Wednesday, August 19, 2009
This is the end, my friend
The last day in Spain was all that we could have hoped for. We woke up early to go see Guernica at the Museum Reina Sofia, and a world of Classical art at the Prado.
The Guernica was big, depressing, black, and white, just as I had expected. Please note, I have no intentions of becoming an art critic. I lack the adjectives.
At the Prado, we saw a heap of Goya and more El Greco than you could shake a stick at. I learned that the word museum comes from a place that held a tribute to all of the muses. That explains the spelling. I've always had to check myself on that word.
Lunch was a mushroom and "boiled ham" pizza. I figured it was a poor translation; nope, that ham was boiled before it got on the pizza. Never seen so many treatments for a pig.
We went home and booked a cab for tomorrow, gotta leave at 6, before the train starts. Showered and packed.
Finally we headed out for dinner. We stopped at the giant H&M since we still have room in our two bags, but the impulse wasn't there. Sorry C, I lack the chutzpah for the 7 ano,
Dinner was great, hey, it is Madrid after all. We started off with chilled Mussels topped with pico del gallo, I had tinto de verano (red wine, lemon pop, and a splash of fruit liqueur) a Spanish Bartell's and James', and Mike had a beer. We finished eating here with a classic Jamon Iberrico and melon and a toast to next years trip.
It has been a dream. I miss the kittens, my family, friends, and tomatoes. The trip was made challenging by the fact that the majority of the country has the entire month of. I think they have the right idea. Where to next?
As soon as I get back I begin the next phase of the year long process to research and write my thesis. I think that this may be a year to remember. Bear with me.
We will be in tomorrow night after a 17 hour flight in pure daylight, goodness gracious.
I'd like fer Mike to enjoy the last leg of our journey. Please, no mention of the cheesehead.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
The Guernica was big, depressing, black, and white, just as I had expected. Please note, I have no intentions of becoming an art critic. I lack the adjectives.
At the Prado, we saw a heap of Goya and more El Greco than you could shake a stick at. I learned that the word museum comes from a place that held a tribute to all of the muses. That explains the spelling. I've always had to check myself on that word.
Lunch was a mushroom and "boiled ham" pizza. I figured it was a poor translation; nope, that ham was boiled before it got on the pizza. Never seen so many treatments for a pig.
We went home and booked a cab for tomorrow, gotta leave at 6, before the train starts. Showered and packed.
Finally we headed out for dinner. We stopped at the giant H&M since we still have room in our two bags, but the impulse wasn't there. Sorry C, I lack the chutzpah for the 7 ano,
Dinner was great, hey, it is Madrid after all. We started off with chilled Mussels topped with pico del gallo, I had tinto de verano (red wine, lemon pop, and a splash of fruit liqueur) a Spanish Bartell's and James', and Mike had a beer. We finished eating here with a classic Jamon Iberrico and melon and a toast to next years trip.
It has been a dream. I miss the kittens, my family, friends, and tomatoes. The trip was made challenging by the fact that the majority of the country has the entire month of. I think they have the right idea. Where to next?
As soon as I get back I begin the next phase of the year long process to research and write my thesis. I think that this may be a year to remember. Bear with me.
We will be in tomorrow night after a 17 hour flight in pure daylight, goodness gracious.
I'd like fer Mike to enjoy the last leg of our journey. Please, no mention of the cheesehead.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Madrid Day 1
Today was a good day for wandering, though it was around 100f all day. We got into the hostel around 3pm, settled in and set out for a walk.
We went to a local chain called cafe y te and had a value meal: rice casserole, gazpacho, sparkling wine, and ice cream all for 6 euro. The wine was a part of the meal. It was good.
We wandered down the main shopping corridor and tried to find appropriate gifts for ya'll, yikes was that challenging.
Next, we walked along the various gardens of the royal palace. We saw rose gardens, topiary gardens, english style lawns with fountains, wooded gardens, peacocks, everything but the princesses. It was cool and relaxing.
We walked to the Opera House to catch the train to the parque de buen retiro. It is a central park sized affair including rowing pond and fake mickey mouse. Very cool.
The subway stations in Spain are amazingly easy to use, clean, and quick. There are monitors that tell you when your train will arrive and in the train the monitors tell you the next stop, the direction you're going, and a map of the system. They don't have doors between cars, it feels much more spacious than the ny
Dinner was at a wannabe ***** hotel. It had a huge tv showing soccer and people on cell phones, not so fancy in my opinion. I took the funniest photo of Mike attacking his shrimp in his paella and the whole restaurant stopped when I laughed.
