El Camino de Santiago!

We catch the train out of the station Madrid Chamartin.  The train is not until 1 pm but it doesn't get to Sarria until 7 pm so it pretty well takes up the whole day.

Enjoying a little vino to break up the boredom.  Lovely countryside.

We arrive in Sarria.

And take taxi to our first accommodation in Barbadello.

After a quick dinner we retire.  It's an early start for our first day on the Camino and we need to rest up to face our 20 kms. tomorrow.

 

It's a little misty and cool this morning as we prepare to leave.  It's about 8 am.

110 kms is the total of what we'll be walking over the next few days.

The mist soon clears and we have a beautiful day ahead of us.

The three amigas!

A little competition for the roadway...

Our destination for today.  Portomarin.  We're tired and glad we're here but...

What a cruel trick....we had to climb these stairs to get to our hotel!  What a finish to a great day!  Tomorrow another 20 km!  Yikes!
 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 

Back to Madrid...

Up bright and early as we are catching the fast train out of Barcelona at 7:05 am.  This train went 300 kms/hr.  Smooth as anything.  What a way to travel.

 

Sunrise soon after we leave Barcelona.  Another beautiful day!

The countryside is beautiful.  This picture was about 30 minutes out of Madrid.

When we arrive at the Atocha Station we take a cab to Hotel Europa.  After getting settled we walk around and go see the cathedral and the palace.  

 

  

We then meet up with Carol for a beer.  Decide to go wild and crazy!

Later we get some dinner and top it off with gelato.  

Tomorrow we catch the train to Sarria to begin the El Camino.

 

Exploring Barcelona

We only have one full day in Barcelona so we decided we needed to see the old part and stroll La Rambla.  We take the metro into the main part of Barcelona and start our stroll down La Rambla.

It's a beautiful pedestrian avenue that ends at the water.

Part way down we spot this market that is huge.  It has all sorts of food.  It's like a huge Granville Island market.  If I was living in Barcelona I would eat solely at this place.

Look at the seafood!  We had these prawns for dinner last night.

We then meet up with out tour group 'Runner Bean Tours' for a 3 hour walking tour of the Old Town.

Gorka is our tour guide and he does an amazing job.

Ready to start our tour!  Three babes by the fountain!

This is some of Gaudi's early work...you can sure tell because it stands out from everything around it.

Amazing decor on the front of some of the buildings.

Huge stained glass piece on this church.

A peek inside the Cathedral.

Amazing...

This another market but the colourful roof is a landmark in Barcelona.

Then we're down at the waterfront.

We reach the foot of La Rambla and it's now time to make our way back to the metro to enjoy some gelato closer to our hotel.  

Tomorrow we are off bright and early to Madrid by train.

 
 

 

 
 
 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 

 

Barcelona

We've arrived in Barcelona.  Took the train from Sitges however got a little mixed up between the trains and the metro as they use the same stations and our instructions were open to interpretation. 

 

We found our hotel about noon.  Nice place with lots of restaurants in the area.  Just around the corner there is a lovely pedestrian only street that we checked out.

We walked over to see the Sagrada Familia and I must say that I still find it an eyesore.  I know it's a magnificent work of art and a must see landmark but let's just say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I'm just not feeling it.

As we continued walking down another pedestrian only street....

we came across a magnificent building which is a hospital that is still operating.  This is the Sant Pau Barcelona.

 

We finished off the day with a great meal at a restaurant in the pedestrian only street.  Tomorrow we are headed to the old quarter.

 
 

 
 

 

Last day in Sitges...

It's our last day in Sitges and we've enjoyed four very relaxing days by the sea.  Cathryn, Gayle and I have agreed that we are coming back here.  It's a great place to use as a home base.  Easy to get around and only 30 minutes out of Barcelona.

We are headed to Barcelona tomorrow to continue our adventures.

Dinner out at a great restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean!

Beautiful church at the end of the promenade.

 
 

 

Company's coming...

Today Cathryn and Gayle arrive.  I walk up the pedestrian walkway to see where I might have breakfast.  There is a buffet at the hotel but I'm so tired of buffets.  I decide to buy a few groceries at the market and have something at the apartment.  Sit on the deck and enjoy my coffee.  It's nice to relax.

