I think I found Kevin Rudd standing for Spanish politics?
Saturday, 23 May 2015
Mad.... Bad and Dangerous to know.....
..if you know where to find the best shopping and have a credit card...my goodness one could do some serious damage....especially in the Gothic Quarter.
We have had a brilliant day. Barcelona is unbelievable. Such an exciting and varied city, thoroughly unique, I think anyway.
We began our day very slowly....Paul didn't even get up until after 9am. So then we hit the streets. We found the Gothic Quarter. Totally mind blowing...the architecture, the ambience, the food, the boutiques...the everything. So bohemian...one of my most favourite places so far. After walking around for ages and ages just taking it all in, we had a coffee and later lunch at amazing places. The latter was a gorgeous quirky restaurant. For only the equivalent of A$25 for the both of us, we had a glass of wine, the most heavenly vegetable soup. Trout baked and wrapped in their ham...paper thin slices of such...then baked custard for dessert..infused with vanilla and cinnamon served with mint and cream.....'kept these two little piggies going for the rest of the day...apart from stopping late this afternoon for a Cava and beer in the sunshine, once we started on our return from the harbour and beach. I have no idea how many kilometres we did...but I imagine we are going to sleep well again tonight. Just picked up a baguette and some jamon (the paper thin ham), salad etc. and a night in is planned...I for one could not face another restaurant today...but as often said...tomorrow however, is indeed, another day.....
Photos to follow as soon as Paul has recovered and uploaded from the camera. Trying at the moment to change our flights to Paris...without much luck by the sounds of it.
Friday, 22 May 2015
Dia dos Barceonla
'Will post photos of yesterday's sights in a tick. Firstly just a little re-cap.
So sorry to say goodbye to the little Volvo yesterday but I dare say Paul was glad to get out and run...albeit dragging the heavy cases behind
him. It took hours for his blood pressure to return to normal...what a hero, again I don't know how he did it...when we were on the approach to Barcelona and the traffic became obvious, I was freaking out and I was only a passenger. Even with good old Carmen the GPS, this was destined to be a nightmare of epic proportions...and navigating on the 'wrong' side of the road..just as well it wasn't just after getting the car. Both of us were using every device we had at hand to find the blasted Railway station but even Carmen wouldn't identify one until you are basically on top of it and also note for the future...find out in advance the local terminology for such places. In the end we abandoned trying to do that bit together and he wasn't joking when he said I was basically thrown onto the pavement...I only managed to drag the 2 top cases out of the boot before he had to start moving and I left him with all that luggage to try to get here. Then there I am on the pavement...alone for the first time in 5 weeks. I was the lucky one though because about ten minutes later a delightful young man ushered me into this heavenly apartment. It is to die for...huge and luxurious. Walking distance to stuff and tastefully decorated and well appointed with attention to detail ahhh marvelous.
Also one thing I had meant to mention before about the cars...especially in Spain...oh my....I love cars as those who know me...know. It was heartbreaking to see all these luxury cars...current model Jaguars, Mercs, Beemers...and worst of all.... gasp....Alfas, probably only moths old some of them......battered up. Then after starting to get around the old cities and towns...I could see why. I felt for sure we were going to have to mortgage the house to pay for any damage to the little Volvo...but Paul did an excellent job of navigating through the narrow streets and parking....and maybe also a jolly heap load of luck.
Anyway after a walk in the sunshine a coffee and beers for the Badger...it was on on to a delightful afternoon of taking in the phenomenal architecture.
Barcelona boogie
Well, driving in peak hour in a city with huge traffic snarls is bad enough but it didn't get better. I made it to the apartment on the late side and basically threw JQ out of the car, with just 2 overnight bags, to meet the apartment owner. OK that's good, made it in time. Oh Sh** I don't know where to drop the car off apart from it is at a railway station about 3 Km's away. No maps and no idea what direction, in crazy traffic. Eventually managed to find the railway station on the GPS whilst stopped at lights. Now I eventually got there but where the hell is Hertz? After circling the station I found Hertz which was just a shopfront. I could see all the other companies return parks but not Hertz. After circling a few more times I gave up and parked fully on the wide pavement in front of their office to find out that their return bays were 5 stories underground around the corner (not at the station). The sign outside had to have measured 5" square and I had passed it about 5 times. OK, checked the car in and, fingers crossed, got away with the small scrape under the front bumper (If you knew what condition cars are in over here and the size of the streets in the historical parts of cities, this was no mean feat). I was then left with a memory of the address of the apartment (sort of), 2 large cases, I large trundle bag, 2 large shopping bags, a backpack and a jacket, all 5 stories down in a car park. Luckily there was a lift and I still don't know how I managed alone, but once I hit the street with my load I was able to get a taxi to the apartment, which was JQ's choice, to find we are opposite the Gay Pride shop in the middle of the gay district ( I thought I saw the taxi driver winking at me?). It's very colourful. I think I am returning back to normal after a few beers.
Thursday, 21 May 2015
Barcelona! Barcelona!
What a glorious busy busy city! Got here after a very hairy ride but I'll let Poor Paul relate that. Gay Times ahead!!!!!
Still here....
