Assorted news and pictures

We finally have our internet back, so I can stop shaking and weeping in a corner and make a new blog post. No, it wasn't that bad, just a bit frustrating dealing with a cold massive telecom and it's barely-sentient zombie-minion phone workers.

Before I start my usual ramblings and snide remarks, a couple pictures from one of our last beach days that never made it into a post. Carrie has missed the beach more than I have.
































This is Ana, and this picture represents her pretty well. She's awesome, and is the librarian at the children's library. She's been a huge help and a great friend. Earlier this week she took us on an amazing tour of some of the town's historic spots. I'll post about that later once I get all the pictures sorted.

















Here is downtown Palma at night. What's going on, you may ask? A witch-burning!
















Just kidding. Live flamenco, of course! Carrie and Aryanna are taking flamenco lessons now from the lady in front center and they both love it.















Flamenco is so old that people aren't sure exactly when it started. There are different theories about it's origins, but the generally accepted is that it originated in Andalucia from the gypsy culture and then spread throughout Spain. There are many different branches and styles that have developed over the centuries. Aryanna is starting with bulerias, a more rapid and dramatic form of flamenco that originated in Jerez de la Frontera in the 19th century. Carrie is starting with sevillanas, a more folkloric spanish dance that focuses on the hands and is danced in pairs.

And just proof you can have a 1950s American breakfast anywhere:
















In other news, the kids are in school and doing well. Carrie and I start work this week, and our new American roommate is arriving in a few hours, so I better go clean some more.