Cathryn and Gayle arrive.  A little jet lagged but doing well.  After settling in we walk to the hotel so they can register and then pick up more groceries.  The all essential wine, olives, cheese and baguette.  Yum! 

Later we walk down the beach and go to the restaurant, Picnic, for tapas and sangria. 

 Cathryn and Gayle are fading.  Time to turn in.  We plan on relaxing for the next few days and not doing much of anything.

Getting to Sitges...

Well my day started out okay however when you have to check out of your hotel and your flight isn't until 3:30 it leaves you with time to fill but not enough to really do anything.  Once you've got your suitcase in tow it really limits what you can do.
I decide to head to the airport as I'm taking the metro.  This was so I can take my time.  I walk to the larger metro station because they have escalators there....or so I thought.  Why is it that they tease you with escalators in the beginning and then once you are in the bowels of the metro there are stairs!  And lots of them.  More reason to get back to the gym when I get home.

I get to the airport at 11:30.  I can't even check in until 1:30 so I continue to tow around my suitcase.  I find Starbucks and hunker down with my book. Just when I'm leaving I hear my name!  Really?  Who knows me here?  Well it's my three German lady friends that I went on the tour with yesterday.  They are just arriving to wait for their flights get home.  It was great to see them.
I'm finally on my two hour flight to Barcelona.

 One hour time difference so I am later than anticipated.  I find where to catch the MonBus and wait for the next one at 7:50 pm.  7€ and I'm on my way.  It takes about 30 minutes but then I discover there are more than one stop in Sitges and I have no idea which one.  I tell these men the address of where I'm going and they share with the bus driver.  It seems like there are way less people who speak English here.  The bus drops me off and I'm lost.  I'm am supposed to hail a taxi.  No taxis in sight.  I consider walking but my GPS says 30 minutes and it's now dark.  What to do?  I ask this couple and through sign language ? They have me follow them into town where they say there are taxis.  Yes!  I get there and there must be four or five taxis but no drivers!  Is this a nightmare?  I walk a little and ask this woman and she says she will call the taxi number for me as I don't know how to say where I am.  She then tells me the taxi is not allowed to come???  She says best to go to the train station as there are taxis there.  I walk there and yes there are taxis.  They are soooo....busy that I have to wait...the taxi driver assures me one will come. By this time I am ready to jump in front of anything resembling a cab.  It is 9:30.  I am hungry and thirsty.  I consider just going to a restaurant and having dinner with a HUGE glass of vino but then realize that would not be the smartest move as I still have to check in and find my way to an apartment.  I need all my faculties.

I explain to the taxi driver that I need him to take me to the hotel, wait for me while I check in and then take me to the apartment.  I don't even finish explaining when he rudely says no.  He will only take me to the hotel.  He will not wait.  He just about throws me out of the taxi when we get to the hotel.  Leaves my bag in the road.  No tip for him!
I register and they want full payment now so it all has to go on my credit card.  I'll settle with Cathryn and Gayle later.  I am thinking I will walk to this apartment but the desk clerk tells me this lady has offered to drive me.  She works at the market there.  Bonus!  The clerk describes the keys and how to access the apartment.  It's like 'put the key in, push a black button, turn the key and the door with unlock for 5 seconds'. WHAT!
Anyhow this woman gives me a ride but she really has no idea where it is.  We get lost.  She means well but I think if I'd walked I would have found it.  I've got my GPS out.  She is stopping people in the street to ask.  I feel bad for her.  She probably just wanted to go home.
We finally find it and she leaves.  Now the key thing...after several attempts and a lot of cursing I am in!  I have never been so close to tears through total frustration.  I dump my suitcase and head off for something to eat and drink.  Luckily I find that just 10 mins. away and start to relax. 

 I'm right on the ocean.

 I have a salad, calamari and white wine....ahhh...!

When I return I cannot get the air conditioning to work.  I've tried everything and it's hot and humid. I phone the hotel and they say they will send someone.  This is good cause it's after midnight.  He arrives and if you can believe it the breaker is off!  I never thought to check that!  Air is on and it's starting to cool. Off to bed.  It's after 1 am.
Now at 2:30 am I get woken up suddenly by a large bang.  What was that?  Thunder!  Fork lightening and torrential rain!  WTF!  And on it goes...:)