Ok so this is stupid

Trying to give a big shove to the plate.

Touching the trailing edge of our plate.

We are actually touching the trailing edge of the North American Plate!!!! How can you NOT think this is cool ;-)

I've been waiting for this!

We are in the rift valley on Iceland standing between the north American and Eurasian plates!! How freaking cool. They are diverging at about 2 cm per year. Can u see it ;-)

Farewell espanol

Time to leave beautiful Spain and move on to Iceland. We've had a great time!

Once is enough

We decided to drop in on the tiny country of Andorra. The subject line says it all.

We're here

And it's been raining for two days. But we r excited and having fun. Our sign is located in a spot that Lance is sure to see--on his climb to the top of the Col de Tourmalet! Viva la Tour!!

The Peleton

They are traveling down the Col de Tourmalet at ~100 km/h!

O-M-G!!!!!!

Words can not express how very cool this was! Not only that--I swear when I yelled 'go Lance' he turned his head and looked back at us. Even Paul stopped taping and commented about it.

More friendly Americans

Before the race passes.

Breakfast pizza

By the time we got here all of the bread in the town was sold out and markets were closed. So we decided to order a pizza to take home for breakfast--a salmon pizza with white sauce and...lemon slices? Yes--and it was strangely good!

Tour eve

How exciting--didn't I already say that?

Carpe diem

Life is short--seize the day! Tomorrow
we see Lance, Andy Schleck the leader and Contador--the bad boy ;-(

How exciting

We are here with million other tour fans

On our way to the Pyrenees mountains to see our cycling hero Lance Armstrong. Picked up some paint and brushes in the town so we could paint a big sign that will read--Lance thanks for living strong! In reference to his charity. Paul thinks that might be too long for the queen size bed sheet we'll be writing on--will see. We will get to view the race two days. Will watch tomorrow with end of race at Pau. Will try to be at the top of the Col de Tourmalet on Thursday when they finish. This is his last Tour so--Go Lance!!

Paul's crepe...

Yes Paul's. It's too easy to get fat here!

St Emillion France

Came to tour the Bordeaux region of France and was told to stay here. St Emillion was designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO. Wine is good too ;-)

Dinner at our hotel

If u go to Guethary stay at The Madrid Hotel and ask for room #5.

It's pronounced...

Guethary France. I highly recommend.

Beautiful flowers

Along a street in Guethary.

Geology info

Finally found out about the geology around here. All these upturned bed are the result of a collision between the Iberian plate and the Eurasian plate 40 million years ago--forming the Pyrenees mountains--where Lance Armstrong will be riding his bike in a couple of days :-) The vid is of the ripple marks that formed on the ocean floor ~80 million years ago.

Our French chalet

LOVE this room!

Our magical view

Ocean view

Change in scenery

Didn't plan on it but ended up in France. Today and the next 3 are free days--we had no plans no reservations we just go and see where the road takes us. This can be slightly stressful but always adventurous. So--we found ourselves on the coast of France. Boy the roads are tiny and people drive like they are in the Daytona 500. We wanted a room with a view of the ocean that was inexpensive. Hard to find u say? You'd be right but as usual on these spontaneous situations there happened to be one room left on the little town of Guethary over a restaurant/bar in the curve of the road and right next to the trains. It was a corner room with 2 windows--1overlooking the town/trains and the other the ocean. No AC, phones, or tv and u had to share bathroom/shower with 3 other rooms. It reminded me of old Europe. I fell in luv with it Paul did not. We stayed! And found out later that this is a surfing hotspot Will take pics. Waves are 10-15 feet and pound in on rock wall--no beach!! Crazy surfers!!!

Really cool

You can see the ripple marks.

Beds up close

Here is a pic of the tilting beds that make up this beach.

Life guard station

To all the lifeguards in my oce class--this pic is for u!! This is the lifeguard stand in Deva Spain.

Feet in the ocean

How much fun. Different kind of beac. Kind of muddy.

What beach?

No beach here and for my geology students maybe you can see the bedding planes dipping at~45degree angle into the ocean.

The Atlantic Ocean!!

Made me tear up when we reached the eastern boundary of the AO. We're not in NSB anymore.

Same la Nina

This little one Is obviously dedicated to becoming a matador. After putting down her bull she then began practicing her bow. She kept approaching her reflection in the window and doing the matador bow.

Muy bonito la Nina

I'm probably slaughtering the Spanish language but when Paul and I saw this cute little girl (taller one on the left) out running the el niños I had to have a pic of her. So I started yelling la Nina la Nina and she stopped to look at crazy American women wanting to take her pic. When she figured out what I wanted she started to pose but then 2 other children also wanted in on the pic so also struck a pose. Cute!!

