Number of Steps taken in Spain

Matt and I LOVE to walk --- just ask Grandma Townsend whom we dragged across southern Germany and parts of Western Germany with us on traveling adventures.

Matt had a pedometer in which we tracked the number of actual steps we took during the trip... this is our work out for the year... just kiddin' --- sort of.

	Steps	Miles
Day 1	11,327	5.03
Day 2	6,095	2.71	left pedometer in car
Day 3	2,683	1.19	pedometer in towed car
Day 4	13,654	6.07
Day 5	15,834	7.04
Day 6	16,691	7.42
Day 7	13,954	6.20
Day 8	22,394	9.95
Day 9	7,622	3.39
	110,254	49.00

Since we left the pedometer in the car on day 2 and 3 - and those being some of our most heavily foot trafficked days, 49 miles is not bad :)

Shattered Car Window in Granada Spain

As can be seen in the April 2010 photos, we had the back window of our rental car shattered - and yes this was a couple days after it was towed for illegal parking in another city.

The hotel owner came out to help Matt unload the luggage from our car.  Matt is sure he did not pull anything from the trunk of the car but rather gathered the random things we had thrown in the backseat.  The very nice hotel owner said he would drive the car across the street into his car parking garage.

In Spain, the majority of the car parking garages are built underground and entering and exiting them are on very steep ramps.

While driving our car down the very steep ramp into the garage, the hack back on the car opened up and smashed into the low cement ceiling.  Matt and I were in the hotel lobby and actually heard this crash, looked at another with a smile thinking and possibly verbally noting that it sounded like a bad car accident. We had already learned by this time that Spain drivers are not safe and drive crazy so a car accident was no surprise.
Little did we know that it was our car this time.

The hotel owner was very apologetic and called our car rental company to speak in Spanish to them and explain what was going on.  He indicated to us at this time that we needed to go 7-10 blocks down the street to the police station and make a report.  He also told us that we would not have to pay anything, as per what the rental company said on the phone, if we say the accident happened while our car was parked on the street and we were victims of vandalism.  We did just this - despite the wait time, this was semi-painless although we were loosing precious touring time.

On our return to the hotel, we waited for a car to be brought to us and a tow to take away our other car, all courteous of the rental car company --- this isnt what happened.  We ended up waiting a couple hours longer than expected to have a tow truck show up to get our car and us.
This was our first time riding in a tow truck at least everyone looking at you with "oh!" about the damaged car being dragged behind was an interested point of view.

We were taken to the car rental place about 20 minutes away -- except now it was rush hour on a Friday.

On arrival and pick up of our new rental car, we found out in fact we did have to paid around 300 Euros for damage.

The hotel owner had already given us free parking - which totaled to be 36 Euros in savings and not nearly enough to cover the deposit on the damage... even if it was vandalism.  We may not have had to paid for any damage if we told the truth that he was driving it as his own insurance would need to cover it then.

Since this had taken 6+ hours to remedy, we lost a portion of a day touring Granada - which unfortunately was one of the more interesting places in south Spain of those we visited; such is only my opinion although I
do believe Matt is of a similar opinion as well.  We decided not to let this ruin the last couple days we had on our trip.

A couple weeks after returning home to London, I phoned the hotel owner asking him to pay half of the cost of damage, even though I felt he should pay all of it.  After mincing some words, he hung up on me.  My boiling blood cooled and Matt and I decided it was a lost cause and not worth ruining the multitudes of other adventures, cultural experiences, and sheer fun we already had.

Day 9 - Trip back to Madrid to fly home to London

Matt and I started our day early to pack up and start our 4 hour drive back to Madrid.  We had a scheduled flight to catch back to London that afternoon.

We received our car back from the hotel proprietor with no issues this time.  Although I will note here that later when calling him to ask for his help to cover the cost of the broken glass, he refused saying it was our fault (even though he was driving) and hung up on me.

In total, we drove around 1700 kilometers / 1060 miles in 9 days while taking our time wandering the south of Spain.

It was hard to return to the looming gloom of London after a at times brisk but sunny long Easter week vacation.

Photos to follow at my photo web site: www.sarahjames.shutterfly.com

Granada - Day 8

Fast forward a couple of days -- blame the lack of blogging as us being lost in the adventure of it all.

