Iberian Tour Wash-up

I came up to Liverpool today and after the rugby was finished I headed up to Woolton to check out Jan's and my favourite places from when we lived in Quarry Street. That was a salutary lesson, nothing stays the same, you cannot go back.



I went on my Spanish odyssey to try to get my head straight, expecting to come back with everything sorted in my mind, but apart from resolving some minor admin matters I have really only decided what I am not going to do. I am taking that as a positive, at least I don't have to worry about all those things any more, so I will not be buying a house in Spain, Portugal or France, I will not be doing extended solo touring and Jan's ashes are not going to be scattered in all the locations that were on her bucket list, she and I will go and visit them together.

After re-reading the above I realise that I have made some decisions.
1. Carpe Diem
2. Always say yes
3. My anthem now is 'Take it to the Limit' 

If you want to join in or suggest something I should take part in please go for it.

Miscellaneous Ramblings

The cost of fuel in Spain and Portugal is about 80% what it is in the UK, but the best thing is that there is no difference in price on the motorways, so you are not getting ripped off. When will motorway services in the UK wake up to the fact that they are pricing themselves out of the market, most people now only stop to use the toilets and then drive on.

A strange vehicle can be seen over here mainly in the towns, it looks like a two-seater Trabant and seems to kick out just as much pollution. I have tried to identify them, they have the name Aixam and are apparently made in France  and they are so low powered that they can be driven without a licence in Spain. They also seem to be classed as motorcycles even though they have four wheels because they have the same distinctive registration plates the scooters and bikes have. They probably only cost about 17/6d to buy but would cost about £1000.00 a year to tax in the UK because of the amount of muck they chuck out.

One thing I forgot to share was, when I was on the good ship African Queen, the on-board guide kept talking about the varied marine life in the national park but she kept referring to the fish and shellfish not as marine life but as seafood, I did look around but no one else seemed to notice.

A tip for all you budding continental travellers - if you like Camembert buy it from your nearest Tesco or Lidl, DO NOT buy it three days before you are due to arrive home (even if you pack it in a sealed container inside a coolbag) because your car will end up smelling like a warthog died in it last year.

Edith's Day Out

I stayed in a truck drivers Ibis hotel last night in Agen, it was very clean and quiet until 04.30 when all the drivers got up started up their trucks and convoyed down the road to beat the rush hour, still it meant a quiet coffee and croissants for me.
Edith had a wonderful time today meandering from Agen through Bergerac, Perigueux, Angouleme and Poitiers to Angers. I think she likes being an exotic right hand drive, while all her sisters are common left hand drive. We had good weather cold but sunny.
We particularly liked the Dordogne and Perigord, I think because it reminded me of the times Jan and I spent there, I felt very close to her today so we celebrated tonight in a Punjabi restaurant with Jan's favourites - Onion Bahgee and Chicken Biriani.
The wine loading is now complete, I just have to locate the cheese, sausage etc.

Thank you for reading all my ramblings, Edith, Harry, Marmalade and myself should be back in Gwytherin on Sunday. This is not the end of Movingon, we will be back.

Over The Pyrenees.

Last night's car park, space was too tight for ramps so you had to use the lift - good job the mirrors fold in.

On a recommendation from Ian, I did not go around the Pyrenees but right through the middle of them, I took the direct route from Zaragoza to Pau and the views after coming over the foothills were stunning, (thanks Bill you were right for once). There were loads of lovely photo opportunities especially waterfalls and rainbows but they never translate well on a photograph, so get your arses in gear and go and have a look yourselves. There was a huge change between Spain and France, Spain was all blue skies and arid landscape, France was 10 degrees colder and more like Wales with low cloud and rain but once we were away from all the closed ski resorts and Pau (the in-breeding centre of France - but they do have a rugby team) all was well with the world, I stopped and had a meal that was non-offal and not fried and it even had vegetables. Yahoo! The next few days will be a race to Le Havre and the ferry, I have got to be in the UK to watch England v New Zealand on Saturday afternoon, you just know the match will not be shown in any French bars.

A traffic jam in Laruns, I told you it was just like Wales

I will now add photos to the previous blogs.

Heading North

A long drive today, 450 miles from Galera to Zaragoza. I left Galera with brilliant blue skies, I am now wearing a fleece lined coat! What a revelation Zaragoza has been, it is a busy, buzzing city with lots of interesting sites and history, I walked around the city for nearly four hours and that wasn't only because I got lost again. They have a massive cathedral, beautiful buildings housing museums and galleries, Roman ruins, the River Ebro with pretty bridges and no end of pavement cafés for people watching. There is even a theatre which has a wide choice of shows, from drama to ballet and opera. Well worth a long weekend if not a full week visit.

