Am sitting in a self service laundry in Madrid! Poor us...ha ha. Anyway while the washing is drying wecan use the internet, not too expensive. We got to Madrid last night from Murcia where we stayed in the same hotel as John for a couple of days at vast expense and then stayed in a place half the price whch was nice, quiet, had a great cafe just below and was really friendly.
So last nght after getting the train here we checked into the hotel, only $60 E per night about $120 which is pretty good here. Really friendly people in a cool old building hundreds of years old. Then went out for dinner and managed to completely blow the budget by trying some of that really expensive ham. the one fed on Acorns! $20 E for a plate of very thinly sliced aged ham Iberico. V V V delicious and now we´ve had it I can safely avoid that great expense. Anyway was a cool night out just around the corner from where we are staying. We sat at the bar with the kids and chatted to the staff a bit, chilled after our day of travel, had a few beers and amazing food. After we wandered and saw Buzz Lightyear on his stag´s night from the UK for the weekend! Funny guys. Had Helatos (ice cream) then got back at 12:30 am the kids were great.
This am we went out for croissant, coffee, Sumo de Naranja (Orange juice). Then did wash and went to another cafe while it was drying. Hey we´re on holiday. Once it´s all finished we´ll wander back to drop it all off then Henry and I are going to the science museum and W is going to th Prada Museum with much amazing art. It´s Sunday here so a quiet day after all the partying here last night. We read that it´s not uncommon to get traffic jams in Madrid at 4am! Cool city. Loving it so far.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Caldera, Caliente
!Hola!
We're still in Spain...and loving it. I think so far I prefer the Italian countryside as there are so many lovely towns, villages and hamlets there. Here places seem more spread out and newer. Development has been so rapid recently there are construction sites everywhere. New hotels, appartments and offices going up all over the place. I counted 11 cranes coming into Murcia 2 days ago. Oh yes, were in Murcia a town about 30 Km from the sea. We came here to visit my Uncle John Roff.We had a very relaxing time in Torrevieja at Jardin Del Mar V. Jardin we've found out said with a big hoick, hhhhchardin (sounds like Arabic to me!) I don't know if this is a hang over from the times when the Spain was part of the Arab empire (Moors).
We went swimming each day either at the pool by the complex or in the Mediterranean. The sea was really warm. I stayed in for a couple of hours floating and playing with the kids and trying to catch fish for Henry. It was a good cool down after much crazy time. Hen has got a lot more confident. He didn't like putting his head in the water before but at the end of this he was diving under and holding his breath swimming under me.
Henry got to go on a submarine in the harbour with Wendy one day. I was dissapointed I couldn't go on but there was a height restriction and Bella was under it ( much crying), so I stayed with her and we counted fish.
We've been searching out Menu del Dia here. Basically a set menu of traditional food. First course, second course. bread, wine, desert and coffee all included for 8 - 10 Euros it seems. We've tried it 4 times now and it has been great. Really good value. After that for lunch who needs dinner. Paella, said "Pie ay a".
Caldera is it seems a cauldron of Paella. Beautiful. Only just had it and am sitting here watching BBC TV feeling stuffed. Must go for a big swim tomorrow!
We're still in Spain...and loving it. I think so far I prefer the Italian countryside as there are so many lovely towns, villages and hamlets there. Here places seem more spread out and newer. Development has been so rapid recently there are construction sites everywhere. New hotels, appartments and offices going up all over the place. I counted 11 cranes coming into Murcia 2 days ago. Oh yes, were in Murcia a town about 30 Km from the sea. We came here to visit my Uncle John Roff.We had a very relaxing time in Torrevieja at Jardin Del Mar V. Jardin we've found out said with a big hoick, hhhhchardin (sounds like Arabic to me!) I don't know if this is a hang over from the times when the Spain was part of the Arab empire (Moors).
We went swimming each day either at the pool by the complex or in the Mediterranean. The sea was really warm. I stayed in for a couple of hours floating and playing with the kids and trying to catch fish for Henry. It was a good cool down after much crazy time. Hen has got a lot more confident. He didn't like putting his head in the water before but at the end of this he was diving under and holding his breath swimming under me.
