tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23240845899408270982024-02-18T21:31:06.995-08:00Spain 2008Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-63258759328132392112010-09-23T00:06:00.000-07:002010-09-23T00:06:05.379-07:00what the four winds bring...: Denali at last!<a href="http://whatthefourwindsbring.blogspot.com/2010/09/denali-at-last.html?spref=bl">what the four winds bring...: Denali at last!</a>: "The scenery passed as if in slow motion on the train ride to Denali. The relaxed pace was no doubt designed to take advantage of the view an..."<br />WOW Cathy, I've been following your travels a bit and am so envious. The best we can do is a weekend away at Guy Fawkes NP (this weekend coming). Your obviously having a great time, enjoy. DeePete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-86590655003652964172008-10-28T00:17:00.001-07:002008-10-28T01:09:00.697-07:00Monday 27 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtO8OurKdLEZVjGWA0uXMcmhzZ0QTWNNvBKuNTQ9zb-H2NINh9qnuSgRb4iIBzGE2SKd4qhUf2cRIjKvkdG7cerIHKX1eSn8Zg3Yymq4_yYpTSoLHKwVZFLxkUMrfxKCoCAl0foamdcTj_/s1600-h/IMG_3820.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtO8OurKdLEZVjGWA0uXMcmhzZ0QTWNNvBKuNTQ9zb-H2NINh9qnuSgRb4iIBzGE2SKd4qhUf2cRIjKvkdG7cerIHKX1eSn8Zg3Yymq4_yYpTSoLHKwVZFLxkUMrfxKCoCAl0foamdcTj_/s320/IMG_3820.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262108887107807330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSLqU6EK9HaPYrDkSSmGRuAZ8IHz5fM3TDJysG0w45bJG-c7nJ6al920PGxATDFxLxwAGlMdOvxDP-OjcdxA1cabDxOfXJ6V_GQgdNDh1yzKEVnC2TwdlgIeScMpA9GovrhwpXO_w7Wax/s1600-h/IMG_3813.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSLqU6EK9HaPYrDkSSmGRuAZ8IHz5fM3TDJysG0w45bJG-c7nJ6al920PGxATDFxLxwAGlMdOvxDP-OjcdxA1cabDxOfXJ6V_GQgdNDh1yzKEVnC2TwdlgIeScMpA9GovrhwpXO_w7Wax/s320/IMG_3813.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262108883416872242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBncEYzmZyI2jBpNYKvTv0v4GXyF3jEqKNycrAO5A-Z5XuDfNlQDpq0kFZTQXPWjk5st9DE3TXpXUvs13i-s-fpSVf23dRto-g6U5DT0OaCv7ithXKP4AaGM5uRLd7jIsFUlLS-l2kNcWo/s1600-h/IMG_3812.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBncEYzmZyI2jBpNYKvTv0v4GXyF3jEqKNycrAO5A-Z5XuDfNlQDpq0kFZTQXPWjk5st9DE3TXpXUvs13i-s-fpSVf23dRto-g6U5DT0OaCv7ithXKP4AaGM5uRLd7jIsFUlLS-l2kNcWo/s320/IMG_3812.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262108880633699842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGoZCzJoqZ5TP4tX_24iGaEgjdDGA21gnvHZtgMp3n5KoUG_pnEv9Z_3FfheKISRKleOe6wXJ-qgrV3sVKzqF86Cj6_DCG1EmpC-m1kNTEdbkB1Bs0yisnYNsI1E3o_OSwvf-kqcr8cX4/s1600-h/IMG_3808.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrGoZCzJoqZ5TP4tX_24iGaEgjdDGA21gnvHZtgMp3n5KoUG_pnEv9Z_3FfheKISRKleOe6wXJ-qgrV3sVKzqF86Cj6_DCG1EmpC-m1kNTEdbkB1Bs0yisnYNsI1E3o_OSwvf-kqcr8cX4/s320/IMG_3808.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262108875306522626" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYlh79VCoJACnlTvFotFKyq4NOYC7i6ghlyhM8hMQ5GOSVCd3HrmHg8yH5s6huya36FX8uZdU-WaNgg_PAmv51NJi6EkJ7-CqYIE4fIcZ8TrfzqY0TqDKwVBj-S14zlvllsJpT0rdJ1B8/s1600-h/IMG_3875.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYlh79VCoJACnlTvFotFKyq4NOYC7i6ghlyhM8hMQ5GOSVCd3HrmHg8yH5s6huya36FX8uZdU-WaNgg_PAmv51NJi6EkJ7-CqYIE4fIcZ8TrfzqY0TqDKwVBj-S14zlvllsJpT0rdJ1B8/s320/IMG_3875.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262106754112409634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn50Sh-H03KX_c4fw-OkNMFgfgYAnvDr-W_Br1ciDuahFw0YMeMhnoLONetY2F8d9JWb3j04hEjPw38YGO4mHlLs5C6XR4Vs5HpFp2TysngYnuG18GlKXnbg59JJNCDXUOolrR_SI_GbQ/s1600-h/IMG_3873.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn50Sh-H03KX_c4fw-OkNMFgfgYAnvDr-W_Br1ciDuahFw0YMeMhnoLONetY2F8d9JWb3j04hEjPw38YGO4mHlLs5C6XR4Vs5HpFp2TysngYnuG18GlKXnbg59JJNCDXUOolrR_SI_GbQ/s320/IMG_3873.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262106747728039634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBo1clUbpFS_wia9L9bQyHwuPqOLApeHlUdVY5mZ6PKwrFnfqCHxdj4L5B7ERmxPWUKmZSbK6wAezQ_lwo7WeJvfmlFyo2Atxme2aFWElimNWEfJiiKLkT988fkzu4jdy5h1u6razcs45/s1600-h/IMG_3861.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDBo1clUbpFS_wia9L9bQyHwuPqOLApeHlUdVY5mZ6PKwrFnfqCHxdj4L5B7ERmxPWUKmZSbK6wAezQ_lwo7WeJvfmlFyo2Atxme2aFWElimNWEfJiiKLkT988fkzu4jdy5h1u6razcs45/s320/IMG_3861.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262106735897448674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuL6YVpz1npI7zYDMw6LzObMJJrkUgKmELqJQRIQCLzfqgi7Dy1YIUI5ReQBu-ZC25TvedWR_EVTXNR30iQMqDgcpP0iXsFN1DvSD0-CAfQr604U4sFs0WiyQ1T3UoYFTvNet3qgD1Arv/s1600-h/IMG_3859.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuL6YVpz1npI7zYDMw6LzObMJJrkUgKmELqJQRIQCLzfqgi7Dy1YIUI5ReQBu-ZC25TvedWR_EVTXNR30iQMqDgcpP0iXsFN1DvSD0-CAfQr604U4sFs0WiyQ1T3UoYFTvNet3qgD1Arv/s320/IMG_3859.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262106727651764962" /></a><br />Another night in the apartment and the Hell's Angels haven't reappeared – all is quiet.<br /><br />Fruit in and coffee out. Same seaside cafe we've been to a couple of times before. It is empty so coffee on the Med and a shared chicken breadroll. Oh, the prices. Something has gone astray between our previous visits and this one which basically costs $36 AUS for 3 coffees and a breadroll. You can tell it's Dee typing today – I just can't get over the prices and I can't help converting to Aussie dollars. We head for a complex of Museums near the University at the far end of the metro system. Our metro pass has been great and the trains come every 5 minutes. Once there we find it is closed on Mondays, so we walk through the gardens which are quite beautiful but our standard is very high and we move on quickly. Back to the Park Guell to see the Casa Museu Gaudi where he lived for 20 years. It is full of furniture he designed and other bits and pieces – over to Pete here as I was underwhelmed after the amazing things we've seen.<br /><br />It's mid afternoon now so we head back to the apartment via the supermarcado for lunch in. Refreshed we stroll on the beach enjoying the sand between our toes and the foot massage of various sized pebble sections from the top to the bottom of the beach.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-65947603298913505712008-10-28T00:15:00.002-07:002008-10-28T00:16:44.185-07:00Sunday 26 OctoberBack to the beachside cafe for breakfast. It's busy today and we only manage the coffee before giving up and heading for the Picasso Museum in the Gothic Quarter. Sunday is long queues, long waits and frustration. So we opt for a walk to the Ramblas. On the way we stumble by a small gallery of interesting and expensive works and then the Museu d'Historica de la Cuitat which is part archaeological dig from the Roman era onwards and part Art Gallery where the pick of all pieces is the Paul Cezanne study for La Baigners. <br /><br />We head for the markets again but alas they are closed. There is entertaining street theatre everywhere and we are getting hungry. You'd think we'd know better by now. If there are no prices it is expensive. Even though we've picked the equivalent of a sandwich store the breadroll, slice of pizza and couple of drinks would feed a family for a week in Coffs. <br /><br />At a lot of tourist stops we are accosted by beggars who are either fat, smoking, completely able bodied and generally people you don't want to give money to. There are plenty of people singing, playing instruments and doing various other forms of art for their living and you feel happy to give, but most of these beggars don't really seem to be poor but just lazy (probably a bit harsh I know). Anyway, this woman with gold fillings shining everywhere in her mouth keeps shoving a cup under our faces at lunch and wont stop until Pete says thanks and dips his hand in to take a coin – she disappears very quickly then. We had a woman In Granada who pushed a sprig of rosemary in Pete's hand and then babbled away in Spanish for 5 minutes knowing we couldn't understand. We knew money would be required for fortune telling and when she had finished Pete gave her a 2 euro coin, but that wasn't enough, she wanted paper. She kept on and on until Pete showed her the coin purse with no paper, or 5 10 or 20 euro note. She then snatched back the little sprig of rosemary, kept the 2 euro and went on to accost the next person.<br /><br />More walking in the Gothic Quarter and past Gaudi's Palau Guell which is closed now – a little too late in the day and unfortunately on Monday's most things are closed also. We amble back to the Picasso Museum where the crowds have departed and the viewing is fantastic. Lots of English text to explain what is going on although some of the major works have been shipped to Paris for an exhibition there.<br /><br />Night is upon us so we head home for dinner and rest.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-14304736964545963142008-10-28T00:15:00.001-07:002008-10-28T00:15:45.864-07:00Saturday 25 OctoberWe breakfast in on fresh fruit, yoghurt and eggs as we still have beautiful fresh produce from the markets. Only coffee is required to complete the ritual but we decide to head for the Sagrida Familia straight up. <br /><br />Church and temple, it was begun in 1882 with Gaudi working on it from 1883. We've used the word amazing, but words fail to describe this group of structures. From one angle it takes on the appearance of many other Gothic cathedrals, from another angle it is all Antoni Gaudi. Angled columns, eliptical arches, stellate vaulted ceilings, modern sculpture, birds, animals, shapes, ceramics and colour. Unlike any other “church” we have encountered. We agree that we will come back in 30 years when they expect to finish the building. Then again, maybe not in our lifetimes from what we have seen of the plans and the progress. From the very beginning, the only financing for building the scared temple came from private donations and alms, and it continues to be be so due to generous donations.<br /><br />Next stop lunch at the wonderful markets we discovered yesterday. Lunch is a great mix of squid and fresh asparagus the coffee we've been hanging out for.<br /><br />Now Park Guell via the Metro and up a very steep hill where they have thankfully installed some escalators. At the top of the 14 hectare park is a mound of stones adorned with 3 stone crucifixes. The panorama of Barcelona is not unusual, mostly smaller building sprinkled with high rise and the odd Sagrida Familia. It dominates the view even in it's semi complete state. The park itself has a wonderful, eclectic nature with Gaudi imprinted on every turn. Rough stone columns and arches, viaducts, the famous ceramic bench seats, the Hansel and Gretel like buildings with their sugar frosting of tiles, globes, columns and spires. This is a park that brings nursery rhymes to life. I wish Oliver and Kate could have seen this, a bit like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets Alice in Wonderland.<br /><br />It is late, legs and feet sore, throat parched, time to get “home” for a restorative libation and dinner.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-46778460684698905572008-10-25T12:04:00.000-07:002008-10-28T00:14:52.772-07:00Friday 24 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheP414DGTfQOCyI0k8kcnSnCc55UNj9zECoxaZZakOPmq_5fIkBEZHl1eisJEnpDVNGxVJKPL3VhRT7ggTj54XGdFFLP-4kde30yK8LoWYfT530q2hf8Yd7t937dJhotC8kkJxf6oBwXUo/s1600-h/IMG_3516.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheP414DGTfQOCyI0k8kcnSnCc55UNj9zECoxaZZakOPmq_5fIkBEZHl1eisJEnpDVNGxVJKPL3VhRT7ggTj54XGdFFLP-4kde30yK8LoWYfT530q2hf8Yd7t937dJhotC8kkJxf6oBwXUo/s320/IMG_3516.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261172178762554466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3f9WBZrmKKVqDi0Lcj7YPIYAWT_bAMOHIzENhnvi8XP5uL8WxjBb9Ij6mSVtWZAJV6mIRjLR49TByfIn3-mKrCL4qsUgkaT-coyY_cPqf8muh9XS9QjAyToHEo39KgKYo06q7zPfCl21/s1600-h/IMG_3535.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIoCeYED221C1GSTdLFsFe_50r0C1hU27aYivEQeJWw7BQdDFLon2gjJXeDXL55IDgv_FWeZ9X9qvk8jH7Ml9hf9yC4rZD7PCvFhhUzro_2jfYmOZLHV6UbA_rm4vv1_zUYlYItWr8gDB/s320/IMG_3555.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261170077324137522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjd2XlEbJW_D4da4qO63P_wbQRmBK9jjupxwikGHwJw0-3EBPJdglmcd0nvPhX8BCk9CtlRIj6cyqwGP5ZP7xsmFzOXUNaSKBY5iw289T9ZqsKmb0y6vbhoRHZN9EDblEMYVsgb2tbvxI/s1600-h/IMG_3549.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAjd2XlEbJW_D4da4qO63P_wbQRmBK9jjupxwikGHwJw0-3EBPJdglmcd0nvPhX8BCk9CtlRIj6cyqwGP5ZP7xsmFzOXUNaSKBY5iw289T9ZqsKmb0y6vbhoRHZN9EDblEMYVsgb2tbvxI/s320/IMG_3549.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261170076249894690" /></a><br />We wake to sunshine and the bar reveals itself as the “Hells Angels Barcelona” ... oh well, you can't pick your neighbours. We walk to the beach for coffee and breakfast. The day is balmy and there are several container-like structures setup on timber platforms operating as cafes along the beach. Breakfast is great and the water inviting. A few surfers here and there enjoying the thrilling 0.5m surf, sailboats and swimmers join them in a vista that is all Mediterranean.<br /><br />Peter<br />Walking along the beach it is evident that this part of town is popular for walking, cycling, jogging and old saggy tit & suntanned bum naturist type activities. Closer into town the beaches turn into marinas with quirky architectural structures/buildings and very large sculptures. The Cataluynans are not afraid to allow creativity to flourish at every opportunity. I can only dream of a Coffs Harbour that might one day drag itself into the 21st century. At home we have so much open space, harbour, foreshores and parklands devoid of any “art” nor creative touch. Regressive, self interested, aging baby boomers and associated cronies conspire to keep Coffs in the 70's (aka The Jetty Action Group aka Just Against Good ...change, development...just against anything in their front yards). I'll get off my soap box.