Tomorrow we will get to some museums and what not
Mando besos,
Akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
We went to a local chain called cafe y te and had a value meal: rice casserole, gazpacho, sparkling wine, and ice cream all for 6 euro. The wine was a part of the meal. It was good.
We wandered down the main shopping corridor and tried to find appropriate gifts for ya'll, yikes was that challenging.
Next, we walked along the various gardens of the royal palace. We saw rose gardens, topiary gardens, english style lawns with fountains, wooded gardens, peacocks, everything but the princesses. It was cool and relaxing.
We walked to the Opera House to catch the train to the parque de buen retiro. It is a central park sized affair including rowing pond and fake mickey mouse. Very cool.
The subway stations in Spain are amazingly easy to use, clean, and quick. There are monitors that tell you when your train will arrive and in the train the monitors tell you the next stop, the direction you're going, and a map of the system. They don't have doors between cars, it feels much more spacious than the ny
Dinner was at a wannabe ***** hotel. It had a huge tv showing soccer and people on cell phones, not so fancy in my opinion. I took the funniest photo of Mike attacking his shrimp in his paella and the whole restaurant stopped when I laughed.
Tomorrow we will get to some museums and what not
Mando besos,
Akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Toledo Days 1& 2
Well, Mike enjoyed Toledo as much as an underpaid nurse can.
Unfortunately, we when we went out for a snack, gazpacho, I befriended the bartender who insisted we eat a 1/2 portion of this delicious sheep's milk cheese. It is a desert climate, so the sheep don't drink water, they only eat grass. It is a very fatty cured cheese with a texture like parma. You can taste the grass in the cheese. They keep it in a humador. It was far too rich for my stomach and I spent the whole next day in bed. Poor Mike.
He enjoyed Toledo as much as he could. He came back every hour to check on me and try to feed me.
I didn't get out of bed till this am. I'm still on a soup diet for now.
We had seen a knife store on the walk to dinner the first night. We went back for knives this morning before leaving.
we've just arrived in Madrid and are gonna explore the city before it gets too late.
Mike saw lots of cool stuff in Toledo, read up when he posts.
See you real soon,
Kasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Unfortunately, we when we went out for a snack, gazpacho, I befriended the bartender who insisted we eat a 1/2 portion of this delicious sheep's milk cheese. It is a desert climate, so the sheep don't drink water, they only eat grass. It is a very fatty cured cheese with a texture like parma. You can taste the grass in the cheese. They keep it in a humador. It was far too rich for my stomach and I spent the whole next day in bed. Poor Mike.
He enjoyed Toledo as much as he could. He came back every hour to check on me and try to feed me.
I didn't get out of bed till this am. I'm still on a soup diet for now.
We had seen a knife store on the walk to dinner the first night. We went back for knives this morning before leaving.
we've just arrived in Madrid and are gonna explore the city before it gets too late.
Mike saw lots of cool stuff in Toledo, read up when he posts.
See you real soon,
Kasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Seville Day 1
Last night was not a sleeping night. There is no "pillow top" on this bed. If I slept on my front I felt the springs on my face, on my back and they stabbed mu spine, etc. I tossed and turned and slept through the assumption feria, 7:40- 9 am. We got up and caught the parishoners leaving the cathedral in their best clothes, but not the procession where 40 hooded congregates carry a 1 ton statue of the virgen. Oh well, another time.
We ran errands the better part of the morning and returned to the hostel around 3:30 where we napped and relaxed till 6. When we got inside it was 100 f out! Dry as a bone, windless.
Nothing was open from 12pm to 7pm. Just as people said. It is too hot. We resumed wandering at 6 pm but not a single cafe, store, museum reopened till the temps dropped to 96 at 7 pm.
Cafes have misters on their awnings, like the veggies at Cub. The mist evaporates before it can touch me standing! When the bartender poured my Havana Club on ice, it steamed! It is as hot here as it is cold in Bemidji in February.
We strolled around and looked at buildings till 9:30, then we returned to the hostal and sat on the rooftop garden and wrote pcards.
Oh, before I forget, this hostal,Nueva Suisa, is excellent. We have a sweet room with private bath, a/c, rtop garden w hammocks, free breakfast w/ espresso, it is a beautiful old estate, well located, and the staff is helpful. I love it.
