Whew! What a Labor Day weekend! Both Joe and I can honestly say that we didn't get much sleep and relaxation on this Spain trip! We were busy sharing parenting duties...either entertaining Chance or chasing him down. However, Chance had a blast with the sand and surf and at times was overstimulated by everything around him!

	Unlike our past trips, Chance stayed awake 3 1/2 hours during both return/to flights on Ryan Air until the very end where he dozed off as we landed! Joe and I barely got a wink of shuteye! On hindsight, we should have brought our portable DVD player and his movies! We stayed at the pricey Hotel Duque De Najera which was right on the Rota beach! It was quite a very nice hotel with great customer service. We loved the bathroom which had 2 sinks and a huge shower stall that had 3 shower heads for the entire family! Click on photos for larger image!
	Chance was in awe of the beach! He kept staring down at his feet in the sand, digging his feet in deeper and wandering away from our towels. The look on his face when he first felt the waves of the ocean was priceless! He was timid due to the force of the waves (water was knee deep on him) but at the same time curious and determined to stand his ground. At times when the waves receded away from the beach, it would "pull" Chance into the ocean into a running start and Joe or I would have to hold him back. He lost his balance a few times and got a taste of the salty water which he definitely didn't like! His independent streak would kick in and he would go into the water on his own....only to grab our hands when the waves came rushing in! He loved to run up and down the beach and even chase young girls around in circles which greatly amused the Spanish. Click on photos for larger image!
	Chance tired easily from all the activities on the beach. Although he liked being in the ocean water, he didn't like the spray of cold water from the beach showers where we washed off the salt and sand. He screeched each time as the locals laughed! Joe nicknamed him "Puss" (as in "Puss in the boots" from Shrek 2). Afterward, we would either lay him down for his nap or utilize the hotel's pool to allow Chance to play in the calm water at his leisure. There was a kiddie pool but Chance seem to prefer the big one where he laughed each time he "jumped" into the water with Joe's help. One day, he kept staring at a young teenage girl who sat by the pool (see photo below). She was quite beautiful and smiled at Chance...Joe and I joked she was too old for him although he had great taste! Afterward, we would hit the sun deck and people-watch as the sun dried us off. Click on photos for larger image!
	On our second day, we spent the day driving along the coast checking out spanish properties near the beach. We found one we liked...a furnished 3 bedroom townhouse in Barrosa with a community pool and gated security that was a 5 minute drive to two beaches. We're still contemplating on buying it as an investment and a place for us to use for family vacations. We got a chance to see the beautiful city of Cadiz and it's long coastal line of beaches since we got lost on our drive back! As for food, we went back to our favorite beach side restaurant twice for paella and tried a few new others like Spanish Chinese food (we do not recommend!) and Italian food (very yummy). Chance loved the Spanish cuisine....he gobbled down chicken fillets, zambudio olives (very yummy) and mixed salad which consisted of fresh tuna, sweet beets, lettuce, and tomatoes covered with olive oil and vinegar! He also loved the taste of pineapple (pena) juice. He was so unpredicatable at the restaurants that one of us would eat while the other kept Chance busy walking around the neighborhood. Chance also found new ways to entertain himself in our hotel room...banging his head against the mattress and the headboard repeatedly and covering himself with the curtains and letting them cascade around him (see photos below). Click on photos for larger image!
	For a change of pace on our last day (Sunday), we decided to walk Chance to the other end of the boardwalk and play in an Asian-inspired park that we had discovered on our 1st Rota trip. We found that the boardwalk was being used as the running course for a Triathalon. We watched some of the participants and admired their physique and some their old age! At the park, we allowed Chance to run around and explore the boat-shaped playground as we tried to keep up with him. We like this park since the trees provide some shade from the unrelenting sun. Chance was just happy to roam around and befriend other children. He'll grunt and talk gibberish to them and sometimes even try to hold their hands. When we walk on the beach boardwalk, we have to put him in the stroller or carry him since he always wants to follow the Spanish children onto the sand. Click on photos for larger image!
	That afternoon, we hit the beach for one last dip. I carried Chance into the ocean and submerged him up to his neck! He smiled and squealed with delight. Joe and I took turns swimming and bobbing Chance in the water. On our last night in Rota, we took some last minute photos, watched the sunset and walked down the boardwalk once more to our beach restuarant for paella. By the time we went for dessert at a cafe, Chance was out like a light in his stroller. All the exposure to new stimuli all day long pooped him out! Although it wasn't the most relaxing 4 1/2 days of respite we were hoping for...it was quite the memorable vacation! We all came back with tans and Chance got his 1st active exposure to the beach scene! Click on photos for larger image!

There you have it! Our last summer family vacation for 2005! Our next holiday will include a new "bambino" in our "Chino" family and boy, will it be even more of an adventure! Can't wait! Till then..."gracias" for checking out our site!

"Adios!"

The Ratliff's


Lessons Learned on trip: It's impossible to take photos when a toddler won't stay still & it's best to ask strangers to take family photos! This is our "best" attempt at a family vacation photo using the camera's timer!

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