<br /><br />Through the marinas to Port Vell, luxury craft and expensive eateries. The Cap de Barcelona stands before us, the Ramblas and Gothic Quarter to our right - sculptures and architecture – history and creativity. The walk has been long and we are in need of a pee break. There are no public toilets in Spain (I think we've seen 2 in seven weeks), so we decide to have a beer, toilet break and continue on. I order two large cervazas – our usual order and generally only a small bottle or midi size glass – two 1 litre jugs arrive at our table. So, another 15 euros (or $30) we have our pee, walk 5 paces and find we need to go again ... can't imagine why. We definitely can't face more beer so we opt for MacDonalds where we know at least some of the rules. <br /><br />The Ramblas is a corridor of stalls, historic buildings and human statues. Heading for the tourist information we stumble upon the produce markets in a side street ... WOW. We need to find another word for amazing – how about astonishing. Fruit, seafood, meats, deli's, coffee, tapas, confectionery, pastries and breads. Just walking around makes you gain weight. Fresh produce on board we head back to Salva de Mar and a home cooked dinner of Spaghetti Marinara with fresh nibbles and plentiful wine.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-59631423940581534352008-10-25T12:02:00.001-07:002008-10-25T12:02:59.609-07:00Thursday 23 OctoberArrive on time for the train only to find there is no train. A throng of confused Spaniards in animated conversation surround a bus. Gesticulations, salutations, and luggage loading precede the chess like game to board the bus. It is 20 minutes before departure and everywhere you look there are sideways glances, half steps and maneuvers to be first on the bus. It is an Olympic event that the Spanish are trying to perfect. They practice it again getting on the train and getting off in Barcelona. Lets hope in 2012 they win the gold medal. <br /><br />Boarding the bus we set off through the backstreets of Granada, the bus going where no smart car should. Finally we make the highway but we haven't got a clue where we are going or when we are going to get there. Eventually we pass through Jaen and take a right to Ubeda where we negotiate the tiny streets to the train station to find an hour wait before the train leaves for Barcelona. Just before midday the train departs Ubeda. As the stations pass we find ourselves going closer and closer to Madrid and wonder whether we're on the right train. We continue north to Villarrobleda and take a sharp right southeast to Albacete.<br /><br />Several stops later we arrive northeast in Valencia and wonder whether we'll get to Barcelona in the next 24 hours. As darkness sets in and 3 movies later the train continues up the coast and arrives in Barcelona on time at 9pm. <br /><br />We run around the station for provisions which obviously includes wine, chippies and chocolate and taxi to our apartment to meet Nuria who has the keys. The apartment is great – a one bedroom modern development in what was previously an industrial section of town but only 3 blocks from the beach. Looking out the front window we see a bar across the road with some tough guys hanging outside. We wonder if is the local hang ... next day all is revealed.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-22986547617562421762008-10-24T13:58:00.000-07:002008-10-25T12:01:47.162-07:00Wednesday 22 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN9nSs2fVwnJhLY88ZC6pJQYB1mJb63Yd37x-Jb-LFF9bxy04CIWWFPbSmENrChyvta1uFS2tmPzmn71djBbctouTgUP5TPUU81xfLntLtLOBUMRJi0Ky7myn6xNswlqI2XWmiS8Izf0X/s1600-h/IMG_3480.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLN9nSs2fVwnJhLY88ZC6pJQYB1mJb63Yd37x-Jb-LFF9bxy04CIWWFPbSmENrChyvta1uFS2tmPzmn71djBbctouTgUP5TPUU81xfLntLtLOBUMRJi0Ky7myn6xNswlqI2XWmiS8Izf0X/s320/IMG_3480.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261167913616899330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftjGAnwwXN8vRUUlw9c7y84GbtN8zRFKe_w-Sdf-VBtcECame5RNjxwG2fUXPA-DXqr1iw57_8Q63DfMvWo2i6S4Mr6rw65g8xJ2ed-lqRfNYQU-Hp8Jh8SAmjMB6hIAMiPuIsW9rve-f/s1600-h/IMG_3490.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftjGAnwwXN8vRUUlw9c7y84GbtN8zRFKe_w-Sdf-VBtcECame5RNjxwG2fUXPA-DXqr1iw57_8Q63DfMvWo2i6S4Mr6rw65g8xJ2ed-lqRfNYQU-Hp8Jh8SAmjMB6hIAMiPuIsW9rve-f/s320/IMG_3490.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261166430705026834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilfsyY3-Amb4fxHSmDSn6OjnpT-gE2aG021db6AiP2ymym0drK-ne1jXpfczOx2cbbDJiBnaWJWEJnG0KT6xxwkZmHV4kHW8ERk-F2w3E3dqzvR27-vOhf854CwSnYmXKTwBFTXbeqA15/s1600-h/IMG_3486.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilfsyY3-Amb4fxHSmDSn6OjnpT-gE2aG021db6AiP2ymym0drK-ne1jXpfczOx2cbbDJiBnaWJWEJnG0KT6xxwkZmHV4kHW8ERk-F2w3E3dqzvR27-vOhf854CwSnYmXKTwBFTXbeqA15/s320/IMG_3486.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261166416543497986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCDXV6esj7AXLNcwXDOIEjJUmiO0Pf5FrY49TRUI9fKTTg21G6USFpSG43nyYwrL2H3Pa-MDpJlZHpiuSlK3Zv7HVlDYyZ_UVGZjfKAJggoq7qMJtAMUgI-Jel2aykdpfD2xUmwHm9OhW/s1600-h/IMG_3485.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCDXV6esj7AXLNcwXDOIEjJUmiO0Pf5FrY49TRUI9fKTTg21G6USFpSG43nyYwrL2H3Pa-MDpJlZHpiuSlK3Zv7HVlDYyZ_UVGZjfKAJggoq7qMJtAMUgI-Jel2aykdpfD2xUmwHm9OhW/s320/IMG_3485.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261166413005657954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlc_v5X3SSPA-S7XwLy9RoiVpmySegDsSrdvUrWkmX3hsJ0xdGQIcEu7ve9fv6GrBITB4P5gEURVdHv-UxspCSNZBLLfDMx4Q0ECS9s5VMCP3qL_7BuB195KzYQsyTfF6CPqAc9WeOGkN/s1600-h/IMG_3481.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlc_v5X3SSPA-S7XwLy9RoiVpmySegDsSrdvUrWkmX3hsJ0xdGQIcEu7ve9fv6GrBITB4P5gEURVdHv-UxspCSNZBLLfDMx4Q0ECS9s5VMCP3qL_7BuB195KzYQsyTfF6CPqAc9WeOGkN/s320/IMG_3481.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261166406409415890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6VG17g7xjSdyY7zhzO5ZWIGnCWIcZHxoxEdcdfzIZWf0B5_gzpCKyHCe9pCuA9-VDu11PiRKIVJQMxTGZaIP2whUgDciWML4WCwCDATnDZTWWpe554C11DY4lkIDOPtJHR2aEqBRQShj/s1600-h/IMG_3508.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6VG17g7xjSdyY7zhzO5ZWIGnCWIcZHxoxEdcdfzIZWf0B5_gzpCKyHCe9pCuA9-VDu11PiRKIVJQMxTGZaIP2whUgDciWML4WCwCDATnDZTWWpe554C11DY4lkIDOPtJHR2aEqBRQShj/s320/IMG_3508.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261162947492260018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66Zf0jvdMOsXqzIp2GfTwV8IOY0j5WWYzmjM7KIjC7z66FTlmh3vtZZyhkTlrG5Op5uiaoDvBD6e6YDqlx3lQcwg153G9y2Pp1gwl7DH0yWECUTcTd6aWXCF2rLKDEzAhKXWjo26Hx1AA/s1600-h/IMG_3500.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi66Zf0jvdMOsXqzIp2GfTwV8IOY0j5WWYzmjM7KIjC7z66FTlmh3vtZZyhkTlrG5Op5uiaoDvBD6e6YDqlx3lQcwg153G9y2Pp1gwl7DH0yWECUTcTd6aWXCF2rLKDEzAhKXWjo26Hx1AA/s320/IMG_3500.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261162942592614146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ90MJXI5j2jMe-AxXVetqe0_hfkTTk0P_QB3MA7CnzMw0u4yjS3asHFl-eSsmOufoZhli2bcCpNM0Wy6GA2oL13aVrih38NbNwz6TMC1-vMOcAkrjM-Vr-tWvU1B4FectvRfOA_-8rnf8/s1600-h/IMG_3496.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ90MJXI5j2jMe-AxXVetqe0_hfkTTk0P_QB3MA7CnzMw0u4yjS3asHFl-eSsmOufoZhli2bcCpNM0Wy6GA2oL13aVrih38NbNwz6TMC1-vMOcAkrjM-Vr-tWvU1B4FectvRfOA_-8rnf8/s320/IMG_3496.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261162938910326066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmUZi8C0QyD-5uMbkHgzwLDYXMExnlaGOBf0SgzXRRcfDjeYCw_IezTVzNhU1rB0lTFaL0k-v_agvlwVaWzd3-UwkJXgUIJR6UYSXP2dKagowzl3IyWlFYoWokE29MtR3UVnTIuTJJnzw/s1600-h/IMG_3493.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQmUZi8C0QyD-5uMbkHgzwLDYXMExnlaGOBf0SgzXRRcfDjeYCw_IezTVzNhU1rB0lTFaL0k-v_agvlwVaWzd3-UwkJXgUIJR6UYSXP2dKagowzl3IyWlFYoWokE29MtR3UVnTIuTJJnzw/s320/IMG_3493.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261162941290686834" /></a><br />A short drive further west along the coast to La Herradura for breakfast and to plan the days activities – the choices being beach or mountains. It's hard to be really inspired by these seaside places after Australia. The ones here have gravel for sand, are completely overdeveloped, cater almost exclusively for tourists loosing their quirkiness or uniqueness or whatever you want to call it.<br /><br />We decide on the mountains with a drive to an area called Alhama de Granada. Pete picks the driving road – a white one on the map – which is everything we've come to expect. A freshly sealed serpentine surface which squeaks its way several thousand meter above sea level. Every turn affords oohs and arhs and a general appreciation of all of the wonderful natural resources that Spain has to offer. Spain is a country of contrasts grossly ugly and breathtakingly beautiful within 30 minutes driving. We are aware that taking a car, while involving more difficult logistics, often affords an experience of the greater treasures that Spain has to offer. We go from the English breakfast to the bocadillo and cerveza of the high sierra, and while we are over the food, the surroundings are fantastic.<br /><br />Having made a decision to get close to Granada to meet the next days train we drive onto Alhama de Granada which affords Peter his last chance at negotiating roads that look like footpaaths and driveways. Our final 'menu of the day' which is filling and plentiful for 16.50 and a decision to finally bypass the Iglesia, the Roman monument and any historic events that may have happened here. <br /><br />We set out for Granada having made the decision to stay in town before the next days train trip. Driving in the pelting rain at a 120m per hour with trucks and luxury cars going in all directions is a little unnerving. We reach Granada and miss out turn. Again. Nothing that a slow about face wont cure and at least we're here the night before. After going around and around and around in Granada's peak hour traffic in the rain Pete becomes very Spanish and takes turns for Buses and Taxis only to get us to our destination ... a park close to the train station to find a Hotel with WiFi and bed.<br /><br />The 2 star hotel didn't have WiFi, was expensive and unfriendly, We wander pass the 4 star and decide to check - it is cheaper, friendly, has WiFi and all services.<br /><br />Settled into our comfy room I do some internet logistics on getting back a bit earlier, whilst Pete shops for supplies for our train trip to Barcelona tomorrow. We consult in a bath with red wine and decide to head home earlier.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-36181614064512012282008-10-24T13:51:00.000-07:002008-10-25T11:37:04.047-07:00Tuesday 21 October (from Dee)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2C-sFMhjVQQkUXKhWex4qgRqvCZqm7ZamAyS4lhlzOntXUiXDS1W2kT6eSZWOd2_MaJNSa413h34FDjvZTXCR-EAFeuR2fXxhOWIBp5QHD5skUFbjWkYYkdrZAZ4Al_KQs59wubKuHVI/s1600-h/IMG_3413.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB2C-sFMhjVQQkUXKhWex4qgRqvCZqm7ZamAyS4lhlzOntXUiXDS1W2kT6eSZWOd2_MaJNSa413h34FDjvZTXCR-EAFeuR2fXxhOWIBp5QHD5skUFbjWkYYkdrZAZ4Al_KQs59wubKuHVI/s320/IMG_3413.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261162303411056946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2V7o8pC8dmFgFUTnt4RInZrprZ1g4lfjKPdJBP_EGhwYvlxfhzRGK_P8bFw12BTFU8Vk4SQ_RqHftefakd3zIlamrLpyEAm1eZhFMIpzWgFjhCqqm3r4Uce6fi28NSVa7nSDyz7Ip6B-_/s1600-h/IMG_3401.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYfiQIYQcykPQhsIgc9dnVEG8CgMnL4G0nnOfjKJNEbDS-CJyMdYj13YJtyj5w3Z61lriwT3CghoR4qLUFW9KEHHDCHmN0Trvc_DkaIk2TJ6ShHIvA1DDo0aQ6vDdkrWPpyxr0JiZ4R6EP/s320/IMG_3450.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261158369185305522" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOeNjEER-Jv5-SEG1hOwqv9E5GhF8jTHAIwxAr3SBjA4lhUozW26XgiUPHWNI9q_ZS2jA5kc4BMidvaApPimxlW5VXG1l7axOkIYkFygx3Ggk1pm6E9FsixurBinlw29sNfBND7X24fIU/s1600-h/IMG_3447.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOeNjEER-Jv5-SEG1hOwqv9E5GhF8jTHAIwxAr3SBjA4lhUozW26XgiUPHWNI9q_ZS2jA5kc4BMidvaApPimxlW5VXG1l7axOkIYkFygx3Ggk1pm6E9FsixurBinlw29sNfBND7X24fIU/s320/IMG_3447.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261158365020309234" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQ2xYLn96p_kGnWwqdJTVI-p2kRy-dwU1Gu_VfrUKtkLwoNZap1ZBVjCV8QK8LPkXViRgJiIUSHz3psBEM0TFHlVGMjYFHFgjUDTWQBWBE3r-UYr-E0IzZSd04Aj05JFGaze3fZ1x9P3q/s1600-h/IMG_3446.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQ2xYLn96p_kGnWwqdJTVI-p2kRy-dwU1Gu_VfrUKtkLwoNZap1ZBVjCV8QK8LPkXViRgJiIUSHz3psBEM0TFHlVGMjYFHFgjUDTWQBWBE3r-UYr-E0IzZSd04Aj05JFGaze3fZ1x9P3q/s320/IMG_3446.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261158348717684242" /></a><br />After Tostados and Cafe Solo we head off for more mountain driving, our aim the walk at Laujar de Andarax. We (I) decide that since the walk is approximately 6 hours that we should drive the shortest route. It takes several maps to work out highways, major roads and minor roads as the walk is in the next province. So the green highway (which is the next level up from the white highway) is our aim. F@#%ing Hell. The road is unbelievable and I don't have any pictures to show because I was gripping the arm rest so tight, palms sweating, in fact everything sweating and unable to move. Pete kept saying you should get a picture of this and I would respond “bullshit”. I can only surmise that the white road was probably in a greater state of disrepair and had been upgraded (well it was a full lane wide), and the green road, officially labelled as highway A348 hadn't been attended to for several decades.<br /><br />Driving along footpaths, driveways and tree roots not to mention old women staring in disbelief as we navigate through their 3 house towns we finally negotiate this section of the A348. Coming down the mountain the road actually achieves a full car width, but there are more towns, no roadsigns and the landscape is quiet desolate.<br /><br />Around Ugijar, about halfway to our walking destination the highway turns into a brand new super-duper dual lane road and we sigh thinking there may still be enough time in the day for our walk, but alas it only lasts for a few kilometers and reverts to a broken down lane but at least there is not a shear cliff on one side and there is room for another car to pass.