Posts Tagged With: Gibraltar

Settling Back Into My European Home

Posted on January 16, 2013 by emilyeneurope

Coming home to a house that hasn’t been lived in for 24 days can cause a massive headache quickly. Even if you clean it before leaving, it’s bound to feel musty and dirty upon arrival, which is exactly how our house felt when we got back from the States. Since we spent the first few days home cleaning and putting all of our stuff away, we were able to spend the weekend doing a little home decorating to spruce up the place to give it a little facelift for the new year.

The first thing we did was decorate the front entryway table. We use the bottom shelf to house our keys, sunglasses, passports, etc., but the top was feeling a little plain. So, we added the “Home Sweet Home” pillow, the candle display in the middle, an elephant (it’s my favorite animal and can be found all over my house) and a picture frame of Matt and his brother with their grandfather.

Our new and improved entry way.

Our new and improved entry way.

A gorgeous flower display I had to pick up while grocery shopping yesterday.

A lovely flower bouquet to replace my poinsettias.

While out grocery shopping yesterday, I spotted a gorgeous bouquet of flowers filled with whites and yellows and greens and pinks. As much as I love it when Matt buys me flowers, sometimes it’s just nice to buy yourself some instead. My poinsettias were struggling a little after being left unattended for over 3 weeks, so I replaced them with these beauties and my dining/living room area immediately transformed.

Not pictured is a cookbook stand I bought for the kitchen to hold up my favorite Barefoot Contessa cookbook and an old, silver wine bottle coaster that was given to me and Matt by his grandparents immediately following our engagement. Though there is a bottle currently sitting on this, it will stay corked for a little while, because we’re trying to have a “healthier January.” Along with the cookbook, these little trinkets have given my kitchen an extra pizazz.

However, no matter how nice we attempt to make our home, some things about living around here will never change. Sitting in a border queue for an hour means less time spent in my cozy space. Hey, you win some, you lose some…

Here I am just sitting on the airport runway in the border queue.

Here I am just sitting in the middle of the airport runway in the border queue.

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

When it Rains, it Pours

Posted on October 3, 2012 by emilyeneurope
Gibraltar, Spain, Weather, Rain

This is part of the flooded parking lot we use. It looks some cars were lucky, while another had water nearly up to its doors.

I know this saying is usually reserved for events – as in, you have a bad day at work and then on the way home, you get in a minor car accident: “when it rains, it pours.” However, I’m using this catch phrase in a more literal sense. I’m finding that down here in the Spain/Gibraltar region, when it rains, it literally pours. It’s let up since last week, but I’ve been holding onto a couple of pictures that really represent how our area was affected by inclement weather.

Clearly, a region that is referred to as the Costa del Sol doesn’t expect to receive much rain. However, I’ve been told by people who have been here a long time that winter is often associated with rain. Apparently, there was a year that it rained from October until the beginning of April – almost every day. Well, we noticed the effects of heavy downpour last week and if the weather plans on doing the same thing this year, we could be in for some problems. Flooding is a major problem in our area – the dirt parking lot we use every day flooded last week and is still trying to dry out. Side streets in La Linea were completely filled with water and as we drove home on Friday, the main street we use to get to Gibraltar even had some problem areas. I heard that in Malaga (about an hour up the coast from us), people died in floods.

I don’t know what the weather has in store for us this winter, but as much as I love rain, I’m not a fan of flooding.

Gibraltar, Spain, Weather, Rain

A side street in La Linea that basically turned into a lake.

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

Home-made Pizza

Posted on September 27, 2012 by emilyeneurope
Morrison's, Gibraltar, Spain, Pizza Delivery, Pizza-Making Kit, Dinner

Our home-made pizza straight out of the oven!

Here’s the thing about Spain, and in particular, the town we live in – delivery pizza doesn’t exist. Go on, I’ll give you a moment to think about that.

Pizza is just not the same over here. In Ireland, we had Domino’s, and we could even order the pizza online and then track the order like the Domino’s back home. Who doesn’t love to order a pizza for delivery on a rainy night, or for a football game, or just because? Well, after a year of living in Spain, we’ve done tons of research into the ability to order pizza to the house, and it just doesn’t seem to be an option. The pizza places we’ve contacted either don’t deliver, or won’t deliver to our town, Alcaidesa. Therefore, we’ve come up with our own solution: home-made pizza!

