Just a short note..

I know that you are wondering what we are doing since we have been silent for longer than usual.  We tired of the cold weather and took off for warmer climes--to Spain and Portugal, specifically.  At first it was not much warmer, during 3 days in Malaga.  Even the south coast of Portugal was chilly when we first arrived, but then the weather took a turn for warmer and sunnier.  The south coast of Portugal--the Algarve--is really a beautiful place and we stayed in wonderful lodgings with great amenities for a ridiculously low price (that may be due to the fact that it is the off season).  If I had thought to bring the little cable that connects the camera to the computer, we would be posting our usual montage of photos.  But then we would have to take time away from seeing sights, etc., so it is just as well.  Right now we are making a pit stop in Lisbon on our way to Madrid to rediscover all of Carmen's old haunts from her high school days.  Expect a full report (or two, or three), fully documented with photos, in a week or so.