tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5204588944111216742024-03-13T17:04:43.434-07:00The Flaming Family BlogThe current on-goings with the Flaming Family.Squidly Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997666976897141179noreply@blogger.comBlogger175125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-73486022138897147652015-10-25T06:41:00.001-07:002015-10-25T06:41:33.470-07:00Spain Days 10-11<font face="Arial"><b>Day 10 - Barcelona</b></font><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">We arrived in Barcelona around mid-afternoon and headed to our hotel. We usually build in one splurge hotel each trip and El Palace was our splurge for 2 nights. The staff were very attentive and the hotel was beautifuly decorated. The breakfast buffet included with our room stay was divine. Orange juice is fresh squeezed everywhere you go.</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">The hotel is locate in the Eixample neighborhood, known for it's wide streets and sidewalks, with bycycle lanes in the middle and out of pedestrian and car traffic. There are loads of fun shops and restaurants as well as gorgeous architecture. Below are a few shots of Casa Batllo - a Guadi design. We didn't go in and I didn't find time to research it.</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_bcb1_6937_3f4e_b7eb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-t_ywiKvRdhI/VizaydLdjUI/AAAAAAACA4o/T0yFv-LzdsY/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 614px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_f1be_25e0_6b13_8765" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--QtBrEwEExk/Viza0RmiMgI/AAAAAAACA4w/QvZjfj-1oz8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 614px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Day 11 - Sagrada Familia</span></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">We purposely took a leisurely morning before taking the 1.25 miile trek to Sagrada Familia. A cathedral, still in the making, designed by Antoni Gaudi. We only had about an hour in the cathedral as it closed in the afternoon, we're assuming for a service. Below are photos from the inside and outside. It has come a long way in the 2 years since I last visited. Refer to our blog from 2013 for more info about the cathedral.</span></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><i>below - selfie in front of Natvity Fascade</i></span></font></div><div><img id="id_434f_2147_b765_ffbc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-smEx6MY_99c/Viza52dYVHI/AAAAAAACA44/F0i1yizjRoA/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></font></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5cb2_b69c_62e6_e4cc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qIX2beM0hFw/VizbCSfSW8I/AAAAAAACA5A/pqAd7Q-Tliw/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial"><i>below: tree of life at top of Nativity Fascade</i></font></div><div><img id="id_b2ad_bdcc_ac6c_72a4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nb1zRfwFFqU/VizbHfbvy8I/AAAAAAACA5I/4n0H0e3XL_I/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><i>below: Passion Fascade</i></div><div><img id="id_ebce_8eae_679_53cb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-e7a_dwGxrqY/VizbOzL922I/AAAAAAACA5Q/kdtmyEiTNs4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5b94_965b_1c85_988" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-YCQdL-bDSFs/VizbWyE_d5I/AAAAAAACA5Y/aYAAwA_ABNk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial"><i>below: cathedral ceiling mimimicing a tree tops in a forest, including how light passes through. The four main pillars dedicated to Matthew, Marc, Luke & John</i></font></div><div><img id="id_b4ba_7a3e_95ce_7087" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nBCFjN-QAR0/VizbgSb3DFI/AAAAAAACA5g/YV4R_s49_6A/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial"><i>below: alter </i></font></div><div><img id="id_140e_98fe_ccba_138f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QqDDBJq56Ow/VizboPXloeI/AAAAAAACA5o/n-m1TbgTing/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial"><i>below: looking up at ceiling and the beginnings of the towers dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Christ</i></font></div><div><img id="id_5606_5c48_dfde_177c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EUk9Z8WD7a4/VizbvlomnOI/AAAAAAACA5w/K6_8BwmzcwU/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial"><i>below: the gorgeous venitian stained glass windows, so many more are filled in than when I was last here</i></font></div><div><img id="id_6718_a9ff_4d02_1533" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dFtf2AVW48A/Vizb43UPKmI/AAAAAAACA54/-eC4QgCd0yI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><i><br></i></font></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_85ea_6e5e_96fb_620b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vsc6_5-B4EA/Vizb-FtdrLI/AAAAAAACA6A/jPER-YqSklc/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial">As you receive this last posting from our Espana vacation, we are sitting in Heathrow airport awaiting our flight to Seattle. Looking forward to being home and loving on our kitties. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">We'll be back in a couple weeks from Honolulu. Till then, here's a photo of that delicious gezpatch</font><span style="font-family: Arial;">o that we just can't stop thinking about. So good! Till next time, Adios.</span></div><div><img id="id_1762_a03e_2624_2f86" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AlepFCueL5A/VizcBxLiSYI/AAAAAAACA6I/Lh4nP15VfIw/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 614px; height: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-58567431389850183042015-10-23T00:17:00.001-07:002015-10-23T00:17:42.955-07:00Spain Day 9 - 10<font face="Arial">Day 9 - Sevilla</font><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">This was our most leisurely day yet. We slept in until we felt like getting up, enjoyed breakfast in the hotel then ventured out for a walk. We made our way to the river, Guadilquivir. It was a gorgeous, sunny day in the low-mid 70's. We made our way back towards the Barrio to get lost in the tangled streets and do some shopping. We stopped for a quick refreshing glass of gazpacho before siesta. Dinner was at the Italian place again. Here are some shots of our day.</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_6c8a_b1_1bf6_eabf" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p1TFbJNi15E/Vineqi7gamI/AAAAAAACA3Q/HA2VMXfGifQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><i>below: We're pretty sure that's the bull ring in this photo.</i></div><div><img id="id_dee3_7979_fba4_98ab" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-deUzE5UFbP4/VinetzK61sI/AAAAAAACA3Y/hf6zOiFkD0E/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_a09a_158b_6bc4_1721" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2K0Kuzne0rI/Vineze1Q2hI/AAAAAAACA3g/Ei1Kjh1mjjM/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><i>below: These gorgeous tiles are everywhere in Sevilla, they have both Muslim and Spainish roots. In this small plaza all the benches were tiles.</i></div><div><img id="id_6597_fd51_d94e_3268" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--ijhfDTWOHE/Vine2eI-FWI/AAAAAAACA3o/ZoHb6tgH4Po/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 819px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_b139_65e9_f966_c54d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5YcoE5HKN28/Vine58p0pdI/AAAAAAACA3w/tAciX_emVj0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 819px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_8dda_d2c7_e0ec_ab1f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9jU15u4KBrA/VinfD9ZjFZI/AAAAAAACA34/nM33mOOnC8g/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial">Day 10</font></div><div><font face="Arial">Today we board the high speed Ave train back to Barcelona. A 5.5 hour trip with a train speed average around 185 mph. It's so wonderful to just hand the driving off to someone else.</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">Our last day is tomorrow and we will go to Sagrada Familia. This will be Dean's first time to see it and I'm excited to see how far construction has come in the last 2 years.</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">Until then ... </font></div>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-33089601914049821392015-10-21T09:12:00.001-07:002015-10-22T08:35:51.243-07:00Spain Days 6-8<font face="Arial"><b>Day 6 - Sevilla</b></font><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">We arrived in Seville around 1:30 pm, got settled in and went for a walk in the Barrio Santa Cruz. a once thriving Jewish Quarter, full of narrow and tangled streets. The streets are too narrow for cars, with some buildings so close they are called "kissing lanes." Orange trees are everywhere and they are teaming with fruit. We're guessing it must be so fragrant in spring when the blossoms are out. There are quaint shops, restaurants, hotels and apartments in unexpected nooks and crannies. This is a welcome change from the super crowded hustle of Madrid. There is old world charm in this city, if you slow down enough the details will blow your mind. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">We had dinner at a adorable little Italian place l'Oca Giulva (Goose something), about 40 feet from the door of our hotel. It was by far the best Italian meal we've had outside of Italy. What a treat! After dinner we walked in and around Plaza De La Virgen De Los Reyes (Plaza of the Virgin of Kings). We stopped and listened to a street musician playing his guitar. Simply lovely evening.</font></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_966_92bc_6375_5dc2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-xKkoliDts4E/Vie25ygtldI/AAAAAAACA1M/VVD1ydH_gbQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_604b_30d_f729_23a9" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9WpBJpNHl7k/Vie3FDcnDBI/AAAAAAACA1Y/zFXugpAx6J4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 960px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><i>below: "rush hour" behind a tour group on a kissing lane</i></font></div><div><img id="id_1851_f49_e5fb_4163" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-u-LhEok1KtA/Vie3RQNLAWI/AAAAAAACA1g/v3fc_buiyuo/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><b>Day 7 - Sevilla</b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">We had a somewhat slow start to the day. Once we got going, we headed out to Sevilla's cathedral and Giralda Bell Tower. The cathedral is Europe's third-largest church behind St. Peter's in Rome and St. Paul's in London. It is also the largest gothic church anywhere - another Guiness Book for World Records. When they ripped down a mosque of brick on this site in 1401, the Reconquista Christians bragged, "we'll build a cathedral so huge that anyone who sees it will take us for madmen." They built for 120 years. This church also holds the remains of Christopher Columbus. His pallbearers prepresent the regions of Castile, Aragon, Leon and Navarre. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">Giralda Tower was formerly a Moorish minaret from which Muslims were called to prayer. The towers construction begain in 1184. It became the cathedral's bell tower after the Reconquista. A 4,500 -pound bronze statue symbolizing the Triumph of Faith (specifically the Christian faith over the Muslim one) caps the tower and serves as a weather vane. In 1356, the original top of the tower fell. The top we see today is the 16th-century Christian-built top with a ribbon of letters proclaiming "The strongest tower is the name of God." The tower tells a history story, Roman foundation followed by a long Moorish period then capped by our Christian age. By law, no building can be higher than the statue atop the tower. In Latin, around the four sides of the tower near the top reads "TURRIS FORTISSIMA NOMEN DNI PROVERB 18" meaning "The name of the Lord is like a strong tower" (referring to Proverb 18:10)</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">We climbed to the top of the tower, which has 34 ramp segments rather than stairs. The segments are tall and wide enough to allow the muezzin, in charge of calling people to prayer, to climb to the top on his horse. The Christians added the final stairs with 17 steps leading up to the bells.</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">After a couple hours in the cathedral we walked the main shopping area in the city. The pedestrian only streets are full of some higher-end stores, some mainstream stores and the end of the lane is anchored by an El Corte Ingles Spanish department store. It's like Macy's and Fred Meyer in one. You can get just about anything in there. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">We had dinner about 20 feet from our hotel this night at Bodega Santa Cruz Las Columnas. We noticed right away the locals eat here. The menu is a board on the wall, in Spanish, and the wait staff keep track of your order by writing down the amounts of the tapas you consume with a grease pencil. Once you pay, the barkeep wipes away your order and goes to the next. We just took a stab and called out some things on the menu accompanied with a cervesa (beer). Each dish cost 2-2.50 euros so if you don't like it, no problemo. One interesting dish was chorizo cooked with crashed egg (fried egg) which was covered in a tomato-ish sauce and lima beans and served with a thick slice of fresh bread. I liked it, Dean didn't, We also tried the gazpacho ... my my MY!!!!!! Wow, was it good. They served it in a small drinking glass with an ice cube. We drank our soup just like we drank our beer. No messy, dripping (or leaking) spoons. This is how soup should be served. We finished the meal with a little spot of ice cream and a short walk.</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_8614_975_9d00_82d7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZG7P6CkSG28/Vie3pMEmKMI/AAAAAAACA1o/D_aN53advY0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><i>below: the cathedral high alter</i></font></div><div><img id="id_af79_3090_9b1b_1d92" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IaCd2UAjzVM/Vie4Ei-OcgI/AAAAAAACA1w/GidsUTPTUhI/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><i>below: the tomb of Christopher Columbus</i></font></div><div><img id="id_f293_a426_9a81_1a8d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-60gL8ySqpUo/Vie4Vhk9gRI/AAAAAAACA14/cmZvukWGQ1c/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><i>below: ramp and bells inside Giraldi Tower</i></font></div><div><img id="id_5904_6d5d_bafe_b8dc" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dWPq0t73v78/Vie4pAYAIWI/AAAAAAACA2A/Due_WfVwnVA/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><img id="id_1faf_3ea_c221_3bd8" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZiFMGx5cUhc/Vie5Bx4ypFI/AAAAAAACA2I/nxmGGvlMrhA/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><div><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><i>below: view of Sevilla from top of Giraldi Tower</i></font></div><div><img id="id_1c91_5ce6_9b2c_f889" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DhLMozZA5d4/Vie5ZByp14I/AAAAAAACA2Q/iI8N237gbJ4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><b>Day 8 - Sevilla</b></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="Arial">Today we visited Real Alcazar, the royal palace in Sevilla. Originally a 10th century palace built for the govenors of the local Moorish state. Today it still functions as a royal palace and is the official residence when the Spanish royals are in town. For a thousand years it has been the centre of power and a royal residence. The palace of King don Pedro was not finished until the 14th century, and has been enlarged since. It is one of the best examples of Mudejar (moodee-har) style and it is the oldest palace in use in Europe. There are spectacularly decorated halls and the courtyards have a distinctive Islamic-style. Can you tell the differences between Muslim and Christian architecture?</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_123a_b23a_766d_81a7" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CwlswMwPiyw/VikBD836G5I/AAAAAAACA2g/rbkCb_tPc8Q/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_ab66_250f_c569_7da6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V58S40r6uGo/VikBdrt1WLI/AAAAAAACA2o/Sk1fXu8U_Bk/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_aac9_f64_2774_c968" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L_JZpeqWR8g/VikB2z2miyI/AAAAAAACA2w/EwLrL1Thoio/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial">Before siesta, we stopped at the Bodega Santa Cruz again for a 'glass' of gazpacho - delicious on this warm and sunny afternoon.</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">After a short siesta we headed out to a Flamenco show at the Museo del Baile Flamenco. The one hour show was full of passionate emotion (pain, joy, seduction and love), great guitar music, double jointed wrists and the superhero fast dancing feet. It's loud with stomping, clapping, singing and random shouts of "OLE!". The vocals had a muslim feel about them, which makes sense given the history of this remarkable city. </font><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font face="Arial">Personally, we could have done without the singer, not because of the style but because he was annoying. The dancers were fantastic.