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. 

We’re off to Spain!

 For the past semester, our niece, Emily has been studying in Seville, Spain and we’re going to visit her.  Cathy’s sister, Jeanne initiated the trip.  She asked Cathy to go with her, Cathy asked me, Jon Kolb wanted to come and it’s only logical that Jean’s other daughter, Ali wanted to go and if we make a stop in Barcelona - Kathleen agreed to join us for a long weekend.  

I’ll try to update the blog periodically as our little band of 6-7 people hop, skip and jump around the beautiful cities of Spain.  We plan on visiting Seville, Madrid and Barcelona.  

Home again, home again

 We’re home.

We had a great time on the cruise and we appreciate those who followed along.  I wanted to write about a few things that I really didn’t make time to write about while we were cruising. 

Our companions, Curt, Mary, Mike and Suzanne were wonderful.  We had virtually all of our meals together, shared most of our shore excursions together and spent plenty of happy hours together and we all got along splendidly.  

We are grateful that all the bad things that could have happened, didn’t.  Things like losing a passport, missing a bus, forgetting pills or rain gear, bodily injury, illnesses, delayed flights, getting lost, getting pick pocketed, losing a wallet or key or having a phone go dead.  Nothing bad happened and we are grateful.   

Our days were surely filled but never overwhelming.  Each day started out with a wonderful breakfast.  Think of a a very nice hotel-type breakfast.  There was a buffet but we could also order off the menu.  Each morning included a shore excursion.  Almost all the excursions included some free time to either shop, have a beer or coffee and time to look a round on our own.  Almost all of our excursions were included.  We chose 3 excursions that we had to pay for.  Lunch was sometimes followed by another excursion.  Each afternoon we were offered a coffee/tea and dessert time.  These were eventually followed by a one hour happy hour (drinks included in the price of the cruise).   After 15 minutes of announcements about upcoming events we had dinner.  Each night we were given menus which offered three choices each of appetizers, soups, main courses and deserts.  Wine flowed easily at dinner and again the wine was included in the price of the cruise.   After dinner there was entertainment in a large lounge type hall.  A tour of any kind is a great way to make sure you don’t miss any highlights of the city you’re in.  Being on a cruise we were also saved from repacking every day.   

While of course we were in tourist areas and normally with a local guide, language was never a problem.  Many people spoke English and many of them spoke it well.  The few times we had to ask a local person a question or get directions, we got by and they seemed to appreciate any effort we made to use their language.  One night our cruise director made this joke.  

A man from Switzerland came to the US.  He approached two young men and said in German “sprichst du deutsch?”  The American men looked at him with blank stares.  So the Swiss man tried French, “ parles français?”  All he got back from the Americans were more blank stares.  Next, the Swiss man tries Italian, “parli italiano?”   Finally he tries Dutch, “spreek je Engels?”  The Americans just looked at him.  The Swiss guy finally gives up and walked away.  

   As the Swiss fellow walked away one of the  Americans looked at his friend and says “maybe we should think about learning a second language.” His friend replies, “why, that guy knew four of them and it didn’t do him any good!’  Everybody laughed but sometimes I think there is some arrogance of showing up in someone else’s country without knowing anything about their language.  However, to be clear we could easily get by just using English.   

Thanks for reading. 

Ken and Cathy

Photo of our ship taken off the internet

Ken, Cathy, Mike, Suzanne, Curt and Mary

Our Ship

Amsterdam

 Today started off with a canal tour of Amsterdam.  Our guide was the first guide in whom we were disappointed. We did learn that there are 2900 houseboats parked semi-permanently in the canals.  When we got off the canal boat we had a choice to take a walking tour back to the ship.  That guide was very good.  

As we walked, we learned that this city of 920,000 people has over a million bikes.  Estimates say that 80,000 bikes are stolen every year.  10,000 are found each year in the canals.  During our walk we saw more “stumble Stones” the gold-ish little plaques in the side walks with the names of the Jews from Amsterdam lost in the Holocaust. We passed Rembrandt’s home and we learned about the East India Company and William of Orange.  Our guide pointed out to us how some of the multistory buildings are tipping.  We did pass two legal marijuana places and our guide pointed out where the red light district was but not much was made of these places.   

After lunch we took a trip to a living history type place.  The weather was laughably bad (pouring rain off and on and high winds).  The park was divided into four sections, a bakery, a cheesemaking area, a windmill area and wooden shoes making area.  Despite the rain and wind it was fun and educational.  

Rembrandt’s house

Stumble Stones

Bikes, Bikes and more Bikes

Leaning house

Windmill inner workings