You don’t have to go home, but . . .

The Long Farewell. We were dreading this day from Day 1. It’s only natural to form bonds when you spend this much time together, but this was special. And it started with this amazing dinner!

I’m not one to take pictures of my food but it would have been challenging to keep up anyway for this meal. They served us EVERYTHING. There was no choosing this vs that. All dishes came to the table and we enjoyed serving each other family style.

Before the feast began!

When the 4th appetizer came around, I knew I was in trouble. My new slacks that I wore for this special occasion didn’t have elastic in the waist. And while I had extra loops in my belt, there was no budging that waistband. Decided to skip the empanada knowing that there was still more to come.

This was not a stretchy pants night

Before dessert, the tears started to flow as some of the brothers got emotional during expressions of gratitude for this amazing experience. And then came the surprise! One couple celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary during our trip and we showered them with love and cake!

30 years down - forever to go!

Then all that was left to do was a little dancing in the streets during the walk back to the hotel, finish packing and head to the airport!

If you’re looking for vacation property

Construction of El Escorial began in 1563 and was completed in 1584.  It boasts 4,000 rooms, 33,000 square meters, it includes monastery, basilica, library and a mausoleum. There was also a school with lots of kids playing outside for recess when we arrived. 

King Philip II (2nd king of Spain) built this palace to serve multiple purposes - including providing a burial place for his father King Charles. Let me know if you want me to show you the quick memory aid I learned to remember the first 5 Spanish Kings. And did you know the  motto”the empire on which the sun never sets” was first used to describe Spain in the height of its power? Empire included the Philippians (named after King Phillip II), all of Central America and the Caribbean islands and some parts of North and South America.

It was said that this is the largest building in the world built at one time. Vatican is bigger but only due to additions. Close enough to Madrid that if the King needed to get there for urgent business he could go, but far enough away to beg off mundane matters. 

First entrance of this palace near the main driveway led to the kitchen.  Designed this way to purposely require visitors to go around a full side of the building to reach the main entrance.  Plenty of time for them to be  thoroughly impressed by the magnificent size of the building. 

Private chapel for the king with 43 altars. Bigger than some cathedrals!! Include 4 organs from the 16th century that is still being played. 

Why would a private chapel need so many seats?

Our tour guide showed us a secret room that allowed architect to privately inform the king of the need for funds to continue bldg (one person speak into one corner and another speaks into opposite corner). Avoided embarrassing the king and risking execution. Oddly enough, I learned that the acoustics (due to the room’s arch design) are similar to a secret room in Grand Central Station in NY. 

Mausoleum - burial place of kings throughout centuries (Stacy did NOT like this part of the tour). Kings’ tombs in special room where photos are not allowed (plenty on internet). Select queens also included. There is a waiting room (nicknamed rotting room) where current king’s mother and grandmother are in holding pattern :)

There was even a room for those infants lost in death over the centuries. Of course, improvements in medical care have significantly reduced infant mortality so there has not been as many added to this room in last century. Interesting that it looked like room-sized birthday cake. Wish I had captured the nearby painting depicting baby Jesus sleeping with John the Baptist shushing in effect saying “don’t wake the children they are not dead - they are sleeping”. Truth!

Wish I got a better angle to include painting of Sweet Baby Jesus 

Intermarriage was very common to maintain the power of the monarchy and unite kingdoms. Philip married 6x and amazingly the Queen Elizabeth of England refused his proposal (unheard of back then). But if she had agreed, the union of Spain and England would have contradicted bible prophecy regarding the emergence of the Anglo-American world power. And we know that could never happen!  Now for some random pictures:

Door with no glue, nails - completely wood with intersecting pieces (German design)

Luggage the size of a dresser

Royal library with a paintings all along the upper walls and ceilings

The garden

Stacy opted to skip this part of the tour and join the group that headed straight over to the restaurants. By the time I met up with them, they had just placed their lunch orders. I didn’t need to order anything - perfect timing to glean!

Why can’t we have nice things?

