ShakeyJay

Dot’s Diary: Pamplona

Forgot to mention that on the last day in Barcelona we took the hop on bus up to the top of the mountain and rode the cable car down wheeeeee!!! It landed right on the beach area and then we walked along the causeway forever, stopped for beer and tapas and watched the American Cup trials. John was thrilled to see that as he is or was an avid sailor. We also stopped for lunch at a bistro on the beach. Took the train the next day for Pamplona.

Oh what a unique place Pamplona is. Our hotel was right down in the old town just steps from everything. So far the hotel is the nicest room we’ve had. A large room which is unusual for Europe but a large bathroom as well. Great bar in the lobby with tapas and beer and wine of course. Everywhere is tapas and pastries unfortunately I have come down with a cold and I just don’t have an appetite. That was very sad as I want to try them all.

We retraced John’s path thru town and saw his Albergie where he stayed when doing the Camino Santiago and had a another wine where he ate. We followed the Camino clam shells on his path. Took pictures at the gates where he went thru. It’s so medieval and so social at the same time. There was a market going on so went there instead of our usual jewelry stalls there was cheese stalls almost all goat cheese!! Tried them all and bought some home to have with our wine. The next day we toured a bull ring, had our pictures taken running with the bulls and had a great lunch at the famous restaurant called Café Iruna, which was frequented by Ernest Hemmingway!

Left the next morning by train for Burgos, which is another 16th century town with wide streets and squares surrounded by outdoor tapas bars and restaurants and the most elaborate churches I’ve ever seen. We retraced John’s steps thru the town to the bars he ate at and the hotel he took there so he could get caught up on his sleep.

The best things about the towns here is that every night the people come out around 8pm and visit and eat. The whole place is hopping, most restaurants kitchens don’t even open till 7 or 8 for dinner. This is our last night here so we will go down for a nice dinner by the river. Weather has been lovely, sunny and warm most days. Our hotel is just minutes from the bus depot as tomorrow we take a bus to Leon. We also took a little bus around town and up the mountain the views were awesome and we were his only passengers so he gave us a little extra history lesson.

Burgos Cathedral and Dot with some churros.

Fantastic.

Dot’s Diary: Victoria – Barcelona Via Paris

Dot took many notes during our recent excellent adventure. I thought I would post them here. You will notice that wine is a constant theme throughout.

Left Victoria on September 30th at 2, had a 3 hour lay over in Vancouver. Went and had a glass of wine and some sushi.

Great flight landed in Amsterdam at 11:30 am, I’m getting to be a world traveler lol went straight thru customs pick up my luggage and met John outside of security. So nice to see him again!
I told him no more 30 day trips from here on in. Just spent the rest of the day recuperating.

Took the train to Maastricht the next day to meet and have lunch with John’s Dutch friends Ben and Hanny. What lovely people, had a great time and lovely lunch. We were half way there when the train we were on was canceled! lol just jumped on another one and made it a few minutes late. Apparently this happens often but their train system is so good you can get anywhere with a few adjustments.

Next day took the train to Paris, about 3 1/2 hours, lovely countryside and very enjoyable trip. We arrived early afternoon and our hotel was an easy walk from there. We were at Gare de Nord which was on the north side of Paris but their subway system was extraordinary. We were across town in minutes. We took the hop on bus and went to the Eiffel tower and did a cruise up the Seine river. It took three hours to get in but that was just because the security checks took so long but it was worth it. Paris is the most fascinating city I’ve ever seen, the beauty, the architecture the history is indescribable.

The next day we took the subway to the Louvre, it only took about an hour and a half to get in again mostly because of security. We we’re there for four hours and I could have spent all day there. I didn’t realize that the Louvre was actually King Louis the 14th’s palace until he moved to Versailles. The opulence and beauty is mind blowing!

The next day was raining but we still walked the Champs de Lyse and visited the Arch de Triumph and had a café au lait and a chocolate croissant.

We then took the subway to Montmartre artistic district. Also climbed up to the Sacre Cour (sacred heart) which was built in 870, seriously!

Very interesting as my ancestors on my mom’s side originally had ties to Montmartre. We had a great breakfast at the hotel every morning and had happy hour at a bar down the street in the evening. We also had a charcuterie board at a bistro across the street. We ate a couple of nights at an amazing little family run Italian bistro that had food to die for. The second night we were there the owner brought us an limoncello aperitif at the end of the meal. Complimentary.

The next morning we had to take the subway across the city to Gard de Lyon but it only took 25 minutes to cross a city of 11 million people. Caught the train to Barcelona. It was a great train ride going 245 kms/hr. There was a bar car and enjoyed a glass of wine.

Arrived in Barcelona around 8pm, had a 25 minute cab ride, the lady was great, I loved the way she drove lol. Checked in and went downstairs to the bar for some dinner. And Wine??

Next morning we walked a few blocks to the hop on bus and bought a two day pass, it worked out perfectly as we got everywhere we wanted to go without any other transportation needed. Took both routes, enjoyed the orange route better as it went up the hill to look over the city and then around the waterfront. Went out for dinner that night tried to find the restaurant the hotel recommended but we needed a reservation so went across the street, had some tapas but they were not good. The window from our room looked directly at the big bullet building that changes colors so we could just lay in bed and watched the colours change.

Maastricht. Nice but cloudy day.

Paris

Barcelona

PS: Thanks Gerry. We had a wonderful time staying with you.

Test

Belfast

Not at all what I expected. The weather was gloomy and wet nevertheless we saw a great deal from “The Troubles” to where the Titanic was built to the beautiful Mourne mountains. My Camino buddy was a great host. Lots of good craic and beer.

Alas, we had to leave. Back to Amsterdam then home on the 4th November.

HMS Caroline. She was in the battle of Jutland 31 May 1916.

Alas

Titanic was built here in this dry dock. She was great when we handed it over! So the saying goes.