</font></span></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_dcdd_81fd_44cc_c570" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jWcEI9SOubo/VikCFOroiBI/AAAAAAACA24/atDTfRUEvs0/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">Tomorrow we have no agenda. We're going to walk to the river, wander around the barrio and probably do a little shopping. There are local craftsman in Sevilla, which is a treat since we haven't seen it in Spain on either visit. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">On a totally different note, we've found ourselves enjoying and competing with the health app on our iPhones. The app counts/tracks steps, flights climbed and miles walked. Dean got cheated out of at least 9 flights when we climbed the tower a couple days ago. We've been speculating since the tower has ramps rather than stairs, it messed with the app. Dean is still peeved. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">Still a few more days of Spanish vacation to come, stay tuned ...</font></div>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-73095863189630871012015-10-19T05:54:00.001-07:002015-10-19T06:10:40.312-07:00Spain Days 3-5<font face="Arial"><b>Day 3 - Madrid</b></font><div><font face="Arial">We arrived in Madrid by train around 2:30pm and had a quick taxi ride to Hotel Atlantico. After a short siesta to get our bearings, we headed out to explore a little. We were hungry and believe it or not, we went in search of pizza. Yelp said there was a 5-star place close by. We found it, but decided we weren't as hungry as originally thought, so we hit the shopping street Gran Via instead. The streets were teaming with throngs of people. It was like walking in packed crowd</font><font face="Arial"> exiting a stadium. We've been in crowded cities before but nothing like this. By the time we made it back to the pizza place, it was closed. We missed our window for late lunch. So, we yelped another one that didn't close for siesta</font><font face="Arial">. We went to Pizzeria-Trattoria which was about a ½ mile walk. The crust was perfect, which made for a good pizza. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">After dinner we walked</font><span style="font-family: Arial;"> to Puerta del Sol & Plaza Mayor, the historic core of the city. Due to the volume of people and temporary structures in the plaza, we didn't get to enjoy the space as we'd hoped. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">The plaza was set up for some type of show/concert and was not the open space we expected. Loads of people everywhere. We made our way back to the hotel. We asked if the sidewalks are always so full of people and the consierge said no. We learned a new European store, called Primark, had it's grand opening the day we arrived and the store was about 2 blocks from the hotel. They had areas of the sidewalk cordoned off with gates so people could queue up in line to get in the store. The lines went around the block and down the alley behind our hotel ... ca-razy!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Day 4 - El Escorial and Botin</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">We had a leisurely start to the day and after breakfast made our way to the train station. We took a 1-hour train to El Escorial. This 16th century palace was built more as a symbol of power rather than elegance. It was built at a time when Catholic Spain felt threatened by Protestant heretics. It is about 650 feet long and 500 feet wide, has 2,600 windows, 1,200 doors, and more than 100 miles of passages. 400 years ago the "extremely Catholic" King Philip II ruled his empire and directed the inquisition from El Escorial. The building was conceived by Philip II to serve several purposes: a grand mausoleum for Spain's royal family, as a monastery to pray for the royal souls, as a "small" palace to use as a "get-away", and as a school to embrace humanisim in a way that promoted the Catholic faith. This place is immense. The Pantheon Real (Royal Pantheon) is several stories deep inside the palace. It is the guilded resting place of 26 kings and queens - 4 centuries of Spanish royalty. There are two coffins waiting, unmarked, for the current king and queen. We climbed the stairs into rooms filled with tombs of lesser royals leading to the Pantheon de los Infantes. Rooms and rooms filled with the remains of various royal children who died before the age of 7. There are also a couple rooms filled with the remains of babies. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">The town of El Escorial is slightly different from other towns we've visited in Spain. It has a hint of bavarian architecture and we suspect this comes from King Charles V, Philip's father, who was from Hapsburg. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_b446_f38a_fa84_c54d" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zxI6FwcbrKw/ViTnEGXk8sI/AAAAAAACAz4/qGmWmX9uzl4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 819px; height: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_9f0b_6081_3b2_b81c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aAREn7H3YUA/ViTnS8KHucI/AAAAAAACA0A/0M-R04zMBL8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 819px; height: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_2094_bee6_f334_41e0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-XGoG-0GRpwo/ViTndSgmN9I/AAAAAAACA0I/PXtkvofs_vw/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 819px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;">We might have stayed longer to visit some of the other buildings on the grounds, but we had reservations at the famous Botin restaurant. So we hoofed it 20 minutes back to the train station for the 1-hour long ride back to Madrid. Botin holds the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sobrino_de_BotÃn" id="id_e004_89b0_8601_1e69"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Guinness</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> World Record</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> for longest running restaurant in the world. Their business card states: Casa Fundada En 1725. Some of it's fame is derived from the fact Earnest Hemingway frequented the restaurant. The building has been renovated and some of the floors repurposed over the years; however, now it only serves as a restaurant. The line was easily 50 people deep when we arrived for our 8 pm reservation. Theyquickly funneled us into the door and up the stairs to tables. These waiters really earn their keep, all the food and beverages are run up and down the stairs on foot (and it is a 3 story building!). We had croquettes to start, their famous suckling pig, filet mignon, green beans with jamon along with sangria for dinner, and white chocolate cheesecake and pineapple with caramel sauce for dessert. The pig was delicious but our favorite dish of the evening was the beans and ham, believe it or not. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div><img id="id_64a7_8d8d_9c52_f219" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RX8nxE1OahM/ViTnk2_kcQI/AAAAAAACA0Q/PXV0fsRjqhg/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 824px; height: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br></span></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial"><b>Day 5 - Madrid</b></font></div><div><font face="Arial">First thing this day we headed out the door to Palacio Rael (Royal Palace). It is considered by many to be Europe's third-greatest palace and has a sumptuous interior. The palace is the product of several centuries. Philip II made the wooden fortress which stood on this site, his governing center when he established Madrid as Spain's capital. The current structure was buillt by Philip V who wanted his own private Versailles to match his french upbringing. The palace has been added on to over the years and now boasts 2,800 rooms full of luxurious tapestries, probably three times as many chandeliers, frescoes by Tiepolo, priceless porcelain and bronze decor covered in gold leaf. The palace still hosts ceremonial functions including formal state receptions and royal weddings. It is here where we also saw the Spanish Royal Crown, the Spanish Throne and the Royal sceptre.</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_2c98_e9a1_749c_9d57" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4cU35jpXnUE/ViTnt5Af7oI/AAAAAAACA0Y/8G7Lj0_8H1o/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 825px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_9e28_6561_ea14_348b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qq8YEnENXQY/ViTn4ZCW6RI/AAAAAAACA0g/kC326ur4h_U/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 825px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">Next up Museo Nacional del Prado. We saw works by Spanish painter Francisco de Goya, Diego Valazquez as well as several Italian and Flemish masters. Goya's black paintings were creepy and disturbing. His other works were much more enjoyable to view. We found we really like the Flemish paintings. There is a huge collection by Peter Paul Rubens. We learned there are so many Flemish paintings in the Prado because Spain rulled the Netherlands between the years 1581-1714. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">We spent the later afternoon/early evening shopping. Madrid is a fantastic place to shop. Loads of choices and very reasonable prices. Still hoards and hoards of people on the sidewalks, now add vats of pouring rain and umbrellas to the mix. Yoy!! We made our way back to the hotel to dry off and take a quick siesta before heading out for dinner. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial">Dinner was a-mazing. We went to this Taco joint close to the hotel, Takos El Pastor. It is a tiny place with maybe 20 seats and you order at the counter. Tacos are a euro each and cocktails were 3-5 euros depending on what you ordered. The tacos are small, open face with just seasoned meat of your choice and maybe a few diced onions or cheese. We enjoyed the beef, chorizo, chicken and pork. We feasted and spent very little. Oddly enough, we enjoyed these tacos better than the dinner at Botin. </font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_7551_d803_bebf_59ac" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fjitECCVeac/ViTrvJsUQrI/AAAAAAACA00/mAlBB46cYvs/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 974px; height: auto;"><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><img id="id_f9fa_f438_f54d_af89" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-lV977XdRC6M/ViToC8fQbPI/AAAAAAACA0o/Rk-1cm5w9lE/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 826px; height: auto;"></div><div><font face="Arial">above: view of Madrid from palace grounds</font></div><div><font face="Arial"><br></font></div><div><font face="Arial"><b>Day 6 - Off to Seville</b> </font></div><div><font face="Arial">Back on the high speed train to Seville ... more to follow</font></div>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-57873969782511222462015-10-16T03:46:00.001-07:002015-10-16T03:50:34.272-07:00Barcelona Take 2It's our second time visiting this fantastic city and it's starting to feel familiar. We actually recognize some areas now and are able to easily navigate. I get two days to tinker around while Dean is working. The evening I arrived I was immediately whisked away to dinner with 12 guys from Dean's work team. We started at a client cocktail party then went to dinner at this little hole in the wall place that seated our big group plus maybe 12 more. The restaurant owner came over made some suggestions and the boys were all "yeah that sounds good, just bring it." The plates just kept rolling and the wine kept flowing for 3+ hours. It was an all protein meeal, not a vegetable or anything green in sight. I learned a new term from one of the British team members when he announced loudly that he was wearing his "meat pants so just start bringing the food." We had tomatoe bread, clams, calimari, steak, jamon, red prawns (scampi) and the house red was quite good. We all toasted to the good evening with lemoncello at the end. We finally made it to the hotel at 12:30 am and I had been up for nearly 2 days by this point. I collapsed into bed and didn't move a muscle for 5 hours. <div><br></div><div><b>Day 1 - Adjusting</b></div><div>My day began with a super slow start and I didn't accomplish much. The rainy, muggy weather complimented my sluggish start. I made my way on the metro (subway) over to Il Corte Ingles (the big department store in Spain) to find the travel agent so I could get our train tickets for Madrid & Seville then back. You can't quite trust the "foreign" websites with these types of purchases so I went to the old fashion travel agent. I was not alone in my endeavor, the queue was 8-people deep when I left. I bought shoes 😀 on my way out of the store, officially marking the start of my vacation. I made my way back to the hotel for a very quick siesta (I love love love siesta - nothing like a little nap in the afternoon. It feels so decadant. After siesta we were off to dinner with more of Dean's colleagues. We had tapas and cocktails (sangria) at one place them went to another restaurant for dinner, dessert and more great conversation. The boys even let me pick the drink ... Cava Sangria with mellon. They liked it well enough to order another pitcher. Dean works with a great bunch.</div><div><br></div><div><b>Day 2 - Montjuic</b></div><div>Despite the lack of sleep I was up and at it early. We had breakfast together. Dean went to work and I went out to explore the neighborhood of Montjuic. The train station is about a mile (maybe a little more) from the hotel and Dean had a pre-paid metro card as a conference lab captain. Trains make it is so easy to get around. The metro has frequently running cars and takes you just about anywhere you want to go. I made my way up to the top of Montjuic "mountain" then hoppped on a cable car to the very top at Castell de Montjuic. On the way back down from the castle I met a young lady from Poland, who's father was attending the VMware conference. Small world.</div><div><br></div><div>Translated literally Montjuic means "Mount of Jews." This neighborhood was also the site of the 1992 Summr Olympics and the 1929 World's Fair. The wooded hillside overlooks the city and port of Barcelona. At the top is a star shaped fortress, Castell de Montjuic. Today it is an empty brick and concrete shell offering expansive city and port views. Originally built by the Spanish government in the 18th century and intended to keep an eye on the city and stifle it's citizens. When dictator Franco was in power during the 20th century, the castle was the site of hundreds of politiccal executions.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_8baa_b5ea_1186_a9bb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l4jwtFuENRM/ViDVLxLHDWI/AAAAAAACAy8/b_FBUb0TW-8/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 819px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_f46c_a11c_ddd4_5d1f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VTjh5rXOAjs/ViDVOnamJ0I/AAAAAAACAzE/cX5DTHR5pOQ/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 819px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_a67c_9711_32c_7e7c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Rm2ZRkFw9Xw/ViDVRZATd8I/AAAAAAACAzM/JbOef-yY9us/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 819px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>I began the trek back down the hill via Jardin de Laribal which had lovely walking/jogging paths. About ½ way down I stopped at the Fundacio Joan Miro (museum). Joan Miro (pronounced zhoo-ahn mee-roh) was another Catalan artist who created modern and contemprary works. The art was fun, fantastic and at times disturbing, though I suspect disturbing was not his intent. Joan believed everything in the cosmos was linked - colors, sky, stars, love, time, music, dogs, men, women, dirt and the void. He creatively mixed childlike symbols of these things. Some of it I got ... some I didn't. </div><div><br></div><div>Continuting down the hill is the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (Catalan Art Museum). My feet had had enough at this point so I just spent a little time enjoying the grounds rather than going inside. Below are photos of the Font Magica (Magic Fountains). Several times per evening, after dark, music and colored lights bring the fountains to life. Perhaps when we return to Barcelona in a few days we'll be able to take in the show.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5e6_aa07_829a_4c38" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a_6Fo2CUd0w/ViDVUldKpLI/AAAAAAACAzU/runDxwtTb-k/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 614px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>Below - looking torward Placa d' Espanya</div><div><img id="id_1c81_812_7cde_68d2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oA-8LvRe8Y4/ViDVXubVU0I/AAAAAAACAzc/PWTXVxIVM4g/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 819px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_301b_110a_18b2_1192" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4aPJ6Aa7s0c/ViDVbvj9s8I/AAAAAAACAzk/V8cjmCGWxk4/%25255BUNSET%25255D.png" alt="" title="" style="width: 819px; height: auto;"><br></div><div><br></div><div>Dinner was at Bar Canete near La Rambla. We met one of Dean's colleagues and his wife. Wow, the food was good. It's wonderful to be able to order several small plates and enjoy a couple bittes of several dishes. </div><div><br></div><div><b>Day 3 - Travel to Madrid</b></div><div>We're taking the high-speed Ave train, which takes 3 hours and 10 minutes to go 432 miles (with a few stops along the way). Our top speed was 212 kph (about 186 mph). It's a smooth ride and so fun to go whipping by cars on the freeway, We have several things planned for our 3 days in Madrid. Stay tuned.