Tomorrow, the trip to Toledo.
Smoooch!
Kasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
We ran errands the better part of the morning and returned to the hostel around 3:30 where we napped and relaxed till 6. When we got inside it was 100 f out! Dry as a bone, windless.
Nothing was open from 12pm to 7pm. Just as people said. It is too hot. We resumed wandering at 6 pm but not a single cafe, store, museum reopened till the temps dropped to 96 at 7 pm.
Cafes have misters on their awnings, like the veggies at Cub. The mist evaporates before it can touch me standing! When the bartender poured my Havana Club on ice, it steamed! It is as hot here as it is cold in Bemidji in February.
We strolled around and looked at buildings till 9:30, then we returned to the hostal and sat on the rooftop garden and wrote pcards.
Oh, before I forget, this hostal,Nueva Suisa, is excellent. We have a sweet room with private bath, a/c, rtop garden w hammocks, free breakfast w/ espresso, it is a beautiful old estate, well located, and the staff is helpful. I love it.
Tomorrow, the trip to Toledo.
Smoooch!
Kasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Friday, August 14, 2009
Sevilla Day 1
or (It's getting hot in here!)
The drive to Sevilla was 3 hours and some to begin with; then we stopped to catch a view of all the things going by too fast on the autovia.
Our first stop was in a small town, Guadix, it was so tremendously spectacular that we had to stop. Our highway overlooked the town's center. We poked around the local roads but never found the frontage road that we saw the town from. Still, it was a nice detour.
We decided to take the exit to the Alhambra. From the highway it is a quiet, simple 5 minute drive to the Alhambra, an 11th century Moorish fortress that was held by the Moors until 1492, then turned into a Christian fortress. We couldn't get in, but we putzed around. After trying to see what we could, nothing to be seen in a well designed fortress, we got lunch.
Naively, we ordered the tummy ache special. Acid lunch. Oranges, tomato and garlic soup, spicy sausage sandwich, and coffee. We didn't eat the bread that came with the soup. We regretted that 20 minutes later as the acids swirled in our stomachs. It was delicious, but we needed a little base to mellow it out.
We drove through hills of wind turbines, radio dishes, and solar panels, two national parks,and the Sierra Nevadas.
Next we stopped in Etapes, outside of Seville, for a potty break. It was a traditional olive growing town. A small, simple village, very attractive and romantic. We had had the car's a/c on for an hour and when we opened the cardoor we were flooded with 46 c or 114.8f air! Oh my glory, that stuff will suck the life out of you.
We got to Seville at 7, we had left Almeria around 12, and parked the car. We found our hostel, much nicer than the ****hotel we stayed at, and went to dinner.
I guess tomorrow is Assuncion Day and they're going to carry the virgin to the cathedral, so we might see that. I want to go to Cadiz during siesta (12- 7 pm) we'll see what Mike wants.
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The drive to Sevilla was 3 hours and some to begin with; then we stopped to catch a view of all the things going by too fast on the autovia.
Our first stop was in a small town, Guadix, it was so tremendously spectacular that we had to stop. Our highway overlooked the town's center. We poked around the local roads but never found the frontage road that we saw the town from. Still, it was a nice detour.
We decided to take the exit to the Alhambra. From the highway it is a quiet, simple 5 minute drive to the Alhambra, an 11th century Moorish fortress that was held by the Moors until 1492, then turned into a Christian fortress. We couldn't get in, but we putzed around. After trying to see what we could, nothing to be seen in a well designed fortress, we got lunch.
Naively, we ordered the tummy ache special. Acid lunch. Oranges, tomato and garlic soup, spicy sausage sandwich, and coffee. We didn't eat the bread that came with the soup. We regretted that 20 minutes later as the acids swirled in our stomachs. It was delicious, but we needed a little base to mellow it out.
We drove through hills of wind turbines, radio dishes, and solar panels, two national parks,and the Sierra Nevadas.
Next we stopped in Etapes, outside of Seville, for a potty break. It was a traditional olive growing town. A small, simple village, very attractive and romantic. We had had the car's a/c on for an hour and when we opened the cardoor we were flooded with 46 c or 114.8f air! Oh my glory, that stuff will suck the life out of you.
We got to Seville at 7, we had left Almeria around 12, and parked the car. We found our hostel, much nicer than the ****hotel we stayed at, and went to dinner.
