Solotravel

Madrid

Madrid Park in Spring

Made it to Madrid, after a wonderful stay in Barcelona. An amazing city I thoroughly enjoyed visiting there, even stayed at a hotel above the station! A 5-star hotel that was on special, and had thrown in a €22 breakfast for good measure, definitely my lifestyle!!!The Sagrada Familia the stand out attraction for me, in Barcelona.

Thinking I would check into the train early to avoid a crowd, was not a good move. I found out that to check in you can only do so 20 mins before train departure. The train ride was very nice, a reclining seat, the option of a cafe service. Train speeds seemed to be up to 300kms/hour. The landscape, what I saw of it reminded me of the Australian outback, shrubby and very dry. Differed by the sight of little Spanish villages, the occasional fort or castle.

The Madrid Atocha Station was surely one of the bigger stations I have ever been in, it was outstanding in the number of passengers that were moving through it. One of the reasons I believe was the escalators without stairs, so simple for all those suitcases. Not even queues for the lifts. Some of the bigger stations around the world should take note!

Lovely three and a half hour trip down to Madrid on one of the high-speed trains, comfortable seats, so much so, I slept for half of it! The usual orientation required at the gates as to which way to get to the hotel. The staff very helpful, pointing me in the right direction for the hotel

Buskers

Madrid is fast, overrun with tourists, graffiti-covered buildings and Spaniards! Always looking over my shoulder and watching for pickpockets, the sheer numbers of people very scary. Just getting across the road was an achievement, after leaving the station. The hotel I had booked was just a 10min walk away, but oh, the traffic!

Not overly impressed with Hotel Mora on first impressions. Just a bed for the two nights before the tour starts. So far, noisy, no jug. I found a little dairy type shop and got some milk and orange juice. There was no mention of breakfast by the receptionist who appeared to be totally bored. She said if I wanted hot water to ask at the cafe adjoining the hotel. The cafe people were very friendly and obliged willingly with some boiling water. Their food was very nice when I had dinner there later.

Walked up the long main road that the hotel was on last evening, there are seats the entire length, most were filled with people enjoying the passing tourists, cars, and families out and about. Still queues for the adjacent botanical gardens at 7 pm! I just took some bad photos through the fence! The tulips here are in flower with many spring flowers starting to open. One or two stripped off bodies laying on lawns trying to get a suntan??? It’s been 12 degrees most of the day!

I did enjoy wandering through a Lladro /NAO shop, it is made here, but as usual, I never have room for buying extras to join those I already have at home.

From 5 star hotel to 2 stars a shock to the system, not even an electric jug here, and a receptionist who can’t be bothered, but at least walking distance to all the junk food shops, I know my weight has gone up. I have got a few supplies that I can use for breakfast, but it’s not €22! Not fitting one pair of jeans, and the other is feeling tighter……

Tomorrow, the tour starts, I am looking forward to having bags taken care of and everything else organized, just doing as I’m told will make a change.

Starting to look forward to coming home, time is starting to fly, Tracey says my maidenhair fern needs me 🙂

Barcelona Highlights

I had booked a ticket to see the world famous Sagrada Familia, one of the Barcelona highlights. So it was off out the door and down to the Metro to get there early. We were allowed in to see the crypt where Gaudi is interred. Then it was up to the ticket gate, oh dear, I hadn’t realized that when tickets are booked you are allocated a time to visit. Mine was a 6.15 in the evening!

Poble Espanyol

After a distressing time trying to find the return metro to the main station I eventually made it. A coffee later, it was back to the bus.

The first stop at the Poble Espanyol was fascinating. It came as a surprise, the entrance fee of €9 I initially thought high, but once stepping into the complex I understood. There were houses of all sorts, shapes, and sizes, showcasing many of the Spanish architectural styles. I spent much time here enjoying the village and visiting the shops. Walking through cute alleyways with their flowers and flowerpots.

Fundacio Frau Daurel art collection of worthy artists, including work by Dali, Picasso, and Miro. While I am not into art, it was enjoyable to walk in the presence of the eclectic art display. Many little craft shops and regular shops on display, all with tourists in mind. Followed by a walk through the sculpture park, lovely on a fine day.

The next stop for me was the Teleferic de Montjuïc or the cable cars that travel uphill. The wonderful views out across Barcelona simply superb, I was so lucky with the weather. They stop at the castle before returning and stopping at Mirador on the way down. As I had only paid a single of a €8.70 trip, this is where I got off. It was a pleasant walk down the hill, stopping to admire the sea views and the port with all its cruise liners.

It was a tiring walk down the long hill to the main road and the bus stop for the next part of the trip. This time I had chosen to stop at Port Vell, which is a large shopping mall at the water’s edge. Many very expensive boats moored close by. It could have been a shopping mall anywhere in the world, although the language spoken was a dead giveaway!

Lunch overlooking the harbor was the preferred pastime by a long shot, for me, a Subway sandwich was just fine! I could admire the World trade center from across the water.