Henry got to go on a submarine in the harbour with Wendy one day. I was dissapointed I couldn't go on but there was a height restriction and Bella was under it ( much crying), so I stayed with her and we counted fish.
We've been searching out Menu del Dia here. Basically a set menu of traditional food. First course, second course. bread, wine, desert and coffee all included for 8 - 10 Euros it seems. We've tried it 4 times now and it has been great. Really good value. After that for lunch who needs dinner. Paella, said "Pie ay a".
Caldera is it seems a cauldron of Paella. Beautiful. Only just had it and am sitting here watching BBC TV feeling stuffed. Must go for a big swim tomorrow!
Cuidad, country changes, caliente, communists
Well here we are again. Just leaving Barcelona ( the smelly city), I guess it's a big city thing, many apartments feeding into hundred year old sewers. NYC was a bit like this but with the heat here it sneaks up and cuddles you into it's foul miasma not letting go until you submit to the next cloud of foulness. There are non smelly bits but it does seem to catch you up again just so you don't think you are somewhere else. Once again we've been rushing, not sure why apart from we haven't found any cheap places to stay in the city. Maybe a bit more asking around rather than trying to rely on the internet? We did find a place but they only had one day free in an apartment normally a long term rental. Anyway. We've seen some amazing cities and we got a cheap flight here from Verona so we are slighty over seeing cities for now.
Travelling with children is very different from the usual dragging yourself around many museums, sights, bars...We've seen lots but I've been a little frustrated about not seeing more. The kids get tired in this heat, maybe 25-30 deg C today in Barcelona. No wind and it's humid so sweat is the word of the day. Henry has found it a bit tough and has been quite grumpy recently. We've found that tough and maybe told him off a bit much. So we're working on having longer in each place (I think I already said that but we're still working on it!!!). So today we are travelling to Valencia (for one night) then onto Alicante and a small town nearby, Torrevieja, for a week.
We've found a house which is totally kitted out for a long stay owned by an English woman. It has a pool and is a short bus trip from the beach. So sounds cool. We'd like to do more of this while still visiting sights of Europe. It'll give the children some time to relax and get used to one place. They do need some routine poor little monsters. I know we're on holiday but it's kind of tiring all the travelling, I'm looking forward to sitting by the pool and drinking many Moscow Mules. I have been carrying a big bottle of vodka since Frankfurt and for the purposes of lightness it needs to be consumed.
Moscow Mule
Vodka a couple of shots I reckon
Lime squeezed onto the vodka and dumped in
Ice
Ginger beer poured on top liberally
I think that's it, but hey will do
(I already feel like I am maybe in a coma and dreaming all this so probably won't even notice the alcohol?)
In the last few days we've travelled through Tuscany. Seen some of Verona and had a delicious meal there by the Verona river in the historic town. The old towns in Italy and it seems Spain so far are so well preserved. I really feel like you can sense people walking through the streets over a thousand years ago. Isn't that just unbelievable some of these towns and cities have records of land transfers from 1000AD or even 710AD. No wonder the sewers can get a bit pongy!
Yesterday I was thinking it's funny that in NZ and the States it's becoming a big trend to have farmer's markets but here they've been having them for many many years. They are more in touch with their food origins, celebrating the seasons and the harvest. I was also thinking I'm going to write to Helen Clark about stuff. I keep noticing all the cars, scooters and bikes here.It's unusual to see a gas guzzling LA/ Lower Hutt mobile. Certainly no Hummers. Petrol here is double NZ so fuel efficiency is more necessary. We think we're so clean and green. We might have quite a bit of luscious countryside and forest but I think it's more to do with the fact that no one lives in NZ!!! We have less population than a reasonable size city in most other countries. We recycle our glass, bottles etc but here I've even seen compost bins for public use for biodegradable items. Now I don't know how well the system works. And I've got no chance of having a conversation about it with someone here ( I can only just order a coffee). But I think we can be a leader in this area. Here they have recycling bins in public places instead of just throwing it all away. We can do better. Enough of a rave on Eco stuff. We do have good sewers anyway.