Ole!

It's funny to see the toy of choice here. Kids of all ages are chasing each other with these bullheads on wheels. Other kids will slap a stick on the ground while twirling a cape to 'tame' the bull.

Dinner in the village

On the plaza where it seems all come to visit. It's about 8pm and the restaurants never open until 8:30pm(?). So we sit,have a glass of wine and watch the people.

Cool bottle opener

So--since the cork is also very old they actually open the bottle by heating this thing, which heats the bottle around the neck and they then brush cold water around the neck and the change in temp causes contraction and the bottle opens.

My future wine cooler

This was pretty interesting--the modern winery is actually over 150 years old and keeps many of there old stuff down in tunnels.

Computerized control

Modern storage

Wine tours

Paul and I have gone to a number of wine tours. The pic is of one of the more modern wineries in Spain with it's building having been designed by Frank Gehry. These new modern ones were nice to look at on the outside but the wine-making methods are very antiseptic looking and they use computer technology to monitor the wine. I'll load a number of pics to show u. Paul and I were far more impressed with 2wineries in the village that did it the old fashioned way--the grapes leaves and stems are all dropped into 150 year old clay-lined fermentation pit where the grapes are them stomped!! How can u not love that? After storing in barrels etc. The wine is bottled and stored in caves beneath the city. I couldn't take pics of this cause it's mostly done in the low lit caves and my phone doesn't have a flash.

Muy bonito vista

All villages are atop a hill. Built this way for easy defense back in the day. Here is Paul overlooking the great view. U can see some of the vineyards in the background.

Bogedas Palacio

This is where we are staying in Laguardia. A beautiful vineyard/hotel. I highly recommend to anyone traveling here. Great service, food and of course wine--all nestled within the vineyard.

Big head parade parade

This is the 4th time I've sent this vid so hopefully they won't all show up. The big head parade took place in Pamplona and was part of the festival de la fermin--a part of the running of the bulls.
Paul is a bit under the weather today so we will rest a bit and continue on the wine tours in Laguardia, Spain.

Big heads walking

The crowds follow them down the street to the plaza del toro.

On our way to Rioja wine region (yay!). I'd also like to give a special call out to Martha in NSB. Got your comment--thanks and wanted u to know that Paul and I actually stayed at your lovely B&B our very first night in NSB. Hugs to u all.

Ole Mr. Bull

Mucho loco spaniards. Mucho drunkio too!

And they're off!

Doesn't seem like much but it was fun. Actually a little hard to get a sense of the number of people around mostly because the medics kind of got in the way.

Ouch!

Getting ready for the bodies ;-/

And the band played on

They are a festive people.

Early in Pamplona.

Waiting for the run.

Finally got to our hotel-tired and hungry. Must remember doors in europe push in not pull out--helps when u think they've locked u out. Finally got in where Spanish look at us as those lame amerians. Got the card key went to the room--no Lights no electricity called the front desk. Who new u were supposed to put the cArd key into the wall to get lights? But still no air--who knew we had a remote control for the air conditioner? We Americans are so lame. Thank goodness Spain has wine!!

Spain's renewable energy

SO--while "the most powerful country in the world" embraces it's addiction to fossil fuels, progressive Spain works diligently to increase it's renewable sources of wind and solar. There are some regions that have achieved using 70% consumption from renewables. Time to step it up U. S.!!

Crazy señorita

Our day started out rather rough. We took a taxi to the aeroport to get our rental (boy they drive fast here). Got the car and Paul started driving--in the crazy traffic. Doing fine til we realized small car problem--back to the aeroport to get new car. New car with crazy lady gps we did not like her so turned her off then got VERY lost turned crazy lady gps back on and 8hours later finally made it to Pamplona for the running of the bulls. Trip should have taken 4hours. We learned to love the crazy lady gps!

SCORE!!!!!!!

HOW MUCH FUN!! And how great to just happen to be here at just the right time. Also enjoyed the game thru texting with Ben who now lives all the way over in Seattle. Luv u son. It was fun!

Let the game begin!!

We enjoyed the world cup along with about a million of our new best friends.

Wait 'till tonight

This is the site of tonight's big world cup party.

Touring Barcelona

Fun tour bus. Great way to get our quick view of the city.

Laundry.

They hang their laundry out of their windows. Might try this in florida ;-)

Streets of Barcelona.

Blue lagoon still

Feet enjoying the lounging area before our message.

Blue lagoon

Me by the bridge.

Blue lagoon

10 hour layover in Iceland and a nice soak in the blue lagoon. A hydrothermal spa.

Adventures in packing

Getting ready for our big trip to Spain France and Iceland.