<br /><br />We arrive at Laujar de Andarax around midday, and take the scenic route a little way up the mountain side in search of the walk. On route Pete restores National Park signs that local farmers have replaced with their “Private Property – Keep Out” signs. No luck with finding the track start so we head for the tourist office which turns out to be closed for the low season ... funny because the brochure we picked up in Trevelez suggests it as an excellent activity for October! So onward. It has been an amazing drive this morning – completely terrifying but there's nothing like a bit of adrenaline to keep things interesting. And then there was the beautiful vistas when I could relax enough to see them. We decide for the coast. <br /><br />At the tourist information office Salobrena was suggested as a beautiful destination in the province of Granada. We decide to hit the coast east of Salobrena in the hope of finding a quieter section of the coast as in Conil versus Cadiz. As we drive on from Ugijar green houses start to appear on the landscape – great fields covered in plastic. And, as we get closer to the coast the density of plastic tents increases to cover everything the eye can see as far as the waters edge. The area is hilly if not mountainous and everything has been blasted into levels that can be converted to agriculture. It's really weird because the landscape and soil look completely inhospitable but it appears to be the centre of the most intensive agriculture and one wonders why it isn't on the plains where there is soil and the ground is level. Oh well, there's lots we've wondered about in Spain (especially where logic is concerned) and this just adds to the list. Onward.<br /><br />We settle at Almunecar and find a pension close to the beach (Playa del Cristobalal) at a reasonable price. The gardens nearby house some amazing sculptures from artists who reside in Syria. As we're walking around Pete hears power tools being used and wonders whether some sculptures aren't being created now. We follow the sound and find 3 sculptors working away at enormous blocks of marble. They are commissioned every year for 2 weeks to create a couple of works each and they are amazing. So inspiring.<br /><br />We settle for dinner at a beachside restaurant which has a delightful outlook over the Mediterranean with heaps of fresh fish and fruit appearing on dinner plates. We ask if they recommend anything ... and they do ... sole ... ouch. Tastes great but at $125 aussie dollars for the fish dish alone (it was for two) we are looking at the budget and wondering whether we might come home a week earlier.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-9451756527194055232008-10-24T12:07:00.000-07:002008-10-24T13:05:35.418-07:00Monday 20 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOKAv8i-0mjeZ1NJxgycMZhsC-ljg-Rzl2MngNQZaeN5_NUEVVWngFJa_N0Idiihpw3IjyVQUnYOSMieG_lMNkGQJOQYj6waWT-mujSyQHDHAuBHIuR8D3WysZec0dK39tgaC3TcXr-5O/s1600-h/IMG_3378.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOKAv8i-0mjeZ1NJxgycMZhsC-ljg-Rzl2MngNQZaeN5_NUEVVWngFJa_N0Idiihpw3IjyVQUnYOSMieG_lMNkGQJOQYj6waWT-mujSyQHDHAuBHIuR8D3WysZec0dK39tgaC3TcXr-5O/s320/IMG_3378.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260813254569469890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqcg_XgwmeG8rruxszx3-RehEVsppkB_u0s3Il1df3xlaA6M-WqLE1rzHEeBLulnHwZU4muHOW0ztNE_3uppXIUrSpp3Dxl05d10-qxbmOt3DT6esDTVyT81hr-BhRz3XVGvooXEbvVQC/s1600-h/IMG_3373.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNokqwzrLQxb_MK7qPjT5cQUnl1wYgO72oAeeGobWBJH4J1nIDBVqM8taYlsOXgaz72Rk5hFAUlkbQ-2irvlz5cB8PbjytCFvXFy7f6JmslvHghqMjDWqPKueVUifCugmVx5c2JZ3nsqU/s320/IMG_3397.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260807946144011714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1q_6qXdl7szA5SGomQT15jXW7YLgB_fM-tpEVI7X4q5z6OvjyzpzGFYJlQbwjzNQKXhpzc2NKtsUWPsLO9jPc6FzLVDPl0dLbUZf0W_POlETTxdobfjOxGBaI5F7FO5CeHBnglztLoAk/s1600-h/IMG_3394.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1q_6qXdl7szA5SGomQT15jXW7YLgB_fM-tpEVI7X4q5z6OvjyzpzGFYJlQbwjzNQKXhpzc2NKtsUWPsLO9jPc6FzLVDPl0dLbUZf0W_POlETTxdobfjOxGBaI5F7FO5CeHBnglztLoAk/s320/IMG_3394.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260807936657233554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI5-sCy0bRsvTUnJnqROVhwBqBacgZ8o1gY7gQPJsXUISn6sPHvUBCsaVvbpnzZAdWL30Ya4QZYUlZxvEDFrNu6bWIRKB-QA1CMOt_oX47XaNmKMdCko7YByCNLWII2FjHx2kV9zULapU/s1600-h/IMG_3390.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI5-sCy0bRsvTUnJnqROVhwBqBacgZ8o1gY7gQPJsXUISn6sPHvUBCsaVvbpnzZAdWL30Ya4QZYUlZxvEDFrNu6bWIRKB-QA1CMOt_oX47XaNmKMdCko7YByCNLWII2FjHx2kV9zULapU/s320/IMG_3390.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260807930121505906" /></a><br />We head off early to get our hire car and drive to the top of the Sierra Nevada. The views are breathtaking as is the drive. A short walk to the top of a rocky knoll, the low cloud hugs distant mountains, the highest peaks dusted with snow and the ski resort is making preparation for the imminent season.<br /><br />Backtracking we head for Alpujarra y Valle de Lecrin on the southern aspect of the Sierra Nevada. This region of the Iberian peninsula is historically the last bastion of Islamic culture, or more correctly, the region most influenced by Moorish occupation. Each pueblo / hamlet / village is comprised of box like buildings hugging shear cliffs up to 2000-2500m above sea level. The towns are stark white against the landscape, packed tightly together and distinguishable by the shapes of their chiminera which is supposed to be a throw back to Islam. Dee and I agree that not much of the Moorish culture has survived even if the architecture suggests Islamic influences. The main product of the region is “jambon” (pig) in various shapes and sizes. It doesn't appear very different from every other region we have passed through in that respect. Boccadillos will forever be a cringe word for us.<br /><br />Orgiva has a very strange feel about it. The local hippie culture laced with British and Germanic dialects. Middle aged pommies (and older) appear to be living here. It is almost surreal and after a quick beer and provisions we head out further into the more isolated Sierra Nevada. The road is serpentine and slow going, more white, stacked box towns, tour buses everywhere. Mostly poms I think. Not so isolated but at least they drive through. <br /><br />We finally decide on Trevelez, which on first impression appears quiet yet by 7pm the local fair (as in travelling circus) is in full swing just outside our hotel window. Dee remarks, with her usual optimism, “well it will probably only go until 11 pm or so...”,.....sure!!! On the positive side the countryside is beautiful, the air cool and clean, our hotel room very good value for 45E (now $100!!!) and there is double glazing. We keep telling each other it is only money, you only live once (unless you believe in reincarnation of course and then you have to do this shit for eternity).<br /><br />A walk around to the high point of town, probably greater than 60 degrees grade in some places yet still accessible by car, and we acquire the obligatory 6pm thirst, lucky there always seems to be bottle at hand.<br /><br />Dee seems to have forgotten the rigors of the camino, her foot pain now resolved, a local walk catches her attention, the Sendero del Aguadero (12km, 6-7 hours return, 630 m elevation). She again optimistically remarks, that should be nothing for us!Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-388109544959584462008-10-22T13:49:00.000-07:002008-10-24T12:06:57.968-07:00Sunday 19 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLTID4RcgWLJ1uPW3uRuPiiG3X4wMOYI337dpzLeBCFKWzHtl-9LqtfVsWH5RyRgNOYzMJF6Zmbz_v5SHxfRxitxZRsjKkrunmUeYJ8_ewipa3uGley5SQ4xyzf3UCe83OOhXMO6PtbpB/s1600-h/IMG_3365.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeLTID4RcgWLJ1uPW3uRuPiiG3X4wMOYI337dpzLeBCFKWzHtl-9LqtfVsWH5RyRgNOYzMJF6Zmbz_v5SHxfRxitxZRsjKkrunmUeYJ8_ewipa3uGley5SQ4xyzf3UCe83OOhXMO6PtbpB/s320/IMG_3365.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260798563500919602" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDYL_0NpW6KUY0sHj377NMbQnE5cg6XnNmWu27HYQ9tjmVOBqzga2SUgRhutnHPPbr26PdYEXgJwxsCRhMe6inF7tFLiEzQhGix9f9yIipHvgq44HAXxa14gyBoD9T4GtLgy_FD6bGsLQ/s1600-h/IMG_3363.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDYL_0NpW6KUY0sHj377NMbQnE5cg6XnNmWu27HYQ9tjmVOBqzga2SUgRhutnHPPbr26PdYEXgJwxsCRhMe6inF7tFLiEzQhGix9f9yIipHvgq44HAXxa14gyBoD9T4GtLgy_FD6bGsLQ/s320/IMG_3363.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260798556504766930" /></a><br />Breakfast of toast and coffee and then off for a walk around town sightseeing, and catching up on logistics – car hire for a couple of days to see Sierra Nevada, rail tickets to Barcelona and looking for secure internet. Success on the first two – no luck with internet.<br /><br />With car booked from tomorrow until Thursday morning we continue our leisurely stroll with the Sunday throngs. Heading towards 2pm those restaurants perched on the hill that we spied yesterday are our goal. We select the one with the amazing vista over the town below and the Alhambra on the hillside in front. Sadly we are once again disappointed with very ordinary food at very high prices. Despite the food we have a great afternoon there and toddle to our room for siesta.<br /><br />Refreshed after nap we head off again and find internet around the corner where we complete our logistics and book an apartment in Barcelona – it looks gorgeous. We select a Moorish restaurant for a late meal and are delighted with beautiful food at reasonable prices.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-19577873138593754902008-10-19T01:25:00.000-07:002008-10-24T12:00:50.262-07:00Saturday 18 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPZfA1AkEqDQYiI41RNYHCa6dKUh5jPbIGku8t7HFlFkac0kP9_w61NTD2DBwRSvtCPV6MGfaKUkDIQgrmovyZ3IqFd03agHP8nU1jUVPlkCGIbMha6izYprqCBO_YyKBZ7EroDL-n0NK/s1600-h/IMG_3294.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPZfA1AkEqDQYiI41RNYHCa6dKUh5jPbIGku8t7HFlFkac0kP9_w61NTD2DBwRSvtCPV6MGfaKUkDIQgrmovyZ3IqFd03agHP8nU1jUVPlkCGIbMha6izYprqCBO_YyKBZ7EroDL-n0NK/s320/IMG_3294.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260795939838022722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm16PWl9-nywr8uhAnm7hoZAa056f1QKpyupuAiQCdgMhCFEroLDKJD4jcc8cIdAzbJPQTMueVyBFPKkx5vFBcQFdWvLbDJPZwBhBb8T1yZ7t330ucnSD80wlRRwEX9IxM2D3DyEEOaBnK/s1600-h/IMG_3290.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlJg8jdUuduP_Mq7_NeO9FpQO2A8SEO-rnGft6RFZ_25fJfABeEUAYWz-x653WfuWZUa7ga4eqGXvz7E_DwXiaOb8ColePNzAWtufbWfwwCUCC1TfuCIuYIaMNUTlbY-W7y0Qgb-yHZYr/s320/IMG_3358.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260766604407469986" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPuwZiIZdhhjaGJS7wNfZ3XNQzuRsrbPeClhY9GRhKA_ZL9w3eNyQuiizMj8dQDEYoefNoXCfR5lebVqIpfwtWKommfZIyVHqcHCCazd8EPjEsFJOPtEOxAV-DZOOgWuPB55Kkp09szfY/s1600-h/IMG_3347.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPuwZiIZdhhjaGJS7wNfZ3XNQzuRsrbPeClhY9GRhKA_ZL9w3eNyQuiizMj8dQDEYoefNoXCfR5lebVqIpfwtWKommfZIyVHqcHCCazd8EPjEsFJOPtEOxAV-DZOOgWuPB55Kkp09szfY/s320/IMG_3347.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260766597414188546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MGdmD8SNGyMUl-yYBLNg0GWKMU-61sM6vp45jZ8ul-Ef3VIT4k4Xrhthim6ruW1FQKgti5MaVmNlb2OTV6w-RTF1y1zMXLncsQd6w4dcvMhwnSyRy2Xchv-zZvchkEtq9B-fN73J8Ppv/s1600-h/IMG_3341.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3MGdmD8SNGyMUl-yYBLNg0GWKMU-61sM6vp45jZ8ul-Ef3VIT4k4Xrhthim6ruW1FQKgti5MaVmNlb2OTV6w-RTF1y1zMXLncsQd6w4dcvMhwnSyRy2Xchv-zZvchkEtq9B-fN73J8Ppv/s320/IMG_3341.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260766585682741426" /></a><br />Days that you are not traveling are great to sleep in. Wandering the streets we find ourselves at the first cafe we encountered the day before. Looking for Wifi but it is not obvious. We are in luck and I can call the kids. Missing them more each day and wishing they could have experienced some of what we have seen. The dollar has fallen even more.<br /><br />Back to the top of the hill where we plan to see more of the Alhambra and Generalife complex. It is Saturday and there are queues to the ticket offices. We decide on beer and a walk. Through the Parador (State run luxury hotel) and we find a little fence that needs to be jumped over. Oops, we find ourselves in the gardens of the Generalife (usually requiring tickets for entry) and so we take the opportunity to look around. Finally getting to the Generalife palacios we again find free entrance this time through the exit. No intiendo is our motto for now, we simply don't understand. However, we do make the most of our opportunity and take a good lookmaround. <br /><br />Yesterday we gained entrance to the Palacio of Carlos V and the museos housed within. Today the Generalife section. Will we push our luck and try for the Palacios Nazaries and Alcazaba. the former is guarded like Fort Knox and the latter has 30 m high walls. Getting in for free may require more than just luck. Perhaps tomorrow.<br /><br />Back to the pension for lunch and we finally engage in the tradition of siesta waking at 6.30pm to head out again. This time we find ourselves in a more “islamic” section of town with tea houses offering free hookas per table. Of course it is only tobacco but we cannot bring ourselves to breath in all the smoke.<br /><br />There is a great din down the street and when we get there we are confronted by a large group of young men soaked to the skin and chanting slogans, waving fists and looking up at windows framing young women. Obviously an ancient courting ritual where the young women alternate between exhibiting items of clothing from the windows and throwing buckets of water on their adoring male friends and suitors.<br /><br />We make our way to a hill overlooking Granada. It is via a “shady” part of town but emerges into a plaza with throngs of people, music and hand made tissue flowers everywhere. There are people of all ages enjoying the groove. A local restaurant provides vino and tapas. Setting off down steep lanes and back alleys we find restaurants perched on the hill with great views over the city. Perhaps tomorrow for lunch?Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-23839997070280693372008-10-19T01:24:00.000-07:002008-10-24T09:29:47.783-07:00Friday 17 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8rlKvD430UN8QOEoa8nbl_IYiE1aSOvAEy0ubwlO8TljXqArSQjaIBYasB4LPckszOl33h2UZPcWcqgSAS3Z3ow_3RQhEYCzOwr1Rkvt0unpVeQuRq3Fdd_Ys3yUI_AnKz4tKuQy5KZo/s1600-h/IMG_3205.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8rlKvD430UN8QOEoa8nbl_IYiE1aSOvAEy0ubwlO8TljXqArSQjaIBYasB4LPckszOl33h2UZPcWcqgSAS3Z3ow_3RQhEYCzOwr1Rkvt0unpVeQuRq3Fdd_Ys3yUI_AnKz4tKuQy5KZo/s320/IMG_3205.