By the way...We had a Kiwi pilot from Verona to Girona (Barcelona) on Ryanair. They seem to climb very quickly and descend like they are in a dogfight. It did make me wonder if he'd saved up his weetbix vouchers for a pilots license? With pilots like him who needs terrorists? But we did get safely to the ground...people applauded...like our other Ryanair flight from Hahn to Venice. It makes me wonder if they don't make it very often. I've only been on one other flight like this, coming into Wellington from Christchurch. I can understand it more there we have rain, gales and an airport runway that is smaller than a Wal mart car park. The flight attendant said he hadn't noticed anything. Maybe I'm just paranoid or I've become a scaredy girls blouse at 35? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh. Oh no now I remember I was already a girl's blouse, feeling better. Need a beer grr grr.
Also, either there are KGB agents following me or there are a lot of Russian/Eastern European people here. At Verona bus station there was a group of drunken, Slavic types and there are a couple of Russian guys sitting two seats ahead of me. Oh no it's one but he's on the Bluetooth seemingly talking to himself incessantly. The Germans are everywhere still of course and the odd Aussie along with many Brits dressed as badly dressed as me. I wish I had a bit more Euro style but I'm not sure I could pull it off. I might accidentally get guys hitting on me? Oh and we saw our first Transgender sex worker two days ago. Thankfully Henry didn't notice the extra big feet and the going up to crawling cars. If you can get into Verona without going to the main train/bus station it's best. Only one bathroom which you pay for and then .only one stall working. I was getting to the busting stage and went in after much digging for change. An old guy came out and a very large dark guy went in, then 5 teenage guys came in and were waiting. Not keen anymore I retreated to reabsorb my last meal. Just like NY there are mostly only loos in bars and restaurants and these are pretty variable. Take a peg and build up your calves so you can hover as often there's no seat. Ok enough for now I've finished where I started...sorry.
Travelling with children is very different from the usual dragging yourself around many museums, sights, bars...We've seen lots but I've been a little frustrated about not seeing more. The kids get tired in this heat, maybe 25-30 deg C today in Barcelona. No wind and it's humid so sweat is the word of the day. Henry has found it a bit tough and has been quite grumpy recently. We've found that tough and maybe told him off a bit much. So we're working on having longer in each place (I think I already said that but we're still working on it!!!). So today we are travelling to Valencia (for one night) then onto Alicante and a small town nearby, Torrevieja, for a week.
We've found a house which is totally kitted out for a long stay owned by an English woman. It has a pool and is a short bus trip from the beach. So sounds cool. We'd like to do more of this while still visiting sights of Europe. It'll give the children some time to relax and get used to one place. They do need some routine poor little monsters. I know we're on holiday but it's kind of tiring all the travelling, I'm looking forward to sitting by the pool and drinking many Moscow Mules. I have been carrying a big bottle of vodka since Frankfurt and for the purposes of lightness it needs to be consumed.
Moscow Mule
Vodka a couple of shots I reckon
Lime squeezed onto the vodka and dumped in
Ice
Ginger beer poured on top liberally
I think that's it, but hey will do
(I already feel like I am maybe in a coma and dreaming all this so probably won't even notice the alcohol?)
In the last few days we've travelled through Tuscany. Seen some of Verona and had a delicious meal there by the Verona river in the historic town. The old towns in Italy and it seems Spain so far are so well preserved. I really feel like you can sense people walking through the streets over a thousand years ago. Isn't that just unbelievable some of these towns and cities have records of land transfers from 1000AD or even 710AD. No wonder the sewers can get a bit pongy!
