Travelers

It’s been another busy week.  I know, you’re just so surprised.  We did have fun though.  Sunday after our talks and my lesson, we went to the airport and picked up the Merrills.  I was so glad for name tags.  We had no trouble recognizing them.  We were pleased to have made it to the airport without getting lost.  Then we had to find their hotel.  We made it even though our Tomtom didn’t have the exact address.  Some streets are short enough that there aren’t house numbers. We still found it.

Monday we visited 3 hospitals with them.  The first was actually more of an urgent care clinic type place which was just down the street from the mission office.  We were impressed with their facility and the man who showed us around.  He told us that they are part of a group that has 23 clinics and hospitals all over Spain. That would save us lots of work if we like them and if they like us.  The clinic has 2 ambulances which look just ours inside.  Spain has an emergency system but the ambulances are owned by particular facilities, if I understood correctly.  You can still request the place you are taken to though (I think).  That afternoon we visited a beautiful hospital in a city between Fuen and Malaga.  This place caters to rich foreigners and has rooms nicer than most hotels.  They are private rooms but have 2 beds so that family can stay with the patient.  They have all the bells and whistles medically too.  The last hospital we saw was in Malaga and was just as nice, with all the equipment and specialties.  It is also part of the Quiron group like the first place and they told us that they have an agreement with AETNA.  The church is trying to set up worldwide coverage for the missionaries with AETNA so that would be super convenient.  Up to now, missionaries have had to pay up front and get reimbursed which is sometimes hard for them.  We will see if this works. 

The next day we drove for 5 hours to Murcia.  We drove through the mountains which were so beautiful, covered with snow.  The clouds behind them were almost glowing and it was sometimes hard to see where mountains ended and clouds started.  At the base of the mountains were miles of fruit trees.  Some of them are just starting to bloom.  Some were the same white flowers as almond trees, but some were pink, maybe some other fruit.  We found our hotel after one false start.  You have to put in the postal code, not just the city.  There were 2 streets with the same name.  Oops.  It was a beautiful, fancy hotel.  We ate lunch there, which was expensive but very delicious.  Instead of bread to eat while you wait for your meal, they offered a dish with green olives in 1 section, and potato chips in the other.  They had an amazing breakfast buffet too.   The thing was, after traveling with Dr Merrill, we were wary of eating cold meats.  He and his wife have served 6 previous missions, most of which were in Africa.  He spent a lot of our travel time teaching us about some of the illnesses he saw and how to prevent them.  He worked as a GYN Dr, but when he was called to Africa, he studied and became an expert on these tropical diseases.  Sooo, Wash Everything, and cook meats and eggs completely!  Our food comes from all over the world, and isn’t necessarily safe.  He says to soak fruits and veggies in bleach water for 2 minutes, even bananas, even if peeling them.  He also advises heating any cold meats, including cold cuts, before eating.  As we stopped to eat ‘on the road’, he had all our sandwiches toasted, which works fine for me.  He is a Coke Zero lover and claimed that it would kill intestinal worms. I am not sure if he was justifying his drink of choice or if it really works.  His wife is so cute.  She commented after a while, ‘We don’t get invited to eat out with people very much.”  So funny.  They have 8 kids, 5 were adopted.  One daughter has MS and tells them that she misses them while they are gone and loves to have them visit, but that she is stronger and healthier when they are out on their missions.  Claim your blessings, kids! 

 We saw 2 hospitals in Murcia and then on the next day drove another 1 ½ hours to see one in Alicante.  The third day we drove to Sevilla.  That is Seville as in the ‘Barber of’.  The hotel was cool, modern inside and the Stake center was just across the street.  The coolest part however was the entrance to the parking garage.  It was an elevator.  You drive into a box, push your floor, the door closes, and you wait for a while.  The first time we didn’t even feel it move.  Then the back door opens and you are 2 floors down.   Amazing! 

 

 

  We saw a hospital that evening.  Rod and I went out after we got home and walked a blopck over to see Puente del Alamillo. You can find it on Google if you want to see day time photos.  I loved mine. 

The pedestrian walkway is down the middle. The bright spot on the right 'wire' is the moon.

looking toward the 'back' of the bridge

looking back to where we started.

 

The next morning we had no hospitals to see, so Rod and I (the Merrills aren’t up to a lot of walking) went downtown and saw the Cathedral.  It is the 3^rd biggest in the world, by volume, the largest.  We were in our first traffic jam there too.  The architecture is fascinating, with a strong Moorish influence.  I was glad to take some photos.  That wasn’t an option when we were driving.  It takes a driver and a copilot here. 

A small door.

Just one side's support.

 

The organ pipes are on two seperate walls, all with hand carved wood around them.

looking up

One side of the nave, not even the whole length.

I liked how the light looked streaming in.

These figures are carrying Christopher Columbus tomb.

notice the height and the open door

 

That same door.

One of 2 paintings by Goya

A nativity window.

The angel offering the baby Rod's favorite food

Outside the Cathedral.

A street in Sevilla  Note the arches and tile. 

The day after Sevilla, we drove to Cadiz.  We have to go back there when we have time to see the sights.  It is an ancient city on an island or maybe peninsula in the Atlantic. 

window arches and decorations.

Okay, too many arches, but windows, doors and even just walls.  I love it.

Sunset on the atlantic



That is a wide street here.

 

Their hospital is old, like everything there, but still has the equipment and an attentive staff. A member, Bro Lopez, who is a doctor, drove us around there. We were glad not to be the ones driving for a while.  He also took us to see an urgent care facility in San Fernando, near Cadiz, which will work for our elders.  We felt such a connection with Brother Lopez. It is interesting how quickly that happens sometimes.  We drove home that night, getting to Malaga about 10:30 pm Friday. Saturday we took the Merrills to the airport.  We spent the afternoon buying a new washer.  We will get to use that for only a week and a half, then the Stevens will leave and we will move into their apt.  Just call us gypsies.  At least we can move clean clothes and sheets instead of dirty ones.  Till next time.