I guess tomorrow is Assuncion Day and they're going to carry the virgin to the cathedral, so we might see that. I want to go to Cadiz during siesta (12- 7 pm) we'll see what Mike wants.
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Thursday, August 13, 2009
Almeria Day 4
Today we went to Cabo de Gata, a national park in Almeria. It has beautiful white sand and pebble beaches, subdesert mountains, saltbeds, neolithic cave paintings, old muslim cisterns, and several small communities.
While exploring saltbeds, we stumbled upon an old vacant church that had what I thought were catacombs and Mike thought were places for fishermen to store stuff. I'll post the video when we get home. You be the judge. I asked someone about the light bulbs mounted on the outside and they said it was from a filmset. They wired the church for a scene and left the setup behind. This park and Almeria in general have been in several films including: Patton, Raiders of the Lost Arc, Star Wars, and a ton of Spaghetti Westerns.
Later we hiked along the cliffs and saw the lava deposits that make these beautiful white rocks. We played by the beach and found sea glass and white lava rocks. The sea was calm and clear and looked like diamonds sparkling. We were surrounded by swimmers in snorkel gear floating on the surface and looking at the coral beds. I was jealous.
The hills were a hard yellow red rock with tufts of desert lavender, dusty green scrub, and golden curly scrub. No distinct shapes. It reminded me of one of my friend Shawn's paintings. I took a few pictures for him.
Mike drove on some perilous, hillside one lane, two way, curvy as a snail road. Kudos to Mike for not throwing up, not even a little. He had to drive it again to get us home. My hero. For dinner we walked to a beach side restaurant that sold local fish. We got a huge plate of fried tiny fish including anchovies, sardines, and mullet. It was good but the service was frigid and spare.
After dinner we went to the beach by the car to collect sea glass and relax (cause were so stressed). The pebble beach felt like heaven under my feet and around my ankles. It must have rocked a million pressure points at once. I could feel it up my neck.
Then we went to the black sand beach by the church. The whole the was CRYSTAL clear. I swear it looked like a jello mold representation of a beach more than the real thing. We didn't have any ocean gear and it was impossible to walk or swim without goggles and flippers cause the rocks we so huge and they towered and cannoned dangerously. So we were clinging to the shore floating when I made friends with this lady from Madrid whose daughter studied in Fargo for 4 months and liked it better than England or Ireland. She liked our buffalo.
Wow, she was cool. She and her hubby were great. When they figured out that we didn't have beach stuff they offered us theirs. Mike and I floated out past the drop off (only a little cause my common sense borders on phobia) and saw angel fish and stuff.
I could stay here forever. This is amazing.
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Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Almeria Day 3
Wow, another fabulous day. We are fortunate people. The Alhambra would have been very hot, expensive, and super crowded. The Alcazaba was hot, vacant, and free. It was beautiful, the archaeologists are still digging it out and we got some great video. We also climbed part of it, unknowingly, it was amazing and there are houses conected to it. The information about the fortress was super detailed and we learned a ton. Oh, and we got Liz a bday treat. (She'll be old enough to be president soon)
After wandering the city center we went back to the beach and watched a family play racket games
Cultural note: kids 12 and under swim and play naked. Parents bring training toilets to dinner and toddlers pee in their trainers on the street. We've even parennts hold their tikes over drains as they did their job. - remember what a challenge it was to go potty in public as a runt of a tike. I didn't like sitting on the giant adult toilets.
Dinner was good again. We wandered through a dozen diners and none held a candle to where we ate yesterday, so we went back. The waitress ordered for us this time. We had a smoked fish salad and a tomato soup similar to gazpacho, with jamon serrano on top.
Tomorrow we are off to a national park and maybe a Roma cave town.
Wish you were here.
Akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
After wandering the city center we went back to the beach and watched a family play racket games
Cultural note: kids 12 and under swim and play naked. Parents bring training toilets to dinner and toddlers pee in their trainers on the street. We've even parennts hold their tikes over drains as they did their job. - remember what a challenge it was to go potty in public as a runt of a tike. I didn't like sitting on the giant adult toilets.
Dinner was good again. We wandered through a dozen diners and none held a candle to where we ate yesterday, so we went back. The waitress ordered for us this time. We had a smoked fish salad and a tomato soup similar to gazpacho, with jamon serrano on top.
Tomorrow we are off to a national park and maybe a Roma cave town.
