Madrid

Madrid is the most cosmopolitan area in Spain.  Considerably different than the other areas I have visited.  Both in buildings and attitudes of the people, Madrid is similar to New York or Chicago, not anything like Barcelona.  It is the most ornate and memorialized city I have every visited; and I travel!  

The architecture is amazing.  Everything is so well kept.  The people are not quite as friendly as I have found in my previous 3 wks of travel.  Perhaps my Spanish just isn´t doing it!

I am leaving this afternoon for my flight to Frankfurt then overnight home to Houston...

Hope you have enjoyed the scenery.....     Adios!

Click here for photos

Seville

Monday am, out of the hotel for a 8:00 train to Seville.  I was not looking forward to the 4 hours on a hot, and crowded Spanish train.  To my astonishment, it turned out to be a wonderful ride through the Andalusian countryside at 300 km/hr.  For you non metric people, that's 186 MPH!!  Quiet and comfortable..  Beats any airline experience I´ve had...  I´ll be lobbying for a Texas high speed train when I return.

Seville is the smallest town on my journey, but has an amazing history.  Was the center of Spanish government for a Thousand years until the 16th century.   It is only 125 miles north of Morocco, so the weather is that of the Sahara Desert.  Hot, windy and dry... like Las Vegas without the buildings.

The streets are narrow and tortuous.  There are several parks, a river than connects with the Atlantic.  Prior to 1490 when the Jews were exiled(Spanish Inquisition), there was a Jewish Quarter.

Good Photos here

Valencia

Now I´m traveling down the Mediterranean coast.  First stop is Valencia.   A major port for Spain . 

Very nice boulevards, parks and some rather eclectic modern buildings.  Home of the Science and Technology Institute.
Spent the day at a private beach club and finished the day at a Tapas Bar....


More Photos 

Barcelona-Final Week

Three weeks in Barcelona is quite an experience for  this boy.  The Catalonia's love their vino, tapas and jamon.  I partook of the first two but not the last.  The city blocks are about the same as downtown Houston except there are not less than 4 cafe's or bars on each block and each side of the

street.  Spending my life in busy urban areas I forgot the carefree experience that I had as a kid walking to elementary school.  The best part of my day was walking to Linguaschool Barcelona each morning. Of course my mood quickly changed as I started class with 6 other 18-30 y/o.  Talk about feeling old.....I learned a valuable lesson during this class..."If at first you don't succeed, you'll probably do just a bad the next time..."
There are several scenes of my highlights of BCN.

•        Casa Batllo-one of Gaudi's famous designs.  Notice the absence of straight lines in his architecture
• A late afternoon walk along BCN's beachfront
• Joan Miro Museum
• A small tapas bar recommended by one of Bab's musician friends
• One of BCN's many rooftop bars...

Photos-click here

Barcelona Continued

Its been 2 wks and time is moving on.
Last weekend my cousin Dianne and her friend " Miss Babs" and I have been to Park Guell, Tibidabo, Casa Batillo.  We've heard Spanish Guitars and had drinks on rooftops. We have been to TNTC tapas bars, and restaurants.  I have not had a bad meal.  Just look at at me in the photos as the weeks have progressed.  Its a little

tight in the 1000ft apartment, but we seem to be handling it.
I'v now finished 2wks of Spanish.  I wouldn't wish this experience on my worst enemy.  Really, an attempt for a foreign language for a 60+ guy is f'nn crazy.  Although I am miserable when I leave class every day, the girls say I am speaking more and more when we go out.  Last night, our street decided to show a film; their idea of a block party.  It was an American film with Spanish subtitles.  I recognized all the words and most of the phrases.  Maybe Im learning more than I think.
There are several photos of the interior of the house Gaudi designed for the Botello Family.


Click here for photos

Spain

It´s July and time for another trans Atlantic excursion.  This summer its back to Barcelona.  It will be my 3rd visit in 3 successive summers.  And why not,,, the weather is very mild for summers on the Mediterranean.  Low 80´s in the heat of the day with very little humidity.   70´s in the evening with a breeze.  Excellent public transportation and more coffee shops and restaurants that one can visit.

I have enrolled for 3 weeks in Spanish School.  I found my first and second day very difficult as I was placed to continue where I left off last July.  problem was i didn´t remember much and found the going very difficult.  After being placed back 2 groups the first day,  i started to engage.
now that the first week is over, i´m having a blast over the weekend talking to everyone that will listen.
my cousin Dianne  and her friend Babs joined me mid week and we are doing the town!  Restaurants

, parks, Picasso Museum.

Click here for some photos

Steamboat Springs

After a cluster fuck at the Southwest check in Hobby airport I managed to board my flight, scored the Exit Row Window with a B boarding pass(I will never give Southwest $15 so I can stand in front of the line instead of the middle) and arrived @ DEN on time. Collected my bag and jumped the Hertz shuttle. Went to the Hertz Gold section, picked out my weapon for the weekend and off went for my leisure 3:15 drive to my friends Sandra and John Lopez in Steamboat Springs.
The drive took 5 1/2 hours..  2 traffic jams on the I-70 .  But after the turnoff at Silverthorne... it was a beautiful drive through the valley.
John and Sandra's unit was really well appointed and laid out.  We went to town and had dinner by the river at Aurum.  The next morning John and I were picked up by our fishing guide, Luke Lowery.  He took us to a some private land on and within 15 min  I had my "Nymph" in the water and was pulling out Rainbow Trout.  I probably pulled out 10 good sized  fish in the next 4 hours.  Not bad for someone who hasn't picked up pole in 10 years...
The next day  we took life easy in the morning and hiked up to the Falls.
All in all, it was a wonderful 3 days with John and Sandra.  We always enjoy getting together.


Here are some good photos