</div>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-13669760255037824702015-02-18T13:54:00.001-08:002015-02-18T16:03:31.497-08:00Hawaiian TimeWell it's been a few days since we first blogged and we now on Hawaiian time, bruddah. <div><br></div><div><b>Sunday</b> started out slow. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We went to a local coffee spot in Hanalei for breakfast and by the time we got there, so was everyone else on the island. We opted for the quick-fix breakfast rather than waiting 30 minutes for one of their famous waffles. After eating, we tinkered around town to see what there was to see, then headed to the grocery store to stock up. It was fun to take our time going up and down the aisles looking for all our favorites and rediscovering treats we used to enjoy when we lived here. </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Hooooo-oooeeee, I had long forgotten how much groceries cost on the islands. Little bit, scratch that ... lot o' sticker shock at the register.</span></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">We headed to the Hanalei Community Center on Sunday afternoon to attend a Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar & Ukulele concert. 75 guests in a room with two musicians who "talk story" and play truly beautiful, old-school Hawaiian Guitar music. We thoroughly enjoyed then entire 2+ hour concert.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Musicians are Doug & Sandy McMasters</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9HU54ELfTRI/VOUVD4y4jNI/AAAAAAABcso/hGnjADSG_AM/s640/blogger-image--407769979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9HU54ELfTRI/VOUVD4y4jNI/AAAAAAABcso/hGnjADSG_AM/s640/blogger-image--407769979.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hanalei Mountains outside Hanalei Community Center</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BfMStKPQSfE/VOUVEYNv3MI/AAAAAAABcsw/bKOLlMZqhPE/s640/blogger-image--1452116535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-BfMStKPQSfE/VOUVEYNv3MI/AAAAAAABcsw/bKOLlMZqhPE/s640/blogger-image--1452116535.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bob</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MUCIcg6r-nc/VOUVDGhQQaI/AAAAAAABcsg/qMC_iYCa2Eg/s640/blogger-image--328035790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-MUCIcg6r-nc/VOUVDGhQQaI/AAAAAAABcsg/qMC_iYCa2Eg/s640/blogger-image--328035790.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>What we learned:</b></div></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">- The Hawaiians were introduced to the guitar in the late 1700's when the Mexicans were brought in to help round up all the wild cattle that existed on the islands back then. The Hawaiians loved the sound the Mexicans made with their guitars and the guitars were left as gifts when the Mexicans returned home. The Hawaiians had no music training and learned how to strum the guitar in such a way that expresses the essence of Hawaii - warm tradewinds, fragrant tropical flowers, gentle surf and the true spirit of aloha. Ki ho'alu literally means "to loosen the keys". It is a soft and sweet (nahenahe) sound. Slack key is always played in altered tunings and each family created their own tunings and music. These tunings were fiercly protected by a member of each family. Due to isolation and scarcity of intruments, the Hawaiians developed a self accompaniment. The thumb plays a rhythm on the lower strings while the fingertips play melodies and harmonies on the upper strings - all at the same time. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">- There are roosters and chickens EVERY-where. All the roosters at the Community Center are named </font></div><div>"Bob" or some variation on that theme, Bob Junior, Bobsy Twins, etc. We've seen t-shirts with the words "Kauai Pride" accompanied by a very colorful chicken. We've also seen t-shirts with the words "Stoopid Frickin' Chickin'" <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">accompanied by a very colorful chicken. The local theory is the Phillipinos had all these roosters and chickens from running illegal cock fights and when Hurricane Inikki hit in 1992 the chickens were blown all over the island, and just started procreating. Now they're literlly everywhere you go since nobody eats them and they have no natural predators here on Kauai.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><b>Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday</b> started out exactly the same. The weather is perfect, enough said. We've not totally adjusted to the 2-hour time difference so we've been up early everyday. Dad and I start the day at the pool at 9 am and enjoy a couple hours with the place pretty much to ourselves. The timing is great because the sun is out and it's well before all the kids get there and the heat gets too intense. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Monday afternoon we headed south to Kapa'a for a little retail therapy - and we <i>all</i> felt better afterwards. For dinner we stopped at Mermaid's Cafe for fish tacos. Then across the street for a killler Margarita ... Yum.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-T0xhoWBvqbQ/VOUVqZJ6NJI/AAAAAAABcs4/v2o7AJUHa_0/s640/blogger-image--1352996067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-T0xhoWBvqbQ/VOUVqZJ6NJI/AAAAAAABcs4/v2o7AJUHa_0/s640/blogger-image--1352996067.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Tuesday afternoon we headed North into Hanalei, through Haena State Park where the Napali Coast hiking trails begin and the road ends at Ke'e Beach. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Waipouli Beach looking at Wainiha Bay (between Hanalei and Haena State Park</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a_LOy2eLIAA/VOUXQkNrwsI/AAAAAAABctM/UYTMtFTsVDg/s640/blogger-image-972709046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a_LOy2eLIAA/VOUXQkNrwsI/AAAAAAABctM/UYTMtFTsVDg/s640/blogger-image-972709046.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bbtyn6Z5tok/VOUXP_VW-wI/AAAAAAABctE/UX7DFuZ-igg/s640/blogger-image--537220117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bbtyn6Z5tok/VOUXP_VW-wI/AAAAAAABctE/UX7DFuZ-igg/s640/blogger-image--537220117.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Wenesday is still unfolding so more to come ... in due time</span></div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></div>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0Princeville Princeville22.222459 -159.482051tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-11058651230047125612015-02-15T11:38:00.001-08:002015-02-15T11:51:04.360-08:00AlohaAloha from the Kauai!<div><br></div><div>We arrived in Princeville yesterday after a long flight over the big blue ocean. We started our flight with a POG Mimosa's (POG = Passion Orange Guava juice) and ended our flight with Mai Tai's garnished with fresh pineapple and a cherry. Great way to start a vacation if you ask me. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--Kn0otIpWTA/VOD1tFPc7jI/AAAAAAABcsI/h3ljBIUMwXw/s640/blogger-image-1300174899.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--Kn0otIpWTA/VOD1tFPc7jI/AAAAAAABcsI/h3ljBIUMwXw/s640/blogger-image-1300174899.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>We got off the flight and as typical Seattlites, were jones-in for a Starbucks. After the GPS drove us in circles for 15 minutes we finally narrowed in on one. Dean will be doing 100% Kona after this fix. The weather could not be more perfect. It's sunny, in the low 80's with a light breeze.</div><div><br></div><div>We had dinner in Hanalei at Postcards Cafe. Deee-lish. Dad and I had Ono (swordfish fresh from the ocean that day) topped with macadamia butter, and served with green beans, mushroom mashed potatoes, and a pesto topped tomato. Dean had a wonderful dish called Sorrento. A creamy pasta dish with fish, clams, shrimp, spinach. </div><div><br></div><div>We have a running stream and pond next to our unit and it was lovely to fall asleep to the sound of water and singing frogs. The frogs are actually pretty loud, though not unpleasant. We'll try to record them somtime this week. Sunday morning view from our lanai below.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x-4rvig_poM/VOD1tx84nSI/AAAAAAABcsQ/dVwE2v5iyhI/s640/blogger-image--743983258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-x-4rvig_poM/VOD1tx84nSI/AAAAAAABcsQ/dVwE2v5iyhI/s640/blogger-image--743983258.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Nmdx8cLu4Cw/VOD1saizbvI/AAAAAAABcsA/kILiohNnXhw/s640/blogger-image--404159528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Nmdx8cLu4Cw/VOD1saizbvI/AAAAAAABcsA/kILiohNnXhw/s640/blogger-image--404159528.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We woke Sunday morning to sun peaking over the mountains and chirping birds. I forgot how much I missed the sweet smell of the air here. We've also enjoyed listening to the locals talk with that sing-song flow to their speech.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We'll check in later to let you know how the day unfolded.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><br></div><div> </div>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0Princeville Princeville22.222691 -159.481738tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-8099746417205163802014-09-18T19:28:00.000-07:002014-09-22T16:22:50.481-07:00Don and Gail Travel<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: black;">Well, here we are at the end trail. After three years of full time RVing (home was where we parked it) we have found a a stationary home. Our new address is: 38668 Hope View Ln. Lebanon,Or., 97355. (The street name means volumes to us! Don't you just love it??!) Our telephones are still our same cell numbers. 503-936-2743 & 971-235-8481 the old 654-4626 is no longer in effect.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">We are still living in our motorhome in our side driveway till we finish cleaning, making repairs and some changes, finishing some areas, sorting out our situation and claiming it for our own. Our furniture, etc. arrives at the end of this month....yippee! We are finding that we love the quiet country, lovely sunsets, starry nights, and really lovely neighbors on our little private lane. The view from the front porch takes in the lovely mid-Willamette Valley, though the picture below doesn't really show it well. The building in the picture is Don's shop. He loves it!</span><br />
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We can only praise our Heavenly Father for this truly was a gift from Him. We've started a list of discoveries that only God could include all in one place, of desires that have been longings of our hearts for so many years. There are too many to list now, or explain adequately, so that means you'll just have to drop in for a visit or a stay whenever you are in our area. We always love company. Just give us a call and come!<br />
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This verse from God's Word says it better than we ever could:<br />
"Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3: 20,21<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Home</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7K3BwA25s6NUDyXV8itrGt_r-hiLYodRk0Scn27m4vbmddn-fbhzaD2rLrKGB8xsLgrDqpQO92QaiQFsKSsI6zNm4N_uOIS0wntm8jFlZQXNAmBbf5jkND7Gfrax1pdgZrmQVjG5XMVA/s1600/IMG_20140911_084841440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;"> view from front porch<br />
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Don Flaminghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03683585372973032026noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-10266378698903651452014-09-08T19:37:00.001-07:002014-09-11T09:50:26.619-07:00Canada Days 6-9<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b><b>Day 6</b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Was a driving day. We drove 275 miles from Jasper to Kamloops. It was a beautiful drive and two lanes pretty much the whole way. We went from 32 degrees in Jasper to 80 degrees in Kamloops. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">It's a fairly large town but not particularly distinguishable from some others we've driven through. This was our stop over spot before heading to Vancouver. We had a good dinner then spent a sedate evening in our room facing the river and reading. It was nice to be still for a few hours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Day 7</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We had a beautiful morning start on the South Thompson river in Kamloops and a delicious breakfast. We met couples from France and Switzerland who were traveling to Jasper from Kamloops. The conversation was interesting and breakfast was quite tastey. We headed to Vancouver this day to catch the ferry over to Vancouver Island with our destination in Duncan (267 miles). It was a gorgeous day for a ferry ride through the San Juans. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Below are shots from the B&B in Kamloops of the river.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Day 8</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We went to the Pacific Northwest Raptors "park" in Duncan, BC today. We spent most of the day visiting the birds, holding/handling the birds, flying the birds and even making a couple birds "laugh". Jamie was our expert handler and showed us the ropes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is Gollum, a Harris Hawk; nickname Gaullie. This is the guy we flew through the woods.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is Elton. He was a total sweetheart. Very few raptors like to be touched (petted) but Elton loved to have the t</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">op of his beak rubbed. He make a sound like he was purring, would close his eyes and tilt his head so you could get a good angle on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Elton enjoying the sun after a beak rub</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Kukaburra's are adorable and had a whole vocabulary of sounds. At times they sounded like cats with a deep meowing sound. You could also get them to laugh by trilling and rolling an 'r' sound at a high pitch. The are Boomer and Roo. The male has the longer stripe of black feathers under his eyes. Watch the video below, Terrie got them to laugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is Arctos, the Great Horned Owl. He's about 4 months old and is just learning the ropes of being trained to the glove. Out handler said training owls is like training cats. They think totally differently than the other raptors and are easily distracted by other things going on. They hunt by sound rather than relying on their eye sight, and actually have a blind spot up close to their face. The move their whole body to see and it looks like they're dancing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We also got to feed a Maribou Stork named Gaston. Our handler was a bit apprehensive about letting strangers into his pen. Gaston stands about 4½ feet tall and has a wing span of 10 feet. This raptor handled us strangers like a champ and easlily gobbled down ½ a raw chicken.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We watched a flying demonstration with a bald eagle, a barn owl, a harris hawk, a perriguine falcon (fasted bird on the planet) and a turkey vulture. All equally fascinating. Also got very up close with a fully grown, three month old Golden Eagle named Ares. This santuary has about 120 birds, some are rescues, some are movie stars and some are paid to work at airports and landfills, chasing away nuisance birds. It was a fascinating day and we hope to visit again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Tomorrow we're off to Victoria, BC then home on Tuesday. It's been an outstanding trip. We met interesting people, saw some amazingly beautifyl places on this planet and had some unique experiences. We'll definitely be back to Canada someday soon.</span></div>
