Still Getting Settled EN Espania

Today was a bike day. It started with Lynette and I taking a bike ride about 22 kilometers out a road by our house. We just saw some cyclist on it a couple of days ago, so went exploring. Now I know why so many cycling teams use Spain as their home country. The ride was everything you would expect a ride to be in Spain: Rolling hills, Small villages, very little traffic and at the end an old Monastary. The roads were great with a lot of room for cycling.

We also went to Camarara's and fixed up a bicycle for Weston. They have a bike that is about 4 years old but has been rode 3 or 4 times. As it turned out we only had to pump up the tires and adjust one of the brakes. ON the way home I rode 2 bikes and Weston rode a bike. I almost died in Spain (not on the agenda by the way). The handle bares of the 2 bikes got tangled and I lost control I veered out into the on coming traffic but regained control just in time. Pretty scary for me. With 3 bikes we can get around now.

We enjoy the custom of having a large meal at siesta time and a smaller meal later in the evening. I think this may be a habit for the future.

There's not much video today. I just forgot to get it out. Sorry

Our First Sabbath in Burgos

Today we went to church for the first time. There were about 50 people not counting 4-5 babies (that was a more then I expected). I came away with 2 impressions (nothing to do with the talks since I had no clue what they were talking about). During the sacrament I got an overwhelming feeling of love for the members of this branch. Maybe it is because of their faithfulness. They live in a community where everyone is Catholic. It must be very difficult to come to church and have a calling in a place that no one outside the branch knows what that means. It's not easy to be LDS. I think for many it easy to be Catholic. The second impression was that just like Bishop Rife of the Heatheridge 9th ward, Presidente Cardus loves and has a unique concern for his flock of followers of Christ. There is something that comes with those keys to preside that makes me already feel he is a special man. I'm grateful for the church and especially for the restoration of the Priesthood.

Our Saturday in Burgos

We finally got our bikes put together. Lynette and I ran to Camerara's (Pachi and Christina's). I wore a backpack with tools and riding shorts (Lycra). It's only about 5k. (that's 3 miles for you metrically challenged). After a few hang-ups we got our bikes on the road and made our way back to our pisa (apartment for you espanol challenged (me)). The highlight of the day was meeting Pachi in the old section of town then going from "bar" to "bar" eating Tapas: Amazing to say the least. The tapa bars do sell drinks but there is not a lot of drinking going on. Mostly eating tapas which are a snack food. Tapas include spanish version of French fries (Spanish fries?), small sandwiches, hotdogs (perro caliente) and other small bits of very good food. Every weekend the town of Burgos meets in old town to socialize. The since of community is very cool.

Espania Dias Dos

Last night we couldn't sleep. We went to bed at midnight and went to sleep at about 5am. In the morning Lynette and I went for a run. We ran along the river that runs through Burgos. There was an amazing canopy of trees almost he whole way. We then spent the day picking up an air-card and seeing the city. I like this siesta Idea. but I don't like it when you want to get something done between 2 and 5. We ended up eating a 3 course meal that was way too expensive but fun. We walked al through town. everywhere you look there are amazing old buildings and statues and walls. We got connected and spoke with Ladd on skype. it was great to see and hear him. Izzy (my dog) didn't know what to think. She could hear me so she keep going to see if I was somewhere in the house. We already miss her.

Uno Dias en Espania

We spent most of the day moving into our new apartment and trying to get connected. But the best part of the day was getting to know Pachi and Christina. They are the parents of Alvero a spanish student we had in our home 3 years ago. They are really the reason we are here. They extended an invitation to Madison to spend the school year with their family. They have been amazing in the way they have sacrificed fro us. Christina found our apartment before we got here. It was not an easy task. No one wanted to rent for just 3 months. As it turned out she knew someone who just moved out and got ahold of them before they committed to anyone else. As we found out CHristina and Pachi are well connected in the community of Burgos. They run a Hotel called Hotel Velda Burgos. It is a remodeled castle and every room is unique. I don't know if I have ever seen a nicer hotel with an amazing ambiance. We also spent a good deal of time looking for the LDS church. It wasn't where Pachi thought it was. We never found it but we will that is a big part of why we came to Spain. We hope to be able to serve in at least a small way. Pachi and Christina took two days off work just to help us get settled in. Pachi rented a van and drove to Madrid to pick us up. We could have done it on our own but it would have been a LOT harder. They have shown true christian love to people they have never met.

Our First European Experience

We left our house at 2:00 pm (mst) and arrived at the home of Pachi and Christina at 10:00 pm (local Spanish time)the next day in Burgos Spain. Spain is 8 hours ahead of Spanish time which means it took 24 hours from door to door. The trip was uneventful for the most part. When we landed in London we had a 2 hour layover. We were very tired of course. There was a section of 4 seats we were sitting in just outside our departure gait for Spain. I stood up to get something from my pack (about 3 feet from my seat). As I was looking for it a Spanish man about 23yo started to sit down in my seat. Lynette told him that the seat was taken he sat down anyway. Our first experience with either not being heard, not being understood or just a plain rude European. It's a better story to think he was just rude but in reality he just didn't understand or hear. Anyway a long trip with a very friendly family to greet us at the end.

We leave one week from today. Things are getting a little more stressful each day. I picked up the new bike we will be riding in Spain. I guess this is really going to happen.

On August 25th the Cory Borup Family is going to Spain for 3 months. We hope to help Madison adjust to a school in Burgos Spain while at the same time reinforce Weston's and start Lynette and Cory's Spanish speaking skills. Besides improving language skills we hope to serve in the LDS Branch in anyway we can (which might be very difficult because of our lack of language skills, but that won't stop us from doing our best), and see some of Europe. 

There still is a lot to do. Lynette sees this as the perfect chance to get me do to all those little tasks that keep getting put off.  I think if they weren't important to do before now, why does that change just because we're going to be gone for a few months? But just like leaving a messy house to come home to, Lynette hates the idea of having "tasks" to come home to.

Madison is very excited to go on a year long adventure. She hopes to improve her already very good Spanish skills. Weston on the other hand has very mixed feelings. He's dreading the thought of having to translate for his parents who, in his opinion, have no chance of ever learning Spanish.  My fear is he may be right, and that will make it tough on him. However, tough isn't always bad. 

Well, there is my brief introduction to "Los Borups En Espania". I hope this blog serves as a way to communicate our experience in Spain to all those who care and maybe to some who don't.

Adios,  por ahora!