Malaga
On our last night in Malaga, Hannah and I had dinner at a very nice restaurant in the city centre, outside under an umbrella.
We both had lamb, mine Moroccan and Hannah had lamb chops - tiny lamb chops. Right next to our table were 3 elderly `proper`English people. They carried on like you wouldn´t belive about everything and anything. One of them knew it all - what ever the subject, he knew all there was to know. When some buskers came round, he said that he always gave them money, but never put his hand in his pocket once. He asked the other man at the table to give the money!! I don´t think he paid for dinner either, as the other two were a couple and picked up the bill! We couldn´t help overhearing as our table was so close. Well it made for an interesting evening anyway.
We caught a bus to Cadiz today, via the coast for much of way. We were at the very tip of the south of Spain. I had been wondering where the animals were as I hadn´t seen any livestock the whole time we have been here. They are all down here in the South. Lots of beasties, from goats, to sheep to beef!! There is also the biggest wind farm I have ever seen.
Our hotel here is right in the heart of the city. The cars drive around the outside of the city as the streets are too narrow unless you have one of those cutoff cars. Speaking of those strange vehicles, Hannah and I saw one parked at right angles to the kerb, in amongst all the other cars parked the ususal way. It looked so strange, but I guess the driver was facing the right way to just drive off!!
Hasta luego
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Malaga
Wednesday arvo in Malaga, the sun is shining (unlike in China) and there is a slight sea breeze from the Med. The palm trees are swaying a little, and all is well in this corner of the world.
We left Granada yesterday - took forever on the local bus to get to the bus station - and arrived here in Malaga around 2pm with absolutely no idea where our hotel was, how to get there, where to find a local bus etc. We wandered round the station looking for something, anything to give us a clue. Outside we saw a bus stop and asked a girl for some directions. We were at the right place for the bus into the centre of town so hopped aboard the next bus to come along. Once in town, we still had no idea where to go, so I asked a bus driver who gave us general directions - "that way" and waved his hand. Off we trudged again and not long after, found the street and hotel. Yay! The hotel is 50m off the main street and not far from all the action. We dropped our bags, took a deep breath and set off to explore yet another city. Malaga has a lovely feel to it and we enjoyed wandering along, getting the lay of the land. We found somewhere to have a late lunch, did a bit of shopping, then went back to our hotel for a rest and shower. Later in the evening we went out again looking for signs of the festival which is happening here this week. Unfortunately there was nothing happening. We will try again tonight.
This morning after breakie, we caught the tourist bus and spent the morning driving round seated on the top deck, taking in the sights and listening to the history. Then we stayed on the bus until it got back to the castle above the town. We spent a couple of hours wandering the turrets of the castle, imagining times gone by, when it was a thriving, busy town. At one stage, we were looking out at the pathway beside the castle walls, imagining a flock of goats/sheep being driven along, when we heard hoofbeats, and four horses came galloping along the path!! very spooky and quite exciting.
After the castle we came down to the town again and have booked our bus tickets for the journey to Cadiz tomorrow. Lets hope the weather is just as nice there.
Was feeling very proud of myself yesterday when some Spanish people asked me directions to the tourist office. I was able to explain, in Spanish, as Hannah and I had recently been there. Then last night, when looking at the map we had been given at said office, realised that I had sent them to the furtherest tourist office in town, and they were elderly folk too!!!! oops!
Hasta luego
We left Granada yesterday - took forever on the local bus to get to the bus station - and arrived here in Malaga around 2pm with absolutely no idea where our hotel was, how to get there, where to find a local bus etc. We wandered round the station looking for something, anything to give us a clue. Outside we saw a bus stop and asked a girl for some directions. We were at the right place for the bus into the centre of town so hopped aboard the next bus to come along. Once in town, we still had no idea where to go, so I asked a bus driver who gave us general directions - "that way" and waved his hand. Off we trudged again and not long after, found the street and hotel. Yay! The hotel is 50m off the main street and not far from all the action. We dropped our bags, took a deep breath and set off to explore yet another city. Malaga has a lovely feel to it and we enjoyed wandering along, getting the lay of the land. We found somewhere to have a late lunch, did a bit of shopping, then went back to our hotel for a rest and shower. Later in the evening we went out again looking for signs of the festival which is happening here this week. Unfortunately there was nothing happening. We will try again tonight.
