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9:38 AM
A Promise of Things To Come
I still don't have time to begin what I am sure will be a series of posts about the exciting events of our trip. We did get around to uploading the pictures from our camera and the camera phone. I still have to weed through them all and pick the best ones (we took over 300 pictures). I'm sure our readers really don't need or want to see the 2 dozen pictures I took of Buckingham Palace and the 3 dozen ones of Big Ben and Parliament (or course if I am wrong, let me know!). I'll set up an online photo album for everyone when I have time (hopefully this weekend). But in the meantime, to ensure that our readers don't just give up and stop visiting, I do have a couple of pics to tide you over (since the webcams seem to be very temperamental of late).
This one is of the view from our hotel room's terrace in Spain:
As I explained in our earlier post, we had a fabulous view of the Mediterranean. And, as you can see from my bare feet on the railing, it was warm enough in Spain to get by sin zapatos (oops - slipped back into Spanish there for a second!). (Side note: sorry for the lack of a presentable pedicure - all the walking took its toll on my poor feet!)
This was the view over the hills from the top of a small church we visited (more to come on this part of the trip):
As you can see, it really is beautiful in Spain. But you will see that even more when I post more pics. . .
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Tuesday, September 28, 2004
5:37 PM
Home Sweet Home
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Thursday, September 23, 2004
6:00 AM
The Rain in Spain . . .
We arrived yesterday evening. Flight was uneventful. Our friend Jeff was there to meet us and drive us around.
The area between Barcelona and Girona (about an hour or so of a drive) actually looks a lot like SoCal. Except occasionally you see a castle here or there (I think we need to add those to OC if possible - they definitely add something to the landscape). As I said, the weather is beautiful - low to mid-80s. We then drove to S'Agaro, which is the coastal town where our hotel is located. The hotel is beautiful. Very old world.
We have a terrace which looks over a couple of beautiful properties to the coast. We can hear the waves from our room and you can see the water from just about everywhere, including while laying in bed (which is sooo cool). I´ve already spent a lot of time on the terrace staring at the sea. I´ve also spent a fair amount of time coveting one of the houses we look onto. It is beautiful and now I know what to do with all those lotto winnings.
I realized I was perhaps becoming obsessed when I proposed to Mark that I throw my sandal over the wall from our balcony just to have an excuse to see the property up close. The look he gave me revealed that not only would he not back me in my plan, but probably wouldn´t bail me out after I got carted away to the looney bin. He's probably right. The most likely result would just be the loss of my sandal, and though I have many spare pairs of shoes with me, I would prefer not to part with any of them. So I will just continue to worship from afar.
Last night we had amazing Argentinian food, which for me meant a HUGE T-bone steak. They might as well have just walked the cow next to our table. It seriously was the size of my rather large plate. Luckily everyone helped me eat it.
We just took it easy today, which was a nice change after the insanity of London (I´m still sore). Checked out the hotel´s facilities. Took a nap (I just got up from that). Mark meanwhile just finished golfing with our friends (can´t wait to hear how that went).
Tomorrow we are off to the Dali Museum in Figueres and to Empuria Brava where a lot of Roman ruins are situated. Hopefully we will be able to figure out our way there. So far we are doing ok in the car we rented but given that we´ve only driven once, that isn´t much of a record. The biggest issue driving is all of the traffic circles. Apparently they haven´t heard of U-turns here (or just have some sort of irrational dislike for them). In fact, they really don´t have stoplights in this area either - the traffic circles are enough.
That´s about it for now. Having dinner with our friends tonight. I´ll try not to eat another whole cow. But no promises.
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Tuesday, September 21, 2004
3:10 PM
London Calling
London has been fabulous, though exhausting. We have done many of the usual touristy things - the British Museum, the National Gallery, the Tower of London, St. Paul's, Harrod's, Westminster Abbey, the London Eye, Sloane Street, Kings Road, the Cabinet War Rooms, etc. Saw the outside of Buckingham Palace, Parliament, Big Ben. In short, we have been all over town. I'll be sure to post pics when we get back (I've taken nearly 150 already . . . thank god for digital cameras).
So far I think the British Museum was my favorite. Such an amazing collection. St. Paul's was impressive but is undergoing major rennovation so there was more scaffolding to see than anything else. Instead we decided to climb up the 300 and some steps to the viewing platform (yes you read that right - over 300 steps - what were we thinking?). Perhaps not the best decision, especially given that by the time we got up there we found that it had started to rain, so no viewing for us! Let that be a lesson to all of you - if you really have no good reason to climb hundreds of steps, don't do it. In fact, even if you have a reason, try to avoid it.
I must admit that we have been pleasantly surprised by the food. We had the best fish & chips ever on our first night here (at just some random place across the street from our hotel). We also had amazing sandwiches at the deli in Harrod's yesterday. Great pastrami (and roast beef). Can you believe that we didn't buy anything but lunch at Harrod's?
Even though they speak English here, the language and customs are a bit hard to get used to. Why does everyone insist on driving/walking on the wrong side? Why the uniform dislike for ice (I know dad is with me on this one)? Why "Give Way" instead of "Yield" (using fewer words is always preferable). "Take Away" vs. "To Go"? Perhaps the biggest shock is the price of everything. When you buy something (like a meal), you get the bill and it looks about right - if it was in dollars. Then you run the conversion in your head and, after you revive from the fainting spell, you just hand over the credit card with a resigned sigh. The repeating message should be "Mind the Wallet" instead of "Mind the Gap".
