Spain: First impressions

Well, we are here! After months of planning, packing, moving, and living out of suitcases, we have arrived in Rota, Spain! The plane landed yesterday morning at the airport on base, and we were immediately greeted by warm, sunny weather and palm trees. :-) Also, lots of gorgeous tile signs, like this one in the airport arrivals area:

The passports got stamps, and the kids hands did, too!
We have a sponsor, who is actually the guy whose job my husband will be taking, so they have been communicating for the last month or so. The sponsor, his wife, and daughter were all there to greet us, help with luggage, and check us into a hotel (since there is no housing available on base this week). The hotel is gorgeous! It's in a rustic Spanish style, with tile floors, stucco walls painted in light pastels, huge flowers blooming outside, and even a little kitchenette for our convenience. It's a little tricky trying to get all three kids to sleep in the same room while Dan and I have the sleeper sofa, but they have been so tired and off schedule that it is working ok so far, and we only have to deal with it for a few more days, since we should get keys to our house on Monday!

We spent a lot of our first day in Spain driving around base, checking into various offices and completing paperwork to get Visas, Spanish id cards, and a rental car. But by evening we had some time to drive around the city of Rota and enjoy our first Spanish meal at our hotel's restaurant. First impressions of Rota: 1. It's a small city, only a few miles in each direction, so it will be easy to find our way around. The "old town" area has several narrow, pedestrian-only streets, as well as a beautiful beach! We are actually surrounded by beaches here, since the city is built on a point, with an old lighthouse at the very tip.
2. The base is small too, but seems to have everything we need. Housing is just a few kilometers from Dan's office, so he can run or bike to work. there are parks, playgrounds, pools, and a school all within walking distance, so I can take the kids anywhere I want. The NEX (Navy Exchange/ shopping mall) is well stocked with household goods, furniture, kitchen gadgets, baby equipment, etc at reasonable prices. The commissary imports American food, with english brand names and labels, so shopping will be easy if I want it to be.
3. The surrounding area is actually a disguised desert, much like Southern California, with olive trees, shrubs, and some flowers. But there are nice gardens, carefully sprinkled lawns, and flower pots everywhere, so it looks much more lush than it is.
4. The Spanish people on base and in the hotel have all spoken English very well so far. Of course, they have to, dealing with so many Americans here. It will be different if we go to small restaurants or shops in town, or anywhere else in Spain. But so far I am pleased with my minimal Spanish and my ability to ask for things like keys, pillows, breakfast, etc. And they seem pleased with my attempts to speak Spanish instead of english, so I will definitely keep working on it.
5. Driving has been interesting. Only Dan has been driving so far, since the rental car is a stick shift, but the drivers and pedestrians have very little hesitation going right in front of you! Some of the lanes and roads change abruptly, or just end for no apparent reason, so it is certainly an adventure! I think tonight we will try walking around instead-- much safer, and less likelihood of heart attacks. :-)
6. Our house is amazing! Much more about it later, but we got to drive by it yesterday and do a walk through today, and it is ridiculous. They just finished renovating the 2-bedroom duplexes into 1 single-family home. So it has a 2-car garage in the front center, with 4 bedrooms on one wing, and a big dining/living space in the other wing. But best of all there is an open-air courtyard in the center of the house with an awning cover! It is an amazing space for the kids to run around, ride bikes, and we can relax, grow some flowers, and enjoy outdoor living in our Spanish villa!

It is amazing how much paperwork and official stuff we have done in the last 24 hours! The kids have been pretty good sports, spending a lot of time at the playground or in the car with one parent, while the other goes into an office and gets things done. But after waiting in the housing office, Danny thought this shaded bench was a great place to lay down for a few minutes. The artistic tiles are everywhere, and I just love them!

After a long day, we have pretty low-key plans tonight: take a walk, find some dinner, watch the sun set over the ocean, and then maybe sip some sangria on the hotel patio. Oh yes, I think we are going to like it here!