Yesterday I was thinking it's funny that in NZ and the States it's becoming a big trend to have farmer's markets but here they've been having them for many many years. They are more in touch with their food origins, celebrating the seasons and the harvest. I was also thinking I'm going to write to Helen Clark about stuff. I keep noticing all the cars, scooters and bikes here.It's unusual to see a gas guzzling LA/ Lower Hutt mobile. Certainly no Hummers. Petrol here is double NZ so fuel efficiency is more necessary. We think we're so clean and green. We might have quite a bit of luscious countryside and forest but I think it's more to do with the fact that no one lives in NZ!!! We have less population than a reasonable size city in most other countries. We recycle our glass, bottles etc but here I've even seen compost bins for public use for biodegradable items. Now I don't know how well the system works. And I've got no chance of having a conversation about it with someone here ( I can only just order a coffee). But I think we can be a leader in this area. Here they have recycling bins in public places instead of just throwing it all away. We can do better. Enough of a rave on Eco stuff. We do have good sewers anyway.
By the way...We had a Kiwi pilot from Verona to Girona (Barcelona) on Ryanair. They seem to climb very quickly and descend like they are in a dogfight. It did make me wonder if he'd saved up his weetbix vouchers for a pilots license? With pilots like him who needs terrorists? But we did get safely to the ground...people applauded...like our other Ryanair flight from Hahn to Venice. It makes me wonder if they don't make it very often. I've only been on one other flight like this, coming into Wellington from Christchurch. I can understand it more there we have rain, gales and an airport runway that is smaller than a Wal mart car park. The flight attendant said he hadn't noticed anything. Maybe I'm just paranoid or I've become a scaredy girls blouse at 35? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh. Oh no now I remember I was already a girl's blouse, feeling better. Need a beer grr grr.
Also, either there are KGB agents following me or there are a lot of Russian/Eastern European people here. At Verona bus station there was a group of drunken, Slavic types and there are a couple of Russian guys sitting two seats ahead of me. Oh no it's one but he's on the Bluetooth seemingly talking to himself incessantly. The Germans are everywhere still of course and the odd Aussie along with many Brits dressed as badly dressed as me. I wish I had a bit more Euro style but I'm not sure I could pull it off. I might accidentally get guys hitting on me? Oh and we saw our first Transgender sex worker two days ago. Thankfully Henry didn't notice the extra big feet and the going up to crawling cars. If you can get into Verona without going to the main train/bus station it's best. Only one bathroom which you pay for and then .only one stall working. I was getting to the busting stage and went in after much digging for change. An old guy came out and a very large dark guy went in, then 5 teenage guys came in and were waiting. Not keen anymore I retreated to reabsorb my last meal. Just like NY there are mostly only loos in bars and restaurants and these are pretty variable. Take a peg and build up your calves so you can hover as often there's no seat. Ok enough for now I've finished where I started...sorry.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Canals, Churches, coffee, children
Phew an internet connection! Not so easy in Italy.
We're in Quatro d'altimo, near Venice (20 mins train ride). In the last few days we arrived in Franfurt and caught the bus to Hahn it's an hour long trip and we all fell asleep on the way one by one. Just made it with about 20 mins to spare before boarding for Treviso, Italy.
At Treviso we were meant to meet Peter Zettinig (our Austrian friend from NZ), but we waited and waited and waited. We were starting to think about booking somewhere for the night when he showed up to pick us up. Poor guy had taken 3.5 hours to get to the airport because of road works and bad traffic. We walked to the car about 200m away and it started to rain, getting heavier and heavier. Looking up it was that big fat rain about the size of pidgeon poo. Worrying! So we hurried as much as you can with two tired children and too many bags. Then it started to hail and it was the biggest hail I've ever seen. About the size of marbles, poor Bella on my shoulder was crying and we got soaked. Luckily they didn't hurt.
Peter thankfully drove us safely despite the challenging weather. We arrived at the Hotel Rex in Bibione. People staying there are generally German speaking, German or Austrian. So we brushed up on our non existant Italian and German too. "Eine Eis per favori?" sorry about the spelling.
This is a really popular spot with a great beach. Amazing though the seats on the beach. They look like rows of headstones from a distance. Close up it is unbelieveable the rows upon rows of deck chairs and umbrellas. The weather was sunny but with a cold wind. So we didn't actually get in the pool or the sea! Crazy. After two days we decided to move on to Venice.