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260757881515356706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsK6lT4a8wIuF6QOu9vZnQTm7PF-s8aCdB90jFJLCebGzyOhPMTaW6PwwsQY2iU754ibOf94WCfj2D8a6ighcb6p8kJBVG2fmp-m_2B2-3takKEjJAUqOfzCbEqcDfSJOCUyw-q_tzO5jO/s1600-h/IMG_3193.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEcyoHzZFbzSOf6tEJ2pUXylIaIIz-LM37bOTkbN53CB0QpS-owrgDkQQp4s85zF8eukO5lZXeGN07dBxCMpF04YZS8sgLdvzgzY3Ezj1yoKGgq7jnP_UfksazM5AF2TseNd7rtdbGa1d4/s320/IMG_3166+Alcazaba.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260757834708597282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYr1iZ5g-K60kBrxsm8SXvjxShsVxe-t27JX86tW-b4CghjqwR9kMZ8ISQqM1v0kAJXv3jeZNHldeA8lHCB6Ymv4pnn2teBvDRh8L2ZwKQ1rlDBWXMWXVPPR6CaZ4VeEw7vJWV1GKz1Wl/s1600-h/IMG_3252+night+Granada.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYr1iZ5g-K60kBrxsm8SXvjxShsVxe-t27JX86tW-b4CghjqwR9kMZ8ISQqM1v0kAJXv3jeZNHldeA8lHCB6Ymv4pnn2teBvDRh8L2ZwKQ1rlDBWXMWXVPPR6CaZ4VeEw7vJWV1GKz1Wl/s320/IMG_3252+night+Granada.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260225790980152098" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLATrRad-zanDm86J-r_mw3e0DPPENXqwzdsO53Nd8bLQQyq4OAWBxS_NS8kM78bYtdWjiWPfQ4wli6y0lnyS0_2SmYqysuxp1ES5s_JXPx5fOybNYwF6sThASWoBL8-5BhObNFUpVooq/s1600-h/IMG_3251.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLATrRad-zanDm86J-r_mw3e0DPPENXqwzdsO53Nd8bLQQyq4OAWBxS_NS8kM78bYtdWjiWPfQ4wli6y0lnyS0_2SmYqysuxp1ES5s_JXPx5fOybNYwF6sThASWoBL8-5BhObNFUpVooq/s320/IMG_3251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260225780197238306" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWT5AHZ2YClFhKN0vV0nZDcTYAypva5-9CRQXmN8iE3vOTpKUDwpKvHj3etnNRMtIv0rZA-5VYSvuAU9_hBhIym76efhrIUrjWLEzaSlwG6IFlWxNrt11CqNxpvedUtGoSv6FVSSdTHLJ/s1600-h/IMG_3247.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWT5AHZ2YClFhKN0vV0nZDcTYAypva5-9CRQXmN8iE3vOTpKUDwpKvHj3etnNRMtIv0rZA-5VYSvuAU9_hBhIym76efhrIUrjWLEzaSlwG6IFlWxNrt11CqNxpvedUtGoSv6FVSSdTHLJ/s320/IMG_3247.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260225778765115378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZApa6Gb9lCNGT5uhCfpWY6mDgPWQIwEdaAgsosOUO1Uet_Fk-DI-JrjheoCaaRFgVtWJVgWCb_bE0E-IRC53ATfCtoxzUMoAvSMhjebOQRLdOdTzLOrMWACm0b_kOKVDNgJXtTRypDo6/s1600-h/IMG_3240.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZApa6Gb9lCNGT5uhCfpWY6mDgPWQIwEdaAgsosOUO1Uet_Fk-DI-JrjheoCaaRFgVtWJVgWCb_bE0E-IRC53ATfCtoxzUMoAvSMhjebOQRLdOdTzLOrMWACm0b_kOKVDNgJXtTRypDo6/s320/IMG_3240.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260225772310247970" border="0" /></a><br />Up early to the bus station, a quick coffee, load some blog and 3 hours later we arrive in Granada. A taxi to tourist info, map and accommodation directions in hand. Very easy and Granada immediately strikes us as a city where we feel comfortable. Slightly cooler than Sevilla. Our pension is spartan, the room large and centrally located, for 35 euro it might be the best value we have had in Spain. We are only 150 m from the entry to the Alhambre and so we decide to take a walk to orient ourselves with the huge complex of gardens, palaces and Generalife buildings.<br /><br />Finding the Museo des Bellas Artes we are again confronted with 16 and 17C religious iconography. This time, however, it is well explained and as we progress from sala to sala we find more and more contemporary art. As we thought, the religious paintings are the result of commissions from the church (mostly Catholic Reformationists competing with the Protestant groups) and royal patrons. Later, more contemporary works are commissioned by the middle class and reflect daily life. There is a tendency towards still life. Finally we are looking at electronic installations, books floating in huge blue tanks, interactive video displays, a lion made of shredded car tyres and sequined dummies. The contrast in styles is refreshing. The Alhambre overwhelming. It will take 2 days to appreciate.<br /><br />Dinner of goat's cheese, tomato and baked sea bass with obligatory vinos finds us ready for bed. It is 9 pm and the Spanish are just starting up. An Austrian student tells us he meets his friends at 2-3 am to start partying. His classes start around 12.30 in the afternoon. We cannot bring ourselves to waste the beautiful days in bed.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-6003378895686020742008-10-18T02:20:00.001-07:002008-10-19T01:35:56.633-07:00Thursday 16 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBR57QJF10mvqGww-q8PC48curPEEvqO9g8momrY2FIkuObat6pGjsI55NI4yEA-v6B6CAaVlRk1qxO6Z-pg4xWnZrIUrzK10yb4vAMN6nqQ7PlzjzWFBtpF9i-RT24q4vFSeJVFTnriHL/s1600-h/IMG_3017+Girilda.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBR57QJF10mvqGww-q8PC48curPEEvqO9g8momrY2FIkuObat6pGjsI55NI4yEA-v6B6CAaVlRk1qxO6Z-pg4xWnZrIUrzK10yb4vAMN6nqQ7PlzjzWFBtpF9i-RT24q4vFSeJVFTnriHL/s320/IMG_3017+Girilda.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258780847483531442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSz4dHTR3aU3gEBnJ_kr-ItqcuNv8uol0Cn9EiL-xJi9UJUIwhp1Jvp4kyX73-egN6AMi8qgbOR8qp2jh15upV-C5FKR25hCrr_g4PVRad8erP0GjJOOnXDgIRKQ9kfI75P0dhxYhWG8PK/s1600-h/IMG_3041hand+made+glass.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSz4dHTR3aU3gEBnJ_kr-ItqcuNv8uol0Cn9EiL-xJi9UJUIwhp1Jvp4kyX73-egN6AMi8qgbOR8qp2jh15upV-C5FKR25hCrr_g4PVRad8erP0GjJOOnXDgIRKQ9kfI75P0dhxYhWG8PK/s320/IMG_3041hand+made+glass.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258780851981229730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnggFKuX7PWF2A9ZVEO4-llLmLWWAZolfWklQzK0JyR75VIvRcuxg09XHbZ2GyvOaf2E7D6VKa9GRcCgitFcmOo3UGG28ueU6-o1mcU0-ZxFhy-ziI3l9I7e2IOi1oO37H2Y948fiZurS/s1600-h/IMG_3081.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnggFKuX7PWF2A9ZVEO4-llLmLWWAZolfWklQzK0JyR75VIvRcuxg09XHbZ2GyvOaf2E7D6VKa9GRcCgitFcmOo3UGG28ueU6-o1mcU0-ZxFhy-ziI3l9I7e2IOi1oO37H2Y948fiZurS/s320/IMG_3081.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258780858013969218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAASQOBMxe4D0xXezz2uOP7E5kIparb-oRJ333x3dSQGOyHKhlQg9JqaCrXy6eCyW2tSFs3F41z0zKF0FT6s0ayHFJYHQY1GguAa2Xg2e7QhtzmBwbjV3F1X3t8lVOOqiY7qx-1egnY_I/s1600-h/IMG_3105+palm+pruner.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBAASQOBMxe4D0xXezz2uOP7E5kIparb-oRJ333x3dSQGOyHKhlQg9JqaCrXy6eCyW2tSFs3F41z0zKF0FT6s0ayHFJYHQY1GguAa2Xg2e7QhtzmBwbjV3F1X3t8lVOOqiY7qx-1egnY_I/s320/IMG_3105+palm+pruner.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258780863601451698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb09GEJWyfU1INGBcCbFR2mbAOTZvE3MqDuOo8K1vlxesVKcFU3UtuiNx1KZmBFerMLj4mhjq4K3TM64gLyt4vfH075M_sajuCElczsgCt-Yti9uL_GRAiUhdtWKzz0v-QcqnUxLoSN2_/s1600-h/IMG_3051.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqb09GEJWyfU1INGBcCbFR2mbAOTZvE3MqDuOo8K1vlxesVKcFU3UtuiNx1KZmBFerMLj4mhjq4K3TM64gLyt4vfH075M_sajuCElczsgCt-Yti9uL_GRAiUhdtWKzz0v-QcqnUxLoSN2_/s320/IMG_3051.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258777757541787778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo25-4m6lMR-uTpbx1ky03LXyxDAD3U812GzVsbpFUUtDb0VYuMq-f5l7FN6UeyIAW6EGgbYjxNj_dI2WDCuJVT2mV8kfLckz89w8cAZ2tCKpCB7KB2LO2ov-SdO65FIO9z7VOeGcr8wOK/s1600-h/IMG_3057.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo25-4m6lMR-uTpbx1ky03LXyxDAD3U812GzVsbpFUUtDb0VYuMq-f5l7FN6UeyIAW6EGgbYjxNj_dI2WDCuJVT2mV8kfLckz89w8cAZ2tCKpCB7KB2LO2ov-SdO65FIO9z7VOeGcr8wOK/s320/IMG_3057.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258777769591412882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUU1ZRu66lD9ZcYY76-6MbZQ1Wm8aPxaqZ9HuG5PA4HIFIY23cYjUlzFXgMOAv-E7YMBWzt1FlTrjCb-5Pq-aoYLpbLNSFIoe4I_Li6NEyjJ1_z5zIVpqte7jvSon2-0ZHnDBFgvT56J3e/s1600-h/IMG_3065.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUU1ZRu66lD9ZcYY76-6MbZQ1Wm8aPxaqZ9HuG5PA4HIFIY23cYjUlzFXgMOAv-E7YMBWzt1FlTrjCb-5Pq-aoYLpbLNSFIoe4I_Li6NEyjJ1_z5zIVpqte7jvSon2-0ZHnDBFgvT56J3e/s320/IMG_3065.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258777776076301426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHicUKWcWQI6o2oR30-k-MvArrkgTCTP75_CtxXnnrGXmPcTvkq0s5rjbWmbFVcaZ7wdxzKpK1vOIqjg6DDFsPZNhnIKqqdrJU4QHi577Z7hS3I8NhoEYPFyXac2DP-eiNECgKA346jaq/s1600-h/IMG_3068.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHicUKWcWQI6o2oR30-k-MvArrkgTCTP75_CtxXnnrGXmPcTvkq0s5rjbWmbFVcaZ7wdxzKpK1vOIqjg6DDFsPZNhnIKqqdrJU4QHi577Z7hS3I8NhoEYPFyXac2DP-eiNECgKA346jaq/s320/IMG_3068.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258777779070905202" /></a><br />Day 2 in any town/city we have been to always seems fresher, better, more relaxed, more interesting. It is hard to define exactly what it seems. In Sevilla, the temp is warmer and the pace relaxed as we head out for coffee and toast. Our intention is to visit Real Alcazar, a complex of gardens and palaces/ buildings with Moorish influenced architecture and design. A leisurely stroll through the Jardins ... and we eventually find the Alcazar.<br /><br />The ramparts of R. Alcazar literally tower before us, the simple arches beckoning one to enter a small courtyard. Once through the ticket office the scale of the buildings, the intricacy of the facades and tile work, the uncanny design and layout that afford glimpses of other spaces yet to be fully appreciated. With much oohing and aahing we wander through its amazing complex and the many photos I take will never be just representation to what we experience today.<br /><br />Another highlight is the palm tree pruner. With rope and machete he is at the top of a palm that is perhaps 25 metres high hacking away at seed pods and dead fronds. The gardens are full of palms he has already trimmed with plenty to go. Some of the palms are pencil thin and ever so tall – what a job.<br /><br />In the final room as we exit the palace there is an exhibition of modern art, the first modern painting we have seen. Finally a respite from the religious iconography that covers every wall. We have been on our feet for long enough and beer and water are required. Dee continues to search for salad, a concept the Spanish either butcher, ignore or perhaps it is not appetising. We have not been able to work out why the Spanish simply can't get it together when it comes to fresh fruit and veg in their diet. Today is no different. We give up. After a dodgy sandwich, good mango smoothy (even if I did order melon) and a rest we head out in search of modern art via tourist info. <br /><br />Through the back streets we wind our way to the Museo des Belles Artes only to find art dating from the early 16C. Painting after painting depicting the crucifixion, baptism or ascenscion with the odd sprinkling of Jean Baptista, Santaigo and Santa Maria con el nino. The Spanish have had a strange habit of depicting these events and including Spanish figures variously dressed in a style of clothing that would not have existed until some 1500 years after the death of Christ. A weird juxtaposition of biblical events with a modern Spanish flavour. excellent workmanship of course but very limited subject matter and probably reflecting the socio-religious expectations of the day.<br /><br />Finally, in Sala XIV we find painting of the early 20C. The initial move away from detailed form to impressionist work is very refreshing and beautiful. The 1920 and 30's however is marked by dark, humourless figures and black backgrounds, a reflection of Spanish politics and society at the time. These few 20C works promise much. Where is all the other work from this period? Dee wonders if the artists and their work survived the political unrest in Spain in the first half of the 20C. <br /><br />We decide on a fresh home made dinner in the gardens. So off to the supermarket for some food and wine and we picnic in the beautiful gardens where everyone is out and about enjoying the balmy evening. A dog comes by and drops his ball in the little fountain in front of us just so he has an excuse to lie in it and retrieve the ball – a brief flash of life at home.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-65130068164470323302008-10-17T10:19:00.000-07:002008-10-24T09:51:15.279-07:00Wednesday 15 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKsR7D4duRCftBKVef2UlLHfxWV6PO87epE7-8gGpTBHbhPBTS082gVKKx5cnb80ahWvbnQI1gC8eF-rlFne0XNfewhU8TTQwz-3MI-4jIBS49zMdQQC8JkXf0tRC8WhitgwGaSeyYh2j/s1600-h/IMG_2954.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiKsR7D4duRCftBKVef2UlLHfxWV6PO87epE7-8gGpTBHbhPBTS082gVKKx5cnb80ahWvbnQI1gC8eF-rlFne0XNfewhU8TTQwz-3MI-4jIBS49zMdQQC8JkXf0tRC8WhitgwGaSeyYh2j/s320/IMG_2954.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260763514526061826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOap31T2uKT4hhHjBhKsbF19Vz3ikYkyu9qQLj2485aEqSltN5JZ6EdA_UgnuztodkJbuyQw7y4WvBY4UivoN7y9nOOlNvlMw4Wf7zp1-CNkzk8qLF20jDdkXGn4mSkmuQK2NrmEPeiTtA/s1600-h/IMG_2948.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOap31T2uKT4hhHjBhKsbF19Vz3ikYkyu9qQLj2485aEqSltN5JZ6EdA_UgnuztodkJbuyQw7y4WvBY4UivoN7y9nOOlNvlMw4Wf7zp1-CNkzk8qLF20jDdkXGn4mSkmuQK2NrmEPeiTtA/s320/IMG_2948.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260763494702385154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvnuKovmVIuxxldcW2GcoxXr5QrgaijWzE6NHgPk56A1WiOn2jLIzBHpdGjK6aHQKG8acCvrhyrGHVuErRXRKcZYfcp4mw4IUB2X5zPC164ZxjOicy9AhsJ6a0HFCj-9Pj9lb1ciePa_i/s1600-h/IMG_2941.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinvnuKovmVIuxxldcW2GcoxXr5QrgaijWzE6NHgPk56A1WiOn2jLIzBHpdGjK6aHQKG8acCvrhyrGHVuErRXRKcZYfcp4mw4IUB2X5zPC164ZxjOicy9AhsJ6a0HFCj-9Pj9lb1ciePa_i/s320/IMG_2941.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260763484176540450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOT87nGBc6nGn-LakPBQ-PsiInwKDcCdwfYSPrvFARLQ4OgiM-pfNfqHkvsbAe2lqz0-6GiPBCDXwm7rPCvyZqg3OF7dE7lrapPUFl__08ngOSrCDOpg_TqYVV-uMeFhLUPVNPP2-08GS/s1600-h/IMG_2937+Sevilla.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOT87nGBc6nGn-LakPBQ-PsiInwKDcCdwfYSPrvFARLQ4OgiM-pfNfqHkvsbAe2lqz0-6GiPBCDXwm7rPCvyZqg3OF7dE7lrapPUFl__08ngOSrCDOpg_TqYVV-uMeFhLUPVNPP2-08GS/s320/IMG_2937+Sevilla.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260763475303889458" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt6cwWR_JUzR6CzZpKjQPkudzx5ovERohLkFiMDrh-Bq7jVfuodKbxwaJtQ6jfFaCKJCVfZ-_MVf7RJNHj_BMafM1hiHJljd_tdNGSGYrAQlUODfReIrgNP069rH0UAIaCux4svbSXU5y/s1600-h/IMG_2993.