The highlight of the day was the Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s ongoing hundred and forty-four-year-old artwork After tackling the metro again, I found myself at the door of this fabulous building. First, it’s through the security screens, the X-ray officer nearly had a fit, I had a small pair of nail scissors in the backpack. I keep them there because all of my luggage is tied with cable ties, which require scissors. Fortunately, someone else had enough common sense to wave an old lady through. Some of the security officers really are enthusiastic about doing their thankless job, not one I would want to do.

Then it’s on to the building itself, to me it was staggeringly beautiful, as luck would have it the setting sun created stunning sights through the stained glass windows. The breathtaking, graceful columns, artwork, attention to details however weird they were. Like the bugs hiding in the arty leaves on the doors! Hundreds of people all taking selfies, it was hard to decide where to go first.

Sagrada Familia

I was very conscious of the crowd and knowing Barcelona does have a reputation for pickpockets. I made the point of making sure no one was behind me, particularly when taking photographs.

Next day, I did very little, just enjoyed walking in the local area adjacent to the station, with its bus stops and Taxi stands.

Train ride to Barcelona

In Barcelona

I had a first-class ticket for the train ride to Barcelona. What a disappointment, wifi didn’t work, and very noisy children! One child screamed probably half the trip. At least his mother had the common sense to take him into a toilet to cut down the noise. From what I saw the child was probably autistic on some level or a very badly raised one.

I have been fascinated by the sight of many white horses out of the windows, indeed all through France. Traveling through swamps, I assumed it was through Carmague, before going through the sea. I have never been on a train with the sea on either side. So much water around, such beautiful views. There were even snow topped mountains in the distance. The big station at Barcelona, very confusing on arrival after the free for all to get the luggage. I will never understand the number of passengers these trains carry, there is so little luggage space. It was bliss to walk just 20 meters to the Barcelo hotel it turned out to be a very nice hotel indeed!

After a marvelous breakfast at the hotel. The breakfasts at the Barcelo were superb, in the entire time I was away they were never surpassed. I set out on the Barcelona Turistic bus to spend the day driving around and getting on and off at will. It was a wonderful introduction to a very beautiful city. There were three routes, red, blue and green. Red is the main one. So I froze and just sat and watched the world go by in Barcelona. Sitting in the hop on, hop off bus was very cold, the wind channeling down the stairs was extremely chilling. I wasn’t dressed for that, and for the remainder of the day, I didn’t warm up at all.

There were some beautiful sights so I made a note to get off later. One of the main reasons for visiting Barcelona was the Sagrada Familia, so I changed to the blue route to visit it. I took one look at the crowds and stayed on the bus and finished the red route. Back to the hotel for a coffee and lunch of dried soup. After lunch back to the bus, stopping and getting off at the first supermarket I had seen for a wander through and a take on local prices.

[ Sagrada Familia

Then catch the next one to the Plaça D’espanya.

A lovely walk on a fine day between the two towers towards the fountains and water displays. It becomes part of the Montjuïc Park

A very popular place by all the people there. They had portable toilets, which I thought was a good idea. Toilets don’t seem to be the issue here that they are in France. Haven’t been charged once. Having spent some time wandering it was back to the bus, the stops are well marked so easy to work out and on to the next stop. It was getting late in the day so stayed on the bus to get back to the hotel at the station. Ready for another day. Eating at the station a simple choice.

Two Towers

Palais de Papes, Avignon

Today was to be a foray into the Palais des Papes, Avignon. I had not been aware of this superb fourteenth-century building until booking my stay in Avignon. Used by the popes from the early 14th century to its close in the 1390s. It is one of the largest palace and fortress buildings in Europe in the Gothic style. I loved the massive building, the huge flagstones to walk on, certainly took you back in time. It must have been a very cold place in centuries past, given the size of the fireplaces.

In one of the huge rooms, heaters were going at full blast but it was still cool enough to be comfortable. Masses of people, many tour groups, all with their leader carrying various versions of umbrellas. But they didn’t spoil the views of the beautiful murals on the walls. Two of the rooms I thought were outstandingly beautiful. This was not the high season for tourists, I would shudder to think how packed it would become when it was!

I slowly maneuvered the countless steps with my stick, sadly slowing everyone behind me but no one complained. I am certainly benefitting from all the exercise. However, the stick is a must for my confidence on the cobblestones, flagstones and the many rundown paths and roads that seem to be. While I always have travel insurance, a must for anyone traveling away from their home country. I also feel one must be proactive as well.

The ride on the small road train for tourists was a blessing indeed. It saved me a lot of walking and gave an insight to other intriguing sights to see, from the highest lookout point down to the Pont D’avignon at the river. After seeing the palace, I wandered up the adjacent hill to the park, Parc Palais des Papes to get an overview of the city. I was very lucky with the weather, having an enchanting, beautifully clear day to see the Pont de Avignon in its shortened magnificence across the river. A spectacular panorama of the French countryside.