Schroder's in Spain: Week Two....Figuring things out.

Well another week has clipped by much faster than the first. So much has happened and we are feeling much better about this big adventure.

STARTING SCHOOL

After less than a week home schooling, the boys wanted to go to the International School with the girls. After the first day Luke discovered there were 5 boys in his grade (3 who don't speak English) and 25 girls. Not a bad ratio for a 16 year old boy.

Luke at school with Cambrie

BUYING A CAR

While talking to a super nice couple at school one morning, we mentioned we were looking to get a car, something for 6 people, like a mini van. After a few moments the husband said enthusiactiscally "I have a van for you!" He scrawled a number on a piece of paper, we called and then were given directions to the garage of an office building downtown. A family on a similar adventure a couple years ago had decided not to ship their van back to the US and were trying to sell it. PERFECT! Holden complained that our new baby blue 2003 Crystler Mini Van would not be a "Spanish chick magnet." "Perfect!" I said again.

"Why did they bother putting chrome rims on a mini van?" says Holden

FIRST SURF TRIP....

For a couple of years Luke has been obsessed with this place in Spain called Mundaka. It is supposed to have the best surfing wave in Europe. After 2 weeks in the city we decided to take the weekend and drive to Mundaka on the Altlantic coast. We let Luke do the research and left it up to him to book the hotel. He assured us it was 4 star on the ocean and had a spa. We were very excited. It took us about 5 hours to reach the coast. Then in the dark, we drove forever on a small windy road with shear cliffs straight down to the ocean searching for the resort Luke reserved. He mentioned that the booking lady said there was a music festival that weekend and so it would be extra fun. We finally made it, and to our surprize Hotels have 10 star ratings around here and so 4 star was...um I will say unexpected. It was 1am, but it seemed the music festival in the park next to our room had just started. We tossed and turned to Spanish folk music all night. Oh one other thing...the decor...

Weird Manaquins in boxes a new decorating idea

MUNDAKA

After some laughs at the creepy hotel Luke picked, Mundaka, proved to be insanely beautiful. It was worth the drive for all of us. Grassy feilds tapering into the ocean, wide sandy beaches, acient ruins on hill tops. fresh air, waves, shells...something for everyone.

Holden and Luke get ready to test the waves.

Getting directions to the beach from a local

BIARRITZ, FRANCE

Something cool about Europe is how you can country hop in an afternoon. From Mundaka we drove an hour up the coast to a place we fell in love with a few years ago....Biarritz. We flipped from "Hola" to "Bonjour", and had an amazing day.

Yum....real french crepes

Both the boys are on this wave

After a great little weekend get away, the drive home was a tiny challege.

"Luke just ignore the girls!" I kept repeating.

SCHRODER'S WELCOME WIGGLY PUFF

Well if history as a clue, how could our family live without a pet for a whole year? One afternoon this week, the girls went for a bike ride and the boys went to "The Rambla" and bought a HEDGEHOG.