Electrical Problems

Strange electrical currents resulted in a visit from the electrician.  Here were the symptoms.



The solution ended up being one of the three main lines coming from the street was completely rusted out from water coming in. 

Leak

Soon after our return, we discovered a leak coming in the upstairs bathroom.  That was a bit of a bummer.  Fortunately, we were able to get it fixed without too much damage other than some need for wall repairs to the bathroom and the girls' rooms, and fixing of the pipes. 

Sevilla Cathedral

Our final day in Spain allowed us to visit the Cathedral in Sevilla, the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the third largest in the world.  It is also the likely burial place of Christopher Columbus. 

The inside of the cathedral was immense, and we enjoyed the walk up to the viewpoint from the top, where you could peek out at the city while also gauging the immensity of the cathedral.

After our visit, it was time for our train to Madrid, a taxi to the airport, and our late night flight to Kuala Lumpur by way of Dubai.  Flying Emirates Airlines was a highlight for the kid as our memorable trip of a lifetime came to an end. 

Churros con chocolate

One of the culinary highlights of our time in Spain was the incredibly rich (straight chocolate!) churros con chocolate.  It was incredible how rich the chocolate was, but somehow the kids managed to drink enough of it to enjoy the delightful stop in little roadside cafes. 

New Year's Day in Sevilla

We woke to the New Year of 2013 in Sevilla, Spain.  With everything closed, we took advantage of spectacular weather to go on a walking tour of the city.  Finding the main plaza, the Plaza de Espana, was a true highlight.  We wished we could just bottle the cool, but sunny weather and take it with us wherever we went.

 

We had a delightful rowboat ride on the canal (minus one child who was not as happy), and we discovered that some adults are better at rowing a boat than others.  It truly is a picturesque plaza, even if we were unable to get a picture that matches the masterpiece which Doug's parents had snapped about a week earlier. 

We also got to have a nice carriage ride around the park, and discovered why so many people would love to spend many weeks in Sevilla, learning Spanish or soaking up the culture.   What a beautiful day to start the New Year!