncle Eli has officially finished his first race in Europe!
First things first... None of the aforementioned greatness would have ever been possible without the kindness of two AMAZING FRIENDS De España! A BIG THANK YOU TO PILAR AND LUIS! These two people gave up their entire free weekend to drive all the way to the western coast of Andalucia with a crazy cyclist and his guapetona mujer (aka aunt Jeanna)! Not only did they offer to drive us four hours to the race but they made the hotel arrangements and showed us an amazing time in neighboring Cadíz the Saturday before the race! Their company honestly made the trip for both of us. They are incredible hosts and great friends. We look forward to having them visit Oregon where we will spoil them rotten trying to repay them for all of their undeserved kindness here in Espain!
Racing in Europe? It was FANTASTIC! There were over 100 participants lined up for the 100 k (leg breaker) course. This was the first race in the series for the Copa de Andalucia. There were many eight man teams, all of which were fully equipped with team cars and race radios! The teams were all willing to work for one or two riders and that kept the pace very high. We were given the entire road with a "rolling enclosure". This made moving up much easier. There was a fierce head wind for the first 50 kilometers and a few 2 and 3k climbs that started thinning out the field. Unfortunatly, there was a crash about 40k into the race. The crash probably cut out one fourth of the peloton. The crash was followed by a 3k climb into a head wind! This climb shattered the remainder of the field. The last 40k of the race was fast and furious. Somewhere during that time a small group of six or seven escaped. I did not see that move go and made the decision to set in with what was left of the field. I took second in the final sprint! I was super excited to have finished. I never would have expected such a good result but was ecstatic to have it. We were in a bit of hurry so we were unable to stick around for the celebration. We showered, ate some lunch, and hit the road. (offical results are still not up).
The trip did not end with an uninterrupeted four hour drive. It easily could have but Luis and Pilar decided to spoil us once again and treat us to un Café in a Castle from the 8th century! Yes, they stopped in Carmona, a beautiful little pueblo of Andalucía! The entire walk through the pueblo was beautiful. The views of the valley were breathtaking and the company was great! We are truly lucky people to be here and to have found such amazing friends along the way! Pictures are to come. Love and miss you all,
Elias y la Guapetona!
PS. Please forgive the lack of posts. "Our internet Cafe" has been shut down for repairs making it a little more difficult for us to use the internet. We are trying!
First things first... None of the aforementioned greatness would have ever been possible without the kindness of two AMAZING FRIENDS De España! A BIG THANK YOU TO PILAR AND LUIS! These two people gave up their entire free weekend to drive all the way to the western coast of Andalucia with a crazy cyclist and his guapetona mujer (aka aunt Jeanna)! Not only did they offer to drive us four hours to the race but they made the hotel arrangements and showed us an amazing time in neighboring Cadíz the Saturday before the race! Their company honestly made the trip for both of us. They are incredible hosts and great friends. We look forward to having them visit Oregon where we will spoil them rotten trying to repay them for all of their undeserved kindness here in Espain!
Racing in Europe? It was FANTASTIC! There were over 100 participants lined up for the 100 k (leg breaker) course. This was the first race in the series for the Copa de Andalucia. There were many eight man teams, all of which were fully equipped with team cars and race radios! The teams were all willing to work for one or two riders and that kept the pace very high. We were given the entire road with a "rolling enclosure". This made moving up much easier. There was a fierce head wind for the first 50 kilometers and a few 2 and 3k climbs that started thinning out the field. Unfortunatly, there was a crash about 40k into the race. The crash probably cut out one fourth of the peloton. The crash was followed by a 3k climb into a head wind! This climb shattered the remainder of the field. The last 40k of the race was fast and furious. Somewhere during that time a small group of six or seven escaped. I did not see that move go and made the decision to set in with what was left of the field. I took second in the final sprint! I was super excited to have finished. I never would have expected such a good result but was ecstatic to have it. We were in a bit of hurry so we were unable to stick around for the celebration. We showered, ate some lunch, and hit the road. (offical results are still not up).
The trip did not end with an uninterrupeted four hour drive. It easily could have but Luis and Pilar decided to spoil us once again and treat us to un Café in a Castle from the 8th century! Yes, they stopped in Carmona, a beautiful little pueblo of Andalucía! The entire walk through the pueblo was beautiful. The views of the valley were breathtaking and the company was great! We are truly lucky people to be here and to have found such amazing friends along the way! Pictures are to come. Love and miss you all,
Elias y la Guapetona!
PS. Please forgive the lack of posts. "Our internet Cafe" has been shut down for repairs making it a little more difficult for us to use the internet. We are trying!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Spain Is Very Different Amigo…Very Different!