We got here this morning via bus to Litisana and a train from there to Quatro d'altimo. Our hotel is just beside the railway but not noisy. Henry and Bella were very tired so they were sent to bed for a big rest. Thankfully the staff let us go to our room early. While the grumpies slept I went for a walk around the town. I didn't get very far but saw a little snake and people picking grapes and many gated properties. Someone did a big deal here with selling automatic gates. I also found good coffee and a fresh bread shop nearby.
Once the monsters awoke we got the train into Venice. A great service which is regular, clean, easy to use and took us right to the heart of the city. We didn't get into the city until about 4pm which was great as we could go a little later than usual without the kids being too tired.
At first we got hopelessly lost but then after a while you get used to it and figure how to find your way through the twisting turning dead ends. It is amazing thinking people have lived here for so long. We walked through a church that was completed in 1350 I think and had taken a hundred years to build as so many secessive plagues had stopped progress. The architecture is stunning and there are things to see at every turn.
We were prepared for very expensive meals but didn't find it that bad. There are cheap options outside the main spots and away from the Gucci/Prada district. We're taking the train there again tomorrow to watch the All Blacks vs Italy. Should be good.
We're in Quatro d'altimo, near Venice (20 mins train ride). In the last few days we arrived in Franfurt and caught the bus to Hahn it's an hour long trip and we all fell asleep on the way one by one. Just made it with about 20 mins to spare before boarding for Treviso, Italy.
At Treviso we were meant to meet Peter Zettinig (our Austrian friend from NZ), but we waited and waited and waited. We were starting to think about booking somewhere for the night when he showed up to pick us up. Poor guy had taken 3.5 hours to get to the airport because of road works and bad traffic. We walked to the car about 200m away and it started to rain, getting heavier and heavier. Looking up it was that big fat rain about the size of pidgeon poo. Worrying! So we hurried as much as you can with two tired children and too many bags. Then it started to hail and it was the biggest hail I've ever seen. About the size of marbles, poor Bella on my shoulder was crying and we got soaked. Luckily they didn't hurt.
Peter thankfully drove us safely despite the challenging weather. We arrived at the Hotel Rex in Bibione. People staying there are generally German speaking, German or Austrian. So we brushed up on our non existant Italian and German too. "Eine Eis per favori?" sorry about the spelling.
This is a really popular spot with a great beach. Amazing though the seats on the beach. They look like rows of headstones from a distance. Close up it is unbelieveable the rows upon rows of deck chairs and umbrellas. The weather was sunny but with a cold wind. So we didn't actually get in the pool or the sea! Crazy. After two days we decided to move on to Venice.
We got here this morning via bus to Litisana and a train from there to Quatro d'altimo. Our hotel is just beside the railway but not noisy. Henry and Bella were very tired so they were sent to bed for a big rest. Thankfully the staff let us go to our room early. While the grumpies slept I went for a walk around the town. I didn't get very far but saw a little snake and people picking grapes and many gated properties. Someone did a big deal here with selling automatic gates. I also found good coffee and a fresh bread shop nearby.
Once the monsters awoke we got the train into Venice. A great service which is regular, clean, easy to use and took us right to the heart of the city. We didn't get into the city until about 4pm which was great as we could go a little later than usual without the kids being too tired.
At first we got hopelessly lost but then after a while you get used to it and figure how to find your way through the twisting turning dead ends. It is amazing thinking people have lived here for so long. We walked through a church that was completed in 1350 I think and had taken a hundred years to build as so many secessive plagues had stopped progress. The architecture is stunning and there are things to see at every turn.