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyt6cwWR_JUzR6CzZpKjQPkudzx5ovERohLkFiMDrh-Bq7jVfuodKbxwaJtQ6jfFaCKJCVfZ-_MVf7RJNHj_BMafM1hiHJljd_tdNGSGYrAQlUODfReIrgNP069rH0UAIaCux4svbSXU5y/s320/IMG_2993.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260761655418210338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEPov71lCvNf5TG9QdKGzD5_QJN5qhNg4PmmOq-t0l0svMsYQSw04gusGNBcoQKe28jRCXQRw7nQlTC1iNprqjIOWd7Ygq_5PxyQkt9Rdhqi2zkDX45czvfnl6MdkzWJy3JUlh5udNy9M/s1600-h/IMG_2991+Cathedral+y+Giralda.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEPov71lCvNf5TG9QdKGzD5_QJN5qhNg4PmmOq-t0l0svMsYQSw04gusGNBcoQKe28jRCXQRw7nQlTC1iNprqjIOWd7Ygq_5PxyQkt9Rdhqi2zkDX45czvfnl6MdkzWJy3JUlh5udNy9M/s320/IMG_2991+Cathedral+y+Giralda.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260761648926640322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMG9bambh8AdcALA27LG12GQYAkmbbqyW_VodPgThO4RauRB4F4MwBH0Lq7mL9msGngvYvXXIqCBQi_oyaYBhgzXergD9-74-lfJMtCtG96GUGsxhRMQ9KDJG8NSb1Fp3H2K56oJeA4Xh/s1600-h/IMG_2970.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMG9bambh8AdcALA27LG12GQYAkmbbqyW_VodPgThO4RauRB4F4MwBH0Lq7mL9msGngvYvXXIqCBQi_oyaYBhgzXergD9-74-lfJMtCtG96GUGsxhRMQ9KDJG8NSb1Fp3H2K56oJeA4Xh/s320/IMG_2970.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260761629362181282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lmGeIR69yp3uTB4jqkfAbik5KBUpwymQZPew9FsrcQtd296OZDOfs_U0GqN_BKzgqYFT8nFr0mao1S6akixWxah5iJ8jHrdr-t3g-v267u90mQSYY6ekiPZ_3OYioKVHMV4VrMPnR5M5/s1600-h/IMG_2961.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lmGeIR69yp3uTB4jqkfAbik5KBUpwymQZPew9FsrcQtd296OZDOfs_U0GqN_BKzgqYFT8nFr0mao1S6akixWxah5iJ8jHrdr-t3g-v267u90mQSYY6ekiPZ_3OYioKVHMV4VrMPnR5M5/s320/IMG_2961.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260761611749942770" /></a><br />Up before sunrise as we have to have the car returned by 10.30am in Sevilla. It is dark and we are unaccustomed to being on the road (1) and seeing other people (2) at this time. We head off on the highway that has 2 numbers attached and approx 50 -60 kms from Sevilla I take a left when I should have strayed right ... no signs or not obvious but we suddenly find ourselves on a side road with more than 60 kms to Sevilla. Traveling at 60 -70kmph behind a truck compared to 120 -140-kms dual lane?? Hmmm take your pick. A sign indicates we can rejoin the freeway, turn right. Now we are on a local road traveling through roadwork at 40kmph.<br /><br />Thirty minutes, perhaps more, we find ourselves in a small town with all the mum's taking el ninos to school. Behind a tractor, over several speed humps and kms later we rejoin the A-4 with 60 kms to Sevilla. We have spent approx 45 minutes traveling in a circle. Guess what??? When we finally get to the freeway we enter at the toll gates. 5,65 E later we are driving at 160 kmph to make up time.<br /><br />Entering Sevilla one has 3 - 4 options. Points of the compass, bridges, main roads. I'm frazzled, Dee is madly looking at the map, somehow we manage to put it together and find ourselves at least within visual distance of our destination, the railway station. Putting the close-order-drill-skills of driving that I have acquired over the past few days and Dee's newly acquired map interpretative skills we find Europcar, unload and run away as quickly as possible.<br /><br />Coffee and toast, assistance with hostal reservation, and all that is required is for us to find the hostal. Reorientating 3-4 times we get it right and find Hostal San Francisco. The room is cheap and the size of an average laundry. If you are buggered you are indifferent if there is a bathroom and bed.<br /><br />Settled we head out for a reci of Sevilla. Shops, monuments and warm temps take their toll. The Moorish influence is everywhere. The architecture and design amazing. Women are fashion challenged. Men just dress as everywhere. The same old story, many small streets, many angles, much confusion. Hours later we return to our digs to relax and freshen up.<br /><br />Dinner is great. The repercussions not so. Tomorrow is another day.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-21458784138429817202008-10-17T10:18:00.000-07:002008-10-22T13:16:27.794-07:00Tuesday 14 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4tT5CR4Xmf1V9xsPK4mz-NMzq4SkXe1b1KEGb4E5TBqt79HY5sOxI8vCqDMNyrT2IwqVFMxcFNP5ajSUP1ozFCFqPzxSlB-3TrpmSlbxDPnTeRTy7ZTSS57NOptSbC8dPePA9vcAwjhyphenhyphen/s1600-h/IMG_2868+Tarife+Beachfront.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4tT5CR4Xmf1V9xsPK4mz-NMzq4SkXe1b1KEGb4E5TBqt79HY5sOxI8vCqDMNyrT2IwqVFMxcFNP5ajSUP1ozFCFqPzxSlB-3TrpmSlbxDPnTeRTy7ZTSS57NOptSbC8dPePA9vcAwjhyphenhyphen/s320/IMG_2868+Tarife+Beachfront.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260074499276011874" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT4VUUfWRv5YNoX4JOqQeSIn7ElfnlDbDEWMg1xxCPqR2Cnl-2k8gmo2OhOIdNVVr5FCRqePwWTJHnwkyXDebV8eeBG8Bhp00flWzTv7BeEpaamvPbfGS8_DbI5H7ZevnjflI0TbRpKeN/s1600-h/IMG_2875.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjT4VUUfWRv5YNoX4JOqQeSIn7ElfnlDbDEWMg1xxCPqR2Cnl-2k8gmo2OhOIdNVVr5FCRqePwWTJHnwkyXDebV8eeBG8Bhp00flWzTv7BeEpaamvPbfGS8_DbI5H7ZevnjflI0TbRpKeN/s320/IMG_2875.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260074505862350946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z2MfgA_aXKSIwMnlEN4vphgTccaKJGHghnYRMNxBMIfn72cndBHL10BW1AXTmnwfGgKkvk2ZCmejE2BXT6Q-LwhGG-no9jvIOIuX0FP765i7o_bygLqYoqfcjn67Y3Ov9PpgBON1R2X2/s1600-h/IMG_2877.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Z2MfgA_aXKSIwMnlEN4vphgTccaKJGHghnYRMNxBMIfn72cndBHL10BW1AXTmnwfGgKkvk2ZCmejE2BXT6Q-LwhGG-no9jvIOIuX0FP765i7o_bygLqYoqfcjn67Y3Ov9PpgBON1R2X2/s320/IMG_2877.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260074522319432850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEqLhKqsKXAqr1Yj2QC5cdQXXxzGOGtMrkLgBgnj34DeR4FSXaLHGK4vV4EVmb21EafaNvLIJoZ_GzeeImVduiexVfqzcLGbUrUCqNc1y86UvPhzlSSlWMtD7-jBizi0dei0-LD4HBzJU/s1600-h/IMG_2895.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEqLhKqsKXAqr1Yj2QC5cdQXXxzGOGtMrkLgBgnj34DeR4FSXaLHGK4vV4EVmb21EafaNvLIJoZ_GzeeImVduiexVfqzcLGbUrUCqNc1y86UvPhzlSSlWMtD7-jBizi0dei0-LD4HBzJU/s320/IMG_2895.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260074530264974002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmANpJN1KQ44_Kyjy52osMVW9b22dv3Wt6ZJD5WmHtKYddOtp0Vq3wf5MAGJZDz4H6Q_vU66vdQgHK5A3wIG3TfN8hwEBndTzCTetcgz_rbyGYAmOw5rVMusgEDbsvewMHGrsjiVPkCZN/s1600-h/IMG_2904+WWII+Bunkers.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmANpJN1KQ44_Kyjy52osMVW9b22dv3Wt6ZJD5WmHtKYddOtp0Vq3wf5MAGJZDz4H6Q_vU66vdQgHK5A3wIG3TfN8hwEBndTzCTetcgz_rbyGYAmOw5rVMusgEDbsvewMHGrsjiVPkCZN/s320/IMG_2904+WWII+Bunkers.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260071796606661730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oqzuJL3OA6PJgYEAGUgoHVLbxaDuk1MVH_p_EMPEY1Y_CC6IOgAjVKC9CUnfKNWPydNHlcmXot8hQQXhnO98a3uksABM8aBHb6d1MRFsXrgvckTxqmEEFNZojTlX3kbtBtll5cZVSTX8/s1600-h/IMG_2913.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2oqzuJL3OA6PJgYEAGUgoHVLbxaDuk1MVH_p_EMPEY1Y_CC6IOgAjVKC9CUnfKNWPydNHlcmXot8hQQXhnO98a3uksABM8aBHb6d1MRFsXrgvckTxqmEEFNZojTlX3kbtBtll5cZVSTX8/s320/IMG_2913.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260071815764836946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GqBcdqafrHQo1T7ylBLr596Ba2HqS7o6Vkg-vFR4drHzTnU8dgrCrc3Ed5S-_1MNxkvR4utlHgD7j7HpkfbuMzG57Lq7pLdCvifZSQJ_YUQs7eGdPzVHaFO_EmI7oIaqqhCVDjGtmUub/s1600-h/IMG_2931+Colin.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GqBcdqafrHQo1T7ylBLr596Ba2HqS7o6Vkg-vFR4drHzTnU8dgrCrc3Ed5S-_1MNxkvR4utlHgD7j7HpkfbuMzG57Lq7pLdCvifZSQJ_YUQs7eGdPzVHaFO_EmI7oIaqqhCVDjGtmUub/s320/IMG_2931+Colin.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260071830246226434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwydygDRoe1XCiJjp9-X1P4imuEnLED393h-niuUlPVbJGKbB9njF7qMzRvEloWma6SUB0XjXrtI_KA5q0sjUGEBd0K3rTI44lVDYZWPWOvuy9XeIBcpLWSNX47HLsfi3PhDpV7jUYvUBU/s1600-h/IMG_2934.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwydygDRoe1XCiJjp9-X1P4imuEnLED393h-niuUlPVbJGKbB9njF7qMzRvEloWma6SUB0XjXrtI_KA5q0sjUGEBd0K3rTI44lVDYZWPWOvuy9XeIBcpLWSNX47HLsfi3PhDpV7jUYvUBU/s320/IMG_2934.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260071846416046690" /></a><br />We decide to go to Tarife via the local roads and end up in Babete, another Atlantic beach town. On the way we pass through small beachside communities notable for their tourist trade and random development that makes driving almost impossible. Everyone has staked out their territory, “no paseo”, and there is plenty of multiple point turns. Babete is crap. I cannot find other words to describe it. All the beachside cafes are closed, It is season's end and the final dregs of European tourism wander and wonder. We are lucky to find coffee and toast, good fare and cheap. Everyone looks jaded, it was a long hot summer and the service industry looks as though it needs a rest. Off to Tarife, 35 minutes by Jetcat to Tangiers. Very alluring as I have always wanted to go to Morocco. Dee of course is all for going while I can't bring myself to take a quick look.<br /><br />We decide to get provisions and lunch by the sea. Stopping at a hip cafe to toilet and coffee we are delighted to find a really comfortable décor and great coffee. What a pity Coffs hasn't got this yet. No, Fiasco can't compete.<br /><br />Without knowing what Tangiers could have been, lunch on the beach is relaxed and affords a view of old fortifications and bare tits.<br /><br />Just a quick note to let you know that Dee has become a nag while simultaneously slaughtering the Spanish language. She asked me to tell the truth, I'll bare the repercussions later. (Note from Dee – yes I'm murdering the Spanish Language, but nag ... well ... I keep telling Pete he's driving too close to the right hand curb, which is why I keep closing in the side mirror – he takes/hits a curb at relatively high speed, all the other hits have been slow, and then finally doesn't seem to mind when I tell him go “left”. Mind you I drove out of Salamanca happily taking two lanes. I think in our concentration to drive on the right hand side of the road we over-compensate.)<br /><br />Tarife is overcrowded, garish and white (the architecture). Looking around, investigating the back alleys, as we have become used to doing, we always seem to find the remnants of the “traditional” ways of living not yet pushed out by tourism. A good walk always beats a good drive. We finish our affairs in Tarife by walking to the the old fortified island remarking on how clean the sea is. Divers are heading for the water armed with their weapons. The island is now a military area, probably always has been given its strategic position at the entrance to the Mediterranean. At this point the Atlantic and Mediterranean are separated by less than 50 m of sea wall.<br /><br />Driving back to Conil de la Frontera we encounter a storm complete with lightning and thunder. The huge wind turbines are like ghostly sentinels, slowly revolving against steel grey skies and driving rain. By the time we reach Conil (or Colin or Colon as Dee is referring to it - told you she was murdering the language) the sun is out, it is warm, time for afternoon libations and a leisurely walk along the beach. The rain has washed Conil clean, it takes on a more beautiful “persona”, stark white against the landscape. The beach is well populated but no more than the one small bar on the beach is open and that is very popular. We are delighted to see a very large pod of dolphins pass. The sun is setting and the pale golden light is extraordinary. Tired legs carry us back to our room, vino blanco and a light dinner. Tomorrow Sevilla, galleries,etc.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-34698164864474233522008-10-16T23:44:00.001-07:002008-10-22T13:48:09.456-07:00Monday 13 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9vzsmS6bLxL_RyF3bvFmIZsiccnO2CWehLshlIOknF-mWaf0OeaVaFtke-M0MqG91iW3OUp4Jzjec_-TJri52_L7sVIH_nWaG1nCuv9kgVz2-76IbOcXVJxoFGiUaj5i3TgwUUXJQfeV/s1600-h/IMG_2775.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9vzsmS6bLxL_RyF3bvFmIZsiccnO2CWehLshlIOknF-mWaf0OeaVaFtke-M0MqG91iW3OUp4Jzjec_-TJri52_L7sVIH_nWaG1nCuv9kgVz2-76IbOcXVJxoFGiUaj5i3TgwUUXJQfeV/s320/IMG_2775.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260082803356965346" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAspVv3AADi6uOs8T1CBIH__MOkZKPs8FDR8gvTJpEo7FzbuxwYPDs8ER_kf2CQHNoHJmq3B9b16bWkcw3FrDp_CoDqlFj4N04UcGjOZJdPHKEmIlEh3o6BQaP0Y7KAXCn8nH8-AXvYB5o/s1600-h/IMG_2795.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAspVv3AADi6uOs8T1CBIH__MOkZKPs8FDR8gvTJpEo7FzbuxwYPDs8ER_kf2CQHNoHJmq3B9b16bWkcw3FrDp_CoDqlFj4N04UcGjOZJdPHKEmIlEh3o6BQaP0Y7KAXCn8nH8-AXvYB5o/s320/IMG_2795.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260082813022873426" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmSh74ApRL2PnMoGG_T_obR1z0ny5BZjfyZ-gFIqgrhi12oDwjl3cVr9NZNP0i66pMZpkCh3Kj3doxW7uFJzJ_9uXdM5OYsnTPT9nqQlRRTJrU6tJkNr-mRdNrpCvPRwfbLx9TPkq-7io/s1600-h/IMG_2802.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHmSh74ApRL2PnMoGG_T_obR1z0ny5BZjfyZ-gFIqgrhi12oDwjl3cVr9NZNP0i66pMZpkCh3Kj3doxW7uFJzJ_9uXdM5OYsnTPT9nqQlRRTJrU6tJkNr-mRdNrpCvPRwfbLx9TPkq-7io/s320/IMG_2802.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260082823399394322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAMtjxlhy4Z3vUi4_DA-6lRzsCXnWTJc3R7uZVxdazc3PTIuubLG5obzTi8lwOrNGltnwJ6a_k9GObRPRHr-F_AzA2uYwGj58rYRwXMoLFep6Kn4i9VBAEvXRZ8kBrsjW8-1SU9zcP099/s1600-h/IMG_2808+deer.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAMtjxlhy4Z3vUi4_DA-6lRzsCXnWTJc3R7uZVxdazc3PTIuubLG5obzTi8lwOrNGltnwJ6a_k9GObRPRHr-F_AzA2uYwGj58rYRwXMoLFep6Kn4i9VBAEvXRZ8kBrsjW8-1SU9zcP099/s320/IMG_2808+deer.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260082829674828562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBG2gJIOh5dQXZkmtzgMBlNCFgGTCHrJYzgAutRSZKQ22kM16KJcBGOmGFT4Cm6n1KeMqdSAF19DwGXEKXx7f0s-igQLz86nNBGhtrlAYFj-61WY_X2AV4vacJ6Er54cM2phmI04deEaa/s1600-h/IMG_2815.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBG2gJIOh5dQXZkmtzgMBlNCFgGTCHrJYzgAutRSZKQ22kM16KJcBGOmGFT4Cm6n1KeMqdSAF19DwGXEKXx7f0s-igQLz86nNBGhtrlAYFj-61WY_X2AV4vacJ6Er54cM2phmI04deEaa/s320/IMG_2815.