We have been to all of these places in the last week. What a round of travelling. Karlsruhe was the least exciting of them all but somehow Gerhard managed to, again, get us into yet another red light district. Drats on those 'mother hold onto your children' signs. This time, however, the road was filled with older ladies looking quite tired and each of them had a dog in the room with them. They didn't seem to be too interested in anything in the streets - least of all, us two. The road had a 6 inch-thick, iron gate to close in on the area. Seedy looking area I'll tell you. It didn't take us too long to get out of there.
In Karlsruhe, Gerhard also lost one of his crowns and so we had to find a dentist here and have it recemented. I'll let him tell you all sometime about his trip to the office. Now, he is trying to tell me that he is Agent 007.. Yeah, right.
We also took the train one day and went to Heidelberg and had a lovely time walking around that beautiful university town and drinking their wine. We visited the castle and just enjoyed the place.
We arrived in Stuttgart yesterday and immediately went out to find a place to eat. So imagine, we are in Germany and walk straight into a French restaurant to have a special meal, served to us by a frenchman, surrounded by only french people and eating a french crepe filled with turkey. It was great. After leaving here, guess where we found ourselves again? Yes, you are correct. In Stuttgart's red light district. How do we do this? We definitely have to stop getting ourselves lost. Not a collection of interesting girls??? selling themselves in Stuttgart either. Where are all the pretty ones from Amsterdam?
Imagine, last night we stayed out until 8:30. We feel all grown up. Today we set out to explore the city again and then jumped onto another train to go to Esslingen - one of the oldest towns in Germany. We have been having a great time here and are now looking for a place to have some wine. But first we found this internet place and thought that we should check in.
We head out tomorrow for Paris and are staying in a little dive place for next to no money. We will log on again when we find a suitable place.
toodles loved ones.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Here in Almersbach
We arrived from our flight from Palma de Mallorca Sunday evening in Stuttgart. We took the train to Bachnang and then a taxi to Lili and Dieter's house and arrived there at 12:30 in the morning. They opened a bottle of bubbly and we stayed up until 2:30 celebrating. It was nice to arrive in some loving arms after our long trip south.
These people are lovely. They, as all of our other relatives have done here in Europe, have treated us as their own children and have accepted us into their lives as if we have only been gone for a few days. Gerhard has had a wonderful time talking, you all know how much he loves to do that. His german language is spectacular now and he and his relatives have come to know each other well through sharing. A time like this will never come again for several of these people by the time we are able to ever get back here. The world moves quickly and claims all of us and several of these loved ones are older and suffer from the world's illnesses. We share and love each other well with all of this kept in mind.
We leave already tomorrow to take the train to Karlsruhe for a few days, then Stuttgart for two days and then off by train to Paris for 6 days on our own before our 14-day bus trip starts for France.
We are well, no sicknesses as of yet, and are feeling quite alive. We miss you all and hope that the winter is treating you as well as it is treating us.
Love J and G xoxo
These people are lovely. They, as all of our other relatives have done here in Europe, have treated us as their own children and have accepted us into their lives as if we have only been gone for a few days. Gerhard has had a wonderful time talking, you all know how much he loves to do that. His german language is spectacular now and he and his relatives have come to know each other well through sharing. A time like this will never come again for several of these people by the time we are able to ever get back here. The world moves quickly and claims all of us and several of these loved ones are older and suffer from the world's illnesses. We share and love each other well with all of this kept in mind.
We leave already tomorrow to take the train to Karlsruhe for a few days, then Stuttgart for two days and then off by train to Paris for 6 days on our own before our 14-day bus trip starts for France.
We are well, no sicknesses as of yet, and are feeling quite alive. We miss you all and hope that the winter is treating you as well as it is treating us.
Love J and G xoxo
Impressions of Africa and Morocco
First of all, we've been told that pretty much what we've seen in Morocco, the rest of Africa is similar. Except for the happy made-up tourist places, but we know that those are not real.
Anyway, here goes!!!
The first thing that comes to mind is: 'What have we done to ourselves?' We will forever hold in our memories the visions of all things horrible in this country. Yes, there are some beautiful things, people, buildings, weather and new and exciting things to do, but, all of this is numbed next to the abject poverty and state of living. Poverty that 60% or more of people didn't ask for nor can get out of no matter how hard and tirelessly they work.
Hidden behind mud walls and beside the mud huts, concrete broken down buildings covered with rocks and tin for roofs with no windows stand beautiful mosques filled with gold and marble. Why aren't these places hidden behind high walls to hide them from sight? Because we were high up in a tour bus, we could see the deplorable situations behind the walls.
Animals, too, are treated with as little respect as the poor. Donkeys bear weight not fit for 4 and have their legs tied together so that can't escape. Horses stand for hours waiting for a chance to walk or trot. Too, we saw that their front feet were tied together.