This morning after breakie, we caught the tourist bus and spent the morning driving round seated on the top deck, taking in the sights and listening to the history. Then we stayed on the bus until it got back to the castle above the town. We spent a couple of hours wandering the turrets of the castle, imagining times gone by, when it was a thriving, busy town. At one stage, we were looking out at the pathway beside the castle walls, imagining a flock of goats/sheep being driven along, when we heard hoofbeats, and four horses came galloping along the path!! very spooky and quite exciting.
After the castle we came down to the town again and have booked our bus tickets for the journey to Cadiz tomorrow. Lets hope the weather is just as nice there.
Was feeling very proud of myself yesterday when some Spanish people asked me directions to the tourist office. I was able to explain, in Spanish, as Hannah and I had recently been there. Then last night, when looking at the map we had been given at said office, realised that I had sent them to the furtherest tourist office in town, and they were elderly folk too!!!! oops!
Hasta luego
Monday, January 28, 2008
Granada
Sunday morning and Hannah and I slept in, had a leisurely breakfast and got into town around 12. We strolled the avenue by the river soaking up the sun and atmosphere. We finally worked out where the tourist bus left from and got on board mid afternoon. We had a couple of hours touring on the bus and I managed to get a photo of the gypsy women fleecing some other poor tourists (made me feel a bit better knowing I wasn´t the only one). We went home quite early as being Sunday, most things were closed, besides we were on the cool side after travelling round on top of the bus.
We lazed round for the rest of the evening and had an early night.
Today we were up earlier and caught a couple of buses which got us to the Alhambra. After going the wrong way, cueing in the wrong line, and having a small difference of opinion with the security guard (who had a gun) we finally got our tickets. The palaces are magnificent and very well preserved. We loved the intricate stone work and designs everywhere. Quite undescribable really. We spent around 4 hours looking and walking before going back down to the centre of Granada. When we got back we sat in the sun having lunch then moved to a park bench by the fountain just soaking up the atmosphere. It was lovely. I must say that the guys driving the small buses up to the Alhambra take our lives into their hands, racing up and down very narrow streets with lots of twists and turns. Drivers here park in the oddest places - right on corners, up on kerbs, so close to each other that there isn´t even space for a finger between cars. They also drive up to a bus stop or any little space (not for parking) turn on their hazzard lights, and walk away to shop or pick up a parcel or whatever. When Hannah and I were waiting for a bus in Valencia, we watched a guy pull up over the road, get out of his car, push the car in front until it banged into the next car, then push his car until it banged into the front one!!! How strange. No one could get their car out without pushing the others out of the way. It is surprising that the cars don´t have more dings in them. The cars in this instance were all parked behind others so that the first cars could´t get out. Looked a bit like this
/ / / / / / / / / -first line of cars
-------------- -second line of cars
I don´t think driving in Spain is for me!!!
Hasta la vista
We lazed round for the rest of the evening and had an early night.
Today we were up earlier and caught a couple of buses which got us to the Alhambra. After going the wrong way, cueing in the wrong line, and having a small difference of opinion with the security guard (who had a gun) we finally got our tickets. The palaces are magnificent and very well preserved. We loved the intricate stone work and designs everywhere. Quite undescribable really. We spent around 4 hours looking and walking before going back down to the centre of Granada. When we got back we sat in the sun having lunch then moved to a park bench by the fountain just soaking up the atmosphere. It was lovely. I must say that the guys driving the small buses up to the Alhambra take our lives into their hands, racing up and down very narrow streets with lots of twists and turns. Drivers here park in the oddest places - right on corners, up on kerbs, so close to each other that there isn´t even space for a finger between cars. They also drive up to a bus stop or any little space (not for parking) turn on their hazzard lights, and walk away to shop or pick up a parcel or whatever. When Hannah and I were waiting for a bus in Valencia, we watched a guy pull up over the road, get out of his car, push the car in front until it banged into the next car, then push his car until it banged into the front one!!! How strange. No one could get their car out without pushing the others out of the way. It is surprising that the cars don´t have more dings in them. The cars in this instance were all parked behind others so that the first cars could´t get out. Looked a bit like this
/ / / / / / / / / -first line of cars
-------------- -second line of cars
I don´t think driving in Spain is for me!!!