Don’t get too excited, though – I don’t make the dough on my own. That’s just a feat I’m not willing to tackle any time soon. After all, how many baking posts have you seen on my blog in all 200+ posts? I actually discovered a pizza-making kit at Morrison’s that works time and time again. It includes the dough, which just needs to be rolled out, and the sauce. It makes two small, square pizzas and any time I make it over to Morrison’s in Gibraltar, I pick it up. The expiration date on it also allows us to keep it for awhile before needing to use it, so I usually stock up on a couple. ;)

Last night, we pulled out the pizza-kit for a quick and easy dinner. Though not the same as delivery, we still get to choose exactly what goes on the pizza and the preparation is simple. We put together a simple combination last night – cheese and salami. We also sprinkled a bit of oregano and red chili flakes on top for added flavor. Thanks to our convection oven (which are a staple in Europe), the cook time was quick and we were eating in no time. From start to stomach, the process most likely took the same amount of time that a delivery would have with an end result that was just as yummy.

Morrison's, Gibraltar, Spain, Pizza Delivery, Pizza-Making Kit, Dinner

Cooking away in the convection oven. Seriously, everyone should have one of these.

Categories: Food | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

I Guess This Means Summer is Over

Posted on September 26, 2012 by emilyeneurope
Rain, Europe, America, US, Ireland, Gibraltar, Spain, Rock of Gibraltar

The view from our bedroom patio. Usually you can see Gibraltar clearly from this vantage point. Not today…

I am one happy girl today – it’s raining! When I woke up this morning, it felt unnaturally dark, or at least darker than it usually is at that time in the morning. As I stumbled to the bathroom for my shower, I noticed the sound of water hitting pavement. Though I was confused for a second in my morning haze, wondering how the shower started without me, it only took a moment to realize the sounds were coming from outside. I rushed to our upstairs patio – lo and behold, the first, hard rain since spring. I couldn’t see the Rock of Gibraltar through the thick downpour. I am officially the crazy one that craves drizzle, or thunder, or a hard downpour.

However, I think this brings a great opportunity to explain something to my American friends. In the US (for the most part), rain doesn’t hinder your day-to-day comings and goings like it would if you lived in Europe. I know that if I were still living in Texas, I would simply cover my head or use an umbrella for the brief run to my car, and then from my car to my place of employment. Many places have parking garages that allow you to stay dry. There are sky-walks in major cities that connect hotels and hospitals to huge shopping centers.

Over here, it is a much different experience. Take today for example: Matt and I drove to the border as we always do. The queue to drive into Gibraltar was far too long to wait in, especially since Matt had a meeting to make. Therefore, we had to go with our daily routine of parking in the dirt parking lot on the Spanish side of the border. Because of the downpour, the dirt parking lot was now a mud parking lot, scattered with puddles the size of small ponds. We parked in the rockiest area we could find and prepared ourselves for the long walk to the border. We zipped up our wind breakers and I tied the hooded part tight to my neck. For good measure, I wrapped a scarf around my head as well – I wasn’t going to let the rain ruin my hair. We then trudged through the mud and water to the border.

Rain, Europe, America, US, Ireland, Gibraltar, Spain, Rock of Gibraltar

He gets me.

By the time we made it, our shoes were already soaked through. Sure, I have boots I could have worn (we did live in Ireland after all), however we were caught off guard by the downpour this morning and didn’t have time to search through our winter/Dublin stash. I’d thought ahead, though, and threw a second pair of shoes into my bag for the office before leaving.

At the border we had to walk with the traffic, because a menacing pool of water had formed in the narrow stretch of pedestrian walkway, making the path impassable. Once on the Gibraltar side, we still had at least a twenty minute walk, or we could wait for a cab or take the bus. Waiting for a cab would mean standing in line in the rain. Taking the bus would mean walking a bit further in the downpour, but we’d be drier faster once on the bus. We chose taxi, because the line wasn’t very long, and we were sharing a small umbrella. When we finally made it to the office, I swapped out my shoes, took off my wind breaker, and was happy to find that my hair was still in order and most of me was dry.