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Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-55358534415020640312014-09-03T19:23:00.001-07:002014-09-11T09:46:33.685-07:00Canadian Vacation Day 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Day 4 Lake Louise to Jasper</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After a somewhat leisurely morning we headed outside the Chateau to see a bit more of the grounds. The clouds were giving way just a skosh and the rain stopped pouring down, so we took advantage. Here are some great shots from around the resort offering a small taste of the gorgeous majesty that surrounds Lake Louise. Fresh snow fell on the glacier overnight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Victoria Glacier from the far end of LakeLouise</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We headed northwest out of Lake Louise towards Jasper. The drive was 145 miles of the most spectacular scenery full of pristine mountain lakes, ancient glaciers, stunning mountain peaks and broad sweeping valleys. The route between Lake Louise and Jasper is completely within the Canadian National Park system and leads us up the Icefields Parkway from Banff National Park right into Jasper National Park. We spotted caribou in a lake and a small black bear crossing the highway as we pulled into Jasper. Here are a few shots of our drive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Below is part of the Columbia Icefield and photos of Athabasca Glacier. This glacier is one of six principal "toes" of the Icefield in the Canadian Rockies. The glacial toes are Athabasca, Castelguard, Columbia, Dome, Stutfield and Saskatchewan. The Athabasca Glacier is approximatley 3.7 miles long, covers an area of 2.3 square miles, is measured to be 300-900 feet deep, receives up to 275 inches of snowfall per year and recedes about 16 feet per year. It is also the most accessible toe. Yes you can walk up to the edge of the glacier or even take a special snow vehicle right out onto the glacier. If you look closely in the second photo below you'll see the bus on the glacier.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><b>Day 5 Climb a Mountain</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Today we went a few minutes out of town to the Jasper SkyTram. Opened in 1964, the gondola whisks you up Whistler's Peak to 7,500 feet in 7.5 minutes. Then there is a 656 foot trek to the summit at 8,100 feet. The climb gets steeper and steeper as the path ascends to the summit. It was a tough, lung burning hike which rewards the effort with 360 degrees views of the Canadian Rockies, including Mount Robson (highest in Canadian Rockies at 12,972 feet). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Dean was certain he would die long before reaching the top then we were both unsure our legs would hold up on the way back down, as they turned into shaky noodles. The town of Jasper appears to be shaped like a boomerang, which reportedly serves to "catch all the Australians". There are a LOT of Australians in Jasper; they come for the busy tourist season. The town grows from 5,000 to 25,000 during the summer. The weather at the top SkyTram station was at 32 degrees with a wind chill going well below freezing. I bought a new coat in Banff and was greatful to have it on this day. We had a terrific lunch at the Treeline Restaurant. The restaurant sits in the second floor of the SkyTram station just as the treeline begins ... or ends depending on your approach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The structure you see at the top of the hill in the photo below is just a tower ... the summit station is much higher and not visible from the starting point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Edith Mountain below</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Pyramid Mountain to the left</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">After getting back down the mountian we drove to Pyramid and Patricia Lakes. Below are shots of Pyramid Lake</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Me in front of Pyramid Mountain at the end of Pyramid Island ... on Pyramid Lake</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We were exhausted by this point so we decided to go over to the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge for a cocktail. Beautiful setting for a hotel and it has an authentic rustic mountain feel. Though we both agreed it was not nearly as appealing as the Lake Louise Chateau. Tomorrow we come back down from the Rockies to western British Columbia to Kamloops. We'll catch you up in a couple days. </span></div>
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Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0Jasper National Park Jasper52.871147 -118.090551tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-64706003732216837932014-09-02T15:04:00.001-07:002014-09-11T09:51:36.446-07:00Canadian Vacation 2014<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Day 1 Seattle to Penticton</b><br />
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The morning started early. It looks like it's going to be a gorgeous day here in Seattle. Our first rest stop is planned for Bob's Burgers and Brew in Birch Bay. We met Dean's brother, sister and the kids for breakfast. It was great to see them, it's been almost a year since we've seen each other and the kids have grown so much. Here's a family photo.</div>
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From there we headed northwest to the border at Sumas, a very tiny border crossing with no wait. We rode the border East for 2-3 miles before heading Northeast to Hwy 1 and the Canadian and U.S. roads ran side-by-side.</div>
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We had roughly a 4 hour drive to Penticton, British Columbia. 328 miles from home with more and more winding, twisting roads the closer we got. Penticton is a resort town which is situated at the far south end of Okanagon Lake. The lake is enormous. It takes over and hour to drive top to bottom and it's pretty wide as well. It's a gorgeous day here. We checked in to our hotel, then after a quick Google search we headed in the direction of wine and food. The area is full of wineries and reminded us of the Lake Chelan, WA area with its varied colored rock, brownish-red dirt and scrubby brush. </div>
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The first stop was Hillside Winery and Bistro. We had a tasty late lunch and had a marvelous glass of Gamay Noir. So good we bought a couple bottles. The second stop was Red Rooster winery. They had a deeee-licious Gewvertriminer and Viogner. The reds were OK to blech. The ice wine was a tastey-sweet finish. </div>
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<b>Day 2 Penticton to Lake Louise</b></div>
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This drive started out great. The scenery was amazing ... then the traffic lights along and two-lane, "trans-Canada" highway got tedious. 489 miles of tedious. We hit lots of slow traffic and even sat in a construction backup, on a national holiday no-less, for at least an hour. Do I seem annoyed? We were. The weather also turned to gray and rain. A six-hour ride turned into 8 and we were sooooo ready to get out of the car when we finally arrived at our destination, cranky, hungry and stiff. From here it gets much better. Days<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> 2 & 3 are our splurge days and we stayed at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The second we stepped out of the car things got better. We were already checked in and the bell man had our room keys and took care of the luggage. The bell men are all dressed like Swiss Mountain Guides from the late 1800's, hats and all. We only went through the lobby to get to the elevator. Loved that. The Chateau has some fun shops and several places to eat, all with different menus. The food has been quite fantastic. We ate at the pub our first evening because everything was reserved until 9 pm. The breakfast buffet had a marvelous selection and everything was tasty. Dean particulary loved the pineapple fritter (donut doough around a pineapple slice and deep fried). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Below is Victoria Glacier sitting above Lake Louise. </span></div>
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<b>Day 3 Lake Louise & Banff</b></div>
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Lake Louise sits inside Banff National Park. Both Lake Louise and Banff are winter sport destinations. We had hoped the weather would cooperate better today, but alas it rained heavily most of the day and is slowly starting to clear as we head into early evening. We inteneded to take the gondola to the top of the mountain today to see the Lake and the continental divide and the clouds just got in the way. Instead, we headed 40 minutes east to Banff for some retail therapy. Worth the drive. Banff is an adorable town situated between several peaks. There are clear German and Swiss influences in the town. Sorry, not photos. It rained like mad while we where there. We caught glimpses of the spectacular beauty of the Canadian Rockies today, yet no lasting impressions.</div>
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After getting back to the Chateau we went to the dining room for high tea around 2 pm. They knew we had just celebrated an anniversary and treated us to a glass of a one of the best champagnes we've ever tasted. They told us only 2 places in all of Alberta have the priviledge to serve it, so of course we had to try it. We had a lovely seat in the window overlooking the lake. The finger sandwiches and the scones with deveonshire cream were our favorites. Tonight for dinner we'll have dinner in the Poppy Brassierie. It will be a difficult deciding what to eat.</div>
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<u>Some interesting observations and things we've learned:</u></div>
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- I found a cat toy in my luggage on the morning of day 2. Dude spent the morning we left playing in my luggage and must have packed a mouse for me to play with while I was gone. We miss them.</div>
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- The chateau is full of foreign guests. We've heard so many accents from all over Europe and Asia. </div>
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- Much of the wait and shop staff are Australians. We learned it's easy for them to get work visa's and its a great way for them to see the world while working. We're deducing work visa's are easier for folks who are part of the commonwealth nations.</div>
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- Everything about the Chateau is elegant. The lobby, the rooms, the restaurants, and even the different types of music playing throughout the resort spaces. I would love to have a bathroom decorated like the one in our room ... have you ever admitted that about a hotel bathroom?</div>
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- The reservation I made has apparently put me a "gold" status with the Fairmont. We are staying on the "gold member only" floor which has a private concierge service and lounge. Priviledge does have it's perks, and we like them.</div>
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- The glaciers grind the rock beneath them into a fine powder, Meltwaters wash this powder into the lake. The resulting silty water absorbs all colors of the incoming light, except the turquoise and vivid blue that reflects back ... the color of the lake we see.</div>
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We head to Jasper, Alberta tomorrow. The weather is supposed to start clearing so we're hoping to do the gondola ride here at Lake Louise before we leave. The weather should be better by Thursday ... we have another gondola ride to the high peaks of Glacier National park planned for that day.</div>
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Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-69886458015913585442013-10-27T12:41:00.001-07:002013-10-27T12:55:02.530-07:00We Are HomeWe made it home yesterday, landing at about 4pm and arriving around 5pm. <div><br></div><div>The flight home was, <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">fortunately,</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> uneventful. Terrie and I stayed up almost the entire way to allow for quick equalizing with the time shift. Fortunately we had some comfy seats and many movies at our disposal. I know I watched four movies and I think Terrie did the same. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Picture of my seat - it faces backwards. Terrie's was just through the drop-down window facing forward. </font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Note: The screen in the side panel swings out towards the seat and the seat lays flat for sleeping. Very nice. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBB2MxcrL_Vf_n-6nWdDW1EjK-7vQDOhjVA3m1plD-FP3CSVyk4n4Jq-l6N9WA7Ouwqu54mOX6LUSCbUHzKQOtPYXfgGOD8N0gO_n6rqLeuMgYrPo-O6K-LOyxhde3UUlpecGldVAHpdg/s640/blogger-image--413116495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBB2MxcrL_Vf_n-6nWdDW1EjK-7vQDOhjVA3m1plD-FP3CSVyk4n4Jq-l6N9WA7Ouwqu54mOX6LUSCbUHzKQOtPYXfgGOD8N0gO_n6rqLeuMgYrPo-O6K-LOyxhde3UUlpecGldVAHpdg/s640/blogger-image--413116495.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The only downside (minor) was our seat selections - we selected seats which happened to be right next to the cooler (refrigeration unit) exhaust vents. They happen to spit out into the cabin right where we were sitting. I think B.A. (British Airways) actually stands for "Big Apologies" as they did everything they could to cool the cabin and even offered to move us if it became unbearable. I'm sure everyone else was freezing as it was very pleasant for me by the end of the flight. I also offered to move in case anyone became too cold. Overall the flight was pleasant and calm. Customs was a breeze as well with Global Entry (I happened to find the only broken kiosk computer though - thought this was amusing, being a computer geek).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Upon arriving home, the cats were meowing at the door and very happy to see us. All yesterday evening they were stuck to us (mainly Terrie) like glue, running up and down the stairs to follow us. They especially loved it when we both awoke around 1am this morning as this was even more "play time" for them. </font></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Our welcoming</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hnb3TF3iIePQwNzbWlhVau8iLYhxTESz-LXCfltx8-xYtBezcEZeJLeAVrTyNntW-zbZDn7D8Ik0iJUz2_LzrVCxxAkVt-OrBWbJsFv-ysmQt_shewEe0Wa8Z4Uc4Pl6NmB2G5Gtobqd/s640/blogger-image-505576464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hnb3TF3iIePQwNzbWlhVau8iLYhxTESz-LXCfltx8-xYtBezcEZeJLeAVrTyNntW-zbZDn7D8Ik0iJUz2_LzrVCxxAkVt-OrBWbJsFv-ysmQt_shewEe0Wa8Z4Uc4Pl6NmB2G5Gtobqd/s640/blogger-image-505576464.jpg"></a></div><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTSxCU_Fw7lXkocI0p1CLQeoFqPqYXVngkRBqyuPZznYo9-VKP6l_ETbGDLxIqKy03iT2M-jf0PtJCl_pfiP52Nkg1vfzr8MQcUhgRMKhQa3D6hgppi-IrOOf-yTuMjnJKbyDtm8N94HL/s640/blogger-image-295550784.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTSxCU_Fw7lXkocI0p1CLQeoFqPqYXVngkRBqyuPZznYo9-VKP6l_ETbGDLxIqKy03iT2M-jf0PtJCl_pfiP52Nkg1vfzr8MQcUhgRMKhQa3D6hgppi-IrOOf-yTuMjnJKbyDtm8N94HL/s640/blogger-image-295550784.jpg"></a></div>Note: No shots of Edna as she was being her skitty self while Dude was being his nebby (nosey) self. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">All-in-all it was a great trip and we had a fun time for the week off I had and the two weeks Terrie had; enjoying some beautiful sights, food, people and more. We both agree, though, we are glad to be home. Even if it is rainy, wet, and cold here in Seattle. :-)</font></div>Squidly Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997666976897141179noreply@blogger.com0Magnolia Seattle47.649946 -122.391074tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-12792778872156593122013-10-26T05:43:00.001-07:002013-10-26T06:21:00.313-07:00Day 11 - Barcelona<div>Our final day in Spain. We have had a fantastic vacation and we are ready to go home. In fact, we are on layover at Heathrow Airport in the UK as I write and post our final Spain vacation blog.</div><div><br></div><div><b>What We Did Today:</b></div><div>We hopped on another train and went an hour or so outside Barcelona to Montserrat, meaning serrated mountain. The monestary is nestled in the jagged peaks at 2,400 feet. The first monks built huts at Montserrate around A.D. 900 and the monestary was founded in 1025. The Choir School followed shortly thereafter and is considered the oldest music school in Europe. The boys choir still perform concerts. We were fortunate enough to hear them sing live while we were visting. As with many monestaries and places people consider religiously sacred, Montserrat has had it's share of turmoil and destruction. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aBVJzvky7JI/Umu48q_bgyI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/1XJQQv49dXc/s640/blogger-image--1709386836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-aBVJzvky7JI/Umu48q_bgyI/AAAAAAAAC2Y/1XJQQv49dXc/s640/blogger-image--1709386836.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jtvEtSrm3QM/Umu9hAf42KI/AAAAAAAAC3A/HtLs1EaF7pE/s640/blogger-image--1252223431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-jtvEtSrm3QM/Umu9hAf42KI/AAAAAAAAC3A/HtLs1EaF7pE/s640/blogger-image--1252223431.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We took the cable car (funicular) to the top</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7jVzYf2uE_M/Umu47tCIstI/AAAAAAAAC2M/y5gPaJZn79M/s640/blogger-image--909187333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-7jVzYf2uE_M/Umu47tCIstI/AAAAAAAAC2M/y5gPaJZn79M/s640/blogger-image--909187333.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>View from the funicular while ascending the mountain</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9VSHoS0j4t0/Umu46ypJ01I/AAAAAAAAC2E/5Ok82hFvhs0/s640/blogger-image--1956167346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-9VSHoS0j4t0/Umu46ypJ01I/AAAAAAAAC2E/5Ok82hFvhs0/s640/blogger-image--1956167346.