We were prepared for very expensive meals but didn't find it that bad. There are cheap options outside the main spots and away from the Gucci/Prada district. We're taking the train there again tomorrow to watch the All Blacks vs Italy. Should be good.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Crazy travel
Well I'm sitting in the Delta Chelsea hotel on Gerrard st, Downtown Toronto, Canada. Yesterday we had a full day here with wendy's Aunt, Rosemary. We had breakfast at the hotel, note to self this is expensive. As ever we over ordered again. Then we wandered through the area there is a huge mall here with a cool display of Canada geese that look like they are flying through it. We tried to go to the CN Tower but there was a 1.5 hr wait and it was getting to lunch time so we wandered back to a pub via the street vendors. Waitresses had the shortest skirts, micro, was a sight to see. Finally had Buffalo wings. Next we booked for the Hippo tour which is a bus which goes around the city then into the lake! Henry fell straight asleep on the tour but Wendy and I liked it. Bella did a running commentary the whole trip, non stop and sang. She has started singing all the time about anything. That's the Steiner training I think? Poor Henry has to walk everywhere but we got a $19.99 buggy in NY for Bella so she gets to sleep still. Hen does get very tired with all the going around. We are going to need to find some balance between seeing lots of stuff and letting the kids have a quiet time during the day too. Part of this trip is just to be around the children together rather than working and being seperate.
We got into Toronto on Saturday midday from Montreal via VIA rail. Very comfortable train journey with access to power for laptops, (It's everywhere now, planes, trains and automobiles). Went out Sat night to Bryce Wylde's house in North East Toronto. He's now a leading Naturopathic Dr in Canada. Last time I saw him he was studying towards this in 1997. It was so good to catch up. I am left thinking I wish we'd left more time for Canada. It has been quite a rush from NY on the train to Montreal then to here and now we're off to Frankfurt today and then Venice tomorrow. A big day. Hopefully the children will sleep well on the plane.
We'll be on the bus in about an hour then leave at 5pm and arrive 7am Frankfurt local time (midnight here time) then have midnight snack/morning tea with Andreas from Germany (friend of Wendy's from NY). I'm going to take meds before flying to help me sleep. No coffee for me until we get to Frankfurt. Might even give some to Henry there! I thought the travel would be less tiring but a new city every couple of days is not the way to do it. I'm looking forward to staying in one place for a little while in Europe. Maybe we'll go stay with the Zettinigs in Austria. We have a flight booked to Paris from Venice but we could just forget that if we can tag along with the Euros and get a free place to stay. After that we may work our way up to Andreas in Nuremburg or over to France. We don't have much booked until we fly out on 15th Jan from Rome so can make it up.
I'd really like to get to Morocco and some of the countries with different cultures to ours, less developed but with the children we need to consider safety so check out the place carefully first.
Anyway catch up soon in Europe! Wahoo
We got into Toronto on Saturday midday from Montreal via VIA rail. Very comfortable train journey with access to power for laptops, (It's everywhere now, planes, trains and automobiles). Went out Sat night to Bryce Wylde's house in North East Toronto. He's now a leading Naturopathic Dr in Canada. Last time I saw him he was studying towards this in 1997. It was so good to catch up. I am left thinking I wish we'd left more time for Canada. It has been quite a rush from NY on the train to Montreal then to here and now we're off to Frankfurt today and then Venice tomorrow. A big day. Hopefully the children will sleep well on the plane.
We'll be on the bus in about an hour then leave at 5pm and arrive 7am Frankfurt local time (midnight here time) then have midnight snack/morning tea with Andreas from Germany (friend of Wendy's from NY). I'm going to take meds before flying to help me sleep. No coffee for me until we get to Frankfurt. Might even give some to Henry there! I thought the travel would be less tiring but a new city every couple of days is not the way to do it. I'm looking forward to staying in one place for a little while in Europe. Maybe we'll go stay with the Zettinigs in Austria. We have a flight booked to Paris from Venice but we could just forget that if we can tag along with the Euros and get a free place to stay. After that we may work our way up to Andreas in Nuremburg or over to France. We don't have much booked until we fly out on 15th Jan from Rome so can make it up.
I'd really like to get to Morocco and some of the countries with different cultures to ours, less developed but with the children we need to consider safety so check out the place carefully first.
Anyway catch up soon in Europe! Wahoo
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