Zaragosa's  Eye

Zaragoza Catherdal, 'kin huge

Detail from a panel outside the cathedral

The huge Pilar square (Plaza del Pilar)

Andalusian Troglodytes.

I met up with Ian and Monique on Sunday, they live in a beautiful three bedroom cave in a small village near Galera. We haven't met up for years, since we both left the army but it felt like only yesterday, we got on so well. They put me up in my own guest suite in their amazing house and showed me the local area (bars). Ian took me on a 2 hour hike yesterday but we finished in a small village with a choice of hostelries. It was a great break and such a contrast to the previous week which I spent amongst the tourists on the coast, I thoroughly recommend getting away from the Costas, not only do you meet real people and see real Spain but the food is 400% better and half the price.

Ian and Monique's front door, not a hint of a three bedroom, three bathroom residence hiding behind those doors.

The lounge

Dining room

My guest suite, completely underground.

Whitey From Blighty

I don't know if I am staying in a high risk area but I have to use four different keys to get from the street into the front door of my apartment, and I laughed when Mike double locked his apartment door!
I have just been for a long walk along the beach to try to justify my sitting with a beer in my hand this afternoon watching rugby. The locals couldn't get their sunglasses on fast enough, nothing as white as me had been seen since the first British tourist landed here in the 1950s.
I am meeting up with Ian and Monique tomorrow and then I will be heading home, route and date of arrival not definite but it should be just after next weekend. I have started loading the car, so far just wine but as I get nearer home I think some fresher produce will be included. Any requests?

Torrevieja

Been here since Monday afternoon, two days chillin' then yesterday I went to Cartagena. I got there at 9am to make the most of the day and of course nothing happens except breakfast until 10 am but I maxed out on culture, two Roman sites, one Punic site and four museums. It is a lovely small city/port with lots of pedestrianised streets with cafés for people watching and some people who are well worth watching. I also saw the famous, loud paraqueetes. Today I went to the massive Friday market in torrevieja! well worth a visit. I was there for over two hours and I probably saw about half of it. Tomorrow it is more Autumn Internationals, good luck Wales.

No Comms

I am staying in a complex for a week with no WiFi, and with the temperature in the mid 20s I cannot find The enthusiasm to go looking for  wiFi cafés so I will save any thoughts I have for one big hit later.

What a Difference a Day Makes

What a great day, it hit 26C and I didn't have too far to drive so I annoyed everyone by being a tourist and driving slowly. After a lunch stop just by the tourist information in Los Alcazares, where there were six or seven places serving 'All Day Breakfast' one even called the Red Lion, I went from there to explore the Mar Menor an inland sea, it is a lovely place especially at this time of year, very quiet and not another English Breakfast in sight.  I plan to visit the Roman ruins tomorrow and the nature park on the outer banks of the Mar Menor. There is actually a gap in the outer banks, so you have to explore it from both ends, if this was the US there would be a bloody great bridge over the gap so the mighty automobile would have right of way. That's enough of that, I'm getting stroppy, it must be time for dinner.

The Long and Winding Road

I left Antequera with the plan of visiting the geological features of El Torcal and Garganta del Chorro, wrong again. It was a sunny Saturday and the whole of Spain was out with the same thoughts as me, El Torcal was so busy that the 3.5km road to the visitor centre was closed, not far to walk you may say but that is where the real walks begin, so I left there thinking that Garganta is more remote I will be OK there. The place was swarming with lycra-clad louts mostly being attended by all of Andalucia's emergency services after falling off their bicycles. I gave that up and headed for Nerja where I hoped to catch the England v Australia game (I know Emrys they were lucky, good luck next Saturday). After being stuck in a queue on the outskirts of the town for nearly an hour I thought I had better find a room for the night. Things did not improve and after visits to Frigiliana, Almunecar, Almeria and Nijar I finally found a room in San Jose. The season is well and truly over, I should have stayed with Fran and Mike and just gone to the pub.

The Tapas Experience.

Thank you to Fran and Mike for making me feel at home and for showing me their favourite haunts on my two day visit to Antequera, and also their valiant attempts to introduce me to the joys of Tapas. I really appreciate their efforts but I think that Tapas is just a Spanish 'cunning plan' to get rid of all the normally inedible stuff that is left over in restaurants. I mean Tapas consists of animal entrails, marine insects or squidgey marine invertebrates all disguised with various sauces and coatings, is that real food???? I think not. Talking of Spanish food, I like cheese and I like ham but these two items account for nearly 90% all snacks in this country. I am looking forward to my week self catering! Llys Onnen food with tasty salad and vegables.

The Angelotti, a bigger than life-sized figure is on the the top of the San Sebastian church bell-tower. He can be seen from all over the city.

Angelotti from my hotel bedroom window

Angelotti as seen from the gypsy quarter