Wish you were here.
Akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Almeria Day 2 mmm
Well, they they've all been good days, but today was the vacationist day of them all. So good, so beautiful, so relaxing. We slept super late, then we went to a quiet, calm watered beach. We swam, drank orxata, ate watermelon, and read. Repeat till 7pm. We tried to walk around town later, but the salt started irritating our skin. Also, we ran out of coppertone and bought Spanish sunblock. It is very thick and it sticks to you. I have to scrub it off or it begins to flake. But if I sound like I'm complaining, we haven't burnt once.
We met a Dutch man who was so burnt he had to go to the hospital because he sun burnt his legs so bad and he was still only wearing 15.
Wednesday we want to wander the old town and return to the beach at night.
Mando besos,
Akasha
Later, we ate the simplest, yummiest dinner. Tomato and garlic salad with olive,the greenest, oliviest oil I've ever tasted, salad with tuna, tomatoes, carrots, and white asparagus, and olives, and a mushroom pasta. We giggled as we ate, it was so yummy. Oh, the wine here is high octane. Mike read the label as we finished; 14%. Yikes.
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We met a Dutch man who was so burnt he had to go to the hospital because he sun burnt his legs so bad and he was still only wearing 15.
Wednesday we want to wander the old town and return to the beach at night.
Mando besos,
Akasha
Later, we ate the simplest, yummiest dinner. Tomato and garlic salad with olive,the greenest, oliviest oil I've ever tasted, salad with tuna, tomatoes, carrots, and white asparagus, and olives, and a mushroom pasta. We giggled as we ate, it was so yummy. Oh, the wine here is high octane. Mike read the label as we finished; 14%. Yikes.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Almeria Day 2 mmm
Well, they they've all been good days, but today was the vacationist day of them all. So good, so beautiful, so relaxing. We slept super late, then we went to a quiet, calm watered beach. We swam, drank orxata, ate watermelon, and read. Repeat till 7pm. We tried to walk around town later, but the salt started irritating our skin. Also, we ran out of coppertone and bought Spanish sunblock. It is very thick and it sticks to you. I have to scrub it off or it begins to flake. But if I sound like I'm complaining, we haven't burnt once.
We met a Dutch man who was so burnt he had to go to the hospital because he sun burnt his legs so bad and he was still only wearing 15.
Wednesday we want to wander the old town and return to the beach at night.
Mando besos,
Akasha
Later, we ate the simplest, yummiest dinner. Tomato and garlic salad with olive,the greenest, oliviest oil I've ever tasted, salad with tuna, tomatoes, carrots, and white asparagus, and olives, and a mushroom pasta. We giggled as we ate, it was so yummy. Oh, the wine here is high octane. Mike read the label as we finished; 14%. Yikes.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
We met a Dutch man who was so burnt he had to go to the hospital because he sun burnt his legs so bad and he was still only wearing 15.
Wednesday we want to wander the old town and return to the beach at night.
Mando besos,
Akasha
Later, we ate the simplest, yummiest dinner. Tomato and garlic salad with olive,the greenest, oliviest oil I've ever tasted, salad with tuna, tomatoes, carrots, and white asparagus, and olives, and a mushroom pasta. We giggled as we ate, it was so yummy. Oh, the wine here is high octane. Mike read the label as we finished; 14%. Yikes.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Almeria Day 1
The drive to Almeria was amazing. We drove past what we thought were almond and olive farms, mountains, sea shores, salt beds, castles, big walls, and 1 really nasty shopping mall tourist resort with MILES of stop and go traffic.
All in all it was an amazing day and Mike did an amazing job driving. We read the road atlas and learned that the fine for speeding is 6€ for EACH km over the limit. 10km over would be more than 60€ which is 1.64 to the $. If you have to pull over you have to wear a green safety vest. If you're pulled over, the cop can search your car for the vest a safety triangle, and a first aid kit. If they aren't in the car you get a ticket. Police determine fines on their own. You must pay on the spot. We didn't speed.
We checked in to the hotel, which has a mini fridge. We then went to the mall which has a grocery store in it. We loaded up the fridge and headed out to dinner. Ask Mike about ham in the grocery store when you see him next.
We ate at the most amazing Asian restaurant. Probably made so fabulous cause we are by the sea. We had a beautiful white wine, tempura soft shell crab, and maki. The preparation was beautiful and it was the best service ever. The service was preceded by edamame, so crisp, sweet, and fresh.
