Return from Spain

Back from Spain
Day 1-2, Flight to Madrid: Flight was fine and my travelers did fine on the long-haul flight. Hotel Opera is a nice business-class hotel a couple of blocks from the Royal Palace. Gym on top floor with panoramic view and free internet. After we arrived, I realized that I lost the NETC folder. I was extremely stressed, as all of the information was in there, perfect for identity theft. My stress level hindered much of my enjoyment.
Day 3, Madrid: Tour began- parks, plaza de torro, museums. Jennifer sick, so I missed the Prado. I went to pharmacy to get her meds and return to hotel. I returned to the tour at the Reina Sofia (student sleeping), as I wanted to see Picasso's Guernica, but quickly returned. Missed dinner and the cooking class, but travelers said the class was fun. Jennifer and I took a stroll when she was feeling better.
Day 4, Madrid: A free day. Visa not working- had to call. I took students to the Royal Palace in the morning. There was an art fair at the Plaza de Espana where students picked up gifts. Afterward, I took some to the Warner Bros. amusement park (Six Flags), while others wanted to stay in Madrid to shop. We took the Metro and Reinfe out to the park. Not that many people; six major rides within three hours. Nice time. Paid out in cash all day. Our tour director, Manni, located the NETC folder (on our arrival bus) and felt better once it was returned. Lots of construction in Madrid, as that they are a candidate for the next Olympics.
Day 5, Toledo: Bus to Toledo and tour of various sites (Cathedral, Synagogue, Sword factory). I found the tour a bit rushed and the Sword factory a definite tourist trap. Still, travelers picked up gifts. Hotel Abaceria was outside of the official city with wonderful views of Old Toledo and a pool. It was the Corpus Cristi celebration, so the city was decorated with banners and flowers. The mini heat wave began while in Toledo and continued for the next few days; over 100 degrees. One of the groups with us, from a Catholic school, got drunk (they were without their chaperon). I woke her up; her travelers said I was lying, but other chaperons supported my statements. She and her students were rude to me and my group for the remainder of the tour.
Day 6, Cordoba and Seville: Great Mosque in Cordoba. Students started to complain about all of the walking, along with the heat. Wonderful lunch at a really nice restaurant (El Chorro), and then off to Seville. In Seville, I skipped the walking tour and went to Ana and Antonio's apartment. At first, we were going to have lunch, then not (Seven students for the summer and Ana is limping around; we decided on a short visit for the next day). I met my travelers and we walked around a bit- the city is different, with pedestrian walkways and biking roads. The hotel was OK, just outside of the tourist area. Problems with air conditioning, the internet down, and mediocre food made the travelers a bit ornery.
Day 7, Seville: I took my travelers to Cafe de Indias then we met up with the tour at Plaza de Espana. We toured the Alcazar and the Cathedral and Giralda. My group, along with another, went to the Plaza de Torro musuem, then my group went to McDonalds (complaints about how different it was) and then over to visit with Ana and Antonio and a bit of shopping. Ana was teary when we were leaving, making me cry. Oh well. The heat was a huge issue when we walked over to the shopping district. Students took cabs back to the hotel. Later, Flamenco class and show. I wanted to take students out for tapas, but they found the cafes to be dirty- I explained that a dirty floor was a sign of a busy cafe. Again, I believe all of the walking and heat was the main issue.
Day 8, Seville to Ronda to Costa del Sol: In the morning, my group went to the Museum of Fine Arts, then we were off to Ronda. Ronda would have been better if we had a better tour. Mainly, we walked around but did not go into anything. We had a few hours of free time, for lunch and our own touring. My travelers did not want to walk around to see anything. We had lunch at a pizzeria and split for shopping. Arrived at Hotel Fenix and walked around through the shopping area and to the beach (5 minutes from the hotel).
Day 9, Granada: Our group with a few others took a day trip to Granada. Again, lots of changes; they were working on the gardens. We had an excellent local guide. The lion fountain was being refurbished. I believe some of my travelers had their epiphany there, realizing how old civiliazation really is. At night, since all of the other groups except us were leaving, there was a little fiesta. Pissed me off a bit that we (all of us) were charged for the cake- they should have asked before ordering it.
Day 10, Torremolinos: Free day. A bit of shopping in the morning, a nice lunch of tapas (my gift to my travelers), beach, and then more shopping. A few of my travelers picked up Cuban cigars. I told them that they were on their own if they got caught; told them to play the stupid American student who did not realize they were contraband. Afterwards, we all went out for a farwell drink then packing for our return to the US.
Day 11, return to US: Thank God we did not have an early flight; we were able to have breakfast together and prepare. Students rather rude all day. 8:30 bus to airport for our 11:35 flight to London. Four hour layover. Lots of shopping- they had Harrod's. I saw Joanne Lumley (I believe it was her) in a perfume shop. Long flight to Chicago. Bus to Rockford; arrived just after midnight.

Reflection
Overall, it was a nice trip, but I do not know if I really want to travel with students again. I enjoyed myself, for the most part, but the little complains, some whining, and outright rudness really got to me towards the end. Most of the time, I felt like I was working. After 6-7 days, the travelers started to get on my nerves. NETC, overall, provided a good tour, even though I found it very touristy and a bit rushed. For my travelers it was fine, not really into all of the history and culture. They were tired of museums and walking around sooner than I expected and did not want to do much of the extras I thought they would enjoy doing just us. I was happy to provide the assistant position to Ms. Baker, although she was nearly almost late and half-ready to do what was planned; always had to go back to her room for something before touring. In addition, I did not feel that my travelers were as nice as they could have been to her. To me, very few thank yous during the trip and I was basically ignored once we returned to the States- a couple of goodbyes at the bus station and then they were gone.

So now I am back.
Yard is a mess- needs a big clean out.
House was clean and David seems OK, although complaints about various things as soon as he picked me up from the bus (health, weather, groomer, etc.).
Call from Belvidere North for an interview.

I have lots to do.
Summer begins.