Toledo

Here are some shots from the end of summer party in Barcelona.  Keep in mind this was two hours before the party started and they were pouring in a train load every three minutes!

We had some snafus (nothing unusual) as some Einstein booked 2 nights in Toledo instead of 3.  The AirBnb we were renting from was trying to contact us in the evening via phone, which doesn't work in Spain, and I got an email from AirBnb telling me they were concerned that we weren't coming.  This was while I was trying to book a rental car to get from the Madrid train station to Toledo.  I Skyped them and assured them we were coming and gave them my email address.

I then realized that we were a day short, so tried to see if they had an extra night.  No, they were booked.  Looked at 2 nights at the Madrid airport, but didn't think that would 'fly'.  Found a place near Toledo, but AirBnb wouldn't let me request it because I had to enter the code they texted to my phone.  No text.  On the Skype phone for 10 minutes as our departure time approached only to be dropped off the line.

Well maybe the train has wifi. No.  Got an Uber to the train station, found our train and seats and in 20 minutes were hurling at 186 mph towards Madrid.

Cycling at 186.4 mph with only an 84 BPM heart rate!

Last ones off the train as our bags were forward and had to exit to the rear.  Finally found the car rental booths and Avis said they have one for 550 euros.  Stopped by Enterprise who said 'I don't know what is going on, but we don't have any'  I asked if he could check with the airport.  I left Pam there and went to AutoEurope to see what they had.  Pam stopped by and said we can take a bus to Toldeo and rent a car from them there.

That didn't sound like fun and AutoEurope came up with a micro car for half of Avis's with full coverage.  Off we went and somehow found the city.  I found free wifi and saw an email from the host asking if we had arrived.  I downloaded the map detail and headed out.  Found him and up 3 flights of stairs found a very nice, clean, air-conditioned, 2 bedroom, 2 bath apartment with a micro kitchen.

Grabbed a quick bite and heading to bed for an earlier day of exploring tomorrow.

From our private terrace near sunset!

PARTY IN BARCELONA

Sunday we took the metro all around town to find out how to get to the sights as we had tickets for the Sagrada Família and Guida Casa tours that were at a  certain time.

Got in our 5 miles for the day and somehow ended up at the train station and caught a cab home.  We walked down the the Arenain the evening for dinner, an old bull fighting ring made into a shopping center and restaurants on the top, 5th floor.

Have you ever been to Washington DC for the bicentennial in 1976? Ever arrived in Zanzibar in the evening on the last day of Ramadan?  Ever been in Barcelona on the autumn equinox when they say good riddance to summer? . . . We we have been to all three.

We walked to the Arena, but couldn't get to the 5th floor restaurants as they had been booked for months and guards had a list, so we settled for a 4th floor bar and grill for a good dinner.  We asked the guards at the escalator, who screened folks going up to the restaurants, where the party was tonight.  They said by the fountain would be the nearest one.  Sooo off we went.

Warm  and thousands of people.  We kept walking toward the 'Magic Fountain' which is a Bellagio style fountain with colors and motion and worked our way up to the front.  The show wasn't going to start for an hour and 45 minutes so it was decided that we should go back to the apartment if we could find it.

The plaza kept filling with people and as we descended the subway, thousands were coming out of the trains.  Two wide on the escalator and six wide up the stairs.  There were a hand full of us going the wrong way.  Then the next train arrived and it emptied another thousand folks.  This was a full hour before the party was to start!  We fought onto the train and got back to the apartment.

Fireworks at 10:30 echoed off the buildings.  One of their biggest parties of the year.   Like Go Forth and Squirrel Fest and 23 Club combined!!!

Took the Hop on Bus around today and ended up at he big Cathedral and Guiadi Casa.  The Cathedral was cool, the other could have done without.

We are not sure if our email is working as hotmail is protecting us and wants to text us a code, which we can't get over here.

Off to Madrid tomorrow on the fast train then a room in Toledo we hope.  No car rented yet, but there is still time we hope!

I will throw in some pictures maybe!

Go West!