We started our day with some breakfast and took an early bus to the Alhambra.

In my opinion, the Alhambra should be on the top 10 things to see in southern Spain if such culture intrigues you.  

I dare you to read more and try not to be intrigued: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra

Within the Alhambra is an area called Generalife.  Matt and I couldn't find the actual entrance so we meandered around amongst the many big tourist groups.  Along the way we found some very cool stairs with water...

We visited what used to be the "Media," which is literally translated as city, within the Alhambra grounds --- I started to wonder how many people would live and be served in here at one time versus how many were just servants.

A quick stop of the Palace of Carlos the V was beautiful but compared to the art and integrity of architecture we had already seen, it was peanuts; Nicely salted peanuts - but peanuts.

Just in case you are not sure, yes we are still within the grounds of the Alhambra!  Its massive size and ability to have withhold such peace and utter beauty today makes me really believe it was more than just a jewel in the crown of the Spanish Emperors within its heyday. 

Next was the Palace of Nasrid.  During our visit, it was clustered with multitudes of children on field trips.  

Please do take the time to look at some pictures of the above mentioned places even before I post pictures and share them.  The architecture will undoubtedly astound you and take multiple breaths away. 

How could this stone and wood been so gently sculpted into fine and intricate designs which are nothing less than artwork, in a time when the poor had almost no food and no jobs to make ends meet - if they did have a job it also did not also provide enough?  Some may or will say the same of our generations.

Below is a picture not of my own but from Wikipedia - it passes some of the general idea of the minute architectural design to which I'm referring. 

Next on our early afternoon agenda was a visit to the Alcazaba; literally translated from Arabic as a city with fortified walls.  Although stunning on its own - today it does not meet the Alcazaba in Malaga nor does it even come close to the Alhambra of Granada. 

Matt and I had seen enough historical sites for the day with the interior and exterior grounds of the Alhambra; of which I should mention, if you are planning to visit - BOOK AHEAD.  This can be done online or over the phone; you simply will not get in if you just show up.

Culture of cuisine was definitely needed at this point.  We went to a very cool tea bar and cafe called Kasbar.  It was decorated with multitudes of pillows, bench seats or booths, candles, and hanging traditional lanturns.  The time we did not spend eating, was spent mostly in silence taking in the overwhelmingly peaceful atmosphere.  This tea house has a menu just for teas. I ordered rose tea while Matt ordered a heavier black tea called embrujo de granada. We also ate fresh and lovely hummus and tabbouleh - to of my most favorite dishes.

After lunch we hiked up small streets which very few if any American's could fit a car down - of course a Spainard could with ease.  Our upward destination was the recommended Mirador San Nicolas.  At the top of this hill a grandoious view of the Alhambra with snow tipped mountain peaks as background could be enjoyed.  The area is also litered with hippies; old and new ones.  I use "old and new" to refer to the type and even age of the persons.  It was also obvious multiple were traveling gypsies - selling handmade jewelry or dime bags of marijuana right there on the spot.  Local cafes filled with cigarette chain smoking men boardered this central part of the hill yet this sight and crowd was clearly old hat for them.

Despite the multiple types of persons - Matt and I found this to be a peaceful and relaxing place.  We played with what Matt deemed, 'the cutest puppy ever.'  Granted this puppy was barely weened so that helped his cause.

At this point, you are thinking - what is next?  So were we - we decided a much deserved siesta, or nap, was needed.

In the evenings, especially in Granada due to its large influence of Arabic culture, markets containing closet sized shops line streets within a neighborhood.  Matt and I found ourselves floating in and out of each with eyes pealed for the perfect gift or treasure to take home.

We at dinner not far from the markets place of Granada.  Our wine was not corked by means of being sour but was just not right.  I have never sent back a bottle of wine before so this was my first time - but the wait staff was courteous.  For dinner we had a traditional dinner dish called tagine.  This particular dish was with cous cous, a puffed like grain, and chicken.  It is oven baked within the dish you eat it from and is full of flavor and natural deliciousness. 

Photo from Wikipedia:

With our bellies stuffed to the brim and our bodies ready for rest, we went to bed for the evening.

