Video Call from Karlsruhe

Aunt Cristine and niece Rachel checked in this afternoon via Skype, and we turned on the video cams. Above, a screen capture of the video call at my end. Rachel also showed Cristine how to IM (instant message) using Skype, and together we showed Cris some of the more interesting if not useful emoticons, such as:

)o(

Starbucks

Valencia now has not one but two Starbucks. We paid a quick visit to the newest one on Sunday when touring Rachel around downtown. Rachel has lived all her life in the USA, has even been to Seattle, but, LOL, the first time she went to a Starbucks was today in Spain....

Parting Shots

We enjoyed very much having Rachel here with us these past few days. I put her on the plane this morning bound for Frankfurt (GER) via Madrid. She will train to Karlsruhe and stay with "Aunt Cristine" for a few days, then on Friday head to Bitburg to visit a friend of hers stationed at the US Air Force base there.

On Sunday Rachel flies home to Michigan, having completed a whirlwind European trip -- her first. A few of the many shots Rachel took over the past couple days that she asked be posted here....

Yesterday, Rachel and Leslie strolled on the Puzol town beach, near our home. The beaut early summer weather we enjoyed over the weekend continues this week with temps in the 70s.

The view from the Puzol beach erosion-prevention pier that also doubles as a fishing pier. The homes up on the hill, more or less behind the foot of the pier, is our neighborhood.

Valencia's bull ring.

Sunday evening, "Uncle Tom" at home in the family cabin. Am just leaving to drive the 20 mins or so into Valencia to give another talk at the team base for a group from BMW.

For Grandma Jan and Sister Ruth

Saturday evening "deener" at Casa Ehman. Nice Argentine beef marinated by Leslie and grilled to near perfektion on the barbecue.



Meg and Rachel in front of USA-61, the 2000-era Cup boat now used as a "show boat", outside of the BMW ORACLE Team Base in the Port America's Cup in Valencia on Sunday.



To think that TFE Sr and Jan are only 20 years older than Jr, yet Jr is 40 years older than Meg. Yikes, Meg, you got old-fart parents! Photo by Rachel.

Rachel Arrives in VLC

Sister Ruth's oldest, Rachel, arrived in VLC this evening after an overnight flight from Detroit to Frankfurt, and then connecting through Madrid -- her first trip to Europe. Rachel took the 20-hour journey in stride and was none the worse for wear. Tonight, after raising a glass at dinner to the memory of "Aunt Ethel" (Rachel's grandmother -- see previous post) we got Grandma Jan on the speakerphone....