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260079153141700498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXcKyyWYo8O_WiESGmiOQbC29umVqa5EfKbB1vhae1geYKHBskQswaY6XvAIUyNpg2mZPHKTouyc3EDq_PaqdNnV4xttzZyrI9ppOsmbE6OnwWkyBaapkW9AYkFf88bGBWIzmsAR6dV-3/s1600-h/IMG_2817.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkXcKyyWYo8O_WiESGmiOQbC29umVqa5EfKbB1vhae1geYKHBskQswaY6XvAIUyNpg2mZPHKTouyc3EDq_PaqdNnV4xttzZyrI9ppOsmbE6OnwWkyBaapkW9AYkFf88bGBWIzmsAR6dV-3/s320/IMG_2817.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260079160224902914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRejbS4yxGDHCCOiGqDPk4yC22TaA9PCnAZ8XE3qXhQtyGYIuSK5L2swxeIyJztVkRxjKmoj1ErABUPn6cZNxp21xuZROb2Lq1xdCEI2cIJCuVo417XavVYK_RzwPCjy1XIzuL9VBbwZIv/s1600-h/IMG_2832.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRejbS4yxGDHCCOiGqDPk4yC22TaA9PCnAZ8XE3qXhQtyGYIuSK5L2swxeIyJztVkRxjKmoj1ErABUPn6cZNxp21xuZROb2Lq1xdCEI2cIJCuVo417XavVYK_RzwPCjy1XIzuL9VBbwZIv/s320/IMG_2832.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260079165143678162" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV50kNpPU_Fe5Eqs_wC77BIPYO60OFXvVVO6D-h8_ZqtXblHb_6MZ_BqP3NbyHV9xgAbSBsHFV54izprAMOlOA0PzB57nDWjHT-fz5ik2aHqlAXUt4NROkmcUceXQq2FFUn3f1o_ZRlwus/s1600-h/IMG_2848.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV50kNpPU_Fe5Eqs_wC77BIPYO60OFXvVVO6D-h8_ZqtXblHb_6MZ_BqP3NbyHV9xgAbSBsHFV54izprAMOlOA0PzB57nDWjHT-fz5ik2aHqlAXUt4NROkmcUceXQq2FFUn3f1o_ZRlwus/s320/IMG_2848.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260079168205946482" /></a><br />Packed we head for the car via the bar which is already filled with local caballeros enjoying coffee and bullshit. The conversations are loud, the players gregarious and laughter a plenty. We head out in the rain, heavy skies our companion. We decide on a rural drive. Passing through Penarroya we sidetrack through Belmez, navigating the labytrinth of narrow streets with Dee tugging at side mirrors. Pics of a castillo on the craggy hill and we go round in circles eventually finding the “road” that will take us past Sevilla to the coastal town of Cadiz. <br /><br />We encounter a drive signposted as 900m of winding road. Over 60kms later we emerge from Parque Nord in Andalucia. On the way we pass abandoned coal mines, salubrious haciendas, wild deer and kilometres of open space and hills as far as the eye can see. We also pass 5 cars in 2 hours, finally stopping at Cazalla de la Sierra for lunch. This town represents our first contact with Moorish influenced design and architecture.<br /><br />We have 2 days car remaining and decide to skirt around Sevilla and head for the port of Cadiz. I am expecting to see history and the Atlantic but when we finally arrive it is disappointingly overdeveloped (Surfers Paradise x 1000), decaying and very difficult to navigate. Perhaps we have been in rural areas too long. We head out towards Tarifa, the closest point to Africa / Morocco but our destination is Conil de la Frontera, about which we know nothing. Heading out of Cadiz is a nightmare but a combination of Dee's navigational skills and luck see us on the right track. We arrive in Conil late, book a hotel and walk on the long flat beach. Dee dips a toe in the Atlantic. The moon rises to our right and the sun sets over the ocean to our left. One of those moments to remember, a calm and romantic ending to a long day of driving. Dinner is fantastic, our first really good salad, vegies and Sole to die for. Cocktails, red wine and balmy warmth complete the night.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-57545261711003623282008-10-16T23:42:00.000-07:002008-10-24T13:50:37.504-07:00Sunday 12 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5F6EXx1iBdEDrwlr_YguW-iYf_PQLevGzuC1yYSg3jXCN-FFEtEAV4i2oB5HE3aasjLBe6pSYfO3EjI1wyFUWLKWC4BHbCPpEGjv2SfHMY975Vol-aBbTuzltR5_zCbE1sW8iBOBvcXug/s1600-h/IMG_2641+Storks+Nests+Trujillo.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5F6EXx1iBdEDrwlr_YguW-iYf_PQLevGzuC1yYSg3jXCN-FFEtEAV4i2oB5HE3aasjLBe6pSYfO3EjI1wyFUWLKWC4BHbCPpEGjv2SfHMY975Vol-aBbTuzltR5_zCbE1sW8iBOBvcXug/s320/IMG_2641+Storks+Nests+Trujillo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260825534347925842" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMWyQG4fwb_2VcFuGZCQnchF8RNzgVeojM-Rcqb6bDfhkx9o7_VDBl3eJ2TsHPP6WbX2rYKzqTnsDVmBErb_fTIqACHwAh1Tzcv-JuEUiljsBPEunxDjBFK061pdBXvKnqZuZPd5NCAjiq/s1600-h/IMG_2685.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_gMAwFCt6TCzWhyphenhyphenJRteOUYpZ8E0Pbckv5QR3HucZU5ajGsbQdWppeEFzajwK0TNgZj6XLSAeFAl4CKPx59WKj8jm5LAR-hr1hO7kEvnyfk2VxR0UDvZ_dR9JvVceVOt1gGYwNe9IwpPm/s320/IMG_2735+Santa+maria+Guadalupe.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260821173900628370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZdKw6RFnpNmMoBNNayHgL-RvVDoJeqchTxeaF-Qs01zQAPZ11K_Pjr1szAKcBKGdrtTfGuT8tGHgub4FWriS3yJhcEKVr1B5W8VayOvhw1uHuUcjTPs3BrAUzygDKOzeO3d2vcRCbR8k/s1600-h/IMG_2720.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZdKw6RFnpNmMoBNNayHgL-RvVDoJeqchTxeaF-Qs01zQAPZ11K_Pjr1szAKcBKGdrtTfGuT8tGHgub4FWriS3yJhcEKVr1B5W8VayOvhw1uHuUcjTPs3BrAUzygDKOzeO3d2vcRCbR8k/s320/IMG_2720.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260821167925055314" /></a><br />Trujillo greets us with grey skies but the cool mornings have given way to warmer temperatures. A sleepy late start as we have gotten used to sleeping in and the sun doesn't rise until about 8am. Walk to Plaza Mayor, the tourist info centre where we purchase entry to 4 of the town's main attractions. Purchase memory for the camera. Coffee, tostada and tortilla. First stop Iglesia de San Martin and although our tickets do not include this church the attendant happily lets us pass. Compared to other churches we have visited, this Iglesia is modest in its decoration. That doesn't mean it doesn't share opulence with its more “upmarket” cousins. Dee comments on how much time and money these churches would have absorbed to construct. The local socioeconomic ramifications are not lost on us. The excessive drain on local populations must have impacted severely on local economies.<br /><br />That aside, San Martin contains a beautiful Romanesque carving of the Virgin la Coronada (1200) and a magnificent Baroque organ. Next stop the Iglesia de Santiago, The house of Ferdinand Pizarro the South American explorer and conqueror and finally a castle with Roman foundations, built on by Moors and finally topped with a Spanish flavour. The parapets afford breathtaking views even on this cloudy, and by now drizzling rainy day. We head for cove in a local modern bar that would not look out of place in a swank area in any major city.<br /><br />Taking advantage of a break in the weather we head for the car and out of town with the intention of navigating to Guadalupe. The road is straight with mildly undulating topography and we pass through Zorita and on through Logrosan and Canamero where we first encounter caballeros and horses. Continuing through Canamero and heading for Guadalupe we encounter hundreds more people on horseback all seemingly headed for Guadalupe and all in groups distinguishable by coloured jackets and some with banners. It is of course a national holiday and Sunday of a long weekend. Guadalupe is a quaint pueblo filled with Spanish tourists celebrating the holidays. It would have been great to stay and check out the town, however, we quickly shop for wine and dried figs and decide to leave and lunch in the surrounding hills. Lunch out of the back of the car is a welcome break from driving and crowds. The figs are unfortunately old and infested with weavels. Packing the car we consult the map and decide to head to Belalcazar which has some historical significance and a castle icon on the map.<br /><br />The drive turns out to be a real highlight of our trip as we pass fields of thousands of solar panels at Castuera followed by a a topography of mountains that rise sharply out of the flat plains. Each high vantage point an excuse to build ancient fortifications. Each backyard seems to have it's own castillo. We aim for Belalcaza via Cabeza del Buey with the sun setting on this amazing vista. Our need for accommodation overcoming our desire to enjoy our surroundings. C del Buey is in the grip of Sunday/ National holiday siesta and does not invite us to stay. We head for Belalcazar but no accommodation to be found. We backtrack to a side road offering rural accommodation. It seems to be long forgotten except by teenagers. With dark upon us we find a hotel on the outskirts of Hinojosa del Duque. The room is expensive but good and with no other choices, a welcome sight. Vodka and tonics prove a hit. Kate rings unexpectedly, early morning Coffs time. It is great talking to the kids and homesickness and talk of an Aussie summer fills our conversation that night.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-49129191606480439452008-10-12T23:43:00.000-07:002008-10-12T23:44:25.897-07:00Saturday 11 OctoberThe morning is cloudy and cool but we dress for walking, Pete in his shorts and me in light leggings. We decide to drive to the highest point – Pena de Francia at 1728m - and see if there are any walks from there. The drive is breathtaking and unsettling, with mountain goats peering down at us from rocky outcrops and vultures riding the thermals above the highest point. The craggy rock piles appear insecure, as though the whole mountain might decide that gravity is the victor at any moment. There is the obligatory church ( The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Pena de Francia) and associated buildings at the top of this completely isolated and inhospitable place. It's impossible to imagine how it ever got built ( commenced 1450 ) in the first place but now it is a hotel and restaurant. The wind blows bitterly cold and the rain sets in. We settle for coffee and photos instead of walking.<br /><br />The vistas are amazing as we head downhill to San Martin del Castanar, another little town in the National Park that is roughly in the direction we want to go. It is a beautiful little village where we lunch after walking around the tiny cobbled streets. We're first in the restaurant at 1:30pm and order the menu of the day and a veal dish. We also try to order a plate of vegetables but it is not possible ... however, the food is fantastic with plentiful salad, tender meat and vegetables with the main dish. Coffee is served with some “Spanish rocket fuel” and we wonder how we'll fare in our car and very narrow streets.<br /><br />We fare okay even though we are lost and drive through some amazing country and towns. Pete manages to drive up and then back through the centre of an alpine town called Cantelario (with of course my expert navigation) and the civil guard hails us down to tell us we're driving the wrong way. Oh well – they don't seem to really care and there are no street signs that we can see. More to the point there are no road rules at all.<br /><br />The autumn leaves are turning and our drive is sometimes a wash of golden yellow. Driving into these old towns, from altitude, was amazing as they would present themselves as a spread of red tiled roofs appearing all of a sudden around a corner - continuous colour – no quarter acre blocks here. In fact whole towns fill such a small space and everyone is part of the sometimes quite large community that fills such a little area.<br /><br />We continue on through Bejar and Plasencia heading for Trujillo. Our route takes us through another National Park – Montfrague - and once again breathtaking. The vultures that we saw at Pena de Francia are here en masse. Hundreds glide the thermals and stare down from the highest of the amazing rock formations. The weather is changing from rain to sun to cloud as the countryside responds to the light variations with predominant grey, green and yellow tones.<br /><br />We arrive in Trujillo passing stone fenced paddocks, pigs and cattle. Men on horseback. Caballeros. The town is an imposing mass of grey and red on a stark rocky outcrop. The hour is late the image foreboding. We drive into town taking the obligatory turn to “ centro cuidad” (town centre). The cobble streets narrow to less than 2 car widths (with rear view mirrors folded in) as we approach the Plaza Mayor. Very bad choice. It is impossible to make a 90 degree turn without multiple attempts. We eventually get out and try our luck in the outskirts of town. The Hostal Leon will do for tonight. <br /><br />A really beautiful day. A bed for the night.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-61832575770403169112008-10-11T23:51:00.001-07:002008-10-18T02:38:12.243-07:00Friday 10 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQOdpDC00_LOvzL1Y86IbMtv7zDKYbwnlhXv94YUsfGNw7mMayiFa8ruWxN4rIDT09YkvH0ggWUZEwV1DOnoC31PSRGc2SluG2tObvLA4zn8S84cPQxeHjEPqHRns4LLI5TiZynS3rmQJ/s1600-h/IMG_2411.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQOdpDC00_LOvzL1Y86IbMtv7zDKYbwnlhXv94YUsfGNw7mMayiFa8ruWxN4rIDT09YkvH0ggWUZEwV1DOnoC31PSRGc2SluG2tObvLA4zn8S84cPQxeHjEPqHRns4LLI5TiZynS3rmQJ/s320/IMG_2411.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258424911461739282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKD2iMdtrishyphenhyphenOj996iTWiMUpGNKjkEGMHqY8qIdZnDSGvdKh99l0di8EB7rFbbDdCRBynNzyhYXa7zphlF6Xe_ALvuewi_VtcKuAK-nEZoZwMrIZQ_pWwKJDH7yALo4u8wv2loC9Ai6J7/s1600-h/IMG_2414.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIi3R2t2VSiGOlCHqhP0vLS4LcLbxu9oyRkNmvKDt-f9Uiofa4AEaINFcCjTE0R1Oxf8tzXQwlk4rL3jUR3UoH6hJxseR3ED6AZd6QehFjRYeMJsOwpHLg_4XFKfZjWrCMOPNiOIac_sf8/s320/IMG_2436Roman+Bridge+Salamanca.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258423326435545058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizIHFI1yNTBvLhhQPioBT2kys4qWSMdoJ6jlJUY_GcnILLjzjlMbVW1sF9kfc0WvqFDupjQk_bBwDaglY5Z3JNhz1l_pOPyt00tAp0Fmjj7c-36ummnurbOL9mwTMHgA4qfLBoWuUcCNh/s1600-h/IMG_2438.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiizIHFI1yNTBvLhhQPioBT2kys4qWSMdoJ6jlJUY_GcnILLjzjlMbVW1sF9kfc0WvqFDupjQk_bBwDaglY5Z3JNhz1l_pOPyt00tAp0Fmjj7c-36ummnurbOL9mwTMHgA4qfLBoWuUcCNh/s320/IMG_2438.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258423330937642274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguP10WImnrSx5_Rxisoc6mWU3GuXZOTRs-jadQw2EE5nrkcasFQc4bhRqaRfmh3H-eV3lreEQaGAKqUHK2lIaWpHadQQYzlKhnqV6MKHdDo6oiCmkwmPVRE2tTmcftZeJPKsDICGEoDmh5/s1600-h/IMG_2451.