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The top attraction of Montserrat is La Morneta, the small wood statue of the Black Virgin, discovered in the Sacred Cave in the 12th century. Legend states she was carved by St. Luke and brought to Spain by St. Peter, hidden away in the cave during the Moorish invasions and discovered by shepherd children. Carbon dating puts her at 800 years old. The original statue was lighter and she has darkened over the centuries from candle smoke, humidity and the natural aging process of her original varnish. Pilgrims follow a long, ornate passageway inside the basillica for their moment to touch the virgin and be "alone" with her. We followed the pilgrims in and had our moment with her. Just before you get to her, is an arch-coverd stairwell filled with shimmering tiles of several female saints. The space stood out from the rest because is sparkled with light where the rest of the basillica is dimly lit and filled with dark, ornate wood furniture and carvings. She sits behind a protective case and her hand is accessible through a small hole just big enough to put your fingers on hers. Sorry - no photos allowed. </span></div><div><br></div><div>Outside the Basillica </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E8DHV_OlSII/Umu49CvNLII/AAAAAAAAC2k/IWqqfKBSYhM/s640/blogger-image--1819272360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E8DHV_OlSII/Umu49CvNLII/AAAAAAAAC2k/IWqqfKBSYhM/s640/blogger-image--1819272360.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div><div>Inside the Basillica - La Morneta is in the window above the the back of the alter and if you look closely you can see the boy choir in their white robes.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qj0CDpDymzA/Umu48I76QjI/AAAAAAAAC2U/-u7SuovWDzg/s640/blogger-image--874879094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qj0CDpDymzA/Umu48I76QjI/AAAAAAAAC2U/-u7SuovWDzg/s640/blogger-image--874879094.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Then we ventured up even higher via the Sant Joan Funicular, another 820 feet. Looking down at the monestary. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Uwd_ujqD1ho/Umu491lEaaI/AAAAAAAAC2s/1NJ4Ci7jznI/s640/blogger-image-574844643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Uwd_ujqD1ho/Umu491lEaaI/AAAAAAAAC2s/1NJ4Ci7jznI/s640/blogger-image-574844643.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The view on the way back down from Sant Joan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l02TGlbAq3g/Umu4-qXx_sI/AAAAAAAAC20/dYomFHZPMqE/s640/blogger-image-598228912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l02TGlbAq3g/Umu4-qXx_sI/AAAAAAAAC20/dYomFHZPMqE/s640/blogger-image-598228912.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We met people from all over while spending the day here. We heard more English spoken, with American accents, here than we did our entire two weeks. We met people from Philadelphia and Houston. While waiting for the Sant Joan funiclular we had a lovely chat with two gentleman from Norway. We learned the English, Scandanavians and Irish all vacation in Spain. The main reasons being it is easy to get to with loads of flight options and it's much less expensive than other warm climate countries in Europe. These two gentlemen were snowbirds from Norway. One has a house with his wife outside of Barcelona.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Word of the Day</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We saw this on a couple menues and finally asked. "Farm crashed eggs" means fried egg. We assumed it meant scrambled eggs just due to the word crashed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Till next trip,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Adios</div></div></div>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-5903603341768289362013-10-25T09:54:00.001-07:002014-09-11T09:49:12.152-07:00Day 10 - Back to Barcelona<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We are back in Barcelona and a leisurely train ride across the northern part of the county. Once we were checked in to the hotel and fed (seafood paella - not something we normally order, it was amazing and we didn't even mind that some of it was staring back at us before we ate it) ... we decided to enjoy the AC in our room for an hour. It is wonderful to feel cool and sticky -free for a short spell.</div>
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<b>Catalan Politics</b></div>
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On the cab ride to the hotel we went past La Ramblas (the popular street with shops) where school and university teachers were holding a strike protest. Traffic was terrible. The cab driver was telling us of the 800,000 boys in the schools around the city, 20 or so have voiced an opinion how they prefer Spanish in schools over the regional language of Catalan. To give you some perspective, the Catalan people would like to gain sovereignty from the Spanish federal government and Madrid. So they are fierce about maintaining their language and customs which were nearly lost through years of war. Back to the strike....A government official apparently made a sweeping decision that Spanish would be the language used ... so the teachers were striking and protesting. It appeared students and parents may have been part of the march as well.</div>
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<b>What we did today</b></div>
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After our cool down, we were back at it. We walked about 1.5 miles from the the hotel to go see La Padrera, also called Casa Mila by some. It is an icon work of Modernisme, again designed from ground up by Antoni Gaudi (including the interior, right down to the door knobs which perfectly fit your hand). It sits in the Eixample (eye-SHAM-pla). This neighborhood was built in the mid-19th century when the population burst our from the (formerly) walled city of Barcelona. People had a taste for what was modern including electricity, streetcars, and a free-flowing organic feel. The area is a strict grid plan where the sidewalks are big and full of shops and the street corners are cropped to create an airy feel to each intersection. </div>
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Built between 1906 and 1912, the building is like a giant sculpture you can live in. Again, Gaudi derives much of his inspiration from nature. The floor plans optimize light. He uses a series of catenary brick and iron arches to support the structure so no inside or outside wall is load bearing. The tenant can move the interior walls to suit their own desires for space. </div>
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There were many chimney stacks on the roof, but not all are actually chimneys. Some are stairwells, like the tiled one in the photo with Dean and I. The stairwells actually house the collected water supply for the building as well in the center columns. Some are fireplace/heating vents and other are air vents for the building.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Gaudi paid attention to every detail including the placement of windows and how light and air moved through the apartments to the plaster ornamentation around the door and window frames.</span></div>
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Inside courtyard</div>
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View of Eixample from rooftop</div>
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Tomorrow off to Montserrat.</div>
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Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-64858218337389152792013-10-25T02:19:00.001-07:002013-10-25T02:19:39.337-07:00Family Jokes - Tutti FruttiHey Evan, they have a store for you here in Barcelona. ;-)<br /><br />Found this in the third level of the subway at Placa d'Espanya, Barcelona, Spain. <br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/111960042719804463037/TheFlamingFamilyBlog?authkey=Gv1sRgCL6Y593Tv73PxgE#5938620246020457330'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5fjPXWhDdYr450yr_Y8Kx6fG-eIYEd2N6s0WYmOjnMi8ppkRFTWzqKm0lx1IQMOwE9hnKmumNlGiOttLQfNcSfCUU8jiArJRbmwdKet4P3IuwMeZDBwbpOGj3Dx82AEfAhxx2kG6TACSX/s288/1382692539.553250.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I probably just have everyone the "<i>Beach Boys - Kokomo</i>" ear worm. :-)<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Placa%20d'Espanya,%20Barcelona,%20Spain%4041.452313%2C1.966205&z=10'>Placa d'Espanya, Barcelona, Spain</a></p>Squidly Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997666976897141179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-7579707292597900892013-10-24T00:42:00.001-07:002013-10-24T00:42:28.623-07:00Day 9 - SpainThis is our last day in San Sebastián. It is gorgeous weather again today and we move at a leisurely pace. We stopped at our usual spot for breakfast and let them know it would be our last day. Handshakes and well wishes were exchanged.<br /><br />We meandered about the city checking out some corners of Old Town we had not yet explored and views of the beach we had not yet seen. We headed back to the hotel to start the packing process and enjoyed an afternoon siesta. Not much to report on this lazy vacation day.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5938223969913742946'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YDTYi6N57Qk/UmjPPRNrJmI/AAAAAAAAC0Q/nGGXZmM-TB4/s288/1382599279.037714.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5938224048636733586'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-QMtM8jAlJ18/UmjPT2esqJI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/KP-WG1-4Kcg/s288/1382599281.305697.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5938224111099217922'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-WIqk7SHRDho/UmjPXfK6iAI/AAAAAAAAC0g/-TTFz0Axc9k/s288/1382599282.733444.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='69' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />We made our way out for dinner, going to our favorite La Viña. We had to enjoy the cheesecake experience one last time before departing. Our day starts very early on Thursday with a 7:30 am train to Barcelona. <br /><br />We have a few more things to squeeze in so stay tuned. <br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=San%20Sebasti%C3%A1n,%20Spain%4042.828983%2C-1.655765&z=10'>San Sebastián, Spain</a></p>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-76653467757765605232013-10-23T07:59:00.001-07:002013-10-23T07:59:26.050-07:00Day 8 - FranceWe were up a bit earlier today and went back to France. It was quite windy here today with some gusts making it hard to walk. Rain threatened the better part of the day yet; thankfully, never came. The weather has been good to us the entire trip and it looks to continue through at least Saturday. Despite the humidity in San Sebastián, it hasn't rained at all during the day and as far as we can tell it only rained one night.<br /><br /><b>How many trains to and from France on this day, you ask?</b> <br />Only 4 trains. The minimum required, though it was longer than a 45 minute trip one-way. The wait for the train going from Hendeya to St-Jean-de-Luz was an hour. The Spanish trains leave right on time ... you're either on or off, and then it's gone. There is no time to ponder your situation or surroundings.<br /><br />We finally had some good shopping and I got some much needed retail therapy. I must admit I am both amazed and dissapointed, there are no local artisan shops or areas in either city we've visited. San Sebastián is full of fashion and the few items which appear local are surely mass produced in China. Sound familiar? Even Barcelona was full of the same kinds of stuff everywhere I went, mostly clothes, shoes, leather goods and tourist trinkets. The one exception we found is they do make gorgeous table and bath linens in the local Basque region.<br /><br />A sales lady in St-Jean-de-Luz said we wouldn't really find hand made items/local artisans around Basque Country, except maybe old town San Sebastián (which is right where we're staying and there are none). She highly recommended Portugal and said the local food and artisans are incredible in the towns on the outskirts of Lisbon. We also had an animated conversation with her about Orlando, Fl. She was so excited to have taken her daughter and cannot wait to go back. Her face lit up and she exclaimed "it was like magic!" She also talked about how she can relate to the patriotism and passion Americans have for their country because the Basque feel the same way and will fight to keep their traditions, language and culture alive.<br /><br />Looking down Rue Gambetta from Place Louis XIV (main square in town)<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937965202817063474'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0Bjg1UC4MMs/Umfj5CqKmjI/AAAAAAAACzI/vVueyX7-g4M/s288/1382518408.384446.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Macaroons - oh my! This cookie just grabs you and it's impossible to focus on anything else when eating one...yes it's that good. The French Basque are apparently famous for their macaroons and now we completely understand. We kept saying "yummm", and "um-hmmmmm" the whole time we ate one cookie. Wish I had bought some to take home yet something tells me there was no chance they'd actually make it out of the country let alone all the way home.<br /><br />The macaroons are the smaller wafers on top and left. <br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937965328530478402'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wzaRNbdtINQ/UmfkAW-lFUI/AAAAAAAACzQ/v0DDyAUZi_E/s288/1382518417.603001.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Trees inside Place Louis XIV (main square in town). These are Plane Trees, which are cut back in winter so in summer they'll come back with thick, shady foliage.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937965379655712850'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g6ummf2QMk0/UmfkDVbyQFI/AAAAAAAACzY/sMn00_szE1Q/s288/1382518426.681223.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Back in San Sebastián we dropped off our few purchases at the hotel and headed to dinner at our favorite spot, La Viña. We arrived at the start of the dinner rush so there was no waiting for space at the bar. We had a few pintxos (Peen-chohs) which are very small plates of food, allowing you to taste several items to make a meal. Of course we finished our meal with their scrumptious cheesecake. <br /><br />This happy, friendly man has waited on us every night we've been here. He hustles, moving non-stop for hours so we haven't had a chance to learn his name. Maybe tomorrow on our last night in town. La Viña is a busy, busy place during the lunch and dinner rush.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937965427680264674'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-jkF6yFC8tJM/UmfkGIVuweI/AAAAAAAACzg/DPNtVukMhLw/s288/1382520188.551191.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />La Viña's award winning pinxto (fresh cream cheese and anchovy, wrapped in a toasted shell) Sooooo good!! Again, these are not the salty, fishy anchovies we get in the states.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937965498231986386'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-R-6K_FVZiRA/UmfkKPKkmNI/AAAAAAAACzo/PYvoJdESDzo/s288/1382520190.816493.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />A meatball with tomato/pepper sauce and a few potatoe fries. The other plate are jamón croquettes. Bite size comfort food filled with ham and creamy potatoes, then deep fried.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937965555747079618'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-V7QFrw2Pd6s/UmfkNlbPRcI/AAAAAAAACzw/WI5srdLW2vE/s288/1382520193.575717.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /> <br />Our walk to the hotel from dinner included a short detour. This view is looking down from a bridge onto the street where our hotel is.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937965593329594482'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9qlrrIjoHtE/UmfkPxbm8HI/AAAAAAAACz4/oy6uG3JVYFE/s288/1382520503.889162.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Same street, looking towards end of street which opens onto Concha Bay<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937965632575457458'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-S9OhH0xK6mc/UmfkSDojSLI/AAAAAAAAC0A/09yfLHO5CqE/s288/1382520506.540591.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><b>Observations</b><br /><ins>Trains</ins> - The train system here in Spain is truly remarkable. Americans should be so lucky to have mass transit on this scale. Maybe some cities operate like this, certainly not Seattle. I noticed lots of elderly riding the trains, whether to go shopping, visiting, or out for an evening meal. The system is so easy to use with frequently running trains. I especially love how it seems to keep the elderly mobile and perhaps less reliant on assistance until much later in their lives.<br /><br /><ins>To Go Cups</ins> - We noticed some of the coffee shops here have to-go cups for coffees or espressos, though we've only seen one person in San Sebastián choose that option. Most folks actually stop and stand at the bar to enjoy their coffee and whatever they're eating off of real dinnerware. I noticed one lady come in for two large cups of coffee. She left with the full cups of coffee and saucers, to be returned later. We often saw people leave with dishes and cups from restaurants and cafés only to return them later. It's worth noting Barcelona is full of Starbuck's coffee stores so we saw to-go cups were more common in that city.