Thursday we had a lazy morning then went to the beach. We had lunch at the beach restaurant where the kids and I ate early in the month on our first trip to the beach. Paul, Lydia and I swam in the Mediterranean Sea. Thanks to the high salt content I can actually float in the water and not sink like a stone. I saw little fish. Liam played in the surf and Maretta waded and bought some pareo cloth wraps from the sellers on the beach.
On the way to the metro station we bought a few souvenirs. We were nearly to our stop by the apartment when Paul was pickpocketed. There was an old man who I think was trying to warn us of the pickpockets (understanding Spanish would have really been helpful). When the crowded metro car cleared out Paul realized the men near us had lifted his wallet out of the lower front Velcro pocket on his pants leg. Paul didn’t feel a thing. He was playing close attention to the bag he was carrying with the towels and souvenirs and the bag Maretta was carrying (as well as Liam).
I thought we should go back a stop where the men got off and check the trash cans so we did. No luck. I went out both metro exits and checked the trash cans on the street. No luck. On my way out of the metro I stopped at an office and told the woman who came to the door that my husband had just been pickpocketed. On my way back into the metro I saw to security men in orange vests ahead of me so I told them Paul had been pickpocketed. One of the men was carrying an manila envelope and didn’t seem to understand what I was saying. Luckily his partner understood some English and told me we could report the theft downtown or something like that. The first guy opened the envelop and took out a wallet as he opened the wallet the cards spilled onto the ground and there was Paul’s id and credit cards! That’s it! I yelled. The security guys wanted me to come with them but I got them to understand I wanted to go get Paul who was waiting for me on the metro platform. We quickly went back to the security guard. They had Paul go upstairs to the office of the woman I first talked to and sign a form and they gave him back his wallet. It was found in the corner near the elevator. So glad to have it back. It would have created lots of challenges having to cancel and replace everything especially since we are leaving the country in 3 days. Crisis averted.
On the way to the metro station we bought a few souvenirs. We were nearly to our stop by the apartment when Paul was pickpocketed. There was an old man who I think was trying to warn us of the pickpockets (understanding Spanish would have really been helpful). When the crowded metro car cleared out Paul realized the men near us had lifted his wallet out of the lower front Velcro pocket on his pants leg. Paul didn’t feel a thing. He was playing close attention to the bag he was carrying with the towels and souvenirs and the bag Maretta was carrying (as well as Liam).
I thought we should go back a stop where the men got off and check the trash cans so we did. No luck. I went out both metro exits and checked the trash cans on the street. No luck. On my way out of the metro I stopped at an office and told the woman who came to the door that my husband had just been pickpocketed. On my way back into the metro I saw to security men in orange vests ahead of me so I told them Paul had been pickpocketed. One of the men was carrying an manila envelope and didn’t seem to understand what I was saying. Luckily his partner understood some English and told me we could report the theft downtown or something like that. The first guy opened the envelop and took out a wallet as he opened the wallet the cards spilled onto the ground and there was Paul’s id and credit cards! That’s it! I yelled. The security guys wanted me to come with them but I got them to understand I wanted to go get Paul who was waiting for me on the metro platform. We quickly went back to the security guard. They had Paul go upstairs to the office of the woman I first talked to and sign a form and they gave him back his wallet. It was found in the corner near the elevator. So glad to have it back. It would have created lots of challenges having to cancel and replace everything especially since we are leaving the country in 3 days. Crisis averted.
Friday Paul met Lourdes at her office at the University. Maretta and the kids and I stayed at the apartment most of the day. Maretta and I ventured out to La Rambles (long pedestrian street) and La Boqueria (large produce, meat, cheese and fish market). Later that night we went to see the light and music show at the Magic Fountain. Lovely. We made one last stop at our favorite chocolate shop to say goodbye to the very nice man (I think the owner) who was so kind and remembered us on our return visits. Unfortuntely he was not there but we left a message for him.
Saturday we went to Pablo and Elena’s house for barbeque. We had a delicious dinner at with Pablo, Elena and their friend Guillermo. Pablo grilled beef cuts and chorizo sausages. Elena made a family recipe salad that is typical of Spain as well as flan. Yummy! They are very fun and we all had a good time. Hopefully they will travel again to Wisconsin. Their little boy will have been born next time we see them.
We went home, packed, cleaned up and prepared to depart. We did some last minute laundry that we hoped would be dry by the time we had to leave.
Sunday we got up early (4:30am!) and flew to Edinburgh for the last leg of our trip.
Goodbye Spain- Hello Scotland!
Saturday we went to Pablo and Elena’s house for barbeque. We had a delicious dinner at with Pablo, Elena and their friend Guillermo. Pablo grilled beef cuts and chorizo sausages. Elena made a family recipe salad that is typical of Spain as well as flan. Yummy! They are very fun and we all had a good time. Hopefully they will travel again to Wisconsin. Their little boy will have been born next time we see them.
We went home, packed, cleaned up and prepared to depart. We did some last minute laundry that we hoped would be dry by the time we had to leave.
Sunday we got up early (4:30am!) and flew to Edinburgh for the last leg of our trip.
Goodbye Spain- Hello Scotland!