News from the Hughes

Something Different…..

So, this blog will be a bit different because there isn’t a whole lot about Bolivia.  The reason is that I was away from Bolivia for 1 month visiting Barcelona, Spain with Connor. So, this blog is mostly about my visit.  So much to tell, so little time....

When I was young (yes many, many moons ago), I really liked to travel and even got to visit Australia for a month with my good friend, Laura.  I use to love meeting the brothers and sisters and experiencing different cultures. But that was then.... You know how it goes, a gal gets married, has children, and that soon becomes the focus of your life.  So, I really hadn't had alot of opportunities to travel for 26 years before coming to Bolivia.  Now, it seems I'm going all over the place, and this was my very first time visiting Spain.  It was a really nice trip, for alot of reasons.   

We stayed in Spain (mostly Barcelona) for reasons that will become clear very soon.  Barcelona is a really cool city. The people tend to be more artsy and Bohemian and so there is this chill vibe about the city – WHICH IS THE SIZE OF CHICAGO!  Barcelona has the Mediterrean Sea on one side, and mountains on the other.  The friends we stayed with actually live in a town called, Segur De Calafel. This was a pretty common view of the sea from where they live.  Segur De Calafel is about a 40-minute drive from Barcelona, and the drive is beautiful and takes you all along the coast. YEP, I COULD DEFINITELY DIG THIS.

 
The people in Barcelona speak Catalan, a mixture of Spanish and French.  It’s a beautiful language and half the time our new friends sound like they're speaking French… then Spanish… French again.. Oh wait, now it’s Spanish.

Many of the streets are narrow, with little cute shops and cafes everywhere...  Of course it's Europe,  so you have amazing architecture everywhere ….  I promise to not fill this while blog with just pictures of buildings, but they are so stinkin’ cool to me.  

OK, just 1 more picture and a video and then I'll stop….FOR NOW!

Now for the real reason Connor and I were in Barcelona.  Who could this be you're wondering? Her name is Carla and she and Connor met in Bolivia about a year ago and became friends – and now they are a bit more than friends! I'M VERY HAPPY TO TELL YOU THAT CONNOR AND CARLA ARE ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED IN OCTOBER!

 This was my first time meeting Carla and her family  and it was a nice surprise to find she's a really nice person with a kind heart.  She has a fun personality that is both tranquil and spirited Spanish. Her whole family welcomed us as if we were long-time friends. 

I only spent 1 month with Carla and her family but during that time we all got very close and her parents came to love Connor just as much as I came to love Carla. SO, THAT'S MY BIG NEWS FOR THIS BLOG. The kids picked October because it's the cheapest time to visit Spain and we don't have an exact day yet but hope to soon.  The plan is for the kids to live in Barcelona for a year after they're married and then see where the wind takes them -- maybe it will blow them back to Bolivia!

OK, BACK TO SPAIN.... As I tour the city I learn that Barcelona definitely has had its’ share of excitement.  The city has many beautiful cathedrals and ancient buildings (of course it does, it’s Europe). But, behind each building we soon learn there is a story…. For example, this beautiful arch was once where they hung and tortured people during the Spanish Inquisition – YIKES! Talk about seeing an arch through different eyes.

Then, there was this interesting place with all holes in the wall – WHY THE HOLES YOU ASK?  It’s where they lined up and shot people during the Spanish Civil War.

 
There were a lot of really cute cafes/ restaurants on the street where they actually cook food outside, and then it was off to see a show….

A BIG SURPRISE AWAITS US…DANCE OF THE FLAMINGO!

During our visit Carla’s family surprised us with a show to watch Flamingo dancing.  Of course I learned it was also the theatre where they attacked Barcelona and set-off a bomb during the Spanish Revolt…. ALWAYS AN EXCITING STORY!  The theatre was amazing.  The Manager of this theatre is a Jehovah’s Witness and she got us really nice seats to see the show. 

You know what I realized in watching this video?  I say the word AMAZING way too many times! I've really got to work on my vocabulary skills!  Anyway, on with the show....

For those of you that don’t know what Flamingo dancing is, it’s this beautiful dance done in Spain.  It was honestly one of the coolest dances I’ve ever seen.  All in all it was a wonderful day full of memories that I’ll always treasure.  I made some new friends, and got to experience some beautiful Spanish culture. OLA!

