Granada University

My friend said 'Be careful what you ask for, you may get it' and she was right. I applied to go to Granada University for a 3 week summer course and I leave on the 9th July. I cannot do much more than book the tickets at this stage; there is plenty to do here as my exam is in under 3 weeks and that takes precedence above all. More to come when I finalize my tickets.

Lentajas

One lunchtime in Granada, I had the most delicious Spanish lentils. You know when you order something at a restaurant and you have a taste in your mind - well, these lentils were exactly as I had tasted them in my imagination - very yummy.
Tonight I was in just the right frame of mind to try and capture that taste again. Yesterday I had bought some chorizo sausage and I already had the lentils in the pantry, so tonight was the night. Apart from needing just a little more salt, the resulting stew was just right. Tastes and smells surely do bring back memories!

Home with family and friends

We made it to Madrid airport in plenty of time on Thursday morning, although the taxi diver lived up to our expectations and charged us 13.75 euros to go 3kms!
Not long after we had checked in, I remembered that I still had a pocket knife in my carry on luggage, so I gave it to a policeman doing the rounds. What goes around comes around I guess, considering where the knife came from in the first place.
Our flight to Munich was uneventful and on time, as was the flight over to LAX. When the plane was over Canada, the pilot said that we could be landing in Canada, as someone had been smoking in the toilets, and as this was serious and an arrestable offence, if they caught the person responsible, they would land and put the person off the plane. No-one confessed of course and we continued on to the States.
We had a 6 hour wait in LA and whiled away the time reading, eating, sleeping (Hannah) and generally hoping that time would pass quickly. Our flight to Ak was fine, I watched 3 movies and finished the book I had bought in Munich. John and Tim were at the airport to meet us and Hannah and I were very happy to be home at last.
After unpacked a few bits and pieces, I went to get the hard drive (with all of our photos of the trip) out of my carry-on bag, but couldn't find the bag anywhere.
The last time I remembered having it was at the screening point in Ak airport. After many phone calls to the airport, we finally spoke to someone who had my bag, and John and I drove back to the airport to pick it up. To think that Hannah and I had been in Europe all that time, travelling every couple of days and we didn't lose a thing, but the minute we get back home - bingo!
It is lovely to be home again with family, friends, fresh food and comfortable pillows! Today is John's and my 18th wedding anniversary so we are going out for dinner tonight. Will be able to compare restaurants with those in Europe!!

Back to Madrid

Well, we managed to get to the train station this morning with an extra bag to lug about. The bus from near the hotel was really full and I had to stand by the front door. Everytime the driver opened the door to let MORE people on, we were squashed up further and further.
The AVE train from Cordoba was really quick, under 2 hours ( I guess that is the point) and then we spent another 2 hours getting on and off the metro, hoisting heavy bags up and down stairs, then arriving at a far out post only to discover that we had no idea where the hotel was.
We started walking in what we thought was the general direction, and flagged down a taxi when one came by. Thank goodness we did as the hotel was miles away, in the middle of an industrial section of town out by the airport. And it was our first really nice, speedy driver. Every other taxi we have caught on our journey has been the pits. Over here you pay for the length of time you are in the taxi, not how far.
Anyway, after checking out our room, we got directions to a closer (but not by much) metro stop and hve come back into town to have our last look at Madrid. WE were also missing a badge and fridge magnet from here, so have managed to get those too.
Only thing left to do is have some dinner and find our way back out to the boon docks to our hotel.

an early morning tomorrow - at the airport by 5.30 am. Think of us flying for 2 days!!!!
Hasta luego

Cordoba

Our last real tourist day in Spain today, so to celebrate we slept in, had a late breakie at the hotel, and have the rest of the day to check out Cordoba. Each city has had a very different feel and look about it. Where we are staying in the Jewish quarter, all streets are narrow and winding but with room for one small car usually, unlike Cadiz streets which were really narrow. The newer part of the city has plazas and wider more open spaces. Last night after being here at the internet cafe, it was really dark when we went outside and we had a few 'moments' when we were deciding which was the way back to the hotel. We started on one direction, but turned back when it looked very narrow and deserted and there were no street lights. The way we went in the end was surprisingly quick and direct, so we have used those streets again today.
Speaking of water and rain, last night I had another near disaster with the shower. I turned the water on to get the temperature right, then pulled up the knob that directs the water to the shower nozzle. Because the shower curtain is very light, and the nozzle was pointing right at the curtain, and I had the water pressure up high, the water pushed the curtain out over the side of the bath and the water poured all over the floor. I tried to hold the curtain in over the bath, but it was so light that it was like trying to hold back the Nile. Meanwhile the whole floor flooded but at least I had put my clothes up off the floor this time. You may ask why I didn´t just turn the water off, well I was standing outside the bath, and the tap was on the opposite wall. I would have had to push aside the curtain completely. anyway in the end I redirected the nozzle and used many towels to mop up the floor.