The pathetic manner of these poor people draws at your soul as you are forced to refuse their goods because it becomes overwhelming and dangerous to accept them. They are desperate to sell you something they wouldn't have or need. The amount of personal space is assaulted with every step. If a motorcycle, car, donkey, or bike is not in your way, these sellers are constantly on your feet.
Being rude doesn't work, you must harden your soul and push on. Trying to ignore their existance. How sad is this for caring people such as we try to be. How sad is this land. How sad are we to have to behave in this way to fellow human beings. And the worst yet and the hardest to live with is 'How pathetic is it to be glad that we are no where near as desperate as they are and relieved that we can escape the madness.
We leave this place with heavy hearts not able to take any more. We leave with many questions of how can a place like this exist.
Did we have a special time of our lives here? Yes. We have learned so much with which we will carry for the rest of our lives. Would we ever return to this land? No.
Anyway, here goes!!!
The first thing that comes to mind is: 'What have we done to ourselves?' We will forever hold in our memories the visions of all things horrible in this country. Yes, there are some beautiful things, people, buildings, weather and new and exciting things to do, but, all of this is numbed next to the abject poverty and state of living. Poverty that 60% or more of people didn't ask for nor can get out of no matter how hard and tirelessly they work.
Hidden behind mud walls and beside the mud huts, concrete broken down buildings covered with rocks and tin for roofs with no windows stand beautiful mosques filled with gold and marble. Why aren't these places hidden behind high walls to hide them from sight? Because we were high up in a tour bus, we could see the deplorable situations behind the walls.
Animals, too, are treated with as little respect as the poor. Donkeys bear weight not fit for 4 and have their legs tied together so that can't escape. Horses stand for hours waiting for a chance to walk or trot. Too, we saw that their front feet were tied together.
The pathetic manner of these poor people draws at your soul as you are forced to refuse their goods because it becomes overwhelming and dangerous to accept them. They are desperate to sell you something they wouldn't have or need. The amount of personal space is assaulted with every step. If a motorcycle, car, donkey, or bike is not in your way, these sellers are constantly on your feet.
Being rude doesn't work, you must harden your soul and push on. Trying to ignore their existance. How sad is this for caring people such as we try to be. How sad is this land. How sad are we to have to behave in this way to fellow human beings. And the worst yet and the hardest to live with is 'How pathetic is it to be glad that we are no where near as desperate as they are and relieved that we can escape the madness.
We leave this place with heavy hearts not able to take any more. We leave with many questions of how can a place like this exist.
Did we have a special time of our lives here? Yes. We have learned so much with which we will carry for the rest of our lives. Would we ever return to this land? No.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Our Impressions of Africa
Sorry, can't do it right now. We are far too emotional over this country to put it onto this page and have it make sense. We will need some time.
Left Morocco Today
To ensure that you don't get the days out of order, you will need to go back a few postings and read what's been up with us since day one of Africa.
Our tour guide did tell us that driving through Morocco was a lesson in contrasts. The farm land and agricultural growth is pretty green right now because it's winter and warm but not too hot to grow. In the summer and 45 degree heat, everything dies. Marrakech turned out to be another city of rich get rich and poor get poorer. We stayed in a beautiful hotel, a 5-star for Africa, which had a nice pool for G to swim in and a swing beside it for me to watch him from. We toured the center city market place, again with a guide, and visited a herbalist and spice shop. We walked through a crazy stream of shops and allies where we were jostled by more donkeys, bikes, motorcycles, cars and yet again, more poor people trying to sell their meager wares. The area is really called a "sook" and is unbelievabley crowded. We were set off on our own for a bit and Gerhard really wanted something to snack on. We headed towards this wonderfully looking nut food stand tents and bartered over some walnuts. We started to eat them and were really enjoying them because they come from the country and were cracked and ready. After I had ordered some almonds and started to also eat them, Gerhard had found some worms and bugs in the walnuts. Needless to say, both bags hit the trash.
We continued to walk around and ventured upon some snake charmers, monkey tamers, story tellers, musicians and all sorts of other entertainers trying to make a living by getting you to watch and partake in their area. We headed back to the hotel to walk a bit and later in the evening, we and another sweet couple took a horse and buggy ride for an hour through the city streets. It was a nice way to end the visit to Marakech even though the buggy driver, a dear old man with no teeth, kept, in our ears, squeezing the horn at all his buddies along the way to show them that he had a fare and that he was so proud.
We also visited Casablanca - and you can save your breath on this one because it's not worth the trouble. Pretty dirty city with only the second largest mosque in the muslim world to boast about. Rabat, the political capital of Morocco, was also visited and in this city we visited a musoleum and the king's palace.
Today, we drove back to Tangier and waited quite some time to get through customs. We had to empty all of our luggage out of the bus so that we could get checked properly but, more importantly, our bus was to be inspected. Indeed, our bus driver and the police found some Moroccan men stowed away under the bus hanging on for dear life. We picked them up just outside of the docks. All was cleared but it did take us over an hour to get back underway.
