Masingill's Spain Adventure: San Juan

So it's Sunday morning @ 9:00. I think the whole family has finally gotten their Spain legs. Yesterday was another day of rain but true to form, we went about our day umbrellas and all. We started by going to Megan's favorite bar (restaurant) for some sandwiches. As it turns out, they were full blown hoagies w/ freshly carved chicken, prosciutto, sliced hard boiled eggs, lettuce, tomato and some sort of mayo based sauce. Very American in its size. We got them to go and walked to Mount of Urgull. Our reward, if we get to the top, is the fortress that protects the city from the sea and a large statute of Jesus. My first question, when I got up there, was going to be to ask what happened to the Broncos? The assent is only about 1/2 hour but it started raining harder about 2/3 of the way up. We took shelter in a tunnel and decided that this was as good a place as any place to have our sandwiches. I ate all of mine as did Staci because it was just too good to stop. Kids finished half and if it hadn't stopped raining, I probably would have finished theirs as well. Its a public service that I provide so nothing goes to waste and is a burden that I gladly take on! When we got back out of the tunnel, we realized that it was getting late and that we still had to shop for tomorrow's dinner. Stores are not open on Sunday so it had to be done. We are having Megan's host family over for Sunday dinner and have a lot of preparation and cooking to still do. I made the executive decision to split the team up and send Staci and Megan back down to start the shopping and Ryan and I would make he sacrifice to continue the arduous hike up and get the answer to the Bronco question that has been nagging at me for several weeks :). We made it to the top and I was asked to keep the answer to myself. Sorry! Back down in the town, we found Staci and Megan at the market and there was some stress in the air. After filling the pull carts with some groceries, Staci decided that this market didn't have the things we needed so they proceeded to retrace their steps and put the items back where they belonged. I would have left them but that's just me! They did get some great fish at a fishmonger and on the way out there was a great deli that we picked up numerous cheeses and meats. Yum! Megan did all the talking and we got it done! After that Staci went to the grocery store near our apartment and Ryan and I, once again, made the sacrifice to carry the fish and cheeses back to the apartment. Feeling a twinge of guilt, I walked to a cafe to have an afternoon cafe solo and wait for them to walk by so I could help carrier the load. As it turns out, providence intervened and they took another route home. I was forced to sit there and enjoy another cafe. :)

Later......we met Eva and Megan's friend Rachael to walk to the bus station. We were heading to San Juan. Off the bus, we jumped on a water taxi to head over to what appears to be a small island but is actually a peninsula. San Juan is a small fishing village but has many wonderful restaurants. We got over there around 6:30 and walked around because none of them open until 8:30. The views and town were beautiful (shots to follow). Around 8:00, we found a bar and stopped in for some cervesa and watched a soccer match. The girls, save Staci, drank Coke and red wine... ick! The patrons were very much into the soccer match and if it was up to me we would haved stayed in this little slice of heaven all night. On to dinner at Restaurante Nicolasa which is right on the water. Ordered up some excellent Vino Tinto bread and appetizer. Ryan, Eva and myself ordered the black ink calamari which is one of my favorite things so far. Ryan, I think, liked his but didn't love it but finished it nonetheless. Staci and Rachael got the fish w/ lemon and butter sauce and Megan, surprise, got the steak. Dessert was in the cards and we rolled out of there around midnight. Bus back to San Sebastian and in bed by 1:00. An early night! (Sorry about the order of the pictures but have to meet press time)