Tomorrow we might go back to the beach and spend the day reading.
Hope your having a good day
Akasha
Oh, I fixed the comments button the other day.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
All in all it was an amazing day and Mike did an amazing job driving. We read the road atlas and learned that the fine for speeding is 6€ for EACH km over the limit. 10km over would be more than 60€ which is 1.64 to the $. If you have to pull over you have to wear a green safety vest. If you're pulled over, the cop can search your car for the vest a safety triangle, and a first aid kit. If they aren't in the car you get a ticket. Police determine fines on their own. You must pay on the spot. We didn't speed.
We checked in to the hotel, which has a mini fridge. We then went to the mall which has a grocery store in it. We loaded up the fridge and headed out to dinner. Ask Mike about ham in the grocery store when you see him next.
We ate at the most amazing Asian restaurant. Probably made so fabulous cause we are by the sea. We had a beautiful white wine, tempura soft shell crab, and maki. The preparation was beautiful and it was the best service ever. The service was preceded by edamame, so crisp, sweet, and fresh.
Tomorrow we might go back to the beach and spend the day reading.
Hope your having a good day
Akasha
Oh, I fixed the comments button the other day.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Monday, August 10, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Cielo o Valencia Day 2
Well, I think we are in love with this city. Everything is beautiful,everyone's been so helpful and friendly, and all 6 meals have been perfect.
Today we went to the laundry mat. On the way there we had fresh squeezed oj, coffee and cream filled pastry, they just call it "cream". YUM!
After laundry we lunched. The place was gorgeous and the food was yummy. Chicken croquettes. I have no clue how to make it, little golden chicken donuts. Mmmmmmm
Later, we walked to the park that ENCIRCLES the city, yup, called the river of exercise. Dude, so cool. They have a chutes and ladders park that is shaped like Gulliver and it is free! Their Imax looks like a battlestar galactica set. It is a super wow.
We ate the best dinner ever, including these fried fish that turned us into mini giants. Grab the little fishy tail with your teeth, pull gently, and the whole stinking spine comes out. Were tucking in now. Tomorrow we get the rental car and drive 5 hours to Almeria. I hope Mike understands how bad I am at reading maps.
Mando besos,
Akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Today we went to the laundry mat. On the way there we had fresh squeezed oj, coffee and cream filled pastry, they just call it "cream". YUM!
After laundry we lunched. The place was gorgeous and the food was yummy. Chicken croquettes. I have no clue how to make it, little golden chicken donuts. Mmmmmmm
Later, we walked to the park that ENCIRCLES the city, yup, called the river of exercise. Dude, so cool. They have a chutes and ladders park that is shaped like Gulliver and it is free! Their Imax looks like a battlestar galactica set. It is a super wow.
We ate the best dinner ever, including these fried fish that turned us into mini giants. Grab the little fishy tail with your teeth, pull gently, and the whole stinking spine comes out. Were tucking in now. Tomorrow we get the rental car and drive 5 hours to Almeria. I hope Mike understands how bad I am at reading maps.
Mando besos,
Akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Cielo o Valencia Day 1
Mike and I were up at 530 to get on the train by 7 for Valencia. It was an amazing 3 hour trip past churches, agg fields, remnants of castles, and Mediterranean Sea. The Eurorail snacks are even good.
The train station is so beautiful I couldn't get him to walk 5 ft without taking a picture. We walked a few blocks to our hostel and napped. It was nice to find a firm bed.
Upon waking we went out for a snack and a walk. The buildings here are "resplendent" and "ornate" I can't wait to post the pictures.
We accidentally found the museum of fine arts which covers 400 years of Spanish painting, the Museum of Natural Sciences, and the Royal Gardens, all free, until our feet hurt so bad Mike complained.
After a nice rest, I read 3 chapters, we went out for supper.
After looking at other peoples food we found an EXCELLENT restaurant and ordered dinner. After we ordered it began to rain. The waiter brought our wine, tuna, shrimp, barnacles, and cuddle fish. I have pictures of us eating in the rain and my shoes are still "slushie"
It has been a great day
Parents, please close your eyes here.
So, on a lighter note. The funniest "you won't see this in MN. We've seen many men, as naked as a Jay Bird, on their balconies.
