Spain & Portugal

Posts from Abroad:

9/26: We made it to Madrid yesterday and a few speed bumps notwithstanding (it turns out we didn't have a car rental- oops) drove down to Granada. Oren and Hiroko slept the entire way (unlike the plane ride over). Then Oren took a siesta with a hotel babysitter while Hiroko and I enjoyed an Arabic bath house swim and spa. If it didn't sound too strange I'd say I think every city's arrival should begin at the spa. But it does so I won't. Then Oren continued his siesta (price to be paid later) while we took one as well. We had fantastic Moroccan food with couscous specially prepared for Oren although he preferred our babaganoush - seriously. Then we all went to bed until Oren decided it was time to get up. At 1am. It took three hours to get him back to sleep. Today we toured the amazing Alhambra and explored Granada. Although Oren slept through most of the gardens he woke up for the palace. Tomorrow we are off to Nerja. All is well in Granada and alas its siesta time again.

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9/28: Hi from Seville! On the morning after we visited the Alhambra we saw it from afar. We climbed up stroller-unworthy streets high into the plaza San Nicolas in search of two things: the best viewpoint of the Alhambra and breakfast. Unfortunately it was Sunday so apparently no one eats breakfast on Sundays or at least no one serves it but the view was amazing. Add bacon and it would have been perfect.

We then drove down to the seaside town of Nerja where we crossed a pedestrian only square twice ( had to get out somehow and all those people were in the way) only to be told by the somewhat speechless hotel clerk nobody ever drives up to the hotel for a reason. Fortunately, it being Sunday no police were around anyway. The hotel puerta del mar was beautiful- right off the main balcon de Europa with large balcony windows and Oren's crib in the middle of it all. We ate immediately at a local favorite that had amazing Galician octopus, large squid, and delicious calamari. Oren even tried the cuddle fish and seemed to like it. We then went down for a swim in the sea while Oren napped on the beach. He woke up to the startling discovery of sand with which he expressed his immediate dismay and caused us to leave almost immediately. Despite that setback he dipped his feet in the Mediterranean Sea and then splashed around in the hotel pool. The pool was more his style for sure which made me briefly wonder what we were doing wrong as parents that he would so prefer the hotel pool to the Mediterranean Sea but then maybe I was reading into it too much.

Today we drove to the Rock - Gibraltar! This simple drive from Nerja is not quite as easy as it sounds because first of all the Sierra Nevadas and Andalucian outback requires slightly more than what our little Ford could muster. I'm pretty sure we were able to rent the car because the market has declined for one cylinder engine one wheel drive cars. Also since we followed Rick steves' advice we actually drove to la linea, a sprawling industrial beach town and then walked across the border into the UK. It was a clear day and Africa peered up at the Rock in faint blue mountains. Gibraltar may be the kind of place where aging Brits go for something as exotic as fish and chips but we had a good time and even took in John and Yoko's wedding venue.

Finally we took our Ford 20R ( that's two ten speeds and a Rubber band) up through Ronda to Seville. Now our new plan is to return the car here in Seville and take a bus to Faro, Portugal followed by a train to Lisbon On 10/1.
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10/1: This afternoon we arrived by train in Lisbon having taken a bus to the coastal town of Faro, Portugal earlier this morning. Lisbon is the final part of our trip.
Seville was a colorful amalgamation of beautiful architectural styles - Moorish, Baroque, and renaissance predominating with each street more photogenic than the previous one. That said, the Spanish never did really figure out sidewalks leaving Oren two stroller wheels to the wind at any given time.

We toured the Royal alcazar and walked the plaza espana. Oren, we learned parts crowds quite effective with smiles and laughter as he flirts his way into stores, down narrow sidewalks and through crowded archways. More often than not straight-faces people smile and point at him as we go by.
We've by now had our fill of octopus, ham in its many forms, sangria and squid. Oren joined us for a cheese plate and terrific strawberry sorbet. He's been a champ at eating with us, eating whatever And sleeping through our long dinners. He always wakes up for dessert though - wonder what that means.
After a terrific stay in the Mozart room of the hotel Amadeus we left by bus this morning for Faro. Faro is one of those beautiful seaside towns complete with charm, architecture, and cobblestones that looks like everyone just up and left it one day. It doesn't take long to get the sense that this place could be or at least was something great. From there we trained it to Lisbon Which so far is majestic in its architecture and scope. We are at the Avenida Palace in the center of it all and look forward to exploring more.