Notwithstanding my pre-departure clothing agonizations, I must admit that we packed all wrong for London (or at least mostly wrong). It has been pretty chilly here and we didn't bring enough warm things. We've managed, but thicker sweaters would have been good. (You will, no doubt, be relieved to know that I have used several pairs of shoes thus far.)
Tomorrow it's off to Spain. We are looking forward to warmer weather and slightly less walking (we are both a bit sore). I'll try to post from there, but have no idea if the hotel will provide access.
Blimey it's getting late. Must head off to bed. I'm right tired. All that eating, shopping and walking have worn us out. . .
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Wednesday, September 15, 2004
9:39 PM
HM
The first warning signal should have been the fact that our two roller bags were apparently not enough to get us through a 9 day vacation. As a result, I had to mooch two more bags off of my parents (so I am not only HM, but also not yet grown-up enough to have sufficient luggage).
In my defense, I feel compelled to point out that because we are spending time in two places that have pretty disparate weather patterns, we really need two completely different sets of clothes. Really. I'll just keep telling myself that. Feel free to join in.
Once I had retrieved the two bonus bags the trouble really started. I realized that I had tons of space and the floodgates opened. I not only need clothes for two locations but I want choices. And now I can have them. I can bring the tan shorts and the white ones. I can bring even more tank tops. And yet another pair of shoes. Lest you are concerned, allow me to reassure you - I will have plenty or choices. I seriously won't even admit how many different pairs of shoes I'm bringing (and I strongly believe that flip flops don't count in the tally).
As I was standing in my closet in a matching, coordinating, choice-creating frenzy, suddenly it hit me. My cousin Laura just left for 8-9 months in Spain and I am supremely confident that I am taking about 5 times as much stuff with me as she did with her. Therein lies the problem.
When did this happen? When did I get so attached to my clothes (and really moreso, my shoes)? What possessed me to pack enough for a several month trip instead of a trip that will last a little over a week? I really don't know, but I am also supremely confident that the frenzy is far from over. I haven't even gotten to the toiletries yet. And as I sit here, I'm thinking "Maybe I should pack another sweater for London just in case." We'll see how it goes, but for the first time ever I'm concerned about making it under the baggage limits.
We shall see. But for now, back to the frenzy . . .
P.S. Please refrain from comments like "We've known you were HM for years." They really would be harmful to my sanity at this point. Thanks.
Now I'm off to choose another sweater.
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Tuesday, September 14, 2004
9:38 AM
Holy Protester Batman!!
For those of you who missed it check out this guy:
Yes, that is a man in a Batman costume. And just to be abundantly clear, he managed to climb the perimeter fence at Buckingham Palace, with a ladder and a sign no less, and then proceeded to climb up onto one of the palace balconies. For those who are interested, here is the full article: Batman
I must admit that I'm becoming a bit skeptical about British security. How exactly does a grown man dressed as Batman go unnoticed when climbing over a fence with a ladder? Particularly at the palace where the Queen of England resides? I would be very nervous if I was the Queen. (The only other possibility I can think of is that it actually was Prince Charles practicing for trick or treating and the royal family just doesn't want to fess up.)
Now I know that the article says that the man was demonstrating on behalf of some fathers' rights group, but I think it's clear that he was there to welcome us to London. Especially given that our hotel is right across the street from the palace. He just had our arrival date off by a few days. I'm sure he will be back this weekend. (Maybe I'd better bring some candy just in case it is Charles and he is trick or treating.)
The only question that remains is why Batman? Was Batman a father who was denied his parental rights? Is he really particularly fatherly at all? I submit that perhaps a slightly better costume could have been chosen (but naturally I have no suggestions on this front).
Those wacky Brits!
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Friday, September 10, 2004
1:16 PM
Elusive Starbucks
This morning I had to be in far southern San Diego (the next freeway exit after mine read "International Border"). And I had to be there by 8:30 a.m. San Diego can have really horrible traffic so I had two options: (1) Leave early and risk sitting in 2 hours of traffic while missing the hearing; or (2) Leave foolishly early and arrive an hour before the hearing. I opted for Number 2. And it definitely was Number 2.
The alarm went off at 5 a.m. It's still dark at 5 a.m. Really dark. Or maybe it was just that my eyes weren't quite open at that point. Whatever. It was dark either way. (Can you tell I'm cranky?)
I was on the road by 6 a.m. And, as expected, I arrived at court a full hour early. No problem. I figured that I'd find a nearby Starbucks and get my eyes open with caffeine. So I drove around. And around. And around. I must have circumnavigated that courthouse 3 times in constantly expanding circles. I searched and I searched. And there was not a single Starbucks to be found. Had I wanted to do laundry, cash a check, or eat a taco I would have been set. But no Starbucks. Actually, there were no places that looked like they had coffee, period.
I finally gave up after watching the police pull a guy over and begin frisking him (courthouses are generally not in the best areas). No way was I getting out of the car unnecessarily after seeing that. So back to court I went. Had the hearing. Yadda yadda yadda.
On my way back to the freeway, on the main street I drove down, what do I see? Starbucks. I swear it wasn't there at 7:30 a.m.
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Frappé
Welcome Back!!
Work in Process
Bananacam
Bananarama
Yes, We Have LOTS of Bananas!!
The Three Stooges
Thing You Can't Learn From Food TV
New Job, Day 22