When I booked this hotel, there was a special deal for champagne and chocolates for the same price as no champagne and chocolates. when we returned to our room last night, it was waiting for us in an ice bucket, so we enjoyed a glass of bubbles before going downstairs for dinner. We also have a corner room with 3 large windows and a fantastic view of the Mezquita so we hit the jackpot well and truely.

Not sure if I´ll find another internet before we get home but will certainly look for one. We have 5 hours wait in LAX so there may be an opportunity there. If not, check out this site in week or so and I will have added so photos.
Hasta luego

Seville

Hannah and I walked the streets of Cadiz looking for just the right place for dinner. It is quite difficult when you want something specific, but we eventually found a restaurant with fresh fish that we could recognise and we both had a nice meal. After dinner we did some more walking, looking at all the preparations for the ´Carnaval´. We looked into staying another night but the hotel wanted 300 euros for one night and we decided that price was a little steep.
The following morning we went out for breakfast, a walk and back to the hotel to collect our bags. Our bus trip to Seville took around 4 hours. Seville is a very pretty town and typicallly 'Spanish' looking we think. The countryside all around is very green, flat, with few hills, unlike the east side of Spain. Our hotel would be best decribed as 'faded grandeur' and I had some interesting moments after my bath, when the water started bubbling up through the grill in the floor. I had to put my foot over the plug to stop the flow of water, while bending over to grab my now wet clothes off the floor and call out to Hannah to come and help. The water was seeping out of the bathroom under the door!! It was quite late so I didn´t call reception, plus Hannah was in bed and it all seemed like too much trouble. I left the bathroom floor covered in towels.
We splashed out while in Seville and went to a Flaminco Show which included a 3 course meal and drinks. Our table was relatively near the stage and we had a great view. Our waiter was excellent, especially as Hannah ordered 'special' meals at each stage - no sauce, anchovies one the side, white wine not red for me (after another waitress had already opened and poured us red wine)... we had a great time and thought it worth the money.

We did the usual bus tour which gives us our history lesson and also explored a lot ourselves. There is a castle in Seville that we think is the equal of Granada. We of course have hundreds of photos!! The cathedral was really close to our hotel and is truely magnificent. Last night it rained, so we were pleased to find a restaurant really close to the hotel for dinner. Hannah has a cold/cough so we didn´t stay out late.

Today we have travelled to Cordoba, our last city here in Spain. Once again, our hotel is close to the action, right next to the Mezquita, we look out our window and see one wall and a tower. It is as close as our garage is to our house!!!! We had an interesting trip on the local bus to the hotel, as we didn´t get off when we should have and ended up miles away from where we should have been and on the other side of the river. After a chat with the bus driver, we stayed on the bus for the return trip and this time were successful, admid much hand waving and gesturing.
There were no internet cafes in Seville that were open, so we have come out this arvo to catch up on the news. we also bought another small suitcase to spread the load, will probably put all the books from school in Madrid, and other stuff in it. We also booked two seats on the AVE train back to Madrid on Wednesday. So, until later Hasta luego

Cadiz

Our hotel is down a narrow lane right in the midst of the historic town. There is a courtyard in the middle with a fountain so it looks very inviting as you walk in. The weather is lovely and fine and quite hot in the sun but still cool in the shade - winter still has a bite, even in the south of Spain. Cadiz is fascinating, it is built at the end of a narrow strip of land which widens slightly at the end. (I called it a knob but Hannah tells that´s not a good name!) and even with all the buildings, there are still parks and greenery round the edge.
Today we got up late, went out shopping and found a market which was fun. Hannah got herself a couple of things and I got a gift or two so we are thinking that we will have to buy that extra suitcase as we are not sure how heavy our bags are now. They feel heavy carting them round I can tell you. I must have developed extra muscles in my pulling suitcase arm!
We found a little place for brunch "churros and chocolate" would you believe, and then wandered round sight seeing. We found the Bishops House in which has been discovered ruins from the time of the Phonecians!! We thought Tim would have liked it. You walked round on a glass floor so you could see and walk over all the excavations. Quite amazing. We also visited the cathedral here and walked up the bell tower - and down again quickly as the bells were about to ring and Hannah didn´t want to be up there then. We had a drink in one of the many plazas, then found the tourist bus. We spent an hour travelling round on that which was interesting.
Tonight we are going to see if we can find a fish place for dinner.
We have been using our Spanish in shops, asking for directions, for tickets etc and are managing quite well. Most people don´t seem to mind our mistakes and answer us in Spanish, sometimes rather slowly, but in Spanish!
Hasta luego