This is a very popular quote here in Espain! We hear it most often in reference to the frequent tardiness or the lack of organization that exists in different aspects of life here. There are also many positives to this famous “dicho”; it is almost always sunny, there is very little precipitation, the people are incredibly nice, there are hundreds of cyclists and millions of cycling fanatics, there is a ton of racing, and there are many teams out there that love to sign new riders…These are just a few of the very different parts of Espain that we do not mind.
Yesterday was my team presentation. Yes, I have joined a cycling team here in Jaén, Spain. Yes, they actually have team presentations at this level of racing. And last but not least, yes, they do give you A TON of free clothing to ride on their team. I was given a full winter outfit, two summer outfits, arm and leg warmers, gloves, a track suit, a t-shirt, a balaclava (which is ironic considering it was 70 degrees here today) and a vest! There is also a helmet on the way! Espanish people take their racing very seriously. The team all got together yesterday morning for a 120-kilometer ride through the valley. We were all looking very sharp rocking the brand new kits! The ride finished at the castle here in Jaen where we took some team photos to give to the sponsors and for the article that the paper ran on Monday morning. We then all went down to one of the local bars and had lunch together with friends, family, and sponsors! The team and I are all looking forward to the first race of the season in Cadiz (where our friend Mrs. Mavis Hartz lived for a year). Nobody knows if we will win or not but one thing is for certain; we are going to be one of the best looking teams at the start line!
Cycling has pretty much defined the month of February for both Jeanna and me. The weather has been absolutely incredible and it has been nearly impossible for either of us to stop soaking in the sun. Jeanna finished her first metric century ride in less than four hours last Saturday. I just finished a 21-hour build week and we are both still finding time to spend with one another…ohh yeah, and work every once in awhile! We realize how incredibly fortunate we are to be here and we are having no trouble at all make the most of this experience. We have a few trips planned in the near future. Keep checking back for updates and more photos. We hope that all of you are doing well. We love and miss all of you and look forward to seeing you this summer! We will be home in just over three months! Until then, we will continue doing our best to take full advantage of our time here in Espain, where things are berry differentay amigo!
Saludos
Elias and La Guapetona Señora Jeanna
Yesterday was my team presentation. Yes, I have joined a cycling team here in Jaén, Spain. Yes, they actually have team presentations at this level of racing. And last but not least, yes, they do give you A TON of free clothing to ride on their team. I was given a full winter outfit, two summer outfits, arm and leg warmers, gloves, a track suit, a t-shirt, a balaclava (which is ironic considering it was 70 degrees here today) and a vest! There is also a helmet on the way! Espanish people take their racing very seriously. The team all got together yesterday morning for a 120-kilometer ride through the valley. We were all looking very sharp rocking the brand new kits! The ride finished at the castle here in Jaen where we took some team photos to give to the sponsors and for the article that the paper ran on Monday morning. We then all went down to one of the local bars and had lunch together with friends, family, and sponsors! The team and I are all looking forward to the first race of the season in Cadiz (where our friend Mrs. Mavis Hartz lived for a year). Nobody knows if we will win or not but one thing is for certain; we are going to be one of the best looking teams at the start line!
Cycling has pretty much defined the month of February for both Jeanna and me. The weather has been absolutely incredible and it has been nearly impossible for either of us to stop soaking in the sun. Jeanna finished her first metric century ride in less than four hours last Saturday. I just finished a 21-hour build week and we are both still finding time to spend with one another…ohh yeah, and work every once in awhile! We realize how incredibly fortunate we are to be here and we are having no trouble at all make the most of this experience. We have a few trips planned in the near future. Keep checking back for updates and more photos. We hope that all of you are doing well. We love and miss all of you and look forward to seeing you this summer! We will be home in just over three months! Until then, we will continue doing our best to take full advantage of our time here in Espain, where things are berry differentay amigo!
Saludos
Elias and La Guapetona Señora Jeanna
My Wonderful School
I should start by stating that I am fortunate enough to be working at what could possibly be one of the greatest schools in Andalucia (you’ll notice my bias right off). The school itself is bright, clean, and an incredibly positive environment for not only the students, but staff as well. I’ve come to the conclusion that job satisfaction must be quite high here in Andalucia, as the primary teachers work an invigorating schedule of 9-2. Yep, almost five brutal hours of work a day. It’s a rough life. Mine is made even more difficult in that I am required to be there a whole 12 hours a week. During my 12 hours at school, I am swarmed with smiling students shouting, “teacher, teacher!” and rewarded with not only thousands of abrazos y besos (kisses and hugs), but also with fine works of art with profound statements like, “la major seño de Estados Unidos”. Perhaps you’re beginning to understand the temptation of returning?
