Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Spain - Fuengirola & Marbella - Costa del Sol - 15 - 25 August

After a change of plans we caught the train from Valencia to Cordoba, had 8 minutes to change trains to Malaga and lucky for us we understood someone enough to catch the local train to Fuengirola.  A beautiful clean beach, groomed every morning.  The water not at all clear like we have become accustomed to.


A mass of sun umbrellas - soooo hot!


Our hotel on the right., 14th floor.


We took a 30 minute taxi ride down the coast to Marbella. A nice beach, water seemed to be a bit clearer here.  The old town had lots of eating places, service in some places really tested our patience, well mine more so than Andy's!!!  From here we went to Ronda for the day and experienced a Bull Fight (separate posts)







Amazing sandcastles


This couple only moved when they were tipped.

The narrow streets of the old town.  Lots of flowers and oplants hung over the balconies


Midnight!!!!

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Spain - Valencia - 12 - 15 August

Arrived in Valencia by fast train in 1 hour 35 minutes from Madrid.  A mad rush to catch this train and only had 2 minutes to spare before it departed.  Just a tad stressfull!!!  We went shopping in a big department store, came out of a different entrance and couldnt find our hotel for hours, we decided to hire push bikes and cycle to the beach, easy they say, 30 minutes. 2.5 hours later we found the beach and only 2 hours to find our way back to our hotel.  OMG we got so lost in this city that today we just walked around, took in the sights and recovered!


City of Arts and Sciences


the beach was huge.  It was so busy but so much sandy space

This sandcastle took one week to make.  Very cleaver



Torres De Serranos - the gate to the city

The bull fighting arena

Spain - Madrid - 9 - 12 August

Arrived in Madrid by fast train in 2 hours 40 minutes from Barcelona.  Police everywhere, have never seen so many of them.  Soooo hot here, 39 degrees, no wind, no beach, no pool and it was like this at 11 pm at night.  Did hop on hop off bus, wandered and people watched, especially the darkies selling the fake stuff, so funny when the police were coming they bundled everything up and took off only to set up again the minute they had moved on. 

The Royal Palace


Alcala Gate



These guys only moved when someone tipped them
 

Palacio de Cibeles

A very busy shoe shoop!!!

Andy found his flag!!


Oh the crowds!!

Flamingo show

The police are coming!!!

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Spain - Barcelona - 5 - 8 August 2013

Barcelona was a great city for its walkways and space. We walked the promenade along the beach.  Spent time on the hop on hop off bus which gave us a great insight to the city.  Visited Casa Batllo, the Gaudi family home.  Everything was curved, even down to the window catches.  Still very hot, but as you can see some stormy looking skies that made all the sightseeing bearable.

 



Casa Batllo- built in 1877 and remodelled in the years 1904 -1906

Basilica of La Sagrada - unfinished after 130 years

OMG - a cute baby!!

Marbella Beach - a bit quieter
Gondola ride to Castell de Montjuic - 18th century fortress


Must be a boy thing!!!

100,000 volunteers for the 1992 Olymics

The Olympic Tower - the main cummunications tower for the coverage of the games

Good spotting outside the olympic Stadium