Mom, I told you to close your eyes! Jeez.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
The train station is so beautiful I couldn't get him to walk 5 ft without taking a picture. We walked a few blocks to our hostel and napped. It was nice to find a firm bed.
Upon waking we went out for a snack and a walk. The buildings here are "resplendent" and "ornate" I can't wait to post the pictures.
We accidentally found the museum of fine arts which covers 400 years of Spanish painting, the Museum of Natural Sciences, and the Royal Gardens, all free, until our feet hurt so bad Mike complained.
After a nice rest, I read 3 chapters, we went out for supper.
After looking at other peoples food we found an EXCELLENT restaurant and ordered dinner. After we ordered it began to rain. The waiter brought our wine, tuna, shrimp, barnacles, and cuddle fish. I have pictures of us eating in the rain and my shoes are still "slushie"
It has been a great day
Parents, please close your eyes here.
So, on a lighter note. The funniest "you won't see this in MN. We've seen many men, as naked as a Jay Bird, on their balconies.
Mom, I told you to close your eyes! Jeez.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Friday, August 7, 2009
Barcelona day 3
Wow, what a day. Again we couldn't sleep and were up reading late. We slept till 10, then got breakfast: crepes,juice, and coffee before heading to the Sagrada Familia.
When I was here 4 years ago the e was pegged to the $ and you could tour the towers of the sf, now the e is 1.64 and you can only walk around the sf. It was still breatj taking.
After an abysmal lunch at a "Turkish" restaurant that served tortillas instead of pita and covered my fallafel in MAYO (yuck) we headed to parque montjuic.
@.
PM is amazing. It is where the Barcelona 0lympics were held. There is an amazing art museum, a palace with a view of the city, and tons of great people watching.
I have taken lots of girl mullett photos, I hope that doesn't come back into style.
At sunset we returned to the sea. It was beautiful. A calm tide, soft breeze, and good company. We found a cool rope playground and scampered with kinder aged kids.
Mike is getting us tickets for El Alhambra now, then it is off to bed.
Tomorrow we leave for Venice, then it is time to do some laundry.
Besos y abrazos,
akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
When I was here 4 years ago the e was pegged to the $ and you could tour the towers of the sf, now the e is 1.64 and you can only walk around the sf. It was still breatj taking.
After an abysmal lunch at a "Turkish" restaurant that served tortillas instead of pita and covered my fallafel in MAYO (yuck) we headed to parque montjuic.
@.
PM is amazing. It is where the Barcelona 0lympics were held. There is an amazing art museum, a palace with a view of the city, and tons of great people watching.
I have taken lots of girl mullett photos, I hope that doesn't come back into style.
At sunset we returned to the sea. It was beautiful. A calm tide, soft breeze, and good company. We found a cool rope playground and scampered with kinder aged kids.
Mike is getting us tickets for El Alhambra now, then it is off to bed.
Tomorrow we leave for Venice, then it is time to do some laundry.
Besos y abrazos,
akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Barcelona day 2
Some how we both managed to sleep till 12:30 pm today, Mike usually wakes up before the sunrise. The beds were VERY comfortable and the blinds blocked all light.
We went to the market to grab picnic food and hopped on the tour bus to parque guelle. It is georgous and so we spent several hours enjoying it. We ate picnic as we listened to a Chilean man play a 24 stringed chilean guitar/lute. I recorded a video I'll post when we get home.
After the park we wandered till we found a funky spanish/ Japanese fusion restaurant and paid way too much for dumplings. We enjoyed the ambiance, but left before we paid too much for an eggroll(7e, 11$)
Now were sitting in an Irish bar, having a sip before bed.
Tomorrow we are going to the sagrada familia for reals yo.
Peace out
Akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
We went to the market to grab picnic food and hopped on the tour bus to parque guelle. It is georgous and so we spent several hours enjoying it. We ate picnic as we listened to a Chilean man play a 24 stringed chilean guitar/lute. I recorded a video I'll post when we get home.
After the park we wandered till we found a funky spanish/ Japanese fusion restaurant and paid way too much for dumplings. We enjoyed the ambiance, but left before we paid too much for an eggroll(7e, 11$)
Now were sitting in an Irish bar, having a sip before bed.
Tomorrow we are going to the sagrada familia for reals yo.
Peace out
Akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Barcelona day 1
This morning we woke up, had a leisurely breakfast and caught the metro to the train station where we caught the ave (high speed) to BCN. Our seats were in the bullet of thr train. We got two seats facing each other with a little table And an excellent view. The people next to us were from NJ and very nice.