Hasta la vista
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Adios Valencia, Hola Granada
Hannah and I found this great restaurant in the middle of the downtown area for dinner. It was really busy, noisy and like a tavern of old. The waiters shouted out your order to the guys behind the bar and everything was really cramped. We, or I, had decided that I felt like shnitzel and so proceeded to order it in Spanish, along with a salad. I did remark to Hannah that I didn´t always get what I was expecting in restaurants in Argentina which of course put a jinx to this meal. My shnitzel, was thin, fried steak, in a roll!! So much for my great Spanish.. I realised that it was exactly what I had ordered, I just didn´t know the word for breadcrumbs, and said ¨pan¨which is what I got!! It was yummy anyway. Hannah was sitting facing the bar and all through the meal she was getting hand signals and gestures from the boys behind the bar. At one stage she was trying to get the fridge door open to get herself an ice-cream and when the door didn´t open, there was much encouragement!! As we left, they blew her kisses!! During our meal, about four different men came in with roses, but this time we were prepared!!
We then went to McDonalds for a while and I wrote a couple of postcards that I still have in my bag. From there we went back to the hotel and Hannah napped while I did sudokus until after midnight when we collected our bags and walked to the train station. We found our room for the night, or should I say cupboard!! We were quite happy with it until we walked down the carriages looking for the cafe and passed by much larger, nicer coloured rooms!! Oh well.... Hannah got to sleep quite quickly but it took me a while. A knock on the door awoke us at 8am the next morning and very soon we arrived in Granada. We had a small breakie at the station and set off to find our B and B. Luckily the bus was not too far, up a hill, and we alighted outside a Land Agent with no clue as to where to go next. The women in the office took pity on us and rang Simon, our host, who appeared a couple of minutes later.
Our room is on the bottom floor (thankgoodness, heavy bags - Hannah says they would have dented the marble stairs) and is right next to the bathroom. I did do a couple of loads of washing before we set off to explore. We found a tourist office for a map, and had a very nice lunch in a plaza, checked out a few stores, then found the Cathedral, where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella are buried. You can actually see the coffins in the crypt!!!!
On the way out of the complex, we were sucked in once again!!! We were acosted by two old women who gave us sprigs of rosemary and grabbed our hands and read them,,,,, THEN demanded €5 !!!!! PER HAND.
I gave her €1 and Hannah gave €5. They were very insistant and wouldn´t take no for an answer so we hot-footed it out of there!! When you least expect it, there is someone out there who is out to get you!
So.. today is Sunday and we are on the lookout for men bearing roses, and gypsy women with sprigs of rosemary!!
We then went to McDonalds for a while and I wrote a couple of postcards that I still have in my bag. From there we went back to the hotel and Hannah napped while I did sudokus until after midnight when we collected our bags and walked to the train station. We found our room for the night, or should I say cupboard!! We were quite happy with it until we walked down the carriages looking for the cafe and passed by much larger, nicer coloured rooms!! Oh well.... Hannah got to sleep quite quickly but it took me a while. A knock on the door awoke us at 8am the next morning and very soon we arrived in Granada. We had a small breakie at the station and set off to find our B and B. Luckily the bus was not too far, up a hill, and we alighted outside a Land Agent with no clue as to where to go next. The women in the office took pity on us and rang Simon, our host, who appeared a couple of minutes later.
Our room is on the bottom floor (thankgoodness, heavy bags - Hannah says they would have dented the marble stairs) and is right next to the bathroom. I did do a couple of loads of washing before we set off to explore. We found a tourist office for a map, and had a very nice lunch in a plaza, checked out a few stores, then found the Cathedral, where King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella are buried. You can actually see the coffins in the crypt!!!!
On the way out of the complex, we were sucked in once again!!! We were acosted by two old women who gave us sprigs of rosemary and grabbed our hands and read them,,,,, THEN demanded €5 !!!!! PER HAND.
I gave her €1 and Hannah gave €5. They were very insistant and wouldn´t take no for an answer so we hot-footed it out of there!! When you least expect it, there is someone out there who is out to get you!
