Greetings from Madrid

Hi all - well, this will probably be my last posting as the trip is rapidly drawing to a close - it is hard to believe that in one week´s time I will be just about arriving back in melb - to cold weather apparently, as my friends have already alerted me to!!!

Here it is routinely 35 degrees plus - there are electronic boards up at various places on the auto via´s, autobahns in Germany, and whatever other names they come up with.  I am sure that the 35+ is done specifically to reassure people that it is not too hot to travel and that for the locals, it is a sign to keep working...  As well as battling tmps in excess of 40 in Morocco, Madrid, Salamanca and ven Oporto in Portugal, where we travelled to after Lisbon, were very hot.  I do like the idea of the siesta in the afternoon - between about 1 and 4pm - it is simply far too hot to be out walking the streets, or even shopping - don´t worry, on that score I have made up for it at night!!!  OK Mum - you didn´t really see that sentence did you ...).

Actually my money has lasted me well so far (very thankful on that front).  I did buy a further 3 items of linen yesterday from the main dept store found all over Spain - I had `previously declared it to be crap, but now that I have arrived in Madrid, it seems their clothes and the range has improved markedly.  1x jackt, 1x shirt, and would you believe it ... 1x linen dress - which I wore out for the tour group´s final dinner, which w had at a typical Galician restaurant about a 10-15 minute walk from the tour group hotel.  Much fun, merriment and wine was consumed before Sandra and I bid everyone goodbye and caught a taxi back to our other hotel, which we had booked post tour - it is a 5 star hotel, made famous forn the movie stars that have stayed here - it has been here since 1912.  It is a grand old lady, in simiñar vein to Melbourne´s Windsor hotel - opulence is the first word I would use to describ it, although disappointingly, it does not have a pool - if however, I wanted to stay fit, I could use the running track and gymnasium!!!  A hamburger costs 29 Euros, so as I said to Sandra, no, we won´t be having a coffee here!!! 

It has been very difficult to find a hotel on this trip with a good internet connection, and even more difficult to find one with a free computer in the foyer where the keyboard is in English.  Even here, in a business centre within the hotel, I cannot get access to the actual computer, so am unable to download photo´s onto the blog or onto Facebook- I will post some on my return though as some of the foodie shots I took, are great.

We are here until early Sat morning when we catch a taxi out to the airport for our flight back to London City airport on British Airways - that will be an interesting exercise as neither of us have been to this airport or used the extended tube and overground facilities that are apparently there from the airport, and that take you into the central part of London. I have to say that I am looking forward very much to the cooler weather - and have just been told that it is 21 degrees there today - yipppeee..  I also want some English (and French) cheese.  Well, I bid you farewell - w wnt to the Prado art gallery today - wow, what a fantastic place that was - amazing collection, particularly of Spanish artists such as Goya and Valasquez )and I can even say that with the proper pronunciation...  Sandra is going back there tomorrow to see more, I will go shopping!  Have some Camper shoes on my mind ...  I will however, be going to another gallery the following day (the Sofia Reiner, and perhaps a tour of the Royal Palace). 

So, for now, it´s over and out - hav fun and enjoy Mlbourne´s four seasons :-)

Helen 

Morocco

Hi All ... I apologise in advance for the spelling but am blaming the keyboard as it is not the same Qwerty keyboard as home  ... yes, Qwerty took me some time to spell as I had to find the letters!  We have had only very limited internet facilities until now so the post has been somewhat delayed...

6 days ago we boarded a ferry from Spain for the 1 hr journey (which apparently always takes 1 hr 20 mins) to Tangier ~ a typical port city, a bit rough around the edges.  We were all pretty tired after a long day aboard our bus ~ thankfully we have two seats each so we are all comfortable.  There was a noticeable change in the temperature once we arrived on the African continent and yesterday it reached 45 degrees in the main square in Marrakesh if not more because of the concrete.

Fez was disappointing as there was nothing worthwhile to shop for ~ although we did see the leather vats that the old medina is famous for ~~ OH&S concerns have not been heard of here!