<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=San-Jean-de-Luz,France%4043.319333%2C-1.985278&z=10'>San-Jean-de-Luz,France</a></p>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-36724812182737749352013-10-22T13:12:00.001-07:002013-10-22T13:12:10.006-07:00Day 7 - Off to France<b>A Tale of Seven Trains</b><br /><br />You can probably tell from the lead in where today's story is going, so let's take the journey to St-Jean-de-Luz, France.<br /><br />We were off to a very late start. The late nights are catching up with us and Dean actually slept until 10 am which puts us on our way around noon maybe a little later. We stopped at our usual AM spot for a very light breakfast and fresh squeezed OJ. We watched a whole orange go into a juicing machine and end up as liquid in a glass. They keep the oranges cold so the OJ is a nice cool temperature when it hits the class. Deelish!<br /><br />Here's what we think we know when we start our trip to France: We can get to St-Jean-de-Luz in about 45 minutes on 2 trains. One train from San Sebastián to the French border at Hendaye and the second from the French border to our destination.<br /><br /><ins>Train 1</ins><br />Gets us from San Sebastián to Irun ... just shy of the border. So we wait for the next train that goes all they way to France (7-10 more minutes). This could happen to anyone; only 1 of every 4 trains stopping in Irun goes all the way to the border. So we wait 10 minutes for the next train.<br /><br /><ins>Train 2</ins><br />Gets us from Irun to Hendeye, France. There is no border control. We walked out of the Spanish train station and went 300 yards or so into the French train station. The Spanish train system is much, <i>much</i> easier to use than the French system. It's a quick 2 minutes at a kiosk in Spain to get your ticket and the trains run every 10-15 minutes ... in France there is a long line to get a ticket because the automated kiosks don't take cash and or non-european issued credit cards. The tickets are significantly more expensive in France relative to distance travelled and we had a 30-45 minute wait. There is no border control between Spain and France and I admit I was disappointed to not be getting a French stamp in my passport.<br /><br /><ins>Train 3</ins><br />Gets us from Hendeya to St-Jean-De-Luz only we missed our stop partially because the announcement in French was spoken so quickly we had no idea what was said. We were on a long train and as we rolled out of the station we saw the sign.<br /><br /><ins>Train 4</ins><br />So, we get off at the next stop to wait 30 minutes for a train to take us 10 minutes back the direction we just came. Finally we arrive at our destination around 4 pm. Keep in mind we got on the first train in San Sebastián at about 1:30 pm. <br /><br /><ins>St-Jean-De-Luz</ins><br />FINALLY!! It is a charming little beach town and a favorite of the French. We hear it is jam-packed during July & August. It's easy to see the appeal. It has a gorgeous beach, a fun shopping district with loads of fun stores, and you can walk just about everywhere. So it's now after 5 pm, we're starving, our train goes back to the border at 7 pm and the restaurants are all closed until 6:30 pm. The stores started to pack up for the night around 6 pm, so we barely had a chance to stroll through, eat a quick sandwich and head back to the train. <br /><br />Below is Eglise St. Jean-Baptiste. St-Jean-de-Luz was essentially put on the map when Louis XIV married Marie-Therese in 1660. It led to a reconciliation between Europe's two most powerful counties. King Philip IV of Spain gave his daughter in marriage to the king of France, uniting Europe's two largest palaces and helped end a hundred years of hostility between the two countries. The church is roughly half-way between Madrid and Paris. <br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937674791731797074'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cr0P05m1NxM/Umbbw5D3HFI/AAAAAAAACyA/4LO3IWu6Lx0/s288/1382466846.663496.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937674852204739490'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-vTwSPVLG280/Umbb0aVu-6I/AAAAAAAACyI/EFqXSfRYVMQ/s288/1382466850.652081.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />The houses are all white with mostly green or red shudders. There is the occasional house with blue shudders.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937674891721601074'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-8qXBjyKk78Y/Umbb2tjScDI/AAAAAAAACyQ/LZHmWmz-jiw/s288/1382467444.052810.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937674926659077874'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QUeTjcppVZA/Umbb4vtCBvI/AAAAAAAACyY/9enpOKRdiwc/s288/1382467445.071529.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937674966031321714'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-lnB6yQSxXBs/Umbb7CYGynI/AAAAAAAACyg/M-ILmNNnPRM/s288/1382467448.081321.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937675066659844738'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4s_6URNmijs/UmbcA5P0MoI/AAAAAAAACyo/sXNdDmrm03Y/s288/1382468862.344631.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937675112235413458'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-p1LE5-OvKzM/UmbcDjB4L9I/AAAAAAAACyw/1fr1QlMNY0w/s288/1382467449.515198.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937675148307699874'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YR_YtctC2tk/UmbcFpaLmKI/AAAAAAAACy4/J7jxjUsXT_k/s288/1382467466.731959.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />We did manage to find a chocolate shop and other sweet morsels. One of the shopkeepers asked me, in French, if I wanted to have a taste (this was accompanied by a hand gesture offering me a choice from the platter). I obliged and she asked me in a thick French accent if I spoke English ... I respond "Si" ... remember I've been saying "si" for "yes" for over a week now I'm Spain, so the word is now part of <i>my</i> English vocabulary. She looks at me strangely and asked me in Spanish if I speak that language and I respond "no" ... Well you know that look a dog gets when they hear a weird noise and torque their head sideways? That's how the shopkeeper looked at me. I completely confused the woman despite the fact I correctly answered her first question; I just used the wrong language.<br /><br />Back to the <i>Tale of Seven Trains</i>...<br /><br /><ins>Train 5</ins><br />This train is on time and begins our trek back to Spain from St-Jean-de-Luz. This leg was a non-event.<br /><br /><ins>Train 6</ins><br />Rolls in almost immediately at the border in Hendeya to take us back to Spain. The train is busy this time of evening. We're guessing folks are going out and about for dinner. We get off the train in the right city ... one stop too soon. Big sigh. San Sebastián is so much bigger than we thought.<br /><br /><ins>Train 7</ins><br />This train takes us the one last hop between the two ends of town and brings us back to where our journey began over 8 hours prior. We are weary, hungry travelers in search of a restaurant on our walk to the hotel.<br /><br />We decided to go back to St-Jean-de-Luz tomorrow so we could take advantage of the shops, see a bit more of the city and challenge ourselves to do it in 4 trains rather than 7. Stay tuned.<br /><br /><b><i>The End!</i></b><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Saint-Jean-de-Luz,France%4043.323158%2C-1.986553&z=10'>Saint-Jean-de-Luz,France</a></p>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-3514593191835675042013-10-21T14:51:00.001-07:002013-10-21T14:51:45.351-07:00Day 6 - SpainWe were off to an early start today. Up at 6 am-ish to catch the 7:50 train to Bilbao. The town is almost completely dark at 7:15 am on a Sunday. Only one coffee shop was open between our walk from the hotel to the train station. It's actually become our breakfast spot and they also recognize us now. <br /><br /><b>Unexpected Connection with a Local</b><br />The train ride to Bilbao is about 2 hours and 30 minutes. It's a commuter train so it doesn't go too fast and has frequent stops. We sat across the aisle from this little old lady (to qualify old, she was easily well into her 80's). Somewhere along the ride another woman got on and sat in the seat opposite the old lady. This second woman did not look well, was sweating profusely and panting. I initially thought she had just run like mad to catch the train. We handed her a few napkins so she could wipe her face and she muttered something in Spanish that I somehow knew didn't equate to a thank you. It didn't take too long to assess there was something way off about her behavior. Several minutes went by and the second lady got up, wandered down the train and sat down next to someone else, then got up again a few minutes later. The whole time Dean, the old lady and me are peering down the aisle like busy bodies watching her every move. It was at this point the old lady looked at Dean, pointed to the other woman, and made the sign of someone crazy. the second woman wandered by down the aisle past us and spent the rest of her trip in the bathroom smoking. No, smoking on the train is not allowed. Our little old lady friend got up and knocked on the door to tell the woman to stop smoking. We loved that about her, despite the fact it didn't work. We chatted a bit with the old lady during this train ride, Dean used his phone and she used sign language. She totally made us smile.<br /><br />We expected to see more single family homes as we got out of San Sebastián. This was not the case. What we did see was tons of apartment buildings all very close to the train line. It makes sense since the regional train system is how many Spaniards get around. This part of the Basque Region is lush and green. <br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329009482703570'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JXrp-eVtllM/UmWhRtzWotI/AAAAAAAACwA/zzf3QiY1E98/s288/1382346157.440573.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329055176311138'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-U8Xkgb3b5Yc/UmWhUYBjwWI/AAAAAAAACwI/nDrMLtEBXN0/s288/1382346134.508361.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Once in Bilbao, it's easy to see the city making a shift from industrial town to something more modern as well as a tourist destination. The Guggenheim Museum also draws people from all over. There is a handy tram just outside the train station to take you through the city. It follows and almost hugs the curvy Nervion River. The Guggenhiem stands out from every other structure in the city despite the few tall, modern glass buildings. <br /><br />Front (entrance is down the stairs)<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329098200614706'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-PBO2r_2jiH4/UmWhW4TWhzI/AAAAAAAACwQ/ap7o7zEEE00/s288/1382387767.610099.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Inside lobby looking up<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329146495846226'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Ag0ZcZqBXsE/UmWhZsN1R1I/AAAAAAAACwY/9Y5jaxidugE/s288/1382387687.442153.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Back of building on the river<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329182032563426'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4qo4uuvUqA4/UmWhbwmcjOI/AAAAAAAACwg/DOJQDnU0KNQ/s288/1382387716.128535.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329228383154818'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-9auovQCt1N8/UmWhedRScoI/AAAAAAAACwo/KCQGo9NFREA/s288/1382387722.222343.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />There are 3 floors of exhibits inside the museum. Only two were open this day and we think it is why admission was free. The building was designed by Frank Gehry. There are not many straight lines inside or outside the building. The museum has two permanent collections, the first being The Matter Of Time by Richard Sera. They are immense metal structures, almost like human mazes. Once you are inside interacting with the art itself, space, sound, motion and time are all distorted and in my case, dizzying. <br /><br />Models of the large metal structures<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329276819505618'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-sf9MnpDQT6c/UmWhhRtagdI/AAAAAAAACww/zB5vIXitxtc/s288/1382346605.481674.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329331283579026'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WPgB-z9et5s/UmWhkcmqUJI/AAAAAAAACw4/7znKDo7Uu8o/s288/1382346610.028698.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Me needing to hold on after slowing making my out. I had to look up on my way out in order to create a false horizon with the top of the structure and the ceiling. <br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329379907481778'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cd73Kv-nEns/UmWhnRvgMLI/AAAAAAAACxA/2bb3csS1g6U/s288/1382346611.772100.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />The other permanent collection is by Antoni Tàpies, an artist from the Catalan region. Despite the explanation on the wall, the explanation provided via audio guide, the explanation in our Spain tourist book, and the Guggenheim visitor guide ... the essence of what we were looking at was completely lost on us. It was so completely void of any tangible meaning. Enough said. Google him if you're curious to see what we saw.<br /><br />The building, we got ... The facade is limestone and titanium and connects the city with its river, and sort of shimmers like a silvery fish in the water. You can see the overlapping of fish scales all throughout the architecture, even the glass enclosed elevator. The outside space if phenomenal. In front is a 42-foot West Highland Terrier made of 60,000 plants and flowers. It was originally intended to be temporary; however, the people of Bilbao fell in love with it and bought it. It is lovingly referred to as "Puppy."<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329435137745634'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8qCYs5KXnqY/UmWhqffbIuI/AAAAAAAACxI/s4zvCaIA0m8/s288/1382388885.268682.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329500697662434'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nETz99Uw2mE/UmWhuTuIE-I/AAAAAAAACxQ/lHwOKRaWGHA/s288/1382388889.348659.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Looking across the river from back of building<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329549367443538'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PRt4fzacKHU/UmWhxJB6AFI/AAAAAAAACxY/xkWfKhUg4ls/s288/1382389482.925059.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329604946172850'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-C-Uqa7pX1Ug/UmWh0YE6G7I/AAAAAAAACxg/uCYnDEZkjGE/s288/1382389496.476894.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329662896776146'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ZgxVOIwwTeo/UmWh3v9aI9I/AAAAAAAACxo/N3EdMzFktfc/s288/1382389578.073983.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5937329731093032114'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PEseWlOvxrE/UmWh7uAqbLI/AAAAAAAACxw/mlAB1sxgkyg/s288/1382389578.933513.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Back to the train, and guess who gets on? Yep, the same sweet old lady. She greeted us when she got on but didn't sit next to us this time. Her destination came before ours and on her way out she stopped to give us a little bag of local hard candies. She tapped her heart with her hand and warmly smiled. We didn't understand what she said yet it felt as if she was saying it was nice to have met us. <br /><br /><b>Word & Observation of the Day - Combo</b><br />The Spanish are not averse to ice like other Europeans. In fact you can get ice just about anywhere. The word is "hielo"; pronounced almost like "yellow." Even when my tea is too hot, they offer me hielo. Love them!! <br /><br />Tomorrow - off to France!<br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Calle%20del%20Puerto,San%20Sebastian,Spain%4043.323218%2C-1.986544&z=10'>Calle del Puerto,San Sebastian,Spain</a></p>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-62469877651677649222013-10-19T15:33:00.001-07:002013-10-19T15:58:30.356-07:00Day 5 - San Sebastián, Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>What we did today:</b><br />
As I mentioned yesterday, our pace has dramatically slowed down. We struggled to get going this morning. It felt sooo good to sleep in. Our missions today were laundry, train tickets back to Barcelona and to figure out the regional train system and schedules. We were finally out the door around 11 am, maybe a little later. We stopped at a small cafe for a quick, light breakfast then walked to the main drag in search of a taxi. It stayed overcast all day and was also about 4 degrees cooler than yesterday. It's still humid, although much more tolerable with the cooler temp. <br />
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The lavanderia was small considering there are apparently only 2 options in a city this size. Once laundry was folded and packed, we headed off in search of the national train station. Turned out it was only a 10-15 minute walk from the laundromat. From there we headed to the regional train station, another 20 minute walk. The area around both train stations is much quieter (mostly residential) than Old Town (where we're staying) and the streets are quite pretty.<br />