So.. today is Sunday and we are on the lookout for men bearing roses, and gypsy women with sprigs of rosemary!!
Friday, January 25, 2008
No Nemo, pero ¨Bruce the Shark¨
Our first night in Valencia we decided to order room service, a first for Hannah, as we had been out and about till 9pm and were too tired to go and find a place to eat. It was quite nice, and Hannah really enjoyed her´s so that was a positive first experience. Yesterday we explored more of the city, after spending all morning sorting out our next move. It is quite difficult to get from Valencia to Granada. We have ended up booking a sleeper on a night train which leaves Valencia at 12.51am in the morning and gets to Granda the next morning just before 9am.
We found the Plaza de la Reina again after wandering around the Central Market which is very similar to the Melbourne market - only it is for food not all the other bits and pieces that Melbourne has. The building is magnificent with lots of blue and white tiling everywhere. We also had Churos and Chocolate just outside the market. The churos weren´t quite as good as Argentina and the cup of pure hot melted chocolate something else again. Needless to say we didn´t finish it. We had lunch in the Plaza in the sunshine and really enjoyed it . On the way back to the hotel, we passed by a nail salon and decided to have a manicure (Hannah´s shout) as our nails had suffered considerably on our travels!! Halfway through, Hannah said Ï don´t feel well. I looked up to see her face had lost every semblance of colour and she was about ready to keel off the high stool she was sitting on. After turning down the heat in the salon, giving her a coke, and an rest with head between knees, she was ok, thank goodness!!!
After a siesta in our room, we found our way to a Museum that displays Las Fallas from 1934 to the present day. These are ones that are saved from the flames by public vote and are all displayed in the museum. It was fascinating. We had a small problem trying to find the bus stop to get home, but after a frustrating hour, managed to catch a bus and were safely home soon after.
Today we went to the newest part of the city to the Aquarium and Hemiphere. It was a wonderday in the sunshine, with fish of all kinds - dolphin show, penquins, sharks, etc etc. We then watched a show in the hemisphere to finish our day. We have about 6 hours until our train leaves so we will while away the time in the centre of town before collecting our bags from the hotel. Next stop Granada
We found the Plaza de la Reina again after wandering around the Central Market which is very similar to the Melbourne market - only it is for food not all the other bits and pieces that Melbourne has. The building is magnificent with lots of blue and white tiling everywhere. We also had Churos and Chocolate just outside the market. The churos weren´t quite as good as Argentina and the cup of pure hot melted chocolate something else again. Needless to say we didn´t finish it. We had lunch in the Plaza in the sunshine and really enjoyed it . On the way back to the hotel, we passed by a nail salon and decided to have a manicure (Hannah´s shout) as our nails had suffered considerably on our travels!! Halfway through, Hannah said Ï don´t feel well. I looked up to see her face had lost every semblance of colour and she was about ready to keel off the high stool she was sitting on. After turning down the heat in the salon, giving her a coke, and an rest with head between knees, she was ok, thank goodness!!!
After a siesta in our room, we found our way to a Museum that displays Las Fallas from 1934 to the present day. These are ones that are saved from the flames by public vote and are all displayed in the museum. It was fascinating. We had a small problem trying to find the bus stop to get home, but after a frustrating hour, managed to catch a bus and were safely home soon after.
Today we went to the newest part of the city to the Aquarium and Hemiphere. It was a wonderday in the sunshine, with fish of all kinds - dolphin show, penquins, sharks, etc etc. We then watched a show in the hemisphere to finish our day. We have about 6 hours until our train leaves so we will while away the time in the centre of town before collecting our bags from the hotel. Next stop Granada
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The New Knights Templar
well we did it! We found the Holy Grail!! It is right here in Valencia in the Cathedral. It was bought here in the 15th Century to keep it safe from plunderers!! We have photos too!!
Our train trip today was really interesting as we got to see the countryside. THere are miles and miles of citrus orchards and not a lot else but the scenery is quite stunning as it is so different.
We saw deserted white houses, ruins of old, and I mean old, castles and battlement walls, plus some horrendous new high rise apartment buildings.
We were able to walk to our hotel as it is only about 10 mins from the train station. THe hotel is very nice and modern and has all the conviences, including little bottles of stuff in the bathroom. Hannah didn´t think there was a shower at first coz it is behind a pillar.