We spent 2 nights in Marrakesh and I think everyone is sick of tagines except for me as I have not even had a mouthful of Moroccan food ~~ not my cup of tea I'm afraid!  The square was filled with an odd assortment of tourists, Berbers and the poor trying to take tourists for every cent they could.  We walked past snake charmers, lizards and chameleons being kept in small cages in stinking hot heat, monkeys which you can hold for a fee (not that any of us did) and we were glad to escape back to the hotel for some air conditioned comfort which was shortlived as we went out for a group dinner and were entertained by bored dancers, musicians and a belly dancer ~~ gee I long for some colder weather!!!

We are now in Rabat and tomorrow have to get up at 5am in order to be at Tangier at midday for our ferry ride back into Spain and the drive north to Seville where we are staying for 2 nights before 5 nights in Portugal.  I am glad to have visited here but doubt I would again if the shopping does not improve!!! Ahh well, I know some people (read my Mum) will be happy about that!!!

The place is safe ~~ noone has had any drana's to date (anywhere on the trip).  Noone has really been sick either so that has been a Godsend.  There are 16 of us in total on the trip for 3 weeks through Spain, Portugal and Morocco and we all get along so that is good.  I miss the exercise classes from home but have tried to accomodate with some photo's of me using the band in the bus etc and have posted these on Facebook.

Tiles in one of the many mosques

I did not find anything to buy here except some foot cream so that has been disappointing ~~ the Turkish style cushions I wanted were woolen but nowhere near as nice or as big as the 4 Ialready have and the one's I saw here were 220 Euro's each!  I can buy original imported ones at home cheaper than those they tried to sell me here.

I am posting a few photo's for your perusal ~~ for now it is ciao from me

Helen 

The wonderful Allambra

Restful pools at the World Heritage listed Allambra ~~ a magnificent old city with very well preserved ruins in Granada, Spain

More jamon anyone??  (ham thinly sliced and salted ~ like prosciutto)

Couldn't resist taking a photo of these for my S.I.L. friends

Volublis (old Roman ruins) in Meknez, Morocco 

The women on the tour (bar one who was off taking photo's) ~ we all stood under the arch which was the only shade to be found whilst the men stood talking in the blazing hot sun ... need I say anymore ???

Moroccan tagines  

Tea ceremony whilst out for a group dinner

Bab something or other (Bab means a gate)

The chemical vats in Fez ~ note the very limited protective clothing ~ in this area skins are dipped in chemicals to make them soft and commence the process of removing the animal hair from the skins.  They are then dipped in the brown vats (see next picture), which contain the dyes to transform them into coloured leathers ready for handbags, coats, shoes, wallets etc.

The various dyes used in the vats in Fez ~ very stinky, very hot!

More tagines

Spices in the medina in Marrakesh

Paella in Valencia

Dancing in Cathedral Square, Barcelona

Monet´s Garden

Mojiot ice blocks (amongst others) at La Mercat De Boqueria 

Water Lilies at Monet´s Garden 

Lollies at La Mercat De Boqueria

Tired feet being rested in the spa at Hotel 1898

Mercat Le Boqueria, Barcelona

Chelsea Flower Show

Chelsea Flower Show

Chelsea Flower Show

Chelsea Flower Show

Chelsea Flower Show

Chelsea Flower Show

Chelsea Flower Show

Chelsea Flower Show, London

French Pattisserie

The Arc De Triomphe

The cheeses of Paris

Monet´s House

Paris - what a wonderful place it is ....

Greetings all - well, I have been a bit remiss and not posted anything since I started my trip - I have been very busy - firstly in London where things went by in a blur - I arrived on the Thursday, went straight out for breakfast with Sandra, a friend of mine who I was meeting up with in the UK.  We then went for a long walk (longer than we meant, but we got a bit lost - something we seemed to have done with regularity - moreso in Paris I have to say).  I had recommended a hostel (boutique I might add), to Sandra, in Swiss Cottage, which is perhaps 10 mins out from the centre of London - alas, it was different room than I last stayed in - two single bunks and a very small bathroom that you couldn't swing a cat in.  The toilet danced around the floor and required a tradie to visit me whilst I was trying to get some sleep in the afternoon after 30 plus hours in the air and in transit - 3 visits later, he succeeded in his mission and we were not troubled again.

