through AirportLand to Madrid, then Chicago

Back in AirportLand heading to the States tomorrow morning. A stop in Madrid to see Megan and Christian.  On  a 45 minute flight that took off on time and landed early. And you can see the snack we were served. Focaccia and cheese and jamon and a chocolate!  (a two hour flight on US legacy airlines won't even get you peanuts!) #justsaying

Then we met up with Megan & Christian and eventually Oscar & Candela too- for dinner at an Asturian restaurant...

the dish below was an off menu item - borrage with some ham and egg... it was excellent!

my favorite of the four desserts we had - the flan de queso! But the (not shown) cabrales cheese was magnificent as well...

We parted ways and headed back to the airport for a short night before our morning flight ot the US - 

For the first time in my life, as I watched the map on the plane pop up with the words United States of America, I felt an overwhelming sadness. I have been away almost seven months and plan to be in Chicago for the vast majority of the four months I will be in the United States. I love my adopted home on so many levels. There are so many things there I would now find difficult to give up. Fast trains; slow meals; Sevillaño blue skies; life without a car; real markets; raw milk cheeses; a whole new country to explore in depth. (Been to 49 of 50 US states and most of the 100 largest cities - many of them repeatedly) And over 80 countries later I can say I truly have a "travel Jones" but until the last few years I was always happy to return. And it breaks my heart that I now feel sad.

I wonder if the person who designed the map program for Iberia Airlines was Canadian? 

So we have been home roughly 23 hours and we are  progressing well on all the "chores" we need to do to get settled in for the next four months- LOL - laundry done from the trip back and mail sorted and mostly handled - packages opened and things put away... the usual post travel things. We had early dinner at Lou's (LOVE their salad!) and I was in bed before 10 PM (dinner time in Sevilla) and up before 5 AM... I can't believe how much you can get done if you are up then- I had groceries ordered and set up for 9AM delivery LOL, started on getting the deck in order for the summer. talked to three neighbors I ran into, had breakfast and lunch by 10:30 LOL ... and now have completed the catching up with the blog about our occasionally harrowing but also completely fun last week in Spain this spring. A surprise meal with Julie, dinner with Helena, and a fun, if quick, visit with Megan & Christian... not to mention a bird's eye view of the Virgen Mary right off our balcony! Life is good!

last meals in Valencia

After a walk across town, we had a fun meal of Asturian food. An excellent empanada with flaky pastry crust. Followed by the extremely well spiced txistorra. Then we had the Asturian fabada and a foie gras stuffed Cachopo. Photos start with things seen on the walk to dinner.

and our last night here - we are headed to Marisqueria L'Odissea.... a favorite and so worthy... last photos will follow... meanwhile I have a few photos here and there of our month of living in Valencia.

And our final night's meal:

 

And we got up the next day and left for home. We got back to Sevilla around 8:30 and took a taxi home from Santa Justa. Started a load of laundry and went out to dinner.  So good to be home after a month away.... we liked our time in Valencia but we were tired of the crowds by the time we left for home. despite living in the city center in Sevilla we live on a quiet street that doesn't get too much by way of tourists but for one moderate sized - and very upscale - hostel where they must have rules about noise because they have been a good neighbor so far.

more to follow as we settle into our apartment and entertain friends from Chicago.....