I teach English classes to students ranging from 5 years to 11 years old. With the older students, I typically ask questions regarding stories we’ve read, explain the workbook assignments, and carry on conversation practices (or practises if you’re from England. By the way…I quickly learned that trousers = pants, rubbers = erasers, lorries? = semis, and have got = have…just a couple of the quirks, that and the British feel the need to add a “u” to quite a few words like: favourite, colour, mum, and honour). I also get to teach units on special themes like: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Children’s Rights Day, International Day of Peace to name a few. For the latter I made a big poster and had all my students (and actually all the students in primary school) read a story I wrote about accepting differences in others, and then, after learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we made a “dream chain” that held all of our dreams for a peaceful happy world. We also all made “peace” bracelets to wear for the assembly.
With the younger students I have actually taken on the role as the sole teacher. This requires me to be a little more on top of my game (imagine being five years old and listening to words you’re not sure that you understand for an hour: ADD much???). Needless to say, we play lots of games and every day I find myself being a train, a lion, a monkey, a hungry crocodile, or a human tagging machine. Did I mention I smile a lot in my job? All my students keep me laughing, smiling, and definitely on my toes.
Last week was the carnaval celebration. It was during this parade that I again took note and time to be thankful for how wonderful and special my school is. Everyone took on the theme of “inventions” for their costumes. We had robots, calculators, cell phones, ovens, washing machines, scientists, clocks, currency, and yours truly came as a cyclist (no surprise there -in all honesty I was trying to squeeze in a ride before the parade and had no time to change clothes). But who would have thought that the students would go crazy at seeing their “seño” in a costume for carnaval? Due to my not so serious attitude in the classroom and my ability to constantly make a fool of myself in front of the students, I feel like they’ve come to accept me as one of them. My 5th grade girls are constantly asking me about music and t.v. programs while busting out their MP3s so we can sing Rhianna together, and the boys think it’s so cool that I actually touched the saltamontes (grasshopper). The teachers are beginning to joke that I am more famous than Madonna.
If there is one sentiment that I am constantly reminded of here, it is that life in Spain is very different. There seems to be less stress and more smiles (not to mention louder, more animated conversations and rowdy kids). Perhaps it’s the sunshine, perhaps it’s because there is time to spend with family, perhaps it’s the social healthcare system or any number of possibilities. It could even be the aceite (olive oil), vino tinto, y jamon. Whatever the reason may be, Spain definitely leaves one feel thankful and encouraging one to always “enjoy the life”.
I teach English classes to students ranging from 5 years to 11 years old. With the older students, I typically ask questions regarding stories we’ve read, explain the workbook assignments, and carry on conversation practices (or practises if you’re from England. By the way…I quickly learned that trousers = pants, rubbers = erasers, lorries? = semis, and have got = have…just a couple of the quirks, that and the British feel the need to add a “u” to quite a few words like: favourite, colour, mum, and honour). I also get to teach units on special themes like: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Children’s Rights Day, International Day of Peace to name a few. For the latter I made a big poster and had all my students (and actually all the students in primary school) read a story I wrote about accepting differences in others, and then, after learning about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we made a “dream chain” that held all of our dreams for a peaceful happy world. We also all made “peace” bracelets to wear for the assembly.
With the younger students I have actually taken on the role as the sole teacher. This requires me to be a little more on top of my game (imagine being five years old and listening to words you’re not sure that you understand for an hour: ADD much???). Needless to say, we play lots of games and every day I find myself being a train, a lion, a monkey, a hungry crocodile, or a human tagging machine. Did I mention I smile a lot in my job? All my students keep me laughing, smiling, and definitely on my toes.
Last week was the carnaval celebration. It was during this parade that I again took note and time to be thankful for how wonderful and special my school is. Everyone took on the theme of “inventions” for their costumes. We had robots, calculators, cell phones, ovens, washing machines, scientists, clocks, currency, and yours truly came as a cyclist (no surprise there -in all honesty I was trying to squeeze in a ride before the parade and had no time to change clothes). But who would have thought that the students would go crazy at seeing their “seño” in a costume for carnaval? Due to my not so serious attitude in the classroom and my ability to constantly make a fool of myself in front of the students, I feel like they’ve come to accept me as one of them. My 5th grade girls are constantly asking me about music and t.v. programs while busting out their MP3s so we can sing Rhianna together, and the boys think it’s so cool that I actually touched the saltamontes (grasshopper). The teachers are beginning to joke that I am more famous than Madonna.