Keep in mind that while I was living in Dublin, this was more of a daily occurrence, but there were some differences. Add whipping wind that doesn’t allow you to use an umbrella. Add a walk to the tram, then a twenty minute walk through the city to the office. Add cold and frigid temperatures. In Europe, it’s not so easy. You cannot simply hop in your car and drive door to door. I am a huge proponent of public transportation, however days like these remind me that life is quite different over here. I am by no means complaining – take the first sentence of this post as proof! However, I thought it would be fun to share how different something as minor as going to work can be when the culture doesn’t allow for the ease or preference of staying dry.

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

When the Lights Go Out

Posted on July 31, 2012 by emilyeneurope
Power Outage, Spain

I feel like every post needs a photo, so just imagine that this monkey is irritated by the power outage…

Even though there isn’t much to say about this, I feel like it needs to be shared. Since I try to keep up with my unique European experiences, I truly think this fits the bill. Yesterday, as I was sitting at my desk at work, editing yet another article, listening to Olympic competition in the background, and otherwise just doing my thing, the power went out – in the entire building. Not so strange, you say? Keep reading.

Luckily, the building has generators, so we were given a little light and if we were hooked up to the Internet line and not wireless, we could continue working on our laptops. However, about thirty minutes later, the Internet line went down. Now, I’m no technical expert, so I can’t explain why I had the Internet for awhile and then why it went away, but it did. With no Internet, we officially had nothing to do. It was at that moment that I realized how utterly dependent we all are on technology. People started to wander around the office aimlessly until we decided to pass the time by playing some card games. Surely, the power would come back on any time – it was the middle of the day.

That’s what we thought until we saw people pouring out of the building and shops closing up outside. Apparently, the power went out over the whole of Gibraltar. Read that again: the ENTIRE COUNTRY OF GIBRALTAR had zero power. Restaurants, shopping centers, dry cleaners, grocery stores…the list goes on and on. When you think of Gibraltar as more than a little peninsula on the southern tip of Spain, it starts to set in just how enormous this is. When news finally spread to us that it wouldn’t be back on for quite awhile, the office called it a day and we made the long and slow trek home. Unfortunately, we drove in yesterday so that we could pick up our dry cleaning, therefore we were stuck waiting in a long border queue with the rest of the masses trying to escape the dark isolation. Matt made a couple jokes about how the Spanish finally found the major electricity line and cut it to piss off Gibraltar – I’m not counting out that possibility just yet…

Today we have power and so it was back to work in the office. It is just so interesting to live in this little place that is just so unique and observe how a situation that would normally affect only a city in the United States, could affect an entire population.

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , , | 2 Comments

Military Training in Gibraltar

Posted on July 19, 2012 by emilyeneurope
Spain, Military Planes, Training, RAF, Royal Air Force, Runway, Tornado

One such aircraft coming in for landing.

For the past few weeks, and for a couple more to come, the RAF Gibraltar (Royal Air Force) has been training their military planes, which basically means they are using the Gibraltar runway for take-off and landing. Through the news that I’ve followed, and the personal experience I’ve had, there is so much I have learned about life in Gibraltar and the constant tension between Gibraltar and Spain.

I recently read an article dated July 2010 that highlighted the tension between Gibraltar and Spain in relation to the military training of Tornadoes from Gibraltar. It was interesting to read that just two years ago, official air space in Gibraltar was not evident – Gibraltar had no territorial waters, therefore no airspace above those waters. It also explained how Alboran, an uninhabited chunk of rock east of Gibraltar, was a site of controversy where military training was concerned. A Mediterranean training area, the lower half is deemed Moroccan airspace and the northern half is deemed Spanish airspace. Morocco had given the British military permission to use it to train, but Spain would not. Again, this was only two years ago.

Since then, military training and commercial flying has become commonplace in Gibraltar, but the tension still seems to resonate between Gibraltar and Spain. From what I’ve understood, and from the stories I’ve heard from locals, Spain holds a huge grudge because Gibraltar is British, not Spanish. However, Gibraltarians continuously vote to remain a British Colony. If you followed the Diamond Jubilee news this summer, you may have heard that Queen Sofía of Spain snubbed Queen Elizabeth II during her celebrations when she cancelled a visit to the UK. This was because of disputes concerning Gibraltar, mainly over fights to do with the fishing waters. And to make matters worse, they are related! This just highlights a fraction of stories I’ve heard – our personal banker who grew up in Gibraltar and my hairdresser who grew up in La Línea have both told me stories of the fighting that happened when they were children.