After checking into the hostal we went to the mercat boqueria where we got kiwi juice, jamon cerrano (fancy ham), passion fruit, and carried it all down to the beach for a nice snack. The sea here has little flakes like glitter, and is warm and clear. We walked in the surf for a while, and watched our fellow tourists bobbing in the waves.
Then, we walked through the barri gottic, the old 14th century neighborhood still tucked into modern Barcelona. We wandered aimlessly through narrow streets till we found an old church whose drain-spouts looked like women in agony.
We are now enjoying a late-night bowl of gazpacho with wine in the courtyard of a stone-arched library.
Tomorrow, we go to la sagrada familia, and parque guell, a day of Gaudi.
Besos y abrazos
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
After checking into the hostal we went to the mercat boqueria where we got kiwi juice, jamon cerrano (fancy ham), passion fruit, and carried it all down to the beach for a nice snack. The sea here has little flakes like glitter, and is warm and clear. We walked in the surf for a while, and watched our fellow tourists bobbing in the waves.
Then, we walked through the barri gottic, the old 14th century neighborhood still tucked into modern Barcelona. We wandered aimlessly through narrow streets till we found an old church whose drain-spouts looked like women in agony.
We are now enjoying a late-night bowl of gazpacho with wine in the courtyard of a stone-arched library.
Tomorrow, we go to la sagrada familia, and parque guell, a day of Gaudi.
Besos y abrazos
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Arrival in Madrid.
Wow, what a long day. The British Airawya flight to London was super, couldn't sleep, but it was great. The Iberia flight to Madrid was unforgetably awful in so many ways. All I need to say is that I used the bag provided. Yuck
From the airport we found cash machines and metro info. The subway was fast and easy. We made 3 transfers in 35 minutes. It cost 1 e and was clean. Loved it.
The woman at the hostel was super helpful and warm. She helped me call eurorail to reserve tickets. The room is all we could ask for.
Once we were comfy we set out on a walk. We went to plaza colon and watched the skate boarders do their thing without being bothered. We stopped for bocaditos twice and met freindly people who offered to help us emmigrate. Now it is midnight here, 7 pm at home and we've been up since 8 am monday morning. We are tucking in. I hope we can sleep cause we leave for barcelona in the am.
Smooch,
Akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Arrival in Madrid.
Wow, what a long day. The British Airawya flight to London was super, couldn't sleep, but it was great. The Iberia flight to Madrid was unforgetably awful in so many ways. All I need to say is that I used the bag provided. Yuck
From the airport we found cash machines and metro info. The subway was fast and easy. We made 3 transfers in 35 minutes. It cost 1 e and was clean. Loved it.
The woman at the hostel was super helpful and warm. She helped me call eurorail to reserve tickets. The room is all we could ask for.
Once we were comfy we set out on a walk. We went to plaza colon and watched the skate boarders do their thing without being bothered. We stopped for bocaditos twice and met freindly people who offered to help us emmigrate. Now it is midnight here, 7 pm at home and we've been up since 8 am monday morning. We are tucking in. I hope we can sleep cause we leave for barcelona in the am.
Smooch,
Akasha
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Monday, August 3, 2009
Trying to leave
Sometimes trying to leave is the hardest part. Last night, after Mike's family left, we went to my house and fussed with my computer and crackberry trying to fill it with music, podcasts, and pdfs, stuff it can do but that I hadn't done yet. I had a three different sync softwares on there, cause I tinker. Well, that was one too many. In an attempt to clean things up I wiped my device. Yup, I didn't back it up first, you guessed it. Mike and I were scrambling to put it all back together and feeling rushed cause his dad was picking us up at mike's. It all came together in the end.
There were several on the road mishaps as well. So we pull into his garage and the gas co man approaches us to tell us that there was a gas leak coming from mikes line. They tore up his street, shut down the line, fixed it, and we filling it up when we arrived. Wow. Now were chillin in the observation deck, watching the planes come and go and listening to classical music. A bonus for showing up barely.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
There were several on the road mishaps as well. So we pull into his garage and the gas co man approaches us to tell us that there was a gas leak coming from mikes line. They tore up his street, shut down the line, fixed it, and we filling it up when we arrived. Wow. Now were chillin in the observation deck, watching the planes come and go and listening to classical music. A bonus for showing up barely.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
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