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguP10WImnrSx5_Rxisoc6mWU3GuXZOTRs-jadQw2EE5nrkcasFQc4bhRqaRfmh3H-eV3lreEQaGAKqUHK2lIaWpHadQQYzlKhnqV6MKHdDo6oiCmkwmPVRE2tTmcftZeJPKsDICGEoDmh5/s320/IMG_2451.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258423333830839282" /></a><br />We pick our little Fiat up at around 10:30 and head off through the city. Pete is navigating and I'm flashing the wipers and grappling the door handle instead of the gear stick. Pete looks a little nervous – well he actually looks absolutely terrified – but he navigates up out of town and on the road to La Alberca in Sierra De Francia National Park. We stop for provisions along the way and arrive in La Alberca around midday. The town is delightful and we find a house come apartment just 50 m from the centre of town overlooking a little stream. With kitchen, balcony, dining, lounge and laundry it's fantastic for 60 euro. It's called La Conventina and the little old lady who brings along a boy to interpret for her assures us that she is fully booked and we can't stay the night. Then she opens the door, shows us through and all of a sudden it is available – our interpreter looks equally confused. Anyway it is a delight. We've strolled through the streets this afternoon and actually found a green vegetable in the supermarket. A zucchini – you might scoff – and even Pete who doesn't like zucchini's is cooking. <br /><br />The main centre or Plaza Mayor has all the little cafes surrounding it and in the middle of the square is someones pet pig having a snooze. In Australia you can't get a dog even close to a food store let alone a cafe and here the pigs, dogs, cafes, supermarkets, deli's and people all hang together.<br /><br />We plan to walk in the Park tomorrow. Really looking forward to it. After the endless mesata's it's great to be back in some hills with lots of vegetation.<br /><br />Pete's dinner is fantastic and our little Casa Rural is very cosy. We watch TV – in Spanish of course – and get a bit of information on the Economic Crisis and storms in the south-east of Spain around Valencia where there is major flooding. The weather forecast shows almost the whole of Spain covered in cloud and we assume rain so not sure what tomorrow will bring.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-9951676030413371982008-10-11T23:49:00.002-07:002008-10-12T00:31:45.125-07:00Thursday 9 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wywjjbezUOEg0vAv6vgLX1TpjhRTjUF2bjrI8CddyMvsyQwCwJPcPa_irUPoevUuILjqDVn-PuaCItqcvWXRaccOUz2UG91Rpv3jCgMF-KiB66ZP9Rid39d_5Pa78R_GXH3npb1r5Peh/s1600-h/IMG_2338.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wywjjbezUOEg0vAv6vgLX1TpjhRTjUF2bjrI8CddyMvsyQwCwJPcPa_irUPoevUuILjqDVn-PuaCItqcvWXRaccOUz2UG91Rpv3jCgMF-KiB66ZP9Rid39d_5Pa78R_GXH3npb1r5Peh/s320/IMG_2338.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256166684185234562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbk3IoR1kxHZmvR12Jo8WDs2PYbMvzkmn7n33NPirT3N015ubmUp9KwmuMqe_GYoXtqLIhsMTfmM_GduZHhEwqQ5kLJPl6f6VyA0TgqFLQ_SaI6rhkbveQxs1XpOIytRbfX1E_9XnF7Sa/s1600-h/IMG_2339.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5Ep-oBfIC6zWfci6BoUt269I4dGOvyXsmM5UUhuM2f_JHZGDOo4aCHM3Y5KRC2r-glJ7VbuBPKDKJZJ19d2Nn6EIUL1TtULhH_fMqFz67r2xOQ-uUQ9AXIDaBBrprPyjkLNvcbIB-0c2/s320/IMG_2352.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256166701486196546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG07ppX1euInGZ1r5L7YJfym5-JMs6XPHdpSVsn8-b1qMU4QHAhZEaWBY0m58ChW1Qt83CZOPH3AOsem5QYGJrxm6kcg_04lihTCGLAG6Z1B2kqkdnwllO8gFTletTGCJQ5kXR88AlRObg/s1600-h/IMG_2355.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG07ppX1euInGZ1r5L7YJfym5-JMs6XPHdpSVsn8-b1qMU4QHAhZEaWBY0m58ChW1Qt83CZOPH3AOsem5QYGJrxm6kcg_04lihTCGLAG6Z1B2kqkdnwllO8gFTletTGCJQ5kXR88AlRObg/s320/IMG_2355.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256163071702666450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAu9aE1ilfT5ntIS7bbiY24Z6_jrV3K4lWAhcfyrDlkZJk6T7uUukiP-uwXuGLrtNrLex9cJmygrgduU-fANbaAQpVoHJeYRCBq9YTwFDkrCCvTnywwJ4ozaw-NHVMK2g4yH-zb_wPMYWb/s1600-h/IMG_2357.JPG"><img style="float:left; 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margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMzmOh9KHWiwMyl5U7_UdgESm2lTqvw1tHvHzqwGB18negfClgzEqC106wRWTlJ3FtJ36mwcqPeM2_nluKjDVy8Wx2mojezclKTF-zoQ98dqmdvHe2ATMG7yUV5sHLqBGU5krLzWIt7_D/s320/IMG_2370.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256163080243039170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAJrUDGrwi3MCVsTFwXGsExy47xO-LKOSJjI04RXGJyR96N1WaAxAonnaZSIdVZnQx3MsClJ_GnOhdug8Piafr7ncv4exOYTajpqgHvp6BQhEVa6gfGsBCwYzUrX9NUqOSIZeqMCVyMwj/s1600-h/IMG_2383.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAJrUDGrwi3MCVsTFwXGsExy47xO-LKOSJjI04RXGJyR96N1WaAxAonnaZSIdVZnQx3MsClJ_GnOhdug8Piafr7ncv4exOYTajpqgHvp6BQhEVa6gfGsBCwYzUrX9NUqOSIZeqMCVyMwj/s320/IMG_2383.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256158499138444450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0E99EFphoUJAyNDD0PtfVj_dxL9lm2hE9RhFe2a2Yh_u4QgbkiyFEYigf4RhoGsR5N9-9kxj45OY_Zqfmngkz9d9kab2mLU1QtX2oa0SsAfK20JuZwrAWPuvE05wswT_MOCVpAUohoNk/s1600-h/IMG_2385.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy0E99EFphoUJAyNDD0PtfVj_dxL9lm2hE9RhFe2a2Yh_u4QgbkiyFEYigf4RhoGsR5N9-9kxj45OY_Zqfmngkz9d9kab2mLU1QtX2oa0SsAfK20JuZwrAWPuvE05wswT_MOCVpAUohoNk/s320/IMG_2385.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256158503994074034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmmVhi2hLvo8czzpYkanuM9gbycE12flBP9WrD-mfb-zvp1l3nMqTLCVsF7t4xSo7_m9xTrhYVMkZ7ErDZDwndXGqRnST-12ZqEmI5Jq51pryEToWwk3k69_DxgeQxe0DS8LkxfKszXox/s1600-h/IMG_2386.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmmVhi2hLvo8czzpYkanuM9gbycE12flBP9WrD-mfb-zvp1l3nMqTLCVsF7t4xSo7_m9xTrhYVMkZ7ErDZDwndXGqRnST-12ZqEmI5Jq51pryEToWwk3k69_DxgeQxe0DS8LkxfKszXox/s320/IMG_2386.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256158505710178962" /></a><br />We decide to go direct to the car hire place. Every car hire site on the internet has the same office address in Salamanca. We manage to organise a car for 5 days hire from Friday at much the same rate as the web and so now we can settle into looking around this beautiful city. A visit to the tourist office to find where the other restaurants are and then off to the cathedral, churches, roman bridge and the historic quarter of the city. It is bitterly cold during the middle of the day with a strong icy wind and we try to shelter inside the few buildings that are open during siesta. As the afternoon moves on the wind drops, the sun comes out and it is really beautiful. We head off to the restaurant street “Van Dyke” at the other side of town and try 2 tapas bars before finally settling on the third one which is fantastic. We still haven't seen any green vegetables on any plate or menu but the food here is great with lots of fresh fish and interesting combinations. We think we now have a plan of how to survive the tourist garbage they keep serving.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-18360726906362904472008-10-11T23:49:00.001-07:002008-10-12T12:04:09.571-07:00Wednesday 8 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCygeqe3eWsAivOo76bB5LZZkfxsxLtGwtX4VF0l6IXfnv2CFDxsmYihigNZCMFG_MbQZH6VjSg8Pw5NXqq6nMT3t3MZkars3weLe5VGCh0gFjArJ-X6P7BN8lWdtZnNcJ9pSssyws1geE/s1600-h/IMG_2301.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCygeqe3eWsAivOo76bB5LZZkfxsxLtGwtX4VF0l6IXfnv2CFDxsmYihigNZCMFG_MbQZH6VjSg8Pw5NXqq6nMT3t3MZkars3weLe5VGCh0gFjArJ-X6P7BN8lWdtZnNcJ9pSssyws1geE/s320/IMG_2301.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256170352065455906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKkZ9b_hyphenhyphenyAlFHBb9yGrgEMhfby9cUTo4vNVAFnWYPszAeqZ3p3ABCb1g1VxsYdAOSKoZ3H4jcdKItW8QowTqKLKTTLrZRbXQMl7WZsecKb-ARGJN279xfvmP8veTVjTuo3M8XC43pe6Z/s1600-h/IMG_2308.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKkZ9b_hyphenhyphenyAlFHBb9yGrgEMhfby9cUTo4vNVAFnWYPszAeqZ3p3ABCb1g1VxsYdAOSKoZ3H4jcdKItW8QowTqKLKTTLrZRbXQMl7WZsecKb-ARGJN279xfvmP8veTVjTuo3M8XC43pe6Z/s320/IMG_2308.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256170362985266674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinALlHaF-_cUnrUiG1lGfBue-Eohs4zadhzDNQROlxPEgzAsrmbu4RtFGP069mqkSTFVV9PEhokQIVOzZXBdhEKczKMLuY1fl_vFtseYqKS6708WXrUbbQh5eampPAWyXZWptqP4KFNa4h/s1600-h/IMG_2314+Salamanca+Plaza+Mayor.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinALlHaF-_cUnrUiG1lGfBue-Eohs4zadhzDNQROlxPEgzAsrmbu4RtFGP069mqkSTFVV9PEhokQIVOzZXBdhEKczKMLuY1fl_vFtseYqKS6708WXrUbbQh5eampPAWyXZWptqP4KFNa4h/s320/IMG_2314+Salamanca+Plaza+Mayor.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256168932818742706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpM8oxHanC4mWLIzplSEcTqfD9Vsv1Y2vW9RQeQuPSLDKscSCTOegU_-czVX70KuqLGrBJA8fXYHAaixgSU4MBfuGZYy8QcXpt1UsrCQWYm_h5f9OGC9Tc8tLQ5WmQS1P4tc6u9-vE8Wd/s1600-h/IMG_2319.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSpM8oxHanC4mWLIzplSEcTqfD9Vsv1Y2vW9RQeQuPSLDKscSCTOegU_-czVX70KuqLGrBJA8fXYHAaixgSU4MBfuGZYy8QcXpt1UsrCQWYm_h5f9OGC9Tc8tLQ5WmQS1P4tc6u9-vE8Wd/s320/IMG_2319.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256168938792461106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggF8cyFzkTdQI7d8FbDKAprFGGmpKYLXJtDLZFEVUfXYc_Stid3dAFA7qvCswbIxGyIW0_973h4-xUpjTwiyRr4wVCvZ3tWR5TRzMAo0lvYtRt0BVr46joOlnu3p3ugvOVSKepL-z3ZqqZ/s1600-h/IMG_2322.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggF8cyFzkTdQI7d8FbDKAprFGGmpKYLXJtDLZFEVUfXYc_Stid3dAFA7qvCswbIxGyIW0_973h4-xUpjTwiyRr4wVCvZ3tWR5TRzMAo0lvYtRt0BVr46joOlnu3p3ugvOVSKepL-z3ZqqZ/s320/IMG_2322.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256168942183290818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdl9ntllqLpndu09l3QuCoCZghl6w6R4hdmp3PVbqjEQRPL8eulL_ufUkt9EwGRO8mhO6iHGP9CoPjasJBCiMrqdDhg2zYfxjHd7qoL6Vwm0dLcHhbladkYf3HR8i_n_Mep_1lJqvWxrx/s1600-h/IMG_2334.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqdl9ntllqLpndu09l3QuCoCZghl6w6R4hdmp3PVbqjEQRPL8eulL_ufUkt9EwGRO8mhO6iHGP9CoPjasJBCiMrqdDhg2zYfxjHd7qoL6Vwm0dLcHhbladkYf3HR8i_n_Mep_1lJqvWxrx/s320/IMG_2334.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256168944502446722" /></a><br />Wake early to clear skies, pack and head off in search of internet and the possibility of car and hostel bookings. We find internet at the Bibliotec Public following coffee at the Plaza Mayor. Lots of helpful leads re accommodation and we mange to book a car only to find it will take 48 hours to process. The website is difficult to navigate so we ring the customer care centre, in the Nederlands!! We are promised a quick solution but at the time of writing (2pm) we are sitting in the bus station with no firm plans and waiting for a car. Siesta is upon us and we are treading water. Very frustrating.<br /><br />Zamora looks a great place to hang out for a couple of days but it is not part of our plan and we want to be in Salamanca today, driving south tomorrow or the day after. We have some good leads on “casa rural” that appear cheaper than hotels and very well appointed. <br /><br />From Dee<br />We did have a joke to write a book called 'Lost in Zamora' as it felt like everything was conspiring to keep us here. The car booking didn't work. Over the counter rates to hire a car were double the internet. The free internet in the Hostel didn't work. When we went out for dinner last night looking for a connection to book ahead a hotel offered for us to use theirs but the mouse wouldn't work and there were no replacement batteries. That's when we gave up last night and came up with the book title. Things look much the same today - still waiting for Larrs to call.<br /><br />Have finally given up on the car hire and decided to bus it to Salamanca and try again from there. Our taxi driver in Salamanca is great. He ducks and weaves around barricades, suitcases in plazas, people and cars to finally reverse up a one way street and deposit us at our hotel which is well appointed in the centre of town. We stroll around the plaza mayor trying to select a place to have dinner. Our choice is poor and I think we've finally come to the conclusion that the Old City area is great for sightseeing but expensive and poor quality for food.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-35060894171937325872008-10-11T23:46:00.000-07:002008-10-12T12:05:22.003-07:00Tuesday 7 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4R8CRnW5JP-nXAflgnCwMwlCIfHi9789CQkyLQ1354eTT1LV7Ik4zyPph6Mya_h1vj28AZzC-TXCSyxse7gMHans7HkX3Ftu-EZq55VKCJU23TbjRlMy6LbVuJlQXKU7d43iS-8y5OQEf/s1600-h/IMG_2259+Cathedral.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4R8CRnW5JP-nXAflgnCwMwlCIfHi9789CQkyLQ1354eTT1LV7Ik4zyPph6Mya_h1vj28AZzC-TXCSyxse7gMHans7HkX3Ftu-EZq55VKCJU23TbjRlMy6LbVuJlQXKU7d43iS-8y5OQEf/s320/IMG_2259+Cathedral.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256177715661408962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSGyHvnoCoqPHQh25CKJLml5izXCjEZqkmJ4uYFoSAn9iE-gghGjBorfOE1k0m5aEPEhT93fY9vhlOgk1qojq95e4xQDNcoN5ji-fK8ySlZVVyuCxdzksPwij2FJUgmPBytoHOT6es7h9/s1600-h/IMG_2267.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSGyHvnoCoqPHQh25CKJLml5izXCjEZqkmJ4uYFoSAn9iE-gghGjBorfOE1k0m5aEPEhT93fY9vhlOgk1qojq95e4xQDNcoN5ji-fK8ySlZVVyuCxdzksPwij2FJUgmPBytoHOT6es7h9/s320/IMG_2267.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256177720070048930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOO5F7jg9fwMpE66OS2JsfqSVIXXsqE5VbZjoEQ_ydpjcN_ZopQSeCuBUi1IT5FsIuYq96KBg3ez2N6o5qa0DqCtl7BjFzXW0WgJrOpoUTwG7RRWovDfd8OZe_e0rSQp2oWMGRwuNIz-P6/s1600-h/IMG_2274.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOO5F7jg9fwMpE66OS2JsfqSVIXXsqE5VbZjoEQ_ydpjcN_ZopQSeCuBUi1IT5FsIuYq96KBg3ez2N6o5qa0DqCtl7BjFzXW0WgJrOpoUTwG7RRWovDfd8OZe_e0rSQp2oWMGRwuNIz-P6/s320/IMG_2274.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256177721636369442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bQevyI7O_gF__Avs1sjj1US-VJQ4PriYxUd2FAbrfldnL6rE6dcY3pBoZnkuM5ViK79skckOaJcmcWZwNCVa49vYvGzF_vDWsvbeOmts04UjPEq-YegSrJLtzovck6SwU_9T3kpdg2Ly/s1600-h/IMG_2277.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bQevyI7O_gF__Avs1sjj1US-VJQ4PriYxUd2FAbrfldnL6rE6dcY3pBoZnkuM5ViK79skckOaJcmcWZwNCVa49vYvGzF_vDWsvbeOmts04UjPEq-YegSrJLtzovck6SwU_9T3kpdg2Ly/s320/IMG_2277.