Spain, Military Planes, Training, RAF, Royal Air Force, Runway, Tornado

Unfortunately, you can’t see the aircraft as well in this one, but I think the fact that it’s coming in just over the cruise ship is pretty cool.

That being said, Gibraltar remains British, which means every so often the RAF trains here. Our personal experience with this has made for an interesting summer. For one, commercial flights cause enough traffic problems on their own. Traffic in and out of Gibraltar must stop when planes take off and land, because it crosses the runway. Add an influx of planes and more frequent stoppage, and life here becomes a cluster of madness. I recently came into work a little late after dropping Christine off at the airport, and it was easily a 45 minute affair. For one, it was impossible to get a taxi, because they were stuck on the other side of the runway. It would have also been idiotic to jump in one only to watch the meter tick while you sit still, waiting for the planes to land one after another. Therefore, I chose to walk, but again, you stand waiting at the gate that keeps you off of the runway. By the time the planes land (or take off) the mass of people has quadrupled, cars are at a standstill in the queue on the other side of the border in Spain, and driving anywhere near the runway in Gibraltar is crazy.

However, Matt and I have instituted a fail-proof routine: for the most part, the military training happens at the same time, so we make sure to come into work earlier. We also don’t risk driving across into Gibraltar for fear of the queue that would await us later in the evening. Once the nuisance was under control from our end, I simply listen to the thunderous roar every day at the office as each Tornado takes to the skies. And thanks to the open roof atop our office, I’ve been able to take a break here and there to see these planes in all their glory. Sometimes, I can’t help but shake my head as I ponder the place I live and the unique experiences that come with it.

*Click on any of the photos to enlarge. Seriously – they’re pretty cool in the larger size. :)

Spain, Military Planes, Training, RAF, Royal Air Force, Tornado, Runway

Hitting the runway and thunderously coming to a stop. I wish you could hear the noise that accompanies these planes.

Categories: Musings | Tags: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fabulous Friday

Posted on July 14, 2012 by emilyeneurope

This post is going to substitute for my failed Mundane Musings post, which may or may not get resurrected. I say “may not” because all the good stuff happens on Friday now! So, in honor of what used to be my musings, here is a look at what Friday had in store for me and Matt.

We get the best food at the office, and yesterday was no exception. On the right you see the European rendition of Southern Fried Chicken. Though it’s not quite as southern as I would have hoped, it was delish. And on the left was a salad with noodles, prosciutto, and asparagus.

How crazy is that low cloud cover over the Mediterranean Sea and surrounding the Rock of Gibraltar?! Beautiful and a tad eerie at the same time…

We went out last night with some coworkers to this Argentinian tapas grill in La Linea, the Spanish town that borders Gibraltar. That plate had ribs, steak, chorizo and potatoes. Don’t worry, the plate of meat was shared.

Towards the end of dinner, I noticed a man walking around selling these light-up ears for only two euros. I mean, come on! Two euros? Sold! A kid at heart, I love things like this. But when Matt and I began our walk back to the car, I noticed a group of kids running around and passed off the ears for their amusement. :)

Categories: Food, Musings, Nightlife | Tags: , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Summer Barbecues

Posted on July 12, 2012 by emilyeneurope

There is nothing quite like lighting up the barbecue during the summer months; hotdogs and hamburgers are the ticket to tasty food and good atmosphere. Barbecues also give you a reason to socialize with friends, because who doesn’t like hanging around the barbecue, drinking a beer and chatting away the early evening? I am not the only one who feels this way over here, because we’ve got a couple summer barbecues under our belt so far. In fact, I think it’s about our turn to reciprocate!

At our friend’s house for an evening barbecue. They cooked up mini-burgers and the best wings I’ve had since coming to Europe!

We will make FIRE!!!

What barbecue isn’t complete without a bit of playtime with newly adopted kitties?

My barbecue “garb.”

At another barbecue in Gibraltar. Check out the view of Africa!

Gibraltar

Sunset on the Rock of Gibraltar.

Categories: Food, Musings, Nightlife | Tags: , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

An Old Friend and a Few Apes

Posted on July 10, 2012 by emilyeneurope
La Finca, Pura Tapa, Spain, Apes, Rock of Gibraltar, Alcaidesa, Sotogrande, Airplanes

From our first evening out and about in Gibraltar

Over the weekend, one of my dearest friends (and an old college roommate) came to visit me all the way down here in Spain/Gibraltar. Christine happened to be travelling in Europe, specifically to visit her aunt in London, so it was much easier for her to take a flight into Gibraltar. I was beyond excited to not just catch-up with an old friend, but to show a fellow American what this unique area of the world is all about.

