Expand the picture and you can make out the red and white tram car.
Took their tourist tram today. Not recommended. Play by play is in 5 different languages so the broadcast goes on continuously. But trying to hear your version is near impossible because of the noise of the tires going over cobblestone streets. The bumps and grinds and rickety rick motion is particularly hard on the teeth and bladder. I think I saw a bunch of fillings strewn about the floor of the coach. It was only an hour long but that hour seemed an eternity in the heat and noise of the crickety cack of the tires. Not recommended. Walk instead.
Expand the picture and you can see the red and white tram.
We have also experienced major credit card issues. It seems our bank commenced a process of certification for all on line transactions and on line banking. My certification number is my home phone number so this would not work here in Europe. Thus trying to book hotels or flights on line was impossible. Our only option was to book flights at a travel agent where our credit cards worked without certification. And only hotels that did not require pre payment. Down side was we had to pay double for airfares that would have been half of that if we could have booked on line with discount airlines. I am just glad that my bank didn’t pull this stunt when I was doing the Camino. I would have been screwed.
Also, do not buy a phone plan in Europe. Cheap to get a Sim card yes but you would be better off keeping your phone as is and only turning it on when needed. Canada charges 16 dollars a day so it can be very expensive while in Europe. Again, only turn it on when needed. I think that next time I would buy a burner phone with a European plan for day to day use and my Canadian phone for emergencies and on line bookings. One last thing. Most of the sales reps of the European plans know very little of the plans they are selling. The top up instructions were wrong, customer service numbers provided didn’t work and half the time phoning places in various countries didn’t work either. Lyca mobile was the worst. The only thing that did work was internet access.
Two important dates this month. Today, October 10, is the anniversary date of the battle of Tours in 732 AD. Muslims and Islam were spreading like Scottish broom across the middle east,North Africa and Spain. Next? France and the rest of Europe. Except for Charles ” The Hammer” Martel who stopped the Muslim incursion in its tracks at Tours France. If not for him Europe may be a great deal different today.
Charles ” The Hammer Martel “sounds like a character out of the WWE.
The other date is 21 October – Trafalgar Day, where in 1805 Nelson and the Royal Navy defeated the combined French and Spanish fleets during the Napoleonic wars. England gained control of the seas, Napoleon’s plan to invade England was thwarted and the Royal Navy assumed primary seafaring leadership up until the 2nd world war.
October 21st is also Dylan and Elizabeth’s birthday. Happy birthday.
History is amazing.
Going on a sunset cruise of the delta at 6pm
Read ya later. Few pics today.
Spot where Mary appeared to the children. The original chapel.
One of many squares.
Belem Tower