If there is one sentiment that I am constantly reminded of here, it is that life in Spain is very different. There seems to be less stress and more smiles (not to mention louder, more animated conversations and rowdy kids). Perhaps it’s the sunshine, perhaps it’s because there is time to spend with family, perhaps it’s the social healthcare system or any number of possibilities. It could even be the aceite (olive oil), vino tinto, y jamon. Whatever the reason may be, Spain definitely leaves one feel thankful and encouraging one to always “enjoy the life”.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Please Join the Two of Us In Welcoming the Newest Edition to Our Little Family…
Halcón Verde Romer was kindly brought to us on Wednesday the 11th of February in this new year of 2009. We have taken this little bici in with arms wide open. These last two months have been difficult for the two of us. Eli did not take the loss of Big Yellow very well. Jeanna spent many a nights trying to comfort poor Eli assuring him that their family would be back together very soon. That day has finally come with the arrival of our 16-pound bundle of joy. The arrival of little Halcón Verde could not have been timed any better. Halcón arrived less than a day after the famous Andalucian sun decided to come back to Jaén. It appears as though both the sun and new bici are here to stay for a while. Eli could not be happier with the new addition and Jeanna could not be happier to finally have an end to all of the “moaning and groaning” from her anxious husband!
The arrival of Halcón, in combination with the sun, has kept both of us extremely busy. Eli feels the need to spend all of his free time playing outside with young Halcón, spending good quality time together, until the sun goes down. Jeanna has already taken note of the doting, proud, and protective side of Eli. She feels equally happy to see that bright orb in the sky and has been spending her fair amount of time outside as well. It is amazing to see the number of smiles that the sun has brought to this little city we have come to call home.
Jeanna and Eli have both picked up a few extra private English classes to support their habit of having a good time! They give us something to do in the evenings and give us a few extra €uros to spend. The added income normally goes towards trying different Spanish food (one of our favorite past times), movies, or…yes, we still spend some money on the bicicletas! Jeanna did have the opportunity to check out a dance class, and she has also decided to join a women’s gym for the next month. The “dance class” tuned out to be more of a retirement center activity night than what she had envisioned but in true Jeanna form, she rocked out with all the little Espanish Abuelas. They fell in love with her, of course, and hope that she will one day return… In the meantime, Jeanna is truly enjoying her new gym membership. She still rides her bike while the sun is out but has signed up for a pilates class that starts after the sun goes down. For those of you who know Jeanna she loves lifting weights. Between the bike, pilates, lifting, and a little bit of “work”, Miss Jeanna has no problem sleeping through the night (as if she ever did). She is an Eastburn after all.
We are both having an incredible time here in Spain. Thanks again to all of those that have helped make this opportunity a reality for both of us. We have less than four months until we are back home in the states. We look forward to seeing all of you but still feel like we have a lot to accomplish before leaving here. Race season will be here in a couple of weeks. This means traveling throughout all of Andalucia, and of course racing (Eli’s favorite past time)! We are also looking forward to entertaining some visitors over the next couple of months. Hopefully this will give us an excuse to get out and see some different parts of this wonderful country… Hasta luego
Elias and Miss Jeanna
We felt it also important to mention that we have started a trust fund for little Halcón for those of you wanting to contribute to this wonderful addition to the family. We’re hoping the fund will converge into a lovely set of carbon wheels for young Halcon to play with. Just think of it as diapers…for a REALLY long time.
The arrival of Halcón, in combination with the sun, has kept both of us extremely busy. Eli feels the need to spend all of his free time playing outside with young Halcón, spending good quality time together, until the sun goes down. Jeanna has already taken note of the doting, proud, and protective side of Eli. She feels equally happy to see that bright orb in the sky and has been spending her fair amount of time outside as well. It is amazing to see the number of smiles that the sun has brought to this little city we have come to call home.
Jeanna and Eli have both picked up a few extra private English classes to support their habit of having a good time! They give us something to do in the evenings and give us a few extra €uros to spend. The added income normally goes towards trying different Spanish food (one of our favorite past times), movies, or…yes, we still spend some money on the bicicletas! Jeanna did have the opportunity to check out a dance class, and she has also decided to join a women’s gym for the next month. The “dance class” tuned out to be more of a retirement center activity night than what she had envisioned but in true Jeanna form, she rocked out with all the little Espanish Abuelas. They fell in love with her, of course, and hope that she will one day return… In the meantime, Jeanna is truly enjoying her new gym membership. She still rides her bike while the sun is out but has signed up for a pilates class that starts after the sun goes down. For those of you who know Jeanna she loves lifting weights. Between the bike, pilates, lifting, and a little bit of “work”, Miss Jeanna has no problem sleeping through the night (as if she ever did). She is an Eastburn after all.