For our last exploratory dinner, the group settled in a Galician restaurant (primarily because it was an 8 minute walk from the hotel). It also had 4.5 stars on TripAdvisor but given our 100% success rate with food - we wouldn’t have been afraid to try anything.

When we arrived (without a reservation again), we were thankful to be accommodated given the view of the Royal Palace from our table. Albeit was because we were sitting outside on the curb and the heater wasn’t putting off much heat - but that is how it’s done in Europe. And the wine keeps you warm inside.

Good dinner, a few fun photos outside the palace (just because), followed by a leisurely walk back to the hotel and we could hardly believe it was almost 11:30pm on a school night. And there were tons of teenagers still hanging out. And parents pushing baby strollers. Does this town ever sleep? 

Went to the Assembly Hall today but my assembly is not until Saturday!

Surprise! We also went to Bethel - kind of!

Spain Bethel 

There are 250 members of the Spain Bethel family. Since Bethel is under renovation, we spent a short time touring the state of the art assembly hall across the street!  But we got 1 picture of Bethel from the street since we were so close!

A Branch rep met us at the assembly hall to provide us a tour used to be in Barcelona. Franco government influenced by Catholic Church did not recognize JW. At the time, Barcelona was best location to be near port to transport literature. Outgrew the space - current location considered a desert. When they moved Bethel in 1983 it was only thing in town. Took over space that was a large corporation complex and they acquired surrounding property to build assembly hall as well. Fun fact: Bethel complex shaped like Star of David. Nearby US military training base uses it as a landmark to land planes.

Assembly Hall - Welcome Home

The assembly hall is actually two halls in same building can accommodate two groups at same time and each hall is soundproof so no interference. Which is important as 9 language groups are using this Hall. Seating capacity - Hall 1: 2,170 | Hall 2: 1,100 (The smaller room was originally a dining room but was converted to 2nd hall to handle the growth). 

Fun facts: The Assembly hall was remodeled Feb 2023 - first assembly in March 2023 - 1,000 workers with 50% were 25 yrs old and under. Cool features: Ceiling is painted black to conceal piping with the walls and drop ceiling panels designed to enhance acoustics

The beautiful landscaping

Spain continues to grow!:

Our tour guide serves in the Russian field. Russian language group has grown exponentially and now a circuit. First started 14 years ago 400 in attendance - this year: 420 pioneers alone. Ukrainian is now growing due to the migration. 

Such a treat: When we arrived, one of the brothers played opening scene of “Commit your way to Jehovah” on the screens next to the stage which seemed to be of equal size to the stage itself.  And the sound was amazing! You might be able to see it on the screens in the auditorium pic above.

There’s no place like home!

You think you’re so smart! (Tues 9 Apr)

Sorry for the delay in posts - but here is the catch-up! 

Alcala de Henares is a city located about 35 km northeast of Madrid (we saw an IKEA and an Aldi nearby). The city is famous for being the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, which is considered one of the most important works in Spanish literature. The city is home to the oldest university in Europe, the Universidad de Alcala, which was founded in 1499 (even older than Oxford). As with all universities, original mission was to teach Latin to aspiring priests. Over time, curriculum expanded to include the arts, sciences, history.

Spain translators and scholars needed a Bible in the original languages.  Cisneros, spiritual advisor to Isabelle I aimed to have a Polyglot, or multi­lingual Bible, containing the best text in He­brew, Greek, and Latin, along with some portions in Aramaic.  It took 10 yrs to compile and another 4 yrs to print. Cisneros entrusted the actual com­pilation to a team of scholars whom he orga­nized at the newly founded University of Alcala de Henares, Spain.  However, Cisneros intended this work "to revive the hitherto dormant study of the scriptures," yet he had no desire to make the Bible avail­able to the public at large. Well, we see how Jehovah worked that out!

So many interesting door designs but this door knocker deserved a picture

Queen Isabella I was a shrewd businesswoman. Fun fact: She first met with Christopher Columbus in Alcala. They eventually made this agreement: take all the prisoners with you and if you make it to the New World, bring me back gold. If you don’t make it, I didn’t lose much. This proved to be the catalyst that opened the door for many freedoms (including freedom of worship) that led to the greatest Bible translation and education work of all time!