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Notice the separation between pedestrian sidewalk, bike lanes and car/bus lanes in the photo below. The bike lane even has it's own signal. I want this in Seattle!!! Correction, we need this in Seattle.<br />
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<b><ins>View over the Rio Urumea</ins></b></center>
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Missions accomplished. We set off for Old Town, stopping for lunch at Rojo & Negro. I really do have to talk about the food again ... When folks tell you the food is "good" in Basque Country, it's not the whole story. The food is truly fabulous. We enjoyed a goat cheese salad, Squid Risotto topped with bacon, Beef Tenderloin with potatoes, and fresh Monkfish with potatoes. I also had the txakoli (local sparkling wine) ... I will always know how to say this now. Our waiter taught me. With a heavy accent he said "say chololate very fast." So I said "Chokaleet," he smiled and said "si, si, si." <br />
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We were off again. Getting to Old Town required a walk through Centro (central district). Centro is blocks and blocks of great stores and loads of people. At last, we made it back to the hotel, hung the laundry that could not go in the dryer and took a quick siesta. We love siesta. Dean says, we should all go home in the middle of the day to have lunch and take a nap. We were back out again around 7 pm. We headed back the Centro area to do some shopping and see what there was to see. I confess I bought another pair of small boots. We thought about that cheesecake from La Vińa all day so we headed back for more. We've been to La Vińa three times in two days and they definitely recognize us now. We'll be going back again, and again, before we leave San Sebastián. Everything we've eaten there is good. The people here take great pride in their food and the bars and restaurants have a lot of competition. They work very hard to make great cuisine. Even the octopus and anchovies are tasteful. They're not the salty, disgustingly fishy anchovies we get in the States. These are not cured or salted and they actually are enjoyable. <br />
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<b>Today's Observations:</b><br />
<ins>Weddings</ins>- Our hotel is about a block and a half away from Église Santa Maria Church. The church bells go off every 15 minutes ... you do get used to it. Today there were at least 2 weddings in the church. The bells go off at the end of a wedding as well. When we stopped for breakfast this morning we noticed lots of very dressed people up headed towards the church, many with cocktail or beer in hand. Sure enough we look down the street towards the church and you just know it's a wedding. This group of guys came by with this "take your photo with the bride and groom" picture board. The men told us it was one euro/photo. We're pretty sure they were serious as this is a fun way to collect cash for the happy couple. Sort of like the tradition of paying a dollar to dance with the bride or groom at a reception. When we got back to Old Town today we also noticed wedding guests walking away from the church with cocktails/beers in hand. We have no idea where they were all headed after the wedding, though it certainly made us curious about wedding customs in Spain. I plan to research it or ask someone before we leave.<br />
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<ins>Puppies</ins>- We've noticed a lot more dogs in San Sebastián. Mostly small dogs and all very well behaved (or small enough to be carried in bags and doggy purses). Many of the dogs are off leash and are trained to follow their person. <br />
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<ins>Fashionistas</ins>- Most people here dress very well. Lot's of folks have jeans on yet we noticed at night people get very dressed up to come out for dinner and socializing. Even if they have jeans on, they're dressy jeans with fancy shoes, tops, jewelry and handbags. Even the men dress smartly. It's like a runway fashion show to us, sitting on the church steps with loads of other folks watching the outfits go by.<br />
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Tomorrow, we head to Bilbao (rhymes with "cow"). Tell you about it soon.<br />
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br />
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Location:<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Calle%20del%20Puerto,San%20Sebastian,Spain%4043.323233%2C-1.986572&z=10">Calle del Puerto,San Sebastian,Spain</a></div>
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Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-280200558284199012013-10-19T02:31:00.001-07:002013-10-19T02:31:40.302-07:00Day 4 - Spain - San Sebastián/Donastia We had an early morning start today. Hopped in a train at 7:30 am and roughly 6 hours later we were in San Sebastián. It was a relaxing trip and we were both grateful to not be driving. The train station in Barcelona is quite nice, easy to navigate, and quite clean.<br /><br />Our weather in San Sebastián today is gorgeous!! Low 80's and sunny, though a little sticky for our taste. We both packed for somewhat cooler weather and have been sweaty-sticky pretty much all day. It is cooling off very nicely this evening and the days are expected to get just a bit cooler each day we're here. Our hotel is right in the heart of old town, very plain and simple compared to the higher end Hotel 1898 in Barcelona. In addition to simpler accommodations, our pace has dramatically slowed down. We checked into the hotel, sat/dozed for a spell, then walked about town. We were hungry, it was 4:30 pm and we hadn't eaten since breakfast. Most bars are restaurants are open; yet, the kitchens close between lunch and supper. We stopped in La Vina - the tapas left from lunch were cold so we opted for a piece of their famous cheesecake. Oh my, oh my, oh my!! We'll be getting more of that before our 6 days here are done. Light, creamy goodness that is not at all sweet!<br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936396529899507378'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6nMxuGZKUr8/UmJRMQqFjrI/AAAAAAAACtw/uCekj3lGmRA/s288/1382133877.187632.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936396581015492482'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-b0n7qtkjlng/UmJRPPFFl4I/AAAAAAAACt4/k259Y6VqZOw/s288/1382133878.253227.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /> <br /><br />San Sebastián sits above Concha Bay. It has a wonderful beachfront promenade that runs the entire length of the bay. The city is about 1000 years old. The town burned down in 1813 when Spain, Portugal & England fought the French to get Napoleon's brother off the Spanish throne. As a result the architecture is mostly Neoclassical and uniform. It's also a much bigger city than we anticpated. About 185,000 people live here and it swells to twice that during high tourist season. It's much busier than we expected it to be.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936396609623127474'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cbh6JipaWdI/UmJRQ5prdbI/AAAAAAAACuA/_sTcRVIQ7S4/s288/1382134558.826402.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936396650085927250'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L-shftRU1U8/UmJRTQYwyVI/AAAAAAAACuI/Zu2SsNg9x3M/s288/1382134569.885212.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936396687475028754'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WHudvGfDph0/UmJRVbrBMxI/AAAAAAAACuQ/YDPNmdRoLLk/s288/1382134599.394945.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936396728806921154'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-6lBzxAQu4JQ/UmJRX1pT08I/AAAAAAAACuY/mrfvg_jVFi4/s288/1382134601.481778.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />The kitchens open again at 7 pm or so. Old Town, where we're staying, is the best place to enjoy Pinxtos (Peen-chohs) or Tapas in San Sebastián. Each place is known for their own specialty and you'll see some of the same choices in each bar. Part of the fun is going from bar to bar, eating & drinking your way through town. You either snuggle into the bar or spill out into the street, most everyone is standing. We noticed 1-3 small tables in each place. You just have to worm your way in and be a bit pushy to get the staff's attention. Given it's not unusual for us to eat standing up around the kitchen island talking about our day, this was right up our alley. We hit 3 bars last night and enjoyed two local wines. One being txakoli (chah-koh-LEE). Fresh white wine poured from very high to break against the glass and aerate to add sparkle. It's light and delicious. I love the bubbles so for me it works with any food. My favorites so far are the jamon croquettes and the hake (white fish). There were easily 3 times as many people out at 8 pm than at 4 pm. The sidewalks of Old Town are crowded and loud. Large and small groups of people are cloistered in the streets outside the bars, some with food and most with drinks. It's easy to spot the popular bars, and whether the draw is young people, older people or a good mix of both. <br /><br />Despite our early rise this day, we didn't get to bed until after midnight. We've decided to do our day trips by train and ditch the car. Parking is difficult here and very expensive. About $34/day. Saturday is laundry day and we need to figure out the regional train system so we can go to Bilbao tomorrow, possibly Pamplona on Monday and into France Tuesday & Wednesday. <br /><br />Here are a couple shots of the txikiteo (chi-kee-tay-oh or bar hopping) and moonlight over Bahia de la Concha<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936396775171796850'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8ZFgGQY3-Bc/UmJRaiXjr3I/AAAAAAAACug/dxGj3_tLDhY/s288/1382174235.715187.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936396811869560466'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-_4XQhAyZEkE/UmJRcrE_HpI/AAAAAAAACuo/BzeSMr5ZyUk/s288/1382174299.510344.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />The beachfront promenade is very romantic and we noticed many locals couples out for an evening, after dinner, stroll.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936396841266026338'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mTLyQOvXibs/UmJReYlpl2I/AAAAAAAACuw/VPdsPLroWA0/s288/1382174466.302015.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Calle%20Mayor,San%20Sebastian,Spain%4043.322271%2C-1.985384&z=10'>Calle Mayor,San Sebastian,Spain</a></p>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-16323412664152904822013-10-18T03:52:00.001-07:002013-10-18T03:52:54.282-07:00Day 3 - Barcelona<b>Day 3</b><br /><br />We finally got our bodies on local time. I made myself get up with Dean and we actually had breakfast together. <br /><br />Dean headed to work and I hopped in a taxi headed to Sagrada Familia (Holy Family). It is the unfinished, Modernista style, work of the famous Spanish architect, Antoni Gaudi. It is crammed with symbolism and again he derives much of his inspiration from nature and religion. You just don't think of cathedrals of this magnitude and architectural style being built in modern times. Construction began in 1882. Guadi labored on Sagrada Familia for 43 years and lived like a recluse for the last 14 years of his life devoted exclusively to the cathedral. He was killed by a tram in 1926. Construction began again after the Spanish civl war and continues today. Guadi left detailed instructions with his vision for the cathedral and now visitor ticket fees fund the construction. He knew he would not live to see the work complete and is quoted saying "my client [God] is not in a hurry." It has become one of the most visited sites in the entire world and work is now being performed faster than ever with completion expected between 2020-2030. It will truly be something to behold when it is done.<br /><br />When I rode past the cathedral on Tuesday, the line to get in was down the block, snaked around the building and went 1/2 down that block. Fortunately, advance tickets can be purchased online. When I arrived, the line was no better than Tuesday, only difference being I was able to walk right in.<br /><br /> <i>If you want to know more, keep reading</i><br /><br /><b>What I learned today:</b><br />The outside of Sagrada Familia will have18 spires; 4 at each of the 3 entrances representing the 12 Apostles. Four taller towers will be dedicated to the 4 Evangelists. There will be yet a taller tower dedicated to Mary and in the center will stand the grand 560-foot Jesus tower, topped with a cross that will shine like a lighthouse and be visible from sea. Two facades of the church are nearly complete, the Passion Facade and the Nativity Facade. The final facade will be the Glory Facade and will become the main entrance. Each facade chronicles the life of Christ from birth (Nativity) to execution and death (Passion) and finally the Last Judgement as he finds his way to eternal glory with God (Glory).<br /><br />The inside is Neo-gothic in style and Guadi's inspirations from nature are evident. The columns raise to the ceiling like trees branching out to create a what looks like a forest canopy, with small windows to let light in much like light peaking in through leaves. Gaudi strived for "perfect light" inside the cathedral. When the windows are completed the natural light will not be too dark or too bright, and at night the artificial light will glow in much the same way. Only imagination can give insight as to how spectacular this space will be once the windows are all filled with stained glass. <br /><br />Guadi paid as much attention to sound as he did to light. High up in the back of the church are the U-shaped choir seats suspended above the nave; enough to seat 1000. The singers will eventually have 4 organs. The space underneath the choir is intentional to keep the music acoustically pure throughout the cathedral.<br /><br /><ins>Nativity Facade</ins><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936042423113996994'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-N9vGtki-nTc/UmEPIiFb2sI/AAAAAAAACrs/O2x_fWwqieM/s288/1382085939.484808.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br />The birth of Jesus. Next photo surrounded by the wise men (left) and angels rejoicing.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936042467444694706'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ef7LzE08yrk/UmEPLHOsnrI/AAAAAAAACr0/ecMCqN-mtNs/s288/1382090166.013036.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936042509822048098'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-5T8YggQXmlI/UmEPNlGPt2I/AAAAAAAACr8/4SuPMCXMkrg/s288/1382090167.050473.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><ins>Inside</ins><br />The ceiling - forest canopy<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936042554090379922'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-0x_HtSIHlHA/UmEPQKAo2pI/AAAAAAAACsE/VOYpaQ32KX8/s288/1382085963.473205.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936042589810624402'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eTDGOXeGn6g/UmEPSPFAh5I/AAAAAAAACsM/QoFM-DhQTSY/s288/1382087361.713826.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Space under choir seating<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936042632704426722'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-PyT07irskoE/UmEPUu3sAuI/AAAAAAAACsU/pYLBBzh_ozM/s288/1382085977.541039.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Choir seating <br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936042661891899458'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-pjPzGeOZ0ss/UmEPWbmhgEI/AAAAAAAACsc/vaN65noDeHI/s288/1382086257.766609.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><ins>Passion Facade</ins><br />Christ carrying his cross and Veronica is holding the cloth she used to wipe his face. Above is the execution. The photo below is Peter denying Christ 3 times during the night of his trial.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936042707179472770'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UrMnxwwtbI0/UmEPZET7B4I/AAAAAAAACsk/796U1UrhgxM/s288/1382089731.581433.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936042748893927858'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-shitzNSkb2k/UmEPbftbGbI/AAAAAAAACss/JHet-4Qw7R0/s288/1382089736.165796.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><ins>Glory Facade</ins><br />What will be part of the Glory Facade (under construction, as seen from up inside the Passion Tower and will eventually be the main entrance).<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936042873890649170'><img src='https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_eJZw_ApC5M/UmEPixW9tFI/AAAAAAAACs0/UOTw-PeauTM/s288/1382086394.761466.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />The enormous front doors will be bronze with The Lord's Prayer spelled out in Catalan (local language) surrounded by "Give us our daily bread" in 50 languages. The cathedral will accommodate 8000 worshippers.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936046464961860754'><img src='https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-hBf9RsXtY5Q/UmESzzJD1JI/AAAAAAAACtA/l9tJVRFlQgw/s288/1382086429.807821.