Madrid

Hi All,

Started the day touring the Prado, the National Museum of Spain. Lots of magnificent art including a special Goya exhibit. Sadly, no photos allowed.

Next was a hop-on, hop-off bus tour of the Madrid historic district. Some interesting commentary though it was, at times, hard to tell which building the narrator was talking about. Limited photo ops from the bus but here are some interesting images.

Not many birds in downtown Madrid

We will be returning to the America's, some silver pillaged by the Spanish in the 16th and 17th century.

Tomorrow we leave the Schultzs in Madrid and fly to Barcelona.

Merry Christmas to our Christian friends.

Love,

Elliot & Roberta, Sandy & Carl 

Salamanca

Hi All,

We took the speed train to Salamanca with the Schultz's daughter Kim and her husband Sean.

The "New" Cathedral was built between 1513 and 1733.

In the 1970's the facade was restored and the architect wanted to add modern elements, sooo along with the saints and gargoyles we have an astronaut!

Like most cathedrals of the period the organ is immense.

Once again the choir seating is ornately carved wood.

The new cathedral was built adjacent to the "Old" 13th century cathedral. The original intent was to tear down the old one but it was decided to keep it. Even the original wall painting has survived.

Kim & Sean picked a great restaurant where we enjoyed a delightful lunch

and lots of beverages. Do we need more glasses!!!

The Torre Del Clavero is a 15th century defensive fortress.

Thank you Kim & Sean for a wonderful day in Salamanca.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Happy Birthday Elliot

Hi All,

Our dear friend Elliot has just completed his 80th trip around the sun.

He doesn't look a day over 65. Happy Birthday from us and all the many other people who love you.

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Test message

Sandy & Carl
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
greenbaum2@gmail.com
www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com
617-435-8502

Electric Night

Hi All,

One of the most stunning APOD photos ever.

It may appear, at first, like the Galaxy is producing the lightning, but really it's the Earth. The featured nighttime landscape was taken from a southern tip of the Italian Island of Sardinia in early June. The foreground rocks and shrubs are near the famous Capo Spartivento Lighthouse, and the camera is pointed south toward Algeria in Africa. In the distance, across the Mediterranean Sea, a thunderstorm is threatening, with several electric lightni ng strokes caught togetherduring this 25-second wide-angle exposure. Much farther in the distance, strewn about the sky, are hundreds of stars in the neighborhood of our Sun in the Milky Way Galaxy. Furthest away, and slanting down from the upper left, are billions of stars that together compose the central band of our Milky Way.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Omaha

Hi All,

Catching up on emails. 

We got to Omaha the day before Yom Kippur. We drove to Audubon, IA to visit our 99 year old friend Mary Ellen. Her mobility is limited but she is still sharp as a tack. With five surviving children, 17 grand children and 33 great-grand children she still keeps busy sending computer birthday cards!

For Yom Kippur we, once again, attended services at Temple Israel in Omaha. This is a huge (700+ member families) congregation built on a Tri-Faith campus along with a church and a mosque.

Two rabbis, an operatic cantor, 12 voice choir, pianist, cellist and an oboist rounded out the celebrants. The services and melodies  were unfamiliar to us but we were certainly glad we attended.

Prior to the closing service, we participated in a session of "sacred texting".  We connected our cell phones to the temple SMS server and our texted  responses to questions like "How have I failed this year " and " How do I hope to improve next year" streamed on big projection screens and were read by the rabbis and cantor. Without attribution of course.

Two more days driving brought us to Indianapolis.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Wind

Hi All,

Our Friday drive to Rawlings, WY was uneventful but when we arrived the wind was 30 mph with gusts to 45.

We considered "turtleing up" where we keep our slide outs in to prevent the wind from damaging the slide awnings.

Once parked we realized the wind was on our nose and posed little risk to our awnings.

Today when we started out we saw signs warning of "Extreme Blowover Risk".

We checked the WYDOT web site and found this!!!

As if to reinforce the potential danger we spotted a blown over tractor trailer along the interstate.

We stopped east of Laramie for over an hour then checked the weather forecast and proceeded cautiously, prepared to pull over if needed.

Not much more drama, we arrived safely in Ogallala, NE.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502