photos - all out of order, but you get the picture!

Old Arabic walls in Cacares

Castles everwhere in Castille

Earphones in the tree, that people on the top deck of the On Off Bus have thrown there.

Beautiful fountain outside parliament in Madrid

The Ceiling of the tourist information centre in Cacares

Interesting sculptures at Madrid Train Station

Our coach and the driver, Salvadore.

Putrid Palermo

Hello all.
Palermo needs to change its name to pigsty.  Bangkok is cleaner.  Watching old ladies spit on the foopath at your feet is an interesting sight.  Hey mum, if you ever get the inclination then come to Palermo, you'll fit right in.  Accomodation was interesting.  The elevator serviced 3 hotels in the same building.  Dominique, Mark and Georgina will remember Barcelona when Mark  jolted the elevator and caused the light to fall out and some it hit Steve on the head.  Well my elevator had 2 of its 4 light bulbs missing but someone was kind enough to stuff a hunk of bread roll in the socket to toast it.  And I won't even mention the porn graffitti on the elevator door.  Enough whinging.  Palermo has fantastic history and some splendid buildings and parks.  I did the on off bus to get my bearings then did a 7km walk back to the water front and found a little cafe with a set menu based on seafood.  6 courses with a bottle of white that was quite delicious - all for 20 euro.  Bit of an easy lunch that afternoon.  Had a run in with some brill creamed keith at the next table who decided to light one up.  Instead of upsetting his mates with it, he decided it was better to blow it in my face whilst I was eating.  When the wind changed and the BBQ blew ash and smoke all over him and his mates, he couldn't understand why I was pissing myself very loudly at him.  Cranky looks from him and his 4 mates convinced me to continue my touring of the city.  Sunday reminded me of Sunday as a kid.  not much open, everyone at mass then home for a big feed.  BUT come about 4.00pm and everyone gets dressed to the nines and goes out window shopping or walking in the park or just chatting in the streets.  2 major streets in the city centre close for pedestrians.  Bloody amazing.  Do you think I stood out in jeans and a T shirt with the blokes  dressed up like they were hitting the nightclubs, just to walk the streets.  Brill cream is still the norm in Palermo too.
Presently in Taormina.  Amanda lived here, Domo, Mark, Georgina and others have visited.  You cannot get a handle on the beauty of the place until you visit.  The Greek amphitheatre was fantastic with Mt. Etna smoking in the background.  The volcano shot out fire etc yesterday (allegedly - tour guide).  did the cable car down to another beach and, of course, had a beer.  Earlier gorged on Gelati ice creams and am now over them so that worked.  Off to Positano tomorrow.  6 hours on a train - gotta love it.
Photos soon.  No card reader here.  Love to all
Lucas

Seville

Sorry folks - no photos.  The computers at the hotel are ancient, but at least the keyboard is more similar to the Australian ones, compared to the French ones!

I forgot to tell you about Cordoba.  It was the first night of the tour.  We had an extra guide, Antonio who took us walking through the old Jewish quarter, then to the cathedral inside the old mosque - amazing!

Interesting city and according to the Tour guides, everybody who was ever anybody of course comes from Seville!!  It´s about 20 degrees when we head out about 8.30 am and by 1.00 pm it´s 30 degrees, till about 7.00 pm.  It doesn´t get dark till about 9.00 pm.  Went to a Flamenco Classico show last night.  This means that the dancers have been training for more than 10 years and are very precise.  When we get to Granada, we are going to a Gypsy Flamenco show, which will be much more informal and unchoreographed.  Had an extra guide today, Marea, who took us to Macarena.  That´s Our Lady of Hope, not the dance!  They still do the big street procession for Easter and we saw the huge statue etc that a specific brotherhood carries through the streets, along all the bike paths, in Holy Week.  She also took us to an old Arabic palace that is now a catholic residence.  Prince Charles stayed here last week and the whole thing was closed.  I´m glad I´m here this week!   So lovely interiors and lovely gardens.  It´s a shame about the photos!

Dominique & Lucas, I found out about the hire bicycles in Spanish cities - you have to be a resident to use them and it cost 30 euros per year.  You just pick them up and drop them off as required.

Tomorrow Malaga on the Costa del Sol, south east coast.

Love  G

Madrid & Cordoba

Hi Folks.

My train trip from Barcelona was like a flight - allocated seating, warm cloths for hands & face, 4 course meal, newspapers and drinks - all ay 300 kph!

When I got to Madrid in the late afternoon, I ventured out and did the historic On Off Bus Tour for 1.5 hrs, then looked for a place to eat.  Restaurant don´t open for dinner till 8.00 pm or 9.00 pm so it was tapas again.  Filled me up and went back to my nice hotel room and fought with the really hard bed all night.  Breakfast was 5 minutes then out the door to walk to the bus terminus, to start my tour - Fascinating Andalucia.  I am the only one who speaks English, besides the Tour Guide ANA.  We left Madrid at 8.15 am and travelled south west, stopping at Cacares for a while then a couple of "comfort" stops and arrived in Madrid at 6.30 pm - lovely hotel Alfaros.  All having dinner here tonight, then bus tour here before heading to Seville for 2 nights.  Flamenco Show too.
See ya & be good.
G xx

Cala Salada - no it´s not a meal.

Gidday all

Went to San Antoni Portdumonnay on the other side of the island today.  Full of pommy tourists so got a cab to a beach called Calla (beach) Salada about 5kms away.  Check the photos.  What a beautiful spot.  Not crowded but a bit of rock climbing where I went arse up, twisted my knee and lost a bit of bark off my ankle and thumb.  Very chilly water cured that I must say.  Took it easy reading up on Italy for a few hours.  Mumbled something to the woman at the restaurant and finally someone who understood MUMBLE.  I got the coke I wanted and she ordered me a cab.  Bring on Italy I say.  Out later tonight to see if this place wakes up at any stage then an early flight to Palermo.  Stay safe cos I am.  Love to all,  Lucas.

Georgina with a brave smile whilst crapping herself on the Funicular Ride.  Was very proud of her facing her phobias.

This is at the bottom of the cliff below the olt town, for and cathedral above Ibiza.  Bloody shame people can´t use a rubbish bin.

This is the closest I´ve come to seeing a water police boat since leaving the GC.  And it´s tired.

Couple of photos of Calla Salada.  Absolutely beautiful but BLOODY freezing cold water.  You could chill down a beer in 5 minutes...not that I did or anything!!!!!!

how is everything?

I reckon that Dad has had his next lot of appointments now, so how did he go?  Mum are you okay?  My kids seem good if facebook is anything to go by.  Everyone else alright?  How´s the house-hunting going S & S?

last day Barcelona

Yesterday we spent time inside Sagrada Familia.  AWESOME! AMAZING!

Last night we 3 went to Tablea Cordobes, a Flamenco Show.  It was very intense and energetic, held in a small venue, with the audience very close around the stage.  We all enjoyed it, despite the 3 middle aged women behind us who had had quite a bit to drink and acted  as though they were at a male strip club - one of them calling out "Fabrizio!  Fabrizio!" and almost swooning and stumbling.

As you can see, Lucas made it to Ibiza, so now we can enjoy his exploits for another couple of weeks.
Today Dominique, Mark & I did a bit of shopping and went to Parc Guell.  We came home and had a "clean out the fridge" dinner of cheese, olives, prosciutto  red wine, on the foo top terrace.  We've been up there for a couple of hours - a bit chilly though. Now everyone's packing.
I'll try some more photos . .
G xx