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />A view of Barcelona from high up inside the Passion Tower. A itsy-bitsy 7-8 person elevator takes you to the top and it's a tight, dizzying spiral of 400+ stairs to get back down. Commanding views of the city and intimate views of the ongoing construction.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936046513064590850'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-hhCi1whMojg/UmES2mVpPgI/AAAAAAAACtI/OPfYYUZIPZM/s288/1382085997.588344.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />The cathedral took a good chunk of my day. I headed back toward La Rambla (where the hotel was located) and had the taxi driver drop me at the far end, the harbor. This 200 foot monument to Columbus was built for the 1888 world's fair and commemorates his visit to Barcelona following his first trip to America, to which he looks and points.<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936046571592418130'><img src='https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EO5lgmHIGog/UmES6AXxA1I/AAAAAAAACtQ/cEdC3Yk-oKA/s288/1382087864.415943.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936046619419232818'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-7ekL35Nzj-k/UmES8yikSjI/AAAAAAAACtY/Pk6Wm9ldddc/s288/1382087865.613429.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/110773012521656008927/FlamingFamilyBlogPictures#5936046678355205346'><img src='https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-mqxi06Q8MGs/UmETAOF_3OI/AAAAAAAACtg/phhdE1b43aQ/s288/1382087867.596763.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I walked La Rambla back toward the hotel and bought myself a great pair of boots (that I had been eyeing for 3 days). Dean finished his last day at the conference at a decent hour and we enjoyed a great "early" tapas supper on the rooftop terrace of the hotel. <br /><br /><b>Observations:</b><br />Barcelona is a fantastic cosmopolitan city and it's remarkably clean for how big it is. Everyday we saw street sweeper trucks and street cleaners picking up what little litter there was. We are looking forward to visiting the small towns on the Atlantic coast where we hope to connect more with the locals in a way that was difficult in the city. <br /><br />We have an early start on Friday - a 7:30 am train to San Sebastián.<br />More to follow...<br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Barcelona,%20Spain%4041.726084%2C-1.026458&z=10'>Barcelona, Spain</a></p>Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-17706728860366406092013-10-18T03:50:00.001-07:002013-10-18T03:50:18.103-07:00Something Dean Has LearnedI learned something yesterday at the conference. Cultural differences can sometimes be interesting. ;-)<br /><br />Take for instance the bags of tea below we had at the conference - a conference of technical types (vast majority being men). <br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/111960042719804463037/TheFlamingFamilyBlog?authkey=Gv1sRgCL6Y593Tv73PxgE#5936046012713329970'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj934-tsbjSyb_xrarDmqdGfYE8Ur98FFTR8iSSspr1s6mdN-Rha4kO0sm98qJYW8eyNJInmlqenGUR4AVEAmzEb3wr4isB981dBM1sfORPkkh8Qw-v36t4vmGFKDfqpv8txNUEhbUqU6HS/s288/1382092602.631997.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I'm not sure I would have chosen this to be the name of my company. Then again, I'm not sure I would use my own name either ("Flaming Man Tea"?? Where does the hyphen go in that name?). The possibilities for potentially negative outcomes are nearly endless.<br /><br />But it is memorable! And maybe that was the goal. <br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Barcelona,Spain%4043.053585%2C-2.186419&z=10'>Barcelona,Spain</a></p>Squidly Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03997666976897141179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-44068307777648270152013-10-17T06:56:00.001-07:002013-10-17T14:38:02.303-07:00Day 2 Baecelona<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b>Oct 16 - Wednesday</b><br />
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Fair warning ... this blog has a lot to do with food<br />
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I've been here 2 full days and already it's a blur. I need to back up and tell you about Tuesday night's supper. It's 9:30 pm when Dean and I get in a taxi to go meet another group of Dean's colleagues. They wanted to meet "Dean's wife". We were a table of 15 in a large family style, private dining room in a restaurant. I was the only non WMware person in attendance and the team did a great job of keeping the topic off work. It was an international crowd with Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, England, and the U.S all represented. The food was served family style and the choices were meat, or meat or um ... meat. The appetizers included sausage, blood pudding, roasted red peppers, fava beans cooked in pork fat (these were deeeelicious!) and some type of crumbled, deep fried meat. I couldn't tell you what is was but it was good and flavored in seasoning I didn't recognize. Then the main course arrived, roasted pork with the cracklin' pig skin still on, medium rare steak with roasted tomato halves, lamb shanks, tossed iceberg lettuce, and french fries. Then they brought dessert ... some sort of flakey baked goodness with a creamy filling. We were still eating at midnight. Then we came back to the hotel and both worked for a hour before finally turning out the light at 2 am.<br />
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Morning came way to fast. I'm supposed to be on vacation. Dean headed out to the conference around 8 am so I forced myself outta bed, otherwise I'm sure I would have slept until noon. I headed out for the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter neighborhood to start my tourist day at the Picasso Museum. The Barri Gotic is the oldest part of the city and the locations where the Romans found a new colony. Well, I way overshot my target and got lost. It was so beautiful out I decided to keep wondering around since I was already somewhat lost. I had a general sense of where I needed to go to get back to the hotel so why not see what there is to see? Below are photos of Parque Ciutadella and the Arc De Triomf in Barcelona.<br />
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So I finally found the Picasso museum and my timing was perfect. I only had a 10 minute wait to buy a ticket and 2 huge tour groups got in line behind me. His art work is laid out chronologically and the portraits he completed in his early teens are quite remarkable. The gift he had, even as a small boy, is evident. There was a series of small paintings he did in his late teens/early twenties where the viewer is looking into the scene from outside a window. The edges are muted and fuzzy yet you know exactly what the furniture and fixtures are in the room. The people have no faces yet the emotion is palpable just by the body expression and position, and lighting effects used in the paints. In some small way it felt like I was spying on very intimate moments in the lives of others. <br />
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I left the museum with my exploratory mood still intact and headed off in the general direction of the Barcelona Cathedral. Here are a couple snapshots of the Barri Gotic ... very narrow streets and the buildings are quite close together. Some only a single car width across. The structures are also just tall enough that looking up provides no frame of reference, unless you are in a large plaza. <br />
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I came across one of the large city markets ... full of everything fresh you can imagine. This market was full of locals an very few tourists. They have this fresh squeezed fruit juice in every possible fruit flavor, and it's already in a cup with a straw. They display the cups sitting in ice on their stands. Delicious and refreshing.<br />
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I keep going, and happen look up as I'm crossing a major street and out of nowhere the Cathedral appears. <br />
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a view from the top of the cathedral<br />
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I slowly made my way back to the hotel, window shopping along the way. Dean attended a client event tonight so I headed up to the hotel rooftop terrace for tapas. Now I'm going to tell you about the ham. Below is the view from my dining table and a shot of my supper. It included jamon iberico de bellota (acorn) and bread pie (very thinly sliced bread with fresh tomato (almost pureed consistency) and very light cheese on top),<br />
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<b>What learned today</b><br />
It's all about the Iberian Ham. I stopped in a butcher shop today to learn about it. Jamón ibérico is a type of cured ham produced mostly in Spain. The jamón ibérico is made from black Iberian pigs, or cross-bred pigs as long as they are at least 75% ibérico.<br />
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The finest is called jamón ibérico de bellota (acorn). This ham is from free-range pigs that roam oak forests (called dehesas) along the border between Spain and Portugal, and eat only acorns. The exercise and diet have a significant impact on the flavor of the meat and the ham is cured for 36 months. The next grade is called jamón ibérico de recebo. This ham is from pigs that are pastured and fed a combination of acorns and grain. The third type is called jamón ibérico. This ham is from pigs that are fed only grain. The ham is cured for 24 months.<br />
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You'll have to trust me ... you've not tasted ham like this unless you've been here or special ordered it. Oh my, my, my it was a-mazing. <br />
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<b>Work/Phrase of the Day</b><br />
None today ... I didn't hear much English. Oddly enough it was kind of nice.<br />
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<b>Entertaining Observations</b><br />
Cell Phones - This is a large city with throngs of people everywhere. I noticed very few people walk around with their nose glued to their cell phones. People just walk or walk and talk to their friends. Those who were walking about with nose to cell phone seemed to all speak English, with an American accent. When people were siting down at an outdoor cafe everyone had their cell phones out. <br />
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Photos - There were loads of tourists in the same places I was today. Several times when I noticed couples attempting to take self shots, I offered to take it for them. Not once did any of those folks offer to return the favor. I guess if your a tourist/traveller doing your own thing there is no courtesy photo reciprocity.<br />
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Geez, it's midnight again ... lights out<br />
T<br />
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Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-520458894411121674.post-47895195587184274902013-10-16T08:20:00.001-07:002013-10-17T02:23:25.412-07:00Off to Barcelona<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I begin this first post of our vacation to Spain I am headed out over the English Coast towards France then south in to Spain. It was a long, sleepless flight to London. Sat next to a man who was a slightly younger version of Mick Jagger. He drank like a fish and rarely stopped moving. Every time I just started to doze off he seemed to turn the fidgeting knob up higher. It was like trying to sleep in a bouncy house full of 10 jumping kids. I eventually gave up and watched a movie.<br />
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Jump forward almost 24 hours ... I'll catch you up. <br />
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I landed at about 7:30 pm local time Sunday. Getting into Spain was a non-event. I was first in the queue at the customs window and the border agent didn't ask me a single question. She looked at the passport photo, looked at me, stamped the passport and I was on my merry way to baggage claim in less than 30 seconds. LOVE it! Wonder if it's this easy to get out.<br />
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I think my airport taxi driver's day job is race car driver. The ride was a blur and I was a little green when we crossed the finish line at the hotel. I poured myself out of the cab, kissed my husband, did a quick freshen up, then bleary -eyed went out to meet Dean's co-workers. Keep in mind my body thinks it's 4:30 in the morning and I've been up for nearly 24 hours, no thanks to Mick Jaggar. The Quiet Man, is an Irish Bar with live music and Irish beer on tap. My first night in Spain and I'm in an Irish bar. Hmm. Dean and his colleagues hadn't eaten yet and they were all hungry. So 10 of us pile into a couple taxis and off we went to the W Hotel Barcelona, where someone said the food was excellent. No lie, it was excellent. Eating dinner, or supper as it's called here, begins at 9:00 pm. It was easily 10:15 pm when the meals arrived at the table. Dean and I got back to the hotel around midnight and the restaurants and tapas bars were still full of people. It felt soooo good to lay down in a chilled room, in a bed with great pillows, sans the fidgeting Mick Jagger doppelgänger.<br />
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<b>Oct 15</b><br />
Oddly enough I only slept about 4 hours and was wide awake very early yet somehow my morning went in slow motion. The hotel serves a really great breakfast. Baked beans are on the breakfast menu here too, just like we had in Ireland last fall. Still a bit trippy yet it works. I made my way to the hop-on/hop-off bus; most major tourist cities have them. This one handed out headphones and the busses have an open-air second level. Simply plug in at your seat and you make your way through the busy city streets while getting the skinny on all the sites, in 10 language options. My main mission today was to see Park Guell. Barcelona is a big, busy city and full of tourists from all over. It was rare that I heard any English today. <br />
Guell Park was originally commissioned to be a private estate for Eusebio Guell and designed by Barcelona's most famous Modernisme architect, Antoni Gaudi. Gaudi's work is all over the city. The house project fell through and the grounds became a public space. Guadi used the contours of the hillside to create arcades and viaducts all of natural stone. The most striking features are those with "trencades" or mosaics made from broken tiles. <br />
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<b>Entertaining observations:</b><br />
British Airways in-air security ... It's important to know my seat from Seattle to Heathrow was a bulkhead, aisle seat just outside the cockpit. The airline fed me a couple times during my flight and I had saved a square of chocolate to put in my bag for later. While landing, the square of chocolate was sitting on top of a book on my lap and I pretty much forgot it was there. When the pilot applied the brakes after landing, that chocolate square slid off the book onto the floor and glided toward the front of the plane, then it slid right under the cockpit door. They should probably fix that, eh?<br />
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<b>Bathroom visit at Park Guell, Barcelona ... </b><br />
So the park was really crowded and I decided I better use the ladies before heading back to the bus. The queue was expectedly long. As I inched closer to the toilets, there was a woman rationing out toilet paper to the each person on the way into the bathrooms, and providing one paper towel (to those who bothered to wash their hands) on the way out. OK, that's actually not the part that really got me. I watched most people hand her 10-50 cents on their way out. The guidebooks say you don't have to tip waiters and cab drivers in Spain but it appears we are supposed to tip the park employee who is rationing out toilet paper to guests using the public toilets? Huh?<br />
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<b>What I learned today:</b><br />
Anyone who drives in Seattle will appreciate this. There are over a 100,000 meters of bike lanes in Barcelona. The lanes are frequently do not co-exist with the car lanes. I noticed many roads with a pedestrian walkway between the car lanes and the bike lanes. The bicyclists also pay an annual fee to the city for the use of the lanes. I don't know how they regulate it. I noticed bicyclists all over the place and never once noticed them competing with cars, busses or vespas for space on the road. <br />
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<b>Words/Phrases of the Day</b><br />
"<i>Phubbing</i>" - snubbing someone with your phone instead of engaging them. Read that in the British Airways in-flight magazine.<br />
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"<i>Su frio</i>" - how the locals say "So Cold!" It is 75°F here during the day and most buildings have their heat on. <br />
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Views of Barcelona from Park Guell</center>
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Off to supper ... <br />
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Terrie F.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11768617589638160426noreply@blogger.com1