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256177727127847890" /></a><br />Another rainy night and another late start. A walk through town and beautiful gardens. We spend some time on the internet trying to book a car as our train doesn't go to Salamanca but the booking doesn't quite work so we head off to the train and will try our luck when we get to Zamora. <br /><br />The countryside is beautiful and as we sit and relax, Alma walks down the isle. We knew they were headed for Madrid but had no idea it was the same train – spooky.<br /><br />We expect a 2 hour trip to Zamora but upon examining our tickets with glasses on it turns out we will not get in until 6.45pm. Time to crack that red that I have in my pack and settle down to mountains, ancient stone walls , bridges and vast open plains that glow pale yellow under a dark sky pregnant with expectation. It is a landscape that might be taken from an image library with an Australian theme and the poignancy of the moment is not lost. Far from home and missing the kids. The glow fades to sleet grey and rain as we alight in Zamora. Another town that looks drab and uninviting from the outskirts. A taxi to Plaza Mayor brings the old part of the city into view and as with many other small towns the ancient walls and stone iglesias and cathedral, with 12th century origins, are inviting and we set off under our heavy loads to find accommodation. Zamora was once the western ( or Portugese) frontier of Castillo y Leon, sitting on the Rio Duerdo just 50kms from the border.<br /><br />Hostal la Sol is tidy and dinner is hearty but not exceptional.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-49617427288963657022008-10-11T23:45:00.000-07:002008-10-12T12:32:26.248-07:00Monday 6 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnGEtFTWrLqC0uaIHRoNt1udTILC4KLwLTu7-JRsyCN507VvpuWVarwWIDy73dO6-eDCj7YIhWV6oHQt2ohyphenhyphen342hEyGNa-dRXQG_BEACQv5_nW3HU8BDkyvMFZ6VzKLLEpVE7a5P-vWy7/s1600-h/IMG_2169+Santaigo.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVnGEtFTWrLqC0uaIHRoNt1udTILC4KLwLTu7-JRsyCN507VvpuWVarwWIDy73dO6-eDCj7YIhWV6oHQt2ohyphenhyphen342hEyGNa-dRXQG_BEACQv5_nW3HU8BDkyvMFZ6VzKLLEpVE7a5P-vWy7/s320/IMG_2169+Santaigo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256352108723949954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITIEPsBGXbV7a7NwtIlRSf99pHpAGXEbdRnJf3SotBOIJudKjY-kNqaU8A0BbZA-VTpJGryqAvxSbCbypd_Sqh3akT7JwAtIsXIHTVHFahu1sghjm3nwLg9pJWSchnBWG2tY3AlwdO2JJ/s1600-h/IMG_2197.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITIEPsBGXbV7a7NwtIlRSf99pHpAGXEbdRnJf3SotBOIJudKjY-kNqaU8A0BbZA-VTpJGryqAvxSbCbypd_Sqh3akT7JwAtIsXIHTVHFahu1sghjm3nwLg9pJWSchnBWG2tY3AlwdO2JJ/s320/IMG_2197.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256352110191536658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjHI51BJciD3CW-oC4HV3W1irOoant-WYasC-sZoCfQYiwF5Qjrs8QybDRi6fgTiSwjl_fQVIsNNVkJw0zubx5a-KBrOv1iCrtdJYKrjDPo6ps8PrejTvxZrKAcPmZsOChUHtXXi0ws4H/s1600-h/IMG_2199.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjHI51BJciD3CW-oC4HV3W1irOoant-WYasC-sZoCfQYiwF5Qjrs8QybDRi6fgTiSwjl_fQVIsNNVkJw0zubx5a-KBrOv1iCrtdJYKrjDPo6ps8PrejTvxZrKAcPmZsOChUHtXXi0ws4H/s320/IMG_2199.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256349969199528146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGsCZeC5orafYz1ZOOyHaHzzGRxbw7nAAWscKsqZ-jUE9qJujK0o1DhOA9wiAcFii4ZMlipFMZidUSy2idQxFyq8CChdl4W_z1PFqIDcqPsyfIKy1zw7CD01mVr6NtDi23GvpoOy6bGBQ/s1600-h/IMG_2214.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGsCZeC5orafYz1ZOOyHaHzzGRxbw7nAAWscKsqZ-jUE9qJujK0o1DhOA9wiAcFii4ZMlipFMZidUSy2idQxFyq8CChdl4W_z1PFqIDcqPsyfIKy1zw7CD01mVr6NtDi23GvpoOy6bGBQ/s320/IMG_2214.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256349979558763954" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmySV-JEgAwbhNNP_lB7VDqb4nkYQ3Z9pxj0hq9py3RJKCv8qDGHIz6VO9ArLm1Jbcbzp9j5zeD6ATDQx3Y9eiO76A_c32aI3h7IoG8TK0zFTqEFzbIlPPcaCqC9BCGsp1egqeXpki00Wy/s1600-h/IMG_2217.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmySV-JEgAwbhNNP_lB7VDqb4nkYQ3Z9pxj0hq9py3RJKCv8qDGHIz6VO9ArLm1Jbcbzp9j5zeD6ATDQx3Y9eiO76A_c32aI3h7IoG8TK0zFTqEFzbIlPPcaCqC9BCGsp1egqeXpki00Wy/s320/IMG_2217.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256349984534366786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4Xw_thTIzTzMcPrGdPSAskoA0HRf31bBku1zh9g7ssUgrv-Ojit49kAwiQJPDQX8nkf8sXR9Q24M2Jx3iVfFcRxYbreeGGqZM9NCk3zRQsX8FsbdisqrpwW3M7YmnNNqyF2b90kLAh-K/s1600-h/IMG_2258.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4Xw_thTIzTzMcPrGdPSAskoA0HRf31bBku1zh9g7ssUgrv-Ojit49kAwiQJPDQX8nkf8sXR9Q24M2Jx3iVfFcRxYbreeGGqZM9NCk3zRQsX8FsbdisqrpwW3M7YmnNNqyF2b90kLAh-K/s320/IMG_2258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256349991684916050" /></a><br />It rains all night and most of the day so we are glad to have finished the walk yesterday – as you know walking in the rain is not an option. We have a late start, pick up our extra backpack which is in storage and organise train tickets to our next destination before starting our sightseeing. The Cathedral is the main stop and like all the cathedrals is breaktaking, mind-boggling, opulent and over-indulgent.<br /><br />We run into 'the yanks' (sorry guys) again – Alma and Jeremy. I can't help but feel there is always some synchronisty going on in everyone's lives as Alma and Jeremy seem to keep popping up. They are like minded people and we join them for drinks in the Parador where they are staying. After a few vino tinto's and a great chat we head off to dinner and find a tapas bar which promises better food than we are used to. Happily sated it's off to bed.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-39684922753470722422008-10-05T07:24:00.001-07:002008-10-12T12:48:51.967-07:00Sunday 5 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkSYg_031aB7UDMycXapfetGJ78Jkzrw7y-4G4QLVXiqor4jKmjwr4Y0CZcGXHUeiZdDhoSYN_nlF8yynyo-iwPZF6Qi9azSJjknTaBFpyDFIyG36um1gjvvChpkQvzpOKJ53Lv4YaY2K/s1600-h/IMG_2150.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkSYg_031aB7UDMycXapfetGJ78Jkzrw7y-4G4QLVXiqor4jKmjwr4Y0CZcGXHUeiZdDhoSYN_nlF8yynyo-iwPZF6Qi9azSJjknTaBFpyDFIyG36um1gjvvChpkQvzpOKJ53Lv4YaY2K/s320/IMG_2150.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256356613236109026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_clAfSZsmTE4q_I7MTiMpNOC1LSidrOKhJn9X3PSVvU6wgXKsLx5cG_4HsHRphlXGKwEsj7zmMKC2Kh6h3c1xiTHYfeMa_zyTRnw7pKIAAS0GqNMLRbY3VMQgtDVKgGX8mbb85V0xkbYh/s1600-h/IMG_2157.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_clAfSZsmTE4q_I7MTiMpNOC1LSidrOKhJn9X3PSVvU6wgXKsLx5cG_4HsHRphlXGKwEsj7zmMKC2Kh6h3c1xiTHYfeMa_zyTRnw7pKIAAS0GqNMLRbY3VMQgtDVKgGX8mbb85V0xkbYh/s320/IMG_2157.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256356618200845378" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08qi3zACx8mloYitFoYuO8SJerIIbqr1p3qwpdRVhOBa_SKA9-jII21es5-1eqWPWKCx7OMgN3CD04_RxjjI8bzqjJ09iBarjasc8cTfjACKTmIKy9fFrC1lGXwiDQN-NLwCvQUBqM0Lq/s1600-h/IMG_2159.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08qi3zACx8mloYitFoYuO8SJerIIbqr1p3qwpdRVhOBa_SKA9-jII21es5-1eqWPWKCx7OMgN3CD04_RxjjI8bzqjJ09iBarjasc8cTfjACKTmIKy9fFrC1lGXwiDQN-NLwCvQUBqM0Lq/s320/IMG_2159.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256356620193652882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjkMSg3iK-nk0Q5hax6GI2UamdhU5vJY-Pj1b-8vCbHc3pztjoGuLDfO_-nXo6tD_BV_X3mpbBL8Lb1WBytncZ_mQHTsOVJbkehxvEcGqMoY0MCJrrTC75h00ThR1QGovGMrZGnWSvSS6/s1600-h/IMG_2162.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjkMSg3iK-nk0Q5hax6GI2UamdhU5vJY-Pj1b-8vCbHc3pztjoGuLDfO_-nXo6tD_BV_X3mpbBL8Lb1WBytncZ_mQHTsOVJbkehxvEcGqMoY0MCJrrTC75h00ThR1QGovGMrZGnWSvSS6/s320/IMG_2162.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256353811010968930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgz95Va7p0Gc9iFWevvAOoKIfMqUgHgB7EqCIgyOUmzWE8XW-mtiNsMPlD0ezVA5WPDBJzg1f1wpi6qOvIGvGrB2aZq66pWUGBTFtX3ra7RKzpNsVTNFcAn1IgO2Vj3GVHh3zVHadW74w/s1600-h/IMG_2163.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgz95Va7p0Gc9iFWevvAOoKIfMqUgHgB7EqCIgyOUmzWE8XW-mtiNsMPlD0ezVA5WPDBJzg1f1wpi6qOvIGvGrB2aZq66pWUGBTFtX3ra7RKzpNsVTNFcAn1IgO2Vj3GVHh3zVHadW74w/s320/IMG_2163.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256353825484548386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIM6xbHFMgfNcWT9Wu1x8Qj9IMdAn1MfHzlIDpbf3W9LYbKQXK7GRiXtP5G0cnsUCQSmJWf8wwapOXfgSzV25gP5R0t9-wWZblsiLPDMBrYc3624W7uILcmGVcj_i5PJ39D-rtuz5RmOh/s1600-h/IMG_2168.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIM6xbHFMgfNcWT9Wu1x8Qj9IMdAn1MfHzlIDpbf3W9LYbKQXK7GRiXtP5G0cnsUCQSmJWf8wwapOXfgSzV25gP5R0t9-wWZblsiLPDMBrYc3624W7uILcmGVcj_i5PJ39D-rtuz5RmOh/s320/IMG_2168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256353829812730898" /></a><br />Intending to start early we rise and pack in the dark,finally getting on the road at 8.45am. As usual a cool start and tarmac quickly turns to a green forest path that skirts around Padrouza (Arca). There are few perigrinos on the path we make good time passing through small hamlets with increasing numbers of pilgrims walking. The weather threatens but thankfully never rains. The wind is cold, good weather for walking. Ten kms from Santiago we find a sheltered position and pullout lunch and redwine to fortify us for the final stage of walking. Our legs are stiff and sore, ankles and feet wishing each step was the last. We are in good spirits and finally reach Mount de Gozo overlooking Santiago. A large bronze and stone edifice marks the final descent and perigrinos gather to take photos, rest and drink. Along descent preludes our arrival in Santiago yet we have to cover 5kms more to reach the cathedral. Dee insists on closure, get our final stamp and pilgrim's certificate before finding a hotel. Some time later, after passing some likely hotels, Dee is in the mood to postpone closure in favour of hot water and rest.<br /><br />We find the cathedral and spend 20 minutes trying to find the Oficina Peregrino for stamps and certificates. Finding the unremarkable office, it's a line up to be processed as more and more pilgrims come in out of the cold. Officially processed we walk 50 m and find our hotel. We have walked enough and now for well deserved showers and the obligatory libation prior to stepping out for dinner. A grand day indeed, we finish the Camino and in honour of our achievement, Manly thrash the Storm 40 – 0. Celebrations now mandatory.<br /><br />From Dee<br />I thought I should also post the obligatory sore feet photos and the owner. As I've taken the bus for a few of the sections I only have one blister that I earnt a couple of days ago, and that has now healed. Yes my feet are sore but Pete's ... oh my God ... the photos make them look a lot better than they are. <br /><br />I'm looking forward to getting a suntan on the right hand side of my body. The walk, basically east to west has afforded a splendid golden tan on the left hand side of my body, so, lying on that side and sipping sangrias, sounds like a good balancing act.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2324084589940827098.post-83857009482541768102008-10-05T07:23:00.001-07:002008-10-12T13:03:22.276-07:00Saturday 4 October<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgpBKw4oDhcl7l-C4a9sqvk5ru9v2giIHxT-nMu3RyQBmWqcKbgGdKMszXDRWTq5nUD0sXoHCi-5uoQr-38ZXR_27ILSt1WAOiJ0rbMj5M1RAGtYE4v2M4P3fK2cVLN6qC-IhsfZlci3v/s1600-h/IMG_2140.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCgpBKw4oDhcl7l-C4a9sqvk5ru9v2giIHxT-nMu3RyQBmWqcKbgGdKMszXDRWTq5nUD0sXoHCi-5uoQr-38ZXR_27ILSt1WAOiJ0rbMj5M1RAGtYE4v2M4P3fK2cVLN6qC-IhsfZlci3v/s320/IMG_2140.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256360206585134546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcrHveNs52nv4WzU3Ahe-05rKpHmud0nMtp4Es08-2MSNWpn0qfslUWUujFmlWju_zFn7HkNJhmb0Hap03X6z3jYkbQbN4Idv4Vw0hyphenhyphenvNIEdqwVm7wJQ7idoG2EPr1P0aSwaPutBXzQbn/s1600-h/IMG_2141.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcrHveNs52nv4WzU3Ahe-05rKpHmud0nMtp4Es08-2MSNWpn0qfslUWUujFmlWju_zFn7HkNJhmb0Hap03X6z3jYkbQbN4Idv4Vw0hyphenhyphenvNIEdqwVm7wJQ7idoG2EPr1P0aSwaPutBXzQbn/s320/IMG_2141.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256360217274083778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiIV1w15rO0116xntbMAvw0ItdBoqZ1JyZui4usDZ0s2rem46YCFZ9-iF5w8C0HMKLAa374CZTgUa1wv8Kcvg1ImXEsgpI5Go8oihozM78f9sIt1VSKo81dvkHjs2A6_aJdj_h1Ky4CoB/s1600-h/IMG_2144.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIiIV1w15rO0116xntbMAvw0ItdBoqZ1JyZui4usDZ0s2rem46YCFZ9-iF5w8C0HMKLAa374CZTgUa1wv8Kcvg1ImXEsgpI5Go8oihozM78f9sIt1VSKo81dvkHjs2A6_aJdj_h1Ky4CoB/s320/IMG_2144.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256360219856898082" /></a><br />From Dee<br />We decide on an early start and make it away by 10 – oh well. Once again a cool and overcast day which makes the walking very pleasant. I chip away at Pete with suggestions of arriving in Santiago on Sunday. I look longingly as we pass a taxi rank, but ... I keep on walking. Fresh raspberries are for sale on a little lane for 1.5E in the honesty box. Delicious. We have a coffee stop at the top of a hill after a couple of hours of walking and peel off some clothing before heading off on the next 8km or so to Arzua – the next official stop. We lunch and as we stroll through town I spy the taxi rank – hurray! So it's off to Rua the last stop before Santiago. Our accommodation Bar-Casa Rural has a lovely rustic charm. The room is large and the bed soft. The restaurant opens at 8 so Pete heads out for supplies 1km down the road whilst I blog and lounge on the banana chair in the garden.<br /><br />From Pete<br />We are on the threshold of finishing the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, or at least our experience of it. Some have cycled, some have chosen to cover parts of the walk they had not completed previously, others walk each step of the “way” as described in their guide books, while Dee and I have walked, bussed, hitched and taxied approximately 850 km. We are sore and fatigued. We have washed our bodies and clothes in bathrooms across Spain. We have experienced wonderful rural and religious architecture, art and culture. The food has been overall average with a few memorable exceptions. Red wine and beer have been plentiful, cheap and great. We have never stopped laughing, mostly at ourselves. Less than 30 kms to go and we can relax, go south and enjoy Gaudi, food and wine.Pete and Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07766745520978815982noreply@blogger.com0