We are both having an incredible time here in Spain. Thanks again to all of those that have helped make this opportunity a reality for both of us. We have less than four months until we are back home in the states. We look forward to seeing all of you but still feel like we have a lot to accomplish before leaving here. Race season will be here in a couple of weeks. This means traveling throughout all of Andalucia, and of course racing (Eli’s favorite past time)! We are also looking forward to entertaining some visitors over the next couple of months. Hopefully this will give us an excuse to get out and see some different parts of this wonderful country… Hasta luego
Elias and Miss Jeanna
We felt it also important to mention that we have started a trust fund for little Halcón for those of you wanting to contribute to this wonderful addition to the family. We’re hoping the fund will converge into a lovely set of carbon wheels for young Halcon to play with. Just think of it as diapers…for a REALLY long time.
Friday, February 6, 2009
A Decision Has Been Made
So, what does one do with “demasiado tiempo libre” (too much free time)? DISFRUTAR es como se dice “ENJOY” en el ingles! Jeanna and I have been doing our best to Disfrutar our time here in Espain! The twelve-hour workweek continues to take its toll on us but we somehow manage to squeeze in some extra curricular activities from time to time. The pictures are from last weekend when we went out with some friends to enjoy the local tapas y raciones scene and celebrate Eli’s birthday. Then the following day, Jeanna showed some other Spanish friends the joys of peanut butter-oreo cheesecake. And because of THESE “extra-curricular” events…
Physical activity continues to take up a large amount of our time. Eli is still riding around all of Andalucia like Forest Gump on a bicycle (minus the beard and lack of social skills). Jeanna has officially traded in the running shoes for her blue Trek bicycle. She has found a training partner and the two of them are now famous throughout all of the province of Jaen. Las dos guapetonas continue to turn the heads of Spanish men from the beginning until the end of their rides (one might begin to believe that some of these men had never seen a woman riding a bike in their lives)! Jeanna and Andrea have decided to pretend that the men are cheering them on and use the “piropos” as a form of encouragement! Andrea also happens to be an awesome rock climber and has started trading her climbing expertise for Jeanna’s cycling experience. The trade has worked out very well for both of them. Jeanna had the opportunity to go bouldering last weekend and will begin climbing with Andrea once the rain stops…
Yes, you did read correctly, there is rain in southern Espain! We too are having a hard time wrapping our heads around this concept but our experience back home in Oregon is helping us make it through. The rain does not even come close to matching the torrential down pours which define the west side of our home state. In fact, there is almost always enough of a break in the weather to get out and train. The most frustrating thing about the weather is that we have been told by almost everyone we know here that this is the WETTEST winter EVER in Jaen. They have actually started to blame the Oregonians for bringing this… “less than ideal”…weather to Espain with them. The general consensus tells us that spring should be here within the next couple of weeks. Lots of sun and little to no rain…We can hardly wait. Climbing and cycling anyone?
Truth be told; even with all of the work and all of the playing/training, we both have a fair amount of tiempo libre (different from Nacho Libre for those of you not so hip to the Espanish). El tiempo libre brings us to the title of our blog posting. Decision making; for those of you who know us best (family, especially the madres y papa too), Jeanna and Eli are not the best when it comes to los decisiones! Furthermore, we are famous for cambiando (changing) los decisiones muchas veces (A LOT). Regardless, we have made a decision and for that, you should all be PROUD. Moreover, for the time being, let us PRETEND that we will stick to the plan. Without further adieuuuuuuu, the Romer’s post Espain plan of accion: 1st We are planning on moving back to LaGrandy land! Yes, the beautiful little city in the Great Grande Ronde Valley where young little Eli was born and raised…Why on earth would we do something like that? Great question, but the simple answer is that Eli has decided that he enjoys being un Maestro and EOU happens to have a great MTE (Masters in something or other that helps you teach…I think) program. Yes, Eli the school hating maniac is going back to school. He likes to refer to this as “giving into the man”. Jeanna is hoping to find a job during the time that Eli is fighting with the man (and you all know that it will literally be a fight to the bitter end) while at the same time applying for as many PA (Physicians Assistant aka. almost a doctor aka she is the smart one, aka she is the one that actually enjoys school and excels at it, aka does not fight with the man, aka school-lover) programs as she feels necessary to ensure her acceptance into at least one (not a problem).
There you have it! A decision has been made. Please do not waste your time engraving any of this in stone. Chances are very high that by the time you have read this blog the plan has already changed (that is just the way the we roll). In the mean time, don’t expect us to make any more decisions for at least another two to three years. We are going back to our cave of indecision where we will continue to bask in the good times and good weather (soon to come). Hasta la proxima
Elias y la Guapetona Senora Jeanna (La Mejor Seño de Los Estados Unidos-according to her students)!