We went out for a walk and found the Cathedral which is really close to our hotel and low and behold, the Holy Grail. We were there while everyone else was having a siesta so we had the whole place pretty much to ourselves.
Right now we are in a trendy shop which has internet and free drinks!! What a good day!!
19 degrees here today, grass is green instead of sand or dirt, an good, open-feel city.
Notes missed from other blogs:
Hannah struck again in the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, the one with Picasso´s Guernica, there was a video inside a table and Hannah leant against the table to get a better view - and was promptly told off, AGAIN!!! That makes for every museum so far!!
While we were on the tourist bus in Barcelona, an ambulance with 3 guys in it was going round and round the roundabout with sirens blaring and lights flashing. THe guys were having a thoroughly good time and laughing like crazy. Don´t think they were going to rescue anyone!!
Last night, just as we were walking back to our hotel after a very cheesy dinner, an ambulance and police pulled up just past our hotel. Not sure what that was about.
Anyway, that´s it for now, catch you soon. We are here for the next 3 days, so will be able to unpack a little.
Hasta la vista
Our train trip today was really interesting as we got to see the countryside. THere are miles and miles of citrus orchards and not a lot else but the scenery is quite stunning as it is so different.
We saw deserted white houses, ruins of old, and I mean old, castles and battlement walls, plus some horrendous new high rise apartment buildings.
We were able to walk to our hotel as it is only about 10 mins from the train station. THe hotel is very nice and modern and has all the conviences, including little bottles of stuff in the bathroom. Hannah didn´t think there was a shower at first coz it is behind a pillar.
We went out for a walk and found the Cathedral which is really close to our hotel and low and behold, the Holy Grail. We were there while everyone else was having a siesta so we had the whole place pretty much to ourselves.
Right now we are in a trendy shop which has internet and free drinks!! What a good day!!
19 degrees here today, grass is green instead of sand or dirt, an good, open-feel city.
Notes missed from other blogs:
Hannah struck again in the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, the one with Picasso´s Guernica, there was a video inside a table and Hannah leant against the table to get a better view - and was promptly told off, AGAIN!!! That makes for every museum so far!!
While we were on the tourist bus in Barcelona, an ambulance with 3 guys in it was going round and round the roundabout with sirens blaring and lights flashing. THe guys were having a thoroughly good time and laughing like crazy. Don´t think they were going to rescue anyone!!
Last night, just as we were walking back to our hotel after a very cheesy dinner, an ambulance and police pulled up just past our hotel. Not sure what that was about.
Anyway, that´s it for now, catch you soon. We are here for the next 3 days, so will be able to unpack a little.
Hasta la vista
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Babes in Barcelona or A Ramble up La Rambla
We made it to the airport without too much bother, except we are getting used to being taken for a ride, longer than needs be, by taxi drivers in Europe!!! The driver yesterday morning went the long way round to the train station, and we knew it because we had travelled those roads on the tourist bus. There was a lift and escalators at the station which was great because of our bags - 19 and 15kgs!! We missed the first train to the airport because we weren´t pushy enough, but caught the next one 5 mins later.
While we were waiting for our flight, one Chinese man, sitting beside us, dropped his trou to tuck himself in, and if that wasn´t bad enough, then he took his trousers off completely!! Not nice, and not what you expect. Suddenly the departure board was very interestng to look at!! Then, another one (Chinese one) started hawking and coughing and spitting up his lungs, not just once or twice but at 5 minute intervals for ages!! Yuck yuck!!!!!!!!
To make matters worse, when we got onto the plane, he was sitting just a few seats away, and continued to rid himself of the insides of his lungs. Hannah and I have decided that we really miss the clean air of NZ and all our clothes smell like smoke. Everyone smokes here and the air is very foggy in all restaurants and enclosed places.
We caught a airport bus into Barcelona and then a taxi to get to our hotel. Once again the taxi driver took a very roundabout way to our hotel. Our room is very nice, no tiles coming off the floor, a big bathroom with full size bath , airconditioning and a balcony that looks into La Rambla which is the main tourist avenue, pedestrian street. We wandered round the first afternoon and evening just getting a feel for the place, and stopped at a tapas bar for a drink and a snack. We managed to forgo the snails, which seem to be everywhere in Spain too, for a salad.
