Barcelona

 Greetings from Barcelona, 

Last night about 11:00 these fine young men thought it was a good idea to serenade our neighborhood just below the balcony of our rental.  It really was pretty neat and one of those experiences that make the traveling problems worth it.  

Today was another moving day for us as we said adios to Madrid and headed to Barcelona.  We had a few hiccups with the Cabify but we had plenty of time to make it to the train station to catch our 3 hour train ride.  I guess planning for mistakes and adapting is what traveling is in 2026.

Yesterday, shortly after our visit with the queen, Cathy and I were walking home when Kathleen faced timed us.  Somehow Kathleen remembered that Cathy was wearing the same top in the same place in 2023! Shortly thereafter she sent us photos proving she was right! Speaking of Cathy’ clothing, we are approaching laundry day.  Here is the outfit that Cathy wore the other day.  To be fair, she had her black jacket on the entire day! She explained it was cool and it was her only long sleeved shirt.

Because we have been in Spain for a week now I feel very confident in giving my opinion on race relations.  We’ve been in a couple of large cities and it’s noticeable that we have seen very few black people.  The ones we have seen are young men hawking “football” jerseys on the street corners.  Their display area consists of a sheet covering the cement.  The jerseys are neatly displayed and some are in clear plastic bags.  Often times the corners of the sheet have cords tied to them so the seller can quickly pull the cords and move on.

We arrived in Barcelona today and after off loading our bags and figuring out how to get in and out of our new apartment, we headed out to explore the neighborhood.  After walking a short way we came across this building called “Casa Mila”.    Casa Milà is known as "the stone quarry" and is a modern looking building designed by Antoni Gaudí.  Tomorrow we’ll see Sagrada Familia, the church Gaudi designed.

  We’re very excited because tomorrow, our group of six becomes a group of seven when Kathleen Joins us!

Prado, Retirio Park, Cookies and The Queen

 Hola, 

Today’s adventure started with a walk to the Prado Museum, one of the world’s leading Art Museum’s.  We had a time consuming glitch with the audio tour but that was solved by Jon buying the audio tour for 5 euros each - money well spent.  There is no photography allowed n the Prado so today’s blog is a little lacking for photos.  

Jon did sneak photo of the painting “The Immaculate Conception”.  

Taking the photo took great courage on Jon’s part as earlier his wings had been clipped when he touched an almost 200 year marble carving titled “woman with veil”.  (This photo is off the internet).  It’s hard to understand how someone could carve this bust out of a single piece of marble including the veil.

We walked to Retirio Park - think Central Park in New York and had a pleasant lunch overlooking the little lake.  

While retuning to our apartment we stopped to photograph the Covid 19 memorial in Puerto del Sol.   I reads:  “The Town of Madrid In Memory To The Victims Of Covid-19 and Especially To Those Who Died In Solitude”.

After a brief respite we journeyed out to find the Holy Grail, cookies made by cloistered nuns.  The process truly is unique.  The buyer rings an outside door bell.  When the nun answers, you say “are there any sweets today? (in Spanish).  The nun pushes a button and the door unlocks.  The customer then follows a hallway until we come upon the lazy Susan device.  We told the sister what kind of cookies we wanted, placed the money on the lazy Susan and spun it around.  Shortly there after it spun back with our cookies and change.   

At this point our little group of 6 split up. Cathy and I headed home and the other four decided to do a little shopping.  As Cathy and I walked through a crowded Puerto del Sol there were barricades and armed police.  When we asked the police who they were waiting for he told me “la reina’ (the queen).   We waited about five minutes and we were able to take these photos.  She was too far away for me to hear clearly but I think she was asking me about the ice bowl. 

I wonder what tomorrow will bring?  

More from Madrid

Greetings from Madrid, 

Today’s touring started with a walk to the Royal Palace.  It was about a one mile walk from our apartment. The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish royal family and  is used primarily for state ceremonies. It has 1,450,000 sq ft of floor space and 3,418 rooms.  The Royal Palace is one of the largest palaces in the world.  

While we were downloading the app before the tour, I had the opportunity to explain to my nieces what a cathedral was and the difference between a cathedral and a basilica, knowledge I know they appreciated.  In an unrelated note they showed me the exercise called an eye roll.  Apparently you have to do it often for it to be effective.  To say the palace was ostentatious would be a huge understatement.  We’ll post some photos but we finished the tour wondering how people could became so wealthy and so powerful just by being lucky at birth.   

After a needed lunch we set out to find the cloistered nunnery that sells cookies.   Rick Steves wrote about it so it’s become quite an attraction.  The door is unremarkable and after ringing the door bell, the door opens.  The customer walks down a hallway to a lazy Susan type device.  You place your order and supply the money and the lazy Susan is spun around.  The customer’s order is filled and his/her change is returned.  There is no conversation and you never see the nun.  Sadly, it was closed but we’ll try again tomorrow.   

Cathy’s cousins, Debbie Kolb and Lisa Maas were passing through Madrid today on their way to their starting point of the 500 mile trail of St. James.  The walk starts in France and takes them across Spain and is called El Camino.  We were only a long walk away from the train station so met them and had just enough time for a short visit.  We were grateful we had the chance to wish them well on their journey.  After the visit they left to begin their 500 mile walk and we chose to take a cab back to our rental - don’t tell Lisa and Debbie.   

Moving Day

Today is moving day.  We sadly bid farewell to Seville and headed to Madrid.   

Some days you’re happy because you’re laughing and touring all day and some days you’re happy because some of the things that could have gone wrong - didn’t.  