Physical activity continues to take up a large amount of our time. Eli is still riding around all of Andalucia like Forest Gump on a bicycle (minus the beard and lack of social skills). Jeanna has officially traded in the running shoes for her blue Trek bicycle. She has found a training partner and the two of them are now famous throughout all of the province of Jaen. Las dos guapetonas continue to turn the heads of Spanish men from the beginning until the end of their rides (one might begin to believe that some of these men had never seen a woman riding a bike in their lives)! Jeanna and Andrea have decided to pretend that the men are cheering them on and use the “piropos” as a form of encouragement! Andrea also happens to be an awesome rock climber and has started trading her climbing expertise for Jeanna’s cycling experience. The trade has worked out very well for both of them. Jeanna had the opportunity to go bouldering last weekend and will begin climbing with Andrea once the rain stops…
Yes, you did read correctly, there is rain in southern Espain! We too are having a hard time wrapping our heads around this concept but our experience back home in Oregon is helping us make it through. The rain does not even come close to matching the torrential down pours which define the west side of our home state. In fact, there is almost always enough of a break in the weather to get out and train. The most frustrating thing about the weather is that we have been told by almost everyone we know here that this is the WETTEST winter EVER in Jaen. They have actually started to blame the Oregonians for bringing this… “less than ideal”…weather to Espain with them. The general consensus tells us that spring should be here within the next couple of weeks. Lots of sun and little to no rain…We can hardly wait. Climbing and cycling anyone?
Truth be told; even with all of the work and all of the playing/training, we both have a fair amount of tiempo libre (different from Nacho Libre for those of you not so hip to the Espanish). El tiempo libre brings us to the title of our blog posting. Decision making; for those of you who know us best (family, especially the madres y papa too), Jeanna and Eli are not the best when it comes to los decisiones! Furthermore, we are famous for cambiando (changing) los decisiones muchas veces (A LOT). Regardless, we have made a decision and for that, you should all be PROUD. Moreover, for the time being, let us PRETEND that we will stick to the plan. Without further adieuuuuuuu, the Romer’s post Espain plan of accion: 1st We are planning on moving back to LaGrandy land! Yes, the beautiful little city in the Great Grande Ronde Valley where young little Eli was born and raised…Why on earth would we do something like that? Great question, but the simple answer is that Eli has decided that he enjoys being un Maestro and EOU happens to have a great MTE (Masters in something or other that helps you teach…I think) program. Yes, Eli the school hating maniac is going back to school. He likes to refer to this as “giving into the man”. Jeanna is hoping to find a job during the time that Eli is fighting with the man (and you all know that it will literally be a fight to the bitter end) while at the same time applying for as many PA (Physicians Assistant aka. almost a doctor aka she is the smart one, aka she is the one that actually enjoys school and excels at it, aka does not fight with the man, aka school-lover) programs as she feels necessary to ensure her acceptance into at least one (not a problem).
There you have it! A decision has been made. Please do not waste your time engraving any of this in stone. Chances are very high that by the time you have read this blog the plan has already changed (that is just the way the we roll). In the mean time, don’t expect us to make any more decisions for at least another two to three years. We are going back to our cave of indecision where we will continue to bask in the good times and good weather (soon to come). Hasta la proxima
Elias y la Guapetona Senora Jeanna (La Mejor Seño de Los Estados Unidos-according to her students)!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Three Kings, Úbeda, y San Anton
Winter break in the States generally ends on January 2 of the New Year. People back home are given a day to recover from excessive consumption of “beverages”, staying up just a “little too late” and having just a “wee bit more fun than they had planned on”. One day to recover here in Spain? Como se dice "insufficient" en español?
That is correct. Jeanna and I had one more holiday to celebrate before heading back to work. January 06th es el Dia de Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings Day). This holiday is actually as big if not bigger than Christmas here in Spain. Christmas involves church and family dinners and is generally celebrated on Christmas eve (La Noche Buena). The Reyes Magos bring the presents here in Spain! Much like Santa Clause, the Three Kings spend the entire evening of the 5th bringing presents to all of the good boys and girls. Yes, they even bring coal to the “bad children”! They also managed to make an appearance at the parade along with the other floats, where massive amounts of candy were thrown out to the spectators. This year the Reyes Magos brought Jeanna safely back home to Spain. They also gave us a few more days without work to spend together!
Unfortunately, all good things must end. Our winter break ended on the seventh and we were forced to go back to work for two entire days! It was difficult, and at times, we did not know if we would make it, but we helped one another pull through. We decided to make the most of our three-day weekend and bought a bus ticket to Úbeda. Úbeda is on everybody’s “must see before you leave list”. It is a quaint 16th century pueblo. Walking through the streets is much like stepping back in time. Very little has changed in the past FIVE centuries. The streets are very narrow and almost all made of cobbles! We had great time spending the day together and taking photos of many of the historic buildings. We hope that you enjoy the photos. It was a beautiful day although it was fairly “cold” (just above freezing).