Amazing to see how Jehovah can use the selfish interests of the kings of the earth to ensure his purpose is fulfilled!

Segovia - even Walt Disney found inspiration here

As soon as we arrived in Segovia, there was a sight you could not miss! The famous Roman aqueduct (which means channel of water) was built in the 1st century and was still being used to channel water from the mountains into the city until 1973. The 167 granite arches (highest point 90 feet tall) were designed to keep channel high enough to bring water on a track from mountains 10 miles away.

What is amazing about this structure is that 1) it’s 2,000 years old; 2) there is no cement, mortar or no concrete holding this thing together - only stone upon stone and 3) it’s still standing!!!

Throughout our tour we saw many cool buildings with unique facades. It was interesting to see what was called graffiti which looked like rubber stamped designs. And how over time, each generation either liked it or didn’t and they covered it with stucco or refurbished it to its original character.

Segovia Cathedral - building started in 1525 - finished in 18th century (definitely NOT a quick build project)

There Royal prison (like many other historical buildings) has been repurposed for public use - it’s now local library: kids’ joke that it’s still the same :) And the finale star of the tour was the medieval Alcázar castle. This gem was hidden from view during our ascent but when we took in the full setting, it immediately looked familiar somehow. Then we were told that this castle was a source of inspiration for Disney World’s Cinderella castle.

 

It’s clear they don’t want any uninvited guests

But we came anyway!

We met at El Bernardino for lunch where the group had the famous roasted suckling pig. It was quite a show to see the waiter cut up the pig with the edge of a plate. And when friends at the next table requested the hot sauce, it was a done deal. Our pescado (fish in Spanish - see, I’m picking up a little here and there) was a special treat. But I had to ask for salad (which was really just romaine lettuce tossed in light vinaigrette). Dessert, shopping and made it to the bus before the downpour began. It was a very quiet ride back to Madrid.

  

Before                                              After

And by 8pm, we were out and about again - this time to the famous Casa Botín, founded in 1725, the oldest restaurant in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. Since it was Monday night, six of us took a chance to see if we could be seated without a reservation.

 

When we walked in, and up 3 flights of rickety stairs (YES!), we made it to our table which looked like the last available one in the whole place. We had a few mishaps on the pass-thru end of our table due to close quarters but the food was fast, delicious and relatively inexpensive for the size of our group. And we got so used to being close, it was easy to get a group pic in the mirrored elevator back at the hotel.

Sending you more love from Segovia, Spain!

We have been in the presence of Spiritual Royalty

I have been craving salad so much that I had it for every meal of the day!  Starting with breakfast. My salad was so beautiful that even the ladies at the next table noticed it. This led to a lively conversation about our travels and they were so impressed by our connection to friends from as far away as Seattle to Liverpool.

And then we were off to Segovia. We were so happy to see Josue at the hotel lobby and to meet his father and wife.  Little did we know that his father was also our much anticipated special guest: Bro Julian De Andres. To further build anticipation, we watched the JW Broadcast video “A Castle in Spain where faith was tested”.  Check it out!

The early years

Julian was 10 yrs old when he started in the seminary and he studied there for 10 yrs (it takes 12 years to become a priest). It was a principal way to earn money. Father was also interested in him getting an education. First 5 years spent learning Latin. Bible was not used in education - only used during official services. Only 3 bibles in the whole seminary - stored in library but never encouraged to read it. It was in Latin but he found a Spanish Bible which he hid in his room. Read gospels every night by candlelight because he could understand it in his language.

From the church to the truth

Got curious about common church teachings he could not find in Bible. At 18, began to notice  hypocrisy - serious sins, violence - started to bother conscience. As the young men were studying, they were not allowed to be around women to avoid immorality. But when they became priests, they became immoral.

His mom encouraged Witnesses to return because son loves religion. On the next visit, the witnesses spent 3 hours discussing Bible with him. Baptized 1968. Able to rationalize trinity since God doesn’t die and Jesus did, can’t be same person. Though under ban, he was moved by the love shown by Witnesses. Contrast to Catholic Church focus on charity with ties to money. Church taught pity not love. 