Guadi Casa

Barcelona

Arrived in Barcelona a little early and had to find the train into town, which we did eventually.
The next step was to find the AirBnb which was a mere 750 meters from the train station, unless you took our route which was closer to 1.5 km.  In heat and humidity!  We got there and didn't see our contact person so a resident was coming out of the building and let us in and signed on to his internet and tried to email the host, but nothing.
He  thought it was #3 on the 3rd floor because he saw lots of strange people coming and going. I hung out at the door while Pam sweltered on the third floor and finally saw a lady eating fruit on the street and called out, "Malvania?"  "Si" She got us into the apartment which is four  time the size of our hotel in Bordeaux with all the appliances, a 7 foot refrigerator with freezer and ice cube trays, washer, (dryer is out the window (make sure you use the clothes pins or it will be gone forever)).

This weekend and tomorrow is the biggest celebration of Barcelona for the year, the end of summer, when thing will cool down.  see https://irbarcelona.org/traditions-festivals/la-merce-festival/  It looks pretty crazy, a mardi gras on steroids, but I think we will give it a try tomorrow.

Our view is getting better!  But wait for our next stop in Toledo!  Hopefully!!

Yes, that's our laundry hanging 5 stories above sea level!!

Can you hear me now??

Bordeaux

This will be an attempt at the blog and I am dictating instead of typing so hopefully the proofreading will catch any bad phrases.

We had a smooth 10 hour flight from Portland to Amsterdam sitting in the back of the bus, but free drinks. We taxied for 25 minutes, I timed it, until we arrived at the gate.

Immigration control in Amsterdam was a nightmare as we had to form a line that went the entire length of the airport shops, Two or three people a breast to arrive at the Q for a single file ten line back-and-forth wait.

With a six hour layover in Amsterdam so got a day pass to the lounge and got our money's worth.

We were met at the airport and rode in with another couple and a van whose driver wanted to tell us all about himself, his family, where his kids lived instead of telling us what we were seeing. I was unfortunately in the passenger seat and had to pretend like I was interested after a long night and day of travel.

Our hotel is centrally located right across from the opera house and tram station. We think our room used to be the maids quarters as it is slightly larger than the kid’s bedroom.  To get to the room we take the small elevator to floor 3, which is really the 4th floor, turn left, up three steps, turn right,  up two steps, down two steps, turn left, up five steps, through a swinging door, up a step run left, open another door and we are there!  "Where is the cheese?"

Every table top was covered with junk such as $12 bags of Fritos, Pringles, and chocolate. A      tray for laundry or shoeshines. The desk is barely big enough for Pam’s laptop. Two small             closets, one won’t open all the way because of the suitcase.

There WAS a 2 1/2 foot diameter table and an armchair In the room but we could not get around each other so I asked them to take those away which they did. They put them in the hall where I am dictating this because Pam is having a nap. Maybe we have just become spoiled over the years.

 Our View!

My office down the hall.  They used to be in our room at the foot of the bed.

The hotel staff and travel assistants are great. Morning breakfast are American style with everything you could want.

The welcome dinner was OK, nothing spectacular and I was able to convince them to bring out it few beers instead of just wine.

They took us out to a chateau (try to guess what two words the dictation app came with for that) for our theme dinner which was nice. They had an open self-serve keg and plenty of wine. Chicken and beef. I took a picture of the beef to make Jason squirm as it was bright red.

 Helping the Band

 This is for Jason

We took the train to Saint Emillion yesterday, Thursday. We took a tram to the train and hopped on the 9 o’clock for a 40 minute ride to the city. Had a choice of a 30 minute walk uphill or a three euro tuk-tuk ride. Best six euros we have spent so far. It was a nice hill town that had a famous underground church that we toured.

It was 88° and a little humid. We had a few beers during the day and our tour was finally at 2 o’clock in the cooler catacombs. We were done by four but our train wasn’t until six.

Happy on the trip out, not so much on the trip back!

We got on the 6 o’clock train that did not leave until 7:15. It had a few stops along the way for some reason. And we arrived back in Bordeaux at about 830. Having not eaten, we decided to order up some ice and make cheese and chips and beverages our dinner.

Today We took the day off had a late breakfast and then took the tram down to look for some shops, unsuccessfully, It is sprinkling a little today and much cooler.

We’re going to dinner with another senior couples from the Pittsburgh area, but not until 730 when the restaurant opens.

I will try to add some pictures and hope all is well with everyone at home.