One more week of work brings us to last night, January 16th, 2009. Yes, another fiesta here in Espana! This time the fiesta came in the form of a running race, La Carrera Urbana Internacional Noche De San Anton. Jeanna and I had heard that this was a very popular race but neither of us realized exactly what that meant. San Anton is a 10k race that starts at eight o’clock at night. The streets were literally lined sometimes two and three deep for the entire 10 K, many spectators holding torches. That means six miles of people cheering. There were also more than 5000 participants. All this made the race incredibly beautiful and memorable. Simply watching the race and cheering would be too boring for a Spaniard. Bonfires are built all around the city to make things more entertaining for everyone. It is typical to eat popcorn and drink “beverages” while watching the race. Keep in mind that this is Spain and this is simply the pre-party. After the race is over you meet up with all of your friends and head to the bonfire of your choice (normally the one closest to your home). You can buy little sandwiches and beverages at the bonfire and spend the rest of your evening singing and dancing around the fire!
Miss Jeanna did awesome. She chose to run with one of the teachers from my school (Manolo) rather than to shoot for a personal record time. This made the race more memorable for her. Manolo is an x-professional futbol player from Jaen and the whole town knows him. She spent the entire six miles having people shout and cheer for “them”! Manolo was known as “Leyes” as a professional. For many the name stuck and Jeanna’s run was highlighted with people shouting, “Leyes, Leyes, Anda,” but also with some “guapa, guapetona, rubia (blond)” and I am certain a few others she neglected to tell me (other than vamos and venga)! People here in Jaen love Leyes and everyone loves la Rubia! It was her night to feel like a super star! She finished very strong in her first 10K, almost killing poor Leyes! We all headed up to one of the bonfires after the race. We had one of the famous bocadillos de patata and una cervecita! The cold forced us to call it an early night (midnight)… A truly unforgettable experience for both of us.
That is correct. Jeanna and I had one more holiday to celebrate before heading back to work. January 06th es el Dia de Los Reyes Magos (The Three Kings Day). This holiday is actually as big if not bigger than Christmas here in Spain. Christmas involves church and family dinners and is generally celebrated on Christmas eve (La Noche Buena). The Reyes Magos bring the presents here in Spain! Much like Santa Clause, the Three Kings spend the entire evening of the 5th bringing presents to all of the good boys and girls. Yes, they even bring coal to the “bad children”! They also managed to make an appearance at the parade along with the other floats, where massive amounts of candy were thrown out to the spectators. This year the Reyes Magos brought Jeanna safely back home to Spain. They also gave us a few more days without work to spend together!
Unfortunately, all good things must end. Our winter break ended on the seventh and we were forced to go back to work for two entire days! It was difficult, and at times, we did not know if we would make it, but we helped one another pull through. We decided to make the most of our three-day weekend and bought a bus ticket to Úbeda. Úbeda is on everybody’s “must see before you leave list”. It is a quaint 16th century pueblo. Walking through the streets is much like stepping back in time. Very little has changed in the past FIVE centuries. The streets are very narrow and almost all made of cobbles! We had great time spending the day together and taking photos of many of the historic buildings. We hope that you enjoy the photos. It was a beautiful day although it was fairly “cold” (just above freezing).
One more week of work brings us to last night, January 16th, 2009. Yes, another fiesta here in Espana! This time the fiesta came in the form of a running race, La Carrera Urbana Internacional Noche De San Anton. Jeanna and I had heard that this was a very popular race but neither of us realized exactly what that meant. San Anton is a 10k race that starts at eight o’clock at night. The streets were literally lined sometimes two and three deep for the entire 10 K, many spectators holding torches. That means six miles of people cheering. There were also more than 5000 participants. All this made the race incredibly beautiful and memorable. Simply watching the race and cheering would be too boring for a Spaniard. Bonfires are built all around the city to make things more entertaining for everyone. It is typical to eat popcorn and drink “beverages” while watching the race. Keep in mind that this is Spain and this is simply the pre-party. After the race is over you meet up with all of your friends and head to the bonfire of your choice (normally the one closest to your home). You can buy little sandwiches and beverages at the bonfire and spend the rest of your evening singing and dancing around the fire!
