Today was our first official day in Spain.

As always, the adventure continues and I will give my take on it from the last couple days.

Leaving Calgary was pretty surreal, as all the years of planning and preparing were finally coming to fruition.  It's amazing how difficult it is too pack for a year long holiday.  I know we left half the stuff we need at home, but that's okay, we brought twice as much crap as we need with us.  Apparently when you are packing for winter, and your from Calgary, you have a weird idea that winter is cold.  We have more cold weather gear than we need and not nearly enough +30 degree summer gear. I think we have the only down filled parka's in Spain, and I can definitely guarantee you that no one has long underwear on...(I have even taken mine off!).

The flight to Amsterdam (dubbed Hamsterdam by Brae) was uneventful, except that neither kid slept the whole flight.  It made for some pretty tired kids on arrival.  We touched down at 8:00 am local time, making it midnight back home, All of us were pretty tired, but we decided to head into the city to do a quick walk as opposed to sitting in the airport for the 9 hour lay over.  I cost us 20 euro for the train ride, (1 stop) and we had no idea where to go, what to see, or even if we could stay awake long enough to enjoy anything.  After 30 minutes walking, we were all pretty baked, so we wanted a quick bite and a rest.  Guess what they sell at the coffee shops and bakeries!!!!! I had thought it might be a couple shops hidden from the main area, but I was wrong.  They sell pot in Amsterdam, and a lot of it.  The first cafe we thought about going into...420 cafe, it was Jaedyn's choice.  I am really looking forward to returning there to do some real exploring when we are rested and relaxed :).

The next flight was pretty calm as well,  I slept from take off, to almost touch down, as I was sitting across the aisle from the family.  Jaedyn slept most of the way, sprawled across Kris and half the aisle, I dont' know if Brae slept...I was asleep.  Arrival in Spain and no Customs, as we cleared in Amsterdam.  We landed and followed the crowd to the baggage area, making jokes and taking bets how many bags we would lose.  We checked 7 and I figured at least one would be missing.  Have you ever sat and in the baggage area and watched every bag come off the plane, the area empty out of all but a couple people, and not have a single bag come out?  I guessed wrong, we had lost of them.  I was quite funny, as we weren't even mad, just tired and drained....one more issue we would find a way to solve!!! We probably waited close to an hour, and the airport was pretty much deserted, when I went for a walk to try to find someone.  I found all our bags in this secure area about 100 meters or more away from where we were waiting.  Instead of going to get Kris, I ran in and grabbed the luggage off the carousel, and loaded them onto 2 carts.  It was then, I realized, I was in a secure area, with 7 heavy bags, and no identification or passport, and the family had no idea where I was.  I couldn't leave the bags to go get them, nor did I have anyway of contacting them to come help me. Not the best start to a foreign country, but not the worst either!!

I will let Kris talk about the long taxi ride to the hotel from the airport,

CIAO
Shane.