Father didn’t talk to him for month and mom cried every time she saw him. Family not happy when he left seminary due to the economic implications. He (oldest son) was supposed to provide security for family. Really couldn’t understand when he went to prison for neutrality the year after he was baptized. He was in prison for 4 years. 

Prison life

At first only 3 then upwards of 60 brothers in same prison. The guards kept conscientious objectors separate from other inmates which allowed them to have meetings, sing songs - source of encouragement.

Often they had to move beds outside - bed bugs had to be aired out. At one point, they were assigned one bed for 3 prisoners and were isolated for 23 hours/Day. During the one hour outside, took advantage of the opportunity to preach to other prisons (he even had one student baptized in prison). Primary form of ministry was letter writing to territory. Girlfriend visit and smuggled letters out and literature in. 

During a routine military hospital exam, when doctor learned he studied to be priest but was in prison as a JW - concluded he was not right in the head - free to go 

After prison

Got married (after 4 years of courtship). Family softened to the truth while he was imprisoned realizing that he had done nothing wrong. Mom studied for few months and father loved to read - none in the truth.

Julian and his wife served as special pioneers until Josue was born - applied again when he was 5 to serve as special pioneers since 1979. When Josue was 12 another child was born, so wife stopped pio while he continued; eventually served in circuit work with Romany language. Now all of his children serve as pioneers. Married for 50 years.

One young brother in our tour group asked the BEST question: “If I have to go to prison, what can I do to prepare?” Read experiences of others who have endured imprisonment - what they did can help you prepare to endure. For example: focus on goal of pioneering helped one brother get through.

Our faithful brother, Julian De Andres sends his love to all of you!

To Jehovah’s house and back (the long way)

It’s Sunday and you know what we do on Sundays. Go to Jehovah’s house. Except as we walked home from the gelato spot after an endless supply of Sangria, some in our group asked for the Zoom info (just in case). And Stacy & I were glad to have the option.

But when someone asked if anyone wanted to share a taxi - we jumped at the chance. Literally because the original departure time gave us 15 minutes to get ready. But we found someone else who was moving about our speed and we rode in our Tesla taxi to the Kingdom Hall. Yes - many of the taxis are Teslas here given Madrid’s strict emissions requirements within the city center.

We arrived in time to join this joyful congregation for the opening song. The Kingdom Hall (which hosts 12 different congregations with languages including English, Sign Language, Romanian and Portuguese) was actually a triple complex with two KH in one building (we went to the one downstairs) and I didn’t even notice the one in the adjoining building until we were departing. 

And of course, the congregation was a melting pot of friends from all over the world.  We met ones from the Philippines, Cameroon, Nigeria, even Cincinnati and Houston. We stayed so long after the meeting hugging and taking pictures that the brothers had to flicker the lights (a few times) to get us to get out of the way of the incoming Sign Language congregation. And then the love fest continued with the friends coming in - it felt like a circuit assembly.

Since most of us skipped breakfast to get there, we were all in search for food. So we took the subway back to a familiar plaza in the historic area not far from our hotel and we scouted out a spot. We knew we had found some good options when we saw so many lines out the door. One sister and I opted for a stand-up only spot that had some amazing fried codfish. Stacy & the rest of our group chose the sit down place just across the way so we joined them there.

The location, the weather, the music, the vibe was a moment we all relished. And we promised to try to recreate the vibe of that moment in a couple hundred or thousands of years from now. When time, money and street hustlers will no longer be an obstacle.

And even though we were all looking forward to a siesta, we had spotted a few things en route to the restaurant that we wanted to revisit. I didn’t see anything that special for me - as I’m trying to be prudent given my luggage limitations. Besides Stacy got a tip from a brother at the congregation meeting about a men’s clothing store with suits that only cost 40 euros so we might be in trouble anyway.

We met a sweet sister Anna from Ukraine on the jam packed subway

We finally made it back to the hotel around 4:30pm with very little energy to make plans to do anything else - but it was a beautiful day to have no plans and look how that turned out!