Caracoles

caracoles--snails!

We did it!  We ate caracoles--snails--a delicacy here on Mallorca.  We actually really liked them.  I told Steve that I didn't think I could brave them in any other restaurant, because I don't want to ruin the memory of liking them.  We can check one more Mallorquin dish off the list, and if you come visit, we may have to take you to a great place for caracoles;)

pamboli, cornish game hen, sausage, olives--a staple here,
and a coke, of course!

steve eating a caracole

karen eating a caracole

richard eating a caracole

the merino family, friends, and
the remnants of a great meal

one of our favorite sculptures on the way to manacor
now we know it marks the turn for a great mallorquin restaurant

Field Trip

We went with three of our young adults to Formentor this past weekend and had a great day, with rain, lightning, and hardly any tourists!  The beach was calm and beautiful--this is the first time we've ever braved it because it's usually filled to overflowing.  John snapped some pretty fun shots of the two of us and all three clapped and ahhhed as we "posed" for the camera.  I guess we still like each other:)

john and paula

raquel

football on the beach--thanks, kathy!

City Living

the view from our living room window

We have the best park within a 5 minute walk from our piso, and since we live in the "big city," without a lot of green around us, the park is a welcome place when we just need to stretch our legs and get some fresh air.  We did run stairs a couple weeks ago at the amphitheater there, and the two of us almost threw up after we were finished!  Are we way out of shape?!  YES!  Needless to say, we are sticking to walking and slow jogs these days:)

you can grow a garden in the park

play in the fountains--kind of like a splash pad

have a picnic under the olive trees

do a workout on the "equipment"

play soccer--of course, it's spain!!!

explore the castle

or ride the skate park--cody would love it!

the Chapa

I think I have finally become friends with my chapa. In the MTC it's almost a fashion statement because everyone is wearing one, and in Utah, it is a very common sight to see. Then we arrived in the MTC in Madrid, and we were in a group of us with our chapas so we were linked together. Here on Mallorca, we're the only old people who get to wear the chapa so we kind of stand out a little:) Then there is the fact that Steve is large in stature, i.e., tall and broad shouldered, add a dark suit and tie, and needless to say, we get a lot of very strange looks. These looks range from curiosity to complete avoidance. It is very interesting to pay attention to the body language of others as we walk down the street together. It seems every time we go to the airport someone asks us for directions--I guess we look pretty official; like we know something. I used to put it on my dresser, but after I forgot to wear it to a district meeting or two, I now put it right by the house keys and I'm finally in the habit of getting both as we walk out the door. I guess what I'm trying to say in all of this is that the chapa takes some getting used to, weird looks and all, and I really think I will miss wearing it when the mission is over. There is something to be said for putting on a badge that has the name "Jesus Christ" on it; a visual reminder and a statement of beliefs, and I'm very grateful I get to wear it for this short period of time.

What do We do All Day?

la seu cathedral in palma--spectacular!

I have had questions about what we do all day so I thought I'd post our schedule for this past week.

Monday:
Preparation Day with Pres. and Hermana Pace--we spent the day together driving the West side of the island and had a great adventure, filled with good food, beautiful views, and wonderful company!
Home around 10:30pm
Tuesday:
take the Pace's to the airport
Piso/Apartment Inspection for the Palma Elders
District Meeting with the missionaries in the Palma Chapel
Lunch with the Inca/Manacor Elders
Piso Inspection in Inca - about 25 km North of Palma
Piso Inspection in Manacor - about 35 km NE of Inca
Pick up Institute manuals in Marratxi'
Back to the church in Palma for a ck on the video conferencing equip.
Noche de Hogar--FHE--with the JAS at the church
Home around 11:30pm
Wednesday:
Morning at home doing Laundry
Levante Elders came over to use our computer to create their baptismal
  program for this week
the Elders then made us lunch at our piso:)
Teach English class for the community at the church in Palma
Teach English class for the JAS
Home around 10:30pm
Thursday:
Study Institute lesson
Zone Leaders over to use our computer to do their weekly report
Help Andrea--JAS--with English homework
Off to the church to try again with the video conferencing equipment
Pick up projector from Pres. Gomez for a trial run tonite in Manacor
Institute in Manacor and trial run of projector for Manacor Talent Night
Birthday Party for Vanessa--JAS-- in Palma
Home around 12:30am
Friday:
Lazy, rainy day sleeping in and studying
Early evening--off to Manacor for a fabulous night of Talents! The JAS of
  the branch decorated and put together a great activity starting with a 

  walk down the red carpet and finishing with Angel Moroni trophies
Home around 12:00am
Saturday:
Fly to the island of Menorca
Piso Inspection for the Menorca Elders
Lunch with the Elders--all elders want to eat at Burger King!
Visit Hna. Lidia and her two daughters w/the missionaries
Shop for kitchen stuff for the Elder's piso
Temple Recommend interview at the church
Visit the Núñez family w/the missionaries
Take the Elders home with their "Christmas"--the new kitchen stuff:)
Finally check in at the hotel around 10:30pm--I'm tired!
Some strange beeping noise, track it to the safe in the closet--can't sleep--
  around 12:30am Steve gets dressed and makes a trip to the front desk
  where he finds out the safe needs new batteries! "Querida, stay in bed,"
  while someone else comes in the room to yank the old batteries; now 

  maybe we can get some sleep!
Sunday:
Pick up an investigator with the missionaries
Church--Steve spoke, and I sang a duet with Hna. Debi
Another temple recommend interview
Visit with members, take the missionaries home, and off to the airport
Flight Cancelled
After waiting in the airport over 6 hours, we finally get on a plane.
Home around 11:00pm

This really is a typical week for us, and I'm grateful that today I got to sleep in and recover, so we can do it all again this week!