Christine arrived in Gibraltar on Friday afternoon to hot weather and a bit of craziness in the border town of La Linea. For the past couple of weeks – and for a couple more to come – military planes have been practicing on the Gibraltar runway. Gibraltar is so small that not only are these planes extremely loud (even at the office with the windows closed), but they also cause quite the traffic jam. Before, a few commercial planes would come in and out of Gibraltar in a day; now, it’s a constant stream of take-offs and landings all day long. Since traffic must travel across the runway, every time an aircraft takes off, traffic comes to a halt. So, when I picked up Christine, it was mayhem! Welcome to Gibraltar. :)

Our first activity was lunch on the beach between Sotogrande and Torreguadiaro. There are two fantastic beach bars set up on that beach, and we settled in at one for a couple glasses of tinto verano and huge salads. Following lunch, we went back to the house to change clothes and head back to Gibraltar for a night out. We met Matt for a drink and then enjoyed dinner at Gaucho’s. This was the first time Matt met Christine in person, so I was delighted to introduce him to one of my best friends. Following a delicious dinner of Argentinian steak and sea bass, we met up with a group of friends at the casino for drinks and spent the rest of the evening playing in Gibraltar.

Africa, La Finca, Pura Tapa, Spain, Apes, Rock of Gibraltar, Alcaidesa, Sotogrande, Beach, Gaucho's, Airplanes

Proof of the incredible wind at Europa Point (Morocco in the background). I was not into it!

On Saturday we took it easy and I showed Christine what the neighborhood has to offer. We went to the Alcaidesa beach and set up our chairs close enough to put our feet in the water. Unfortunately, a bit of fog rolled in, but we decided it was okay because we were still getting sun and it kept the extreme heat at bay. Time flew by down at the beach and before you know it, it was late afternoon. We went back up to the house to hang by the pool for a little bit, then got ready for another night out. This time, it was the Spanish night life that we wanted to share. Dinner was at one of our favorite tapas restaurants, Pura Tapa. We feasted on our favorite dishes and a few new ones, then made our way to the Alcaidesa beach bar. It was a little too early for dancing, but we ran into some co-workers and joined them for drinks on the beach.

Spain, La Finca, Pura Tapa, Apes, Rock of Gibraltar, Sotogrande, Alcaidesa, Airplanes, Gaucho's, Beach

Just hanging with the apes!

On Sunday, we took Christine sightseeing in Gibraltar. Who comes to Gibraltar without going to the top of the rock to see the apes? Luckily for us, there was no line going into Gibraltar, so we drove across and took her to Europa Point first. Europa Point is the closest point to Africa, and the views are phenomenal. Unfortunately, the wind was fierce that day, so we only spent enough time to take a couple of pictures before making our way to the cable car. At the top of the rock, the apes were out in full force doing their thing and as always, Matt ended up with an ape on him. During this visit, there was some sort of dissension among the pack and a group of apes ended up in a big fight. In the middle of the chaos, they all charged in my direction, one ape nearly taking me out as it collided with my leg. Needless to say, I was screeching and hopping around trying to get out of the action!

After a day in the sun on the rock, we decided to cool down with a drink at the Caleta Hotel, followed by dinner in Spain at our other favorite spot, La Finca. As always, the food, the drinks, and the service at La Finca were wonderful, making for a perfect end to the weekend. I was so sad to see Christine go on Monday. It’s not often that my American friends can make over to this part of the world, so I was thrilled to get to share my life with her. And, of course, it was so great getting to spend time with my old friend. We vowed to make this a tradition, but next time, we’ll take a trip to some place new!

Spain, La Finca, Pura Tapa, Apes, Rock of Gibraltar, Sotogrande, Alcaidesa, Airplanes, Gaucho's, Beach

The ape den in all its glory.

Spain, La Finca, Pura Tapa, Apes, Rock of Gibraltar, Sotogrande, Alcaidesa, Airplanes, Gaucho's, Beach

The obligatory picture of me and Matt (at Pura Tapa).