Before leaving our apartment. Ali and Emily got coffee next to our rental in Seville.  Our “Cabify” showed up, perfectly on time and never even gave us a sideways glance when he saw six people and luggage for five normal people and luggage for Emily who truly is moving. 

We got dropped off at the train station, the train left and arrived on time.  Another “Cabify” drove us and our luggage to our new rental in Madrid.  With only a little difficulty with a little prompting, the cleaning person took pity on us and let us in, even though we were a half hour early.  With six suitcases and 6 carry-ons we climbed the three floors to our new home.  Europeans say it’s on the second floor but I walked up three floors - semantics my ass.  

We dumped our bags, looked over our new digs and set out to tour.  First stop was Puerta del Sol.  Tonight it was the sight of an anti-Iran protest.  Thousands of people encouraging the continued bombing of Iran.  As far as we could they were encouraging the overthrowing of the current regime to protect the Iranian people from their own government.  The protest gave me the Willys.  There were scattered people throughout, facing the crowd - not the speaker.  They seemed to be non-uniformed security and they didn’t seem to be screwing around.  I was happy when we left.   

We also walked through Plaza Mayor, home of the Spanish Inquisition.  Sadly, it looked like they were constructing a stage for an upcoming event.

Afterward it was time to find a place to eat which we did.  Jon, Emily, Ali and I then set out a scavenger hunt to find Cathy a heating pad as her back has been bothering her.  The four of us also went grocery shopping. It was fun.  In part of the store you’re not allowed to touch the fruit.  You take a number and the fruit handler comes and gets it for you.  In another part of the store we were allowed to handle and weigh the fruit but only if you use a glove.  We finally bought some  Casera Limon, a very Spanish, very light fruity alcohol drink and headed home.  Well, Jon and I headed home.  Ali and Emily headed out.  

More of Seville

The end of Seville Day two, ran into the beginning of day three.  We had a two and a half hour dinner with Emily’s host parents which began at 9:00 pm.  They were lovely people with an animated speaking style.  That was good as they spoke broken English and except for Emily, we spoke no Spanish.  However with pantomiming and google translate the conversation never lapsed.

On our way home we walked past Las Setas, (the Mushroom) a massive art  installation that covers Roman ruins discovered while excavating for a parking lot.   On our way home, around midnight, we couldn’t help but notice the numbers of people still out and about including little children.   

For anyone tracking, (which I know is nobody) today’s step count was (17,256).   

Every where we walk we see Oranges lying on the street.  They grow everywhere and just fall on the sidewalk and streets.  

Saturday’s first stop was the famous Mercado de Triana.  It’s a large indoor market.  Think Milwaukee’s Public Market without the health restrictions.  As we crossed a bridge just outside the market, the heavens opened and we were soaked to the bone.  At this point we abandoned ship and returned to our apartment to dry off and re-think our afternoon plans.

The rain ended and we headed out to the see the uncorrupted remains of Santa Angela De La Cruz, a home town girl.  Sisters body is displayed in a glass casket in this church.  Sadly the church was locked.  We knocked but the doors were not opened. 

We also payed another visit to Setas to take a “I love Seville photo”. 

While Emily and Ali shopped, the four seniors had a drink at an outdoor bar across the plaza from the Church of El Salvador.  The doors of the Church of El Salvador were also locked. 

We made a quick stop at another school where Emily took classes and sought out another cafe but this time for comida, food.  We all had tapas (small plates).  Drinks and dinner for 6 people was $51 and everyone was full.

We capped off the night with a flamenco show and headed for home, finishing the day with 14,500 steps (Jon hit 20,000).  

I lied.  We got home at 9:00 but the girls went back out at 9:30.  

Tomorrow we leave for Madrid.  

Seville Day Two

Hola from Seville, 

When traveling there is nothing like a solid twelve hours of sleep to recover from a long flight.  I’m not kidding.  We had a laid back morning.  Cumulatively we spent about 30 minutes trying to turn on the stove.  

Our morning started with a walk to Emily’s school.  It is an amazing place that looked like it was built as a castle.  Her semester at the University of Seville is one that she‘ll never forget.  

From there we walked to the Seville Cathedral, one of the largest Gothic Churches in the world, home to the remains of home town boy, Christopher Columbus and to one of the most ornate sanctuaries in Christindom. 

After a very brief rest at a sidewalk cafe, we proceeded to our second tour of the day, The Royal Alcazar.   It’s an ancient castle which continues to serve as the “official” residence of the King of Spain when he is in Seville.  

Except for me stopping a Spaniard to ask where the entrance to The Alcatraz was, everything has been going smoothly.  

After another stop at a cafe for nourishment and rest we walked back to our home for a little time for rest and recovery.   Tonight we are meeting Emily’s host parents for a paelle dinner.  

13,000 steps in today (So far).

We Made it!

 We made it to Spain!

Except for a very long plane ride and a profound lack of sleep, every thing went exceptionally well -for which we are grateful.  The flights were on time, the TSA lines were not terrible, we were able to get a “cabify” from the airport and our apartment rental is great. 

   

After a very brief nap, Emily came to our place and started her job as our tour guide.  We walked along the scenic River Guadalquivir, stopping at an outdoor bar/cafe for a cold drink called Caslera.  It was cool and refreshing and authentically Spanish.  We then walked to the Park de Maria Louisa which lead to the beautiful Plaza de España.  Street Performers were dancing the Flamenco.   After a long walk back to our rental we ate “el Fresco” before turning in the night.