My Parents in Spain!

So after many months (no, make that years) of waiting, Mom and Dad finally made the trip to Spain! I don't even know where to begin... Sheer elation. Experience of a lifetime. Super anxious because I wanted everything to be perfect. I think it was pretty dang close. And I tried my best to keep my nerves under wraps. In the end I had an amazing time and I dare say that they did too. I had them on a non-stop tour of Northern Spain.

We rented a car (got upgraded to an Audi--score! But there was no way my dad was going to let me drive-- as if, haha!). So I nervously co-piloted the way to Asturias to see Marta. I was ecstatic about our parents finally meeting after all these years and so was she. It was probably the most beautiful drive I've ever done, making our way along the Northern coast passing through País Vasco and Cantabria. On the way we stopped for lunch in my favorite Asturian coastal town, Ribadesella, and had some delicious seafood and wine. An uncle of Marta's used to live there and I fondly remember visiting he and his late wife the summer I stayed with her. I hadn't been back since and it was so neat to return there with my parents.

After an anxious four hour car ride we finally arrived in Oviedo where we met Marta's dad, Carlos Sr., notario, who was going to bring us to Pola. His hilarious attempts to speak in English with my parents were very heart-warming. In hindsight I think I should have been freaking out about being there with Carlos and my parents on the road to Lena and later on when they saw Marta and met her mom and we all sat down to an exquisite (not to mention delicious and authentic) Spanish cena. But the truth is that it wasn't out of the ordinary for me because it was such a long time coming. Martita on the other hand was freaking out and couldn't believe my parents were actually in her house. When the day comes that they make it to Wisconsin I know I will be feeling the same way.

Not suprisingly we had a lovely time with the Garcias. The dinner at their house was amazing. Coincidentally it was carnavales in Pola and my parents got a hoot out of watching the parade on our way to a pre-dinner drink. Then when our parents called it a night we girls went out on the town, in costume of course (as per carnival tradition). It was super entertaining. I always have a good time when I go see Marta and when we go out with her friends, but being there for a special occasion was all the more fun. The next day Martita and I got our tired butts out of bed to go to Oviedo and play tour guides for my mom and dad. I was actually really excited because I hadn't been there since the winter break I went to visit them and it's probably my favorite city in all of Europe. We spent the morning seeing the sights and checking out the market. Marta's parents speak a little bit of English and her mom studied history/archaeology so they were a big help to our tourism effort. After that we proceeded to have the best meal I've ever had in Spain (not exaggerating!) at a downtown restaurant called La Corte de Pelayo. It was a nice way to spend time with them before bidding "hasta luego."

I think we were all a bit sad to say goodbye but I was really happy when my dad later said that Asturias was the highlight of the trip for him. My mom's was that and San Sebastian where I took them one day to see the beautiful Basque coast (and eat pintxos, claro!). My mom nearly cried when she saw the view from the beach and Santa Clara Island. It truly is spectacular.

The other amazing things we did were:

• Spend a day in Burgos. I really wanted my parents to see Castilla y León but a long and pointless trip to Valladolid wasn't in the cards so the magnificent Gothic cathedral was the next best thing. We toured the catedral and dined on authentic Castilian morcilla.

• Spend a day in Pamplona. Since I've spent so much time in the Navarran capital these last two years I had to take my parents see the medieval walled city, loved by Hemingway and bull runners everywhere. And yes, mine and David's parents actually met. And no, it was not a disaster! Hahaha. We were both really nervous, because, duh, that's a nerve-wracking situation, but also because of the language barrier. But the night went off without a hitch, having dinner at a traditional sidrería with our parents and David's brother and sister-in-law, both of us using our best interpreting skills. Plus it was really fun, which I don't think either of us expected.

• Vitoria with Ron and Jullie. As if the week couldn't have been anymore jam-packed with fun and ecitement, my sister and her husband made their way to V-G from their England/France holiday adventure. Amazing. I was so content to have my family members all together with me in Vitoria; I felt truly blessed.

• The last day of my parents' stay in Spain was spent in Bilbao. My mom and I hit up the Guggenheim and did a little shopping in the largest Basque city. It was my first time in Bilbao, apart from just passing through, so I really enjoyed it, despite being sad that my parents were leaving. What a great visit!!!