Well... What a day. I am looking forward to getting out of here in the morning. Despite the inclement weather we decided to do the walk around the wall which once surrounded the city but sadly much of it has gone... Who knows where. Anyway coats on and scarfed up we head for the stairs.
Badger asks 'did you pick up the map? '
me : 'no, but no worries I'll pop back and get it ' ... he fishes around for the keys... But oh no!!! Locked in the apartment. It is raining quite heavily and without the keys... once we exit we cannot access even the lift or stairs. So homeless we start our walk. Every half hour trying to contact the owner for help. I was just starting to get worried that she's out of town on business or something when I spotted a gorgeous little boutique hotel... Looks 5 star to me... 'hmmmm maybe this isn't as bad as is seems ' lips just start to curl into a smile when finally owner is returning our calls and messages. Drats!!! Lol
To top it off we spent a good while searching for the Badger's spare glasses, his only ones now, since he lost his others a few weeks ago. We turned the cases inside out. Then trekked back to the car... again, for another look there. Eventually I found them tucked down the seat near the hand brake. Fair do 's... as he pointed out, he could have found them sooner if he had glasses on...
Anyway attached photos are from the wall. We also found a delightful garden tucked up there. The bridge is 'Eiffel 's bridge'
.
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
Dia dos Girona
After a good night sleep, charming cafe for breakfast and discovered the Jewish Quarter, which had a quiet and refined elegance...had lunch there at the cafe in the photo, lunch was heavenly...and now feeling somewhat more convivial towards Girona.
When I say discovered I should qualify that with.... Arhummm (clears throat) ...'rediscovered' the Jewish Quarter, for this is where the Bat and Badger were hooning yesterday afternoon. Note photos of some of the lanes we got the little Volvo through! Arh the Badger is indeed a legend!
Girona
Yes well....what can I say about Girona...if you are thinking of making it your holiday destination...then do yourselves a favour...and ....don't.
What a flipping day. We got up after a nice sleep in, leisurely got ready and left for the one hour drive here. Meandered along, found the gorgeous little gem that is Pals as the Badger mentioned...drank in the atmosphere as well as a coffee. Called in and found his childhood holiday spot...still there, even if the then little village is now a huge sprawling holiday city that makes the Gold Cast look like a country town.
So we arrive in Girona. Following the address instructions plugged into Carmen the Garmin (the GPS).... she has never skipped a beat up to now. OMG...we are climbing up bloody cobbled donkey lanes at 45 degrees . "how's it look on your side?"...."yep you will clear it this side" as we try to get around another tight corner...the lanes getting steeper and tighter. Signs saying no unauthorised vehicles in the city from what I could barely make out from the Spanish street signs. Cops and security left right and centre...so no doubt we are going to face a number of fines.. finally...finally we negotiate out of the old city. So we now try to find the 'parking' that is advertised as available with the apartment...yeah..it's a public car park....7 minutes walk away and .......full. Bloody hell can this day...the Badgers birthday btw..can it get any worse...answer...yes it can. We drag heavy bags from the car park...eventually.....after trying to kill time waiting for a space... back up the donkey lanes, this time on foot...to find the apartment. A total disaster zone. Garbage left behind, bed unmade, no towels and it is now after 5 pm. This is the worst of Airbnb. All has been quite good up to now. So here we are. dumped the bags and went for dinner which was nice but Girona in the end is quite...under whelming. Anyway for better or worse we are here for another 2 nights after tonight....There is no Hilton here...no Sheraton...that I could see today anyway..but tomorrow is indeed another day....lol. stay tuned..all may turn out ok in the end. Eventually someone turned up with brand new sheets in the wrappers....we have a nice freshly made bed, fresh towels and the garbage was eventually removed. Yikes......
Childhood memories
In the early 1960's the family would make a pilgrimage/drive to Spain on our annual holidays. Finally to camp on the Costa Brave at Playa d'Aro and guess what, the Cala GoGo is still there. I got to see the pool where I first learnt to swim. Happy memories.
On the way to Girona - Pals
Still on the Costa Brava and found this beautiful little medieval walled village called Pals. Pulled in from the hwy and walked around the town which fortified itself to protect it's citizens from Turkish and Berber pirates.
Monday, 18 May 2015
Dali's a dud
Dali has been a favourite of JQ's since High School so what better than a visit to his home which was only just over an hour away. Nobody said it was over a mountain pass with a road wide enough for two donkey and carts! Anyway after managing to avoid kamikaze cyclists and tour buses we made it to the little cove where he worked from. Now a 2 Km walk from where we parked to the house, downhill, and to the ticket office. What! all full and no more tickets for 4 days. Bali Dali, now for a walk uphill for 2 Km and a return on the torturous pass. Mental note; do more research next time, although in my defence neither the owner of our accommodation nor any brochures mentioned this. There always has to be a positive so I did save on the $30 entry fee.
Sunday, 17 May 2015
We are back in Sunny Spain lalalala...the sequel.
We left Carcassonne this morning in coats jeans and scarves, battling the Arctic blast and dodging puddles. 2 hours later.... Clear cerulean sky, sunny but windy.
2 days ahead of us exploring the Costa Brava....
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