Preaching in Barcelona…

So of course one of the highlights of the trip was being able to go preaching in Barcelona.  Carla's family belongs to the Catalan congregation and they have alot of territory in the country.  So, many times our preaching was done it little towns that looked like this…..

I wish I had some riveting tales of my preaching experience in Spain, but the thing is……. So what I’m trying to say is……  To be tactful…..  the preaching was a lot like the United States. As we head out that morning I’m told to keep it brief (well, that sounds very familiar).  Oh, the people were nice enough and let me muddle through my presentation in broken Catalan, but most of the people were not at home, and the few we did get were not interested.  I almost didn’t know what to do with myself. 

For the last 14 months I’ve been in a place where I can show videos, share scriptures, and pretty much just say what I want with the assured expectation that literature will be placed and a return visit obtained – all while only speaking a little Spanish!  To now have all these people tell me, “I’m not interested.”  Well, it sort of was a bit deflating.  There definitely seems to be a connection between how fluent a country is and their level of interest in spiritual things.  Oh well, onward and upward because after all, we do this work for Jehovah.  But still, couldn’t they let a gal read just 1 scripture? But, just like in the states, the preaching was enjoyable because of the association with the brothers and sisters.

Later that night Connor and I did get to visit the English congregation; a mixture of nationalities including African, Spanish, Columbian, and English. It was pretty cool!  They have about 30 Publishers and kept telling us what a huge need there is in English, and how we need to support them (says the congregation with 5 Elders). But, it was nice to be wanted and I really enjoyed this rare treat to get some spiritual food in English.  I know, I know I should have pictures but it had been a long day, the meeting was at night, and I just didn’t feel like taking pictures.  BUT NOW, I WISH I HAD….  I even tried to do my own recruiting to Bolivia -- telling everyone what a huge need there was for brothers.  Who knows, we might get a nibble or two.

A couple of days later we headed back into Barcelona for another day of fun sight-seeing, some much needed shopping for Tracy (yep, got myself some new clothes), and lunch at a café. Now, here’s something familiar. It was cool for me to see that no matter where you go, Jehovah’s people are working hard in preaching.  We came across these sisters involved in Cart witnessing.

OK, just a few more pictures of buildings – it’s a sickness!

The Kingdom Hall where the Catalan group meets is going through some remodeling, and on this day Connor went with Carla, her dad, and sisters to help serve food to the construction crew.  They really are a fun family!

Visiting the Catalan Congregation…..

Of course one of the highlights of any trip is getting to meet and make new friends in the congregation.  Carla’s family belongs to the Catalan congregation, and so their meetings are all held in Catalan (a mixture of Spanish and French).  But, what was nice is they also speak Spanish so I was able to still comment in my Spanish/Spanglesh (Spanish/English). The congregation has about 40 publishers and everyone was very nice.

IT’S OFF TO MADRID…..

Another surprise we had was a trip to Madrid.  Madrid is bigger than Barcelona and it’s definitely exciting.  I’m glad I got to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there.  It reminded me of New York.  Everywhere there are street performers (THAT WAS PRETTY COOL)!

AND AS ALWAYS, EVEN IN MADRID JEHOVAH’S PEOPLE ARE HARD AT WORK IN THE MINISTYRY. WELL – WE WEREN’T THIS DAY, BUT THEY WERE….

More Random Photos of Madrid….

Then, after a full day of visiting Madrid, we had dinner at a cute little place, and it was off to see another surprise....

LION KING THE MUSICAL.  




It was pretty amazing!  I’ve never seen the musical before and even though it was in Spanish, it was awesome.  We only spent a few days in Madrid and while I'm glad to say I got to vist -- I wouldn't want to live there. It was way to hectic for my taste. I'm a Barcelona gal! 

We head back to Barcelona and I got to see the old bullfighter stadium where they use to have bullfights.  They’ve turned it into a Shopping Mall and I’m glad to say that Bull Fighting is now a thing of the past in Spain (tye finally realized what a horrible and inhumane activity that was.  I’LL GET OFF MY ANIMAL CRUELTY SOAP BOX NOW!

We visit yet another palace…. I never get tired of doing that.

So, that was my trip to Spain.  I had a wonderful time, made some really good friends, and can’t wait to go back – which looks like will be in October for Connor's special day.  

Until Next Time – Love Tracy!