We had a lot of airport time in exchange for cheap tickets, but we were in San Francisoc by 3 pacific time, so it was worth it.
Leaving was impossible as we ended up with a challenging ticket agent who accidently cancelled our tickets. It took 45 minutes to resolve, good thing we arrived 2+ hours early.
We checked into our cooler than cool hotel, hotel kabuki , and were mesmerized by the little touches. I took a picture of the Japanes shower with seperate soaking tub and rinsing area. I'll upload it later. Our room has several layers of screen door to cover the wrap around porch. Dude, we didn't spend any $, it was all in the expedia price.
next we walked from Japan town through Nob Hill to Telegraph Hill and took lots of pictures of other peoples gardens. So much is in bloom here now, lilies, lavender, magnolias, they are like 2 months ahead of us.
We stopped in to a great Basque Restaraunt called I Luna Basque for tapas. We ate plums wrapped in bacon and a plate of Lomo, Jamon Serrano, and Chorizo. We had Spanish style spritzers, red wine and coke, and white wine, grenadine, and lemonade. So refreshing. Turns out that the chef is Matin, from last seasons Top Chef.
After an excellent snack we headed to City Lights Books where we perused the shelves until we had our handsful of good reading. We hiked back to the hotel and tucked in a midnight. Mike nodded off right away but I had to try out the soaking tub. It was awesome. I stretched out without touching and filled the water above my shoulders. Let's move to Japan!
Now we are off to concour day two.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
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
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