Bed time

Malaga - Day 6

Due to the previous evening's shinaningans, we slept in a bit this morning and had Botz serve us breakfast for 4 euros each at 10am... a fried egg and bacon with cereal and homemade bread.  The bread was either made homemade by Botz or was homemade and just brought into the village from ronda at 10am. 

I ate an egg for breakfast for the first time in more years than I can remember.

We drove about 2 hours to Malaga with lovely distractions of more amazing mountains along the way.

Today - we walked! The entire Castillo Gibralfaro and Malaga Alcazaba!

Their history is very interesting:

Drove to Ronda for dinner and ended our day with drinking beers with Botz, the hostel owner. 

Ronda - Day 5

I love to buy little treasures which are often known to other people as crap.  Yet I stand by the believe that someone's trash is another person's treasure.  Matt and I started the day by walking around Seville buying tourist stuff and window shopping.

As we were leaving Seville, of which we had issues getting into and leaving every city so far by car, we were at a complete stop while waiting for our turn to enter the roundabout.  2 cars behind us hit the car in front of us which hit us... no damage and everyone went on their marry way. 

The drive from Seville to Ronda was jaw dropping beautiful with mountains and green nature; note southern Spain has had a rainy winter.

We arrived in Ronda and jumped out to see the view.  We stopped at a restaurant at 4pm which was just closing their kitchen to prepare for dinner, so we had some starters and a drink or two while we overlooked the valley with a bridge built across it.  This is why the tourists staying on the coast come to Ronda just for the day.  The timing on their arrival and departure in fact was almost predictable.

After lunch we Walked around taking pictures and enjoying the bridge and thee valley.  We hiked to see the bridge from side, then hiked back up.  On the other side of the bridge, we visited Casa del Rey Moro.  This is where we walked down an old mine and came out at the river which is along the bottom of the valley - looking up.

Evening was setting in so we wandered down to old part of city and came up the other side of the river.

On the way back up the opposite side, Matt spotted millions of little black ants walking a far distance while making an ant hill and carrying greenery from the bushes.  We visited and marveled at them and what it would be like to be them for a bit.  I think that was the only moment during the entire trip that Matt REALLY wished he would have brought his macro camera lens along.

We drove approx. 20 minutes from Ronda to where our hostel was for the next 2 nights.  Cartajima - amazing mountain village managed by a character named Botz.

Interestingly strange fellow, but an amazing cook. 

There were also 1 other couple at the hostel that evening, Katherine from Germany and Frederick from Holland.  The 4 of us + Botz stayed up and talked and drank beer and wine by the fire in the old cottage.  It was almost magical and put together like a page out of an evening in Anne of Green Gables.  But with beer & wine.

A group of 5 or so students all travelling together arrived at the hostel around midnight and we all stayed up more and drank and talked... and then went to sleep at silly o'clock.

Seville - Day 4

Today, we decided to wear shorts for the first time this decade! We started our day of touring the Seville cathedral and historical Giralda.  The Giralda is a clock tower today but in the past was a former mosque minaret.  Both the cathedral & the Girala, as well as the beautiful rose and orange tree garden between the two, were beautiful.  They all showed the touched signs of the Islamic and the Christian culture once vested here.

After having lunch and an afternoon siesta, we visited the Alcazar.  The gardens were amazing and HUGE -- I can only recommend seeing the pictures as the elegantly shaped bushes and lemon & orange trees as well as flowers galore is better off being depicted through photography.

Matt and I decided to have dinner in a pizzeria restaurant in the San Marco Plaza; I had pasta and Matt had salmon - which he loved.

We finished off the evening with going to the best -and usually sold out- Flamenco show at Taverna Reale Uno... Pictures and videos to follow.

I loved it.  The rhythm made by hands and heels is the heartbeat while the dancer controls the pace, passion, and 'soul' of the music. 

A good night sleep was well deserved in our hostel in Seville, just off the main drag...

Outdated Posts

Shortly I will be posting text from very outdated posts for your viewing pleasure.  I would be my mother nor father's child if I did everything on time; just one of the many great things passed down to me.

These posts are actual notes and text taken during my southern Spain road trip earlier this year in which the prior related posts can be seen within the April folder of this blog.

Enjoy.
Sars