While we were sitting at the bar (cheaper than sitting at a table) a guy came in with some roses and starts telling Hannah how lovely she is and what was her name, ah, Hannah what a beautiful name and gives her a rose and one for me too. O f course it cost me $4!!!! Even the compliments cost money in Europe!!!!!!!!!!!!
We were checking out the tourist shops in the evening, which seem to all be run by Indians. One gentleman said to us ¨good morning¨ after trying to get us to look at all sorts of stuff, he said ¨morning is a good time to buy¨ (can´t type with an indian accent) We had to get out of the shop before we burst out laughing. Another Indian in a souvenir shop had a Borat accent, so we had to leave there too.
Today, our second day here, we had breakfast in the hotel and then caught the tourist bus to Sagrada Familia. What an amazing place. We went up one of the towers in the lift and walked up the stairs and across a small bridge thing (enclosed mostly) to the decending stairs and back to the lift. The guy in the lift said there were 10.000 people on the 31st Dec at the church. We are so pleased we didn´t come here then. We have been able to see lots without having to queue. Our next stop was the Gaudi Parc, another masterpiece. Barcelona has a totally different feel to Madrid and is all browns and oranges. The building are amazing and we have tons of photos.
We have just booked train tickets to Valencia for tomorrow and I have found a hotel that Hannah says will have tiles off the floor as there was no photo to look at on the net!! I will let you know. For now, we are off back to the hotel for a rest before this evening.
Hasta luego
While we were waiting for our flight, one Chinese man, sitting beside us, dropped his trou to tuck himself in, and if that wasn´t bad enough, then he took his trousers off completely!! Not nice, and not what you expect. Suddenly the departure board was very interestng to look at!! Then, another one (Chinese one) started hawking and coughing and spitting up his lungs, not just once or twice but at 5 minute intervals for ages!! Yuck yuck!!!!!!!!
To make matters worse, when we got onto the plane, he was sitting just a few seats away, and continued to rid himself of the insides of his lungs. Hannah and I have decided that we really miss the clean air of NZ and all our clothes smell like smoke. Everyone smokes here and the air is very foggy in all restaurants and enclosed places.
We caught a airport bus into Barcelona and then a taxi to get to our hotel. Once again the taxi driver took a very roundabout way to our hotel. Our room is very nice, no tiles coming off the floor, a big bathroom with full size bath , airconditioning and a balcony that looks into La Rambla which is the main tourist avenue, pedestrian street. We wandered round the first afternoon and evening just getting a feel for the place, and stopped at a tapas bar for a drink and a snack. We managed to forgo the snails, which seem to be everywhere in Spain too, for a salad.
While we were sitting at the bar (cheaper than sitting at a table) a guy came in with some roses and starts telling Hannah how lovely she is and what was her name, ah, Hannah what a beautiful name and gives her a rose and one for me too. O f course it cost me $4!!!! Even the compliments cost money in Europe!!!!!!!!!!!!
We were checking out the tourist shops in the evening, which seem to all be run by Indians. One gentleman said to us ¨good morning¨ after trying to get us to look at all sorts of stuff, he said ¨morning is a good time to buy¨ (can´t type with an indian accent) We had to get out of the shop before we burst out laughing. Another Indian in a souvenir shop had a Borat accent, so we had to leave there too.
Today, our second day here, we had breakfast in the hotel and then caught the tourist bus to Sagrada Familia. What an amazing place. We went up one of the towers in the lift and walked up the stairs and across a small bridge thing (enclosed mostly) to the decending stairs and back to the lift. The guy in the lift said there were 10.000 people on the 31st Dec at the church. We are so pleased we didn´t come here then. We have been able to see lots without having to queue. Our next stop was the Gaudi Parc, another masterpiece. Barcelona has a totally different feel to Madrid and is all browns and oranges. The building are amazing and we have tons of photos.
We have just booked train tickets to Valencia for tomorrow and I have found a hotel that Hannah says will have tiles off the floor as there was no photo to look at on the net!! I will let you know. For now, we are off back to the hotel for a rest before this evening.
Hasta luego
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