I remember as a kid not thinking too much about it when I truly learned that there was no Santa Claus. I think I kinda already knew.

But when I learned that Shamu wasn't a single killer whale, it was just what they named the whale performing for a given show? That was true disappointment.

My second visit, seperated by about nine years.

Odd happenstance, ran into a couple from New York again, our third random encounter with them (Cafe de Oriente, Museo Prado).

Just after writing about my inability to capture a castle with this camera while this train remains in motion, I spied an upcoming hacienda. Somehow, the photo appears better than horrific! Although I do believe the hacienda looks little larger than a thinly drawn line, it shall suffice. On the big screen I'll determine whether one can see the irrigation machinery that I spotted in front and to the right of the main building.

Score!

Hard to capture with this camera, yet neat to see as we passed by. A fair number of houses terraced up the slope, visible just beyond the larger buildings closer in the foreground. Pretty cool.

A fairly small solar plant, yet one all the same. I saw another, larger one earlier on the ride between Seville and Madrid, yet missed the photo opportunity. While in Seville, I also read about a solar thermal collector plant (redirect the sun's rays at a specific point on a tower, heating water which thereby drives a turbine to generate electricity). Lots of plains in Spain, seems a good use for some land. I wonder whether the US or Spain has more power generated via solar. Probably us, but maybe less solar per capita?

For transportation during our trip, we...

They even refunded our ticket (reservation) price when a train arrived about 30~45 minutes late. Imagine if our US airlines had to refund the airfare when they run late? The industry would either revolutionize or go bankrupt virtually overnight. Perhaps both.

The Nativity facade (1 of 3 facades)

Shoulda pulled out the proper camera a few minutes ago. Wow. Pathways running up the hills. Rivers cutting through the valleys. Snow capping entire ranges. Soft mists winding over and around hills. Small villages nestled amongst it all, rolling into lush greenery blanketing the formerly rock faces. Gorgeous, and the Treo's camera just can't do it justice. Hopefully enough to trigger memories and imagination.
Ohh, ohh, ohh, and there's the ocean. Barcelona, here I come!

Sometimes you can look out the window and tell you're in a different country. This morning I look out the window of this 767-400, I'm not in another country, I'm in a whole new world. I doubt the picture does what I saw justice. Gossamer clouds, tinged with soft orange, rivers running through the countryside laid out just beyond the gauze...mystifying...beautiful...

...and in a few more hours I see my angel and my papa again...magical.

I just find this statue of a cow in a space suit, claiming a patch of moon for Texas, amusing. It's in the lobby of the A terminal here at Houston International airport. A few more hours here then I'm back in Atlanta for a few days. Fortunately thre next trip is vacation, just book ended by trade shows (Chicago's next!).
Houston's been good, albeit little more than airport to hotel to convention center and back. I'm glad to be on my way home, even knowing there's little rest for me until next week. Tis my life, busier than I like, yet with little I wish to forgo...a far better dilemma than that faced by so many others. I'm thankful for my lot in life, it's a good one.
And I'm not even getting Pappadeaux on this trip, even though time permits...although if they delay my flight once more, I might change my mind and flock over to C terminal for a po-boy and pie to go!

Ok, so there's oly one I the picture, but there's 3 here and they're about to race...too dark to catch a picture of the race (no flash on this phone). Shame I can't share the race, just use your imagination and have some fun!

Durian cake. The taste is, different. It grows on me bite by bite. But then I stop, I pause to record for posterity, I find I fall quickly into withdrawal. Not that I rave another bite, its that the taste lingers, morphs into a lesser flavor, closer to that pugnant scent. I must have another bite, to reset the taste.

Yet what hapens when the piece is gone? When nothing but the withdrawal, remains?

Had to take a quick pic of my feet still wet and a little sandy, while dressed in a full suit. Have to trust me on the coat, it's there. Good times.

Found something else fun. After a good customer visit and dinner afterwards, myself, my wife, and our new Sales VP walked across the street to the beach. Once there, we all removed our shoes t dip our feet in the slowly rising tidal waves. Simply bliss.

Found some more fun on the trip. Oh, and bowling last night? A lot of fun. And I'm so glad the picture of me bowling backwards came out so blurry.

Despite the rain we came down to Harvard Square for a little lunch and sightseeing before flying home shortly. Walking around we went through the Coop, venturing out to find this Brazilian dance & drum group pleasing a crowd in the square. Quite neat to see as we wandered about. I'm wondering if this was part of a Make music event, ought to look that up. There were a number of folks wearing black t-shirts with "make|music" emboldened on the chest and we came across several more musical performances about the square on this rainy Father's Day.

While we made the trip for less pleasant reasons than an audible tour of Harvard Square, it's been a wonderful trip. My grandmother lies at rest and the family commemorated her passing. She was my last grandparent alive, living a very rich life well into her nineties. I wish I'd known her better yet I know she touched my life in many ways.

Back to the grind tomorrow, out to Texas for a couple days.

And that's it. Construction of the sixth story took the tower to task. But, in this case, he can rebuild!

Jake's on a building spree as we discuss future brunch landings. All is good in the realm.

I had to get a few blocks back to snap this shot. That's after trying close to the base - no luck. Pretty good trip there, saw an old high school bud and the meeting that drew me there went swell. Home a day later, and maybe back before long.

Nothing like a morning big shot even further up the Stratosphere tower this was shot from. It's been a sweet trip, but as they say, "what happens in Vegas, stays on YouTube!"

Hey rwdrake, this one's for you.