Do What I Do - Do Better.

Goodness, today has been something of a traumatic day. The absolutely horrific shootings at Virginia Tech, for one. So scary. And I started my "Child Abuse" rotation today. I don't learn how to abuse children, of course, I just work at the center that takes in most of the abuse cases in Sacramento County - physical, sexual, emotional, neglect... you name it. So that's pleasant. And then, after noon conference I was informed that one of my patients - a patient I cared for in the hospital a few weeks back, and followed as an outpatient, and bonded with the patient and the mother - is in the PICU and will likely not make it. Which totally and completely sucks. On top of all of this, I've been trying to study for the boards today, but my brain is not into it.

So. I'm having a glass of wine, watching television that is not the news, and posting more Spain pictures.

Oh, before I do that, one insight I got from a (physically abused) child's grandmother today as she talked about her relationship with her own daughter -- She was basically describing her relationship with her daughter, and how she wanted her daughter to have a better life. In the middle of a lot of ramblings, she said "Do what I do; do better." It seemed so profound at the time! Maybe it was just that it was a beacon of sense in a morass of a scared/stressed/guilty diatribe. Anyhow. To the pictures!


Here is my darling sister, Lindsay, in Sevilla! This is the Plaza de Espana, which looks ancient and regal, but was actually built for a World's Fair in the 1920s. There were lots of gypsies trying to force us to take rosemary here. Made me wish I'd brought rosemary from home that I could have whipped out of my purse in retaliation. Or maybe some basil. Garlic?


One of Sevilla's major attractions is this beautiful cathedral. It is the third largest church in Europe, and the largest Gothic church anywhere. You'll find, if you haven't already, that almost all tourist sites in Europe have some sort of qualification attached to them - like "largest (or smallest, or the only one still used, etc.) xxxx in xxxx" Or there will be an interesting story that goes along with it. Or both. Like this cathedral! The interesting (to me) story: there used to be a mosque here, which the Reconquista Christians tore down, and claimed that "we'll build a cathedral so huge that anyone who sees it will take us for madmen." It took 120 years to build, and currently displays a certificate from the Guiness Book of World Records certifying that it is the 'cathedral with the largest area.'


Close up!


View from the bell tower.


On Easter Sunday, Lindsay and I celebrated as you can only do in Spain - we toured the bullfighting ring! In Sevilla, Easter Sunday is the first day of the bullfighting season, so things were bustling. We didn't get to see any bulls, but we did see the chapel where the matadors pray before the fight. We walked by later in the evening, and the place looked like it was packed - and everyone was all dressed up in their Easter-Going-to-the-Bullfight best.


The Alcazar in Sevilla - a palace built in the 10th century in the Moorish style. It is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe today (see what I mean?!?).


Proof that I was actually there (and one of... three pictures of me among the several hundred I took!)


There were lots of arches. I love arches.


I love this shot of Lindsay - an arch, sunshine, wisteria, and random children running in the background. Fabulous!


It was a gorgeous day. Really the only day while I was there with this much sunshine.

Alrighty. Enough pictures for today. I'll probably post the last two days of my vacation tomorrow, so check back!