Spain, La Finca, Pura Tapa, Apes, Rock of Gibraltar, Sotogrande, Alcaidesa, Airplanes, Gaucho's, Beach

We should start calling him the “monkey man.”

Spain, La Finca, Pura Tapa, Apes, Rock of Gibraltar, Sotogrande, Alcaidesa, Airplanes, Gaucho's, Beach

At La Finca on our last night.

Categories: Musings, Nightlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Weekend Wrap-Up

Posted on June 25, 2012 by emilyeneurope
Germany, Spain, Italy, France, England, Euro 2012, Sunshine, Summer, Food, Gibraltar

The scene in Gibraltar at kickoff of the Germany game.

Over the weekend, Matt and I decided to experience what Alcaidesa and Gibraltar have to offer during the summer months, which started Friday in Gibraltar immediately following work. The Euro 2012 (soccer for you Americans!) is currently the forefront of entertainment and competition over here, so we joined a large group of our German friends to watch the Germany vs. Greece game. I’ll tell you what – there is nothing quite like watching two countries battle it out. While we take sports in America very seriously, Europeans leave nothing on the table when it comes to loyalty for their nation’s team. Our viewing party took place at Savannah’s in Gibraltar, situated on the marina in Ocean Village. The restaurant is currently operating a huge outdoor television and by the start of the game, the entire surrounding area was packed – it was a good thing we had a reservation! Germany ended up winning the match and in the process, I learned some “colorful” German cheering language.

Germany, Spain, Italy, France, England, Euro 2012, Sunshine, Summer, Food, Gibraltar

Steak and veggie kabobs on the grill!

Saturday greeted us with cloudy skies, much to my dismay. We had plans for friends to come over with their children to swim and it just didn’t look like it would be in the cards. Instead, Matt and I made a big trip to the grocery store to stock up on food and drink for the weekend and following work week. Luckily, the sun came out for a bit during the late afternoon, so we did a bit of sunbathing and swimming. For dinner, we grilled out another recipe courtesy of Eat, Live, Run, and once again, we were not disappointed. The steak and veggie kabobs with a creamy avocado dipping sauce were incredible. I got to use my food processor, which always make me idiotically happy, and Matt’s marinade for the steak was superb.

Following dinner, Matt and I made our way down to the restaurant at the bottom of the hill. Our plan was to watch the Spain vs. France match with the locals, followed by some nighttime partying on the beach. As for the match – a couple pints, warm outdoor seating and a Spanish win made for a delightful evening. We even ordered a plate of broiled tuna to feed to the stray neighborhood cats that were lurking around the patio. Following the match we walked down to the beach to see what was going on for La Noche de San Juan, and unfortunately, there really wasn’t much happening. However, the beach bar was in full-swing with pumping music and late night party-goers, so we joined in on the fun. We chatted with some other Alcaidesa residents and stayed out a little past our bedtime. ;)

Germany, Spain, Italy, France, England, Euro 2012, Sunshine, Summer, Food, Gibraltar

I got to play with this little guy!

Sunday gave us brighter weather, so we had our friends over for the promised swim. There really is nothing cuter than two little ones laughing and splashing around in a pool. Thanks to the planned pool day, Matt and I now own an array of pool toys, most notably a pair of water guns that pretty much ensured not a single person would leave the yard dry – especially not after the kids learned how they work.

After a full weekend, Sunday evening was spent quietly, and that’s exactly what we needed. We used the leftover steak and vegetables from our skewers the night before and turned them into quesadillas, adding cheese and sour cream to the inside, and again using the avocado dipping sauce as a very nice compliment on the side. We opened all of the doors to let the breeze in and settled in to watch the England vs. Italy game. Unfortunately, England wasn’t as lucky as Spain and Germany, because their tournament dreams ended on penalty kicks. Alas, I wasn’t even able to make it to the conclusion of the game…I fell fast asleep midway through the second half. Apparently beach bars and a day of sunshine with adorable and lively children was enough to zap my energy.

Germany, Spain, Italy, France, England, Euro 2012, Sunshine, Summer, Food, Gibraltar

That would be Matt in a German soccer jersey, much to the delight of our German friends.

Germany, Spain, Italy, France, England, Euro 2012, Sunshine, Summer, Food, Gibraltar

The most popular toy in question – the “water gun.”

Categories: Musings, Nightlife | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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