Sandra and I met up with friends of mine - Jacqui and Rita, who travelled down from Manchester for the weekend.  We met at Trafalgar Square and went out for Italian, which is also a re-occuirng feature on my culinary adventure.  The following day we caught a bus into London - which was re-routed because of road works and a crowd practising their football chants for that night's Wembley Cup Final between Arsenal and Barcelona - aaahhh, nobody has better crowds than England.

We met up at the Tate Modern Gallery - albeit a short visit - I enjoyed the photographic exhibition of the Afghanistan war - and a comparison of photographs from 80 years ago and one's taken recently.  We then went to the 3rd floor for a dose of surrealism - for those of you who know me, surrealism is just not my cup of tea - I prefer reality.  Alas, the Picasso's and Salvadore Dali's just didn't do it for me.

Off to another Italian restaurant for dinner then to a live show in the West End - We Will Rock You - the Queen tribute - what a great show it was - we thoroughly enjoyed it.

I took myself off for a spot of shopping in Oxford St - unfortunately although I was there ready to go at 9.45am, the shops didn't open until 12 midday - what a waste!  I managed to make up for it in my purchases prior to meeting up with my friends Jacqui and Rita for a visit to Covent Garden and dinner.  Bloody tube broke down so I had to catch a taxi home.

The following morning we got a taxi to Kings Cross-St Pancras International train station, and caught the 8.30am train to Paris - what a joy - very fast, very smooth - the world just whizzed by, and before we knew it we had arrived (2hrs 20 mins approx but it seemed shorter).  We caught a taxi to the hotel - aaahhh bliss - 2 good beds, all modern cons - very modern rooms - I would recommend the place and will stay here again as it is close to 3 train lines and lots of restaurants.

First stop for lunch - French onion soup, wine, fresh bread and French butter - yum!  Then off to do some shopping and explore.  Gee - what else have I done in the last few days - I have been to Galleries La Fayette (bought some beautiful dinner knives), bought my de Buyer mandolin, which I have researched and read about, and was able to track down to a shop which sold it - it took my 2 trains and 2 lines but I got there!!!  I have purchased some linen clothes as well.  Found the best lasagne ever (have had it twice), have walked everywhere - no need for further exercise...  Have caught a country train to Giverny to see Monet's garden and an exhibition of Bonnard's works.  Have eaten my salted caramel macaroons, and so many cheeses - bliss for me!!!

Today we are off to walk amongst the bookshops and along the River Seine, and also the Luxembourg Gardens which are close by.  Tonught we catch the overnight train to Barcelona - thankfully we have a sleeper compartment as we arrive at about 9am tomorrow morning.

I will try and download so me photo's from Barcelona as I have had a bit of difficulty doing it here.  Hope everyone is well and Melbourne is not too cold!!!

Au Revoir for now

Helen

Tomorrow the fun begins ....

Hi All - just a quick update to advise that tomorrow I commence my trip - all going well... I have been watching the news re the spewing volcano in Iceland with more than a passing interest.  For those of you who don't know - some flights over Britain - those to Scotland and northern England, were cancelled due to the fallout from the Icelandic volcano - a different one than the one last year, which caused all of the havoc to travellers and the travel industry, where billions of $$$ were lost due to severely curtailed flight schedules.

I hope to post an update in about 10 days - by then I will hopefully have landed in London (if not London, then somewhere relatively close, where I have been able to buy a train ticket to reach London).  I have a ticket to the Chelsea Flower Show on Thursday, so really don't have very long to make alternate arrangements if need be.  I will have probably had my week in Paris too.

Here's hoping all goes well.  First stop Singapore - 2 hr stop-over - time enough for a shower in the Qantas Club, and a couple of Scotch and Cokes - by that time I'm hopeful that I will fall asleep in my aisle seat and sleep most of the way to London!!!

Well, cheers for now

Helen

Have just completed the final pre-purchases online - tickets for the Heathrow Express, which saves me 10 pounds - money better spent elsewhere.  Have also bought an Oyster card to get around on the tube - much cheaper than buying individual tickets.  A good website to do this is visitbritain.com.  It's amazing we can do this ourselves on the web now - it really reduces and in many cases removes the need for a travel agent - my airline ticket was online, as was the train tickets, internal flight, accomodation bookings, theatre tickets, tube ticket, tour etc etc.  Not long to go now - and I will be on holidays - I wish it would get here quick!