Miss Jeanna did awesome. She chose to run with one of the teachers from my school (Manolo) rather than to shoot for a personal record time. This made the race more memorable for her. Manolo is an x-professional futbol player from Jaen and the whole town knows him. She spent the entire six miles having people shout and cheer for “them”! Manolo was known as “Leyes” as a professional. For many the name stuck and Jeanna’s run was highlighted with people shouting, “Leyes, Leyes, Anda,” but also with some “guapa, guapetona, rubia (blond)” and I am certain a few others she neglected to tell me (other than vamos and venga)! People here in Jaen love Leyes and everyone loves la Rubia! It was her night to feel like a super star! She finished very strong in her first 10K, almost killing poor Leyes! We all headed up to one of the bonfires after the race. We had one of the famous bocadillos de patata and una cervecita! The cold forced us to call it an early night (midnight)… A truly unforgettable experience for both of us.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Bienvenidos al año 2009
Life as a teacher definitely has its “benefits”. One of the more noteworthy comes near the end of the year. Winter break and/or Christmas Vacation is a period of time that all of us have experienced throughout the entirety of our lives as students. For many this period vanishes upon graduating from college and entering the “real world”. This is not, however, the case for teachers who in many regards can be thought of more appropriately as “life long students” or simply “lifers”. This entry is not about to tackle the great debate about whether or not this is “fair” or whether or not teachers are deserving of this large amount of time off. No, no, no… That would be a waste of time. Instead we would like to fill you all in on what we have been up to with all of this “free time”.
Jeanna: As many of you already know, and the rest of you probably suspected, Miss Jeanna is the wiser of the two. She is also much more adventuresome, and knows how to have a good time. What better way to “carpe the diem” than fly to Norway to visit a good friend? She could not think of one either so off she went to “visit the penguins” (and her friend Cristina). It was not enough for Miss Adventure to head out on this journey sin el esposo; she found it necessary to try smuggling SIX bottles of vino tinto in her baggage just to make the flight, “more interesting” (she also mentioned something about alcohol being VERY expensive in Norway and “presents” for her gracious hosts (caca de toro? maybe). FIVE bottles later…she Arrived and decided that the life of a drug/wine smuggler was not all that she imagined it to be!
According to Jeanna the next two weeks were spent missing her wonderful husband (caca de toro). I believe that her experience would more accurately be described as; being spoiled daily by her wonderful Norwegian friend and her family, spending plenty of time soaking up the heat inside the house (long hot baths with tea), eating great food, partying all night long, and catching up on the times with her long lost friend all; this better describes the reality of the situation. She also had the opportunity to spend some quality time in the snow and bitter cold, something that she had missed much more than myself! She would at this point like to think her friends Whit and Mavis for teaching her how to cross country ski. Those lessons kept her from making a total fool of herself while heading out with an x-pro! She spent her Christmas learning about the different traditions/customs, trying new foods, and meeting new people. As if all of this was not enough, her and her friend then took a train to Oslo (the capital) to pass the new year with Cristina’s sister. This entailed a rather large party with more food, drinks, and FIREWORKS! Somehow, Jeanna was able to “endure” all of this time away from me (she is a strong women). January 03, 2009 found Jeanna once again traveling to another country. She just could not stand the thought of only having been in one country in the first three days of the new year. She decided to add Spain to the list of countries visited in 2009. She claims that she was ready to see me but I believe that she was just hoping for yet another stamp in the ol’ pasaporte (as if the ones from Lisbon, London, Granada, and Lufthaven Torp weren’t enough)!
Eli: If Jeanna is the wiser than Eli is the…lets just say less wise! OK? Yes, the buffoon stayed in southern Spain all by himself (insert song “All By Myself”). The answer to this “less than wise decision” can most easily be summed up in the words of a cave man; “me like to ride the bike, me like the warm weather, me want to be fast on bike, me no like the penguins”… Yes, I passed on the once in a lifetime opportunity to visit another beautiful European country with my beautiful loving wife so that I could ride my bike (training)! So what did I do with all of this free time? Yes, believe it or not, I rode my bike. What did I do with all of the time I was not on my bike? Rest, so that I could ride my bike the next day. Yes, to some of you this might sound ludicrous, absurd, preposterous, etc. To me, this was Eli’s Winter Training Camp 2008 and a little bit of ‘09! I ate, I slept and I rode my bike. I spent hours upon hours chasing the local pros around every road that was rideable within 200 km of my apartment. I rode my bike until I could not ride anymore!
We are now back together here in Jaen, Spain. Eli is happy to have his wife back, and Jeanna is happy that Eli has a rest week coming up. We both look forward to spending some time with one another and sharing our stories and adventures with one another. We hope that all of our friends and family back home had a wonderful holiday season as well and that 2009 brings us all health and happiness. Hasta la proxima.
Elias and Jeanna
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