We drove in yet again another mountain to Granada - a beautiful city in Spain. Mostly a vacation spot near the beach. We will go to see one of the most famous palaces tomorrow but right now I can't remember the name. Heading back to Madrid tomorrow.
Our tour guide did tell us that driving through Morocco was a lesson in contrasts. The farm land and agricultural growth is pretty green right now because it's winter and warm but not too hot to grow. In the summer and 45 degree heat, everything dies. Marrakech turned out to be another city of rich get rich and poor get poorer. We stayed in a beautiful hotel, a 5-star for Africa, which had a nice pool for G to swim in and a swing beside it for me to watch him from. We toured the center city market place, again with a guide, and visited a herbalist and spice shop. We walked through a crazy stream of shops and allies where we were jostled by more donkeys, bikes, motorcycles, cars and yet again, more poor people trying to sell their meager wares. The area is really called a "sook" and is unbelievabley crowded. We were set off on our own for a bit and Gerhard really wanted something to snack on. We headed towards this wonderfully looking nut food stand tents and bartered over some walnuts. We started to eat them and were really enjoying them because they come from the country and were cracked and ready. After I had ordered some almonds and started to also eat them, Gerhard had found some worms and bugs in the walnuts. Needless to say, both bags hit the trash.
We continued to walk around and ventured upon some snake charmers, monkey tamers, story tellers, musicians and all sorts of other entertainers trying to make a living by getting you to watch and partake in their area. We headed back to the hotel to walk a bit and later in the evening, we and another sweet couple took a horse and buggy ride for an hour through the city streets. It was a nice way to end the visit to Marakech even though the buggy driver, a dear old man with no teeth, kept, in our ears, squeezing the horn at all his buddies along the way to show them that he had a fare and that he was so proud.
We also visited Casablanca - and you can save your breath on this one because it's not worth the trouble. Pretty dirty city with only the second largest mosque in the muslim world to boast about. Rabat, the political capital of Morocco, was also visited and in this city we visited a musoleum and the king's palace.
Today, we drove back to Tangier and waited quite some time to get through customs. We had to empty all of our luggage out of the bus so that we could get checked properly but, more importantly, our bus was to be inspected. Indeed, our bus driver and the police found some Moroccan men stowed away under the bus hanging on for dear life. We picked them up just outside of the docks. All was cleared but it did take us over an hour to get back underway.
We drove in yet again another mountain to Granada - a beautiful city in Spain. Mostly a vacation spot near the beach. We will go to see one of the most famous palaces tomorrow but right now I can't remember the name. Heading back to Madrid tomorrow.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Last Day in Fes and 1st day in Marrekesh
Two nights ago we went to a typical Moroccan dinner and entertainment evening. We had food that I would say was "unexplainable" - in other words, we didn't know what we were eating. Good though! We were walked back into the maze of streets into the medina again and into a small palace where we sat at tables about us to our shins with little poof chairs that leaned forward. People would take pictures of Gerhard because he was so squashed into his place that he couldn't move.
The entertainment was music by a male band - loosely speaking, 5 different belly dancers, a magican, male dancers and another set of singers and dancers. It was a very different experience - one that was really set up to satisfy the male portion of society - go figure. Gerhard wasn't really too excited about it because they kept coming into the audience to pick on him as he was right in the way and looking pretty conspicuous. On our way back to the hotel at 11:30 that evening, we ran across a lorry that was smoldering in flames on the road that we had to take so we had to turn the bus around and try to find another way to our hotel. All in a day's life here in Africa.
We left the next day to drive a very long way - yes, through the middle Atlas mountains - up, down, through, around and between them all. We drove for 11 hours with stops in between because we had to make it to the west coast to Marrakesh for our next stop. The drive ended up making several people ill on the bus because it was nothing but switchbacks and one-lane highways something akin to our little dirt pathways we would make for our dinky cars. Dust was everywhere. Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to tell you that my aim is pretty good. Found this out when we keep stopping for "comfort breaks" as they like to call them, and we women head off to the washrooms. Not bad I guess for a 51 year -old but it sure would be nice to rest while going. Good thing my knees are okay when squatting.
The land was quite different than we expected. Very lush forest and plenty of growth for agriculture. The government has several cooperatives delegated to the land to ensure food for their world. But...the towns and the villages, and even the cities, are filled with nothing but hovels. Mud huts, tin homes, concrete building with no doors and windows and people everywhere. It's so hard to describe the state of these people's lives and have you understand exactly what the country is all about.
Marrakesh is something else again. Yet again different from Fes and Tangier. It is filled with opulence and is the place of rich and important people's holidays. Our hotel is a 5-star with pool and spa treatment areas and bar with band etc . Bikes, motorbikes, donkeys and feet all mingle together in a mess of honking horns and shouts. We took a city tour in the morning today, a tour that was full of still more smells, sights and people than is possible for one to handle. I am so overly stimulated that I just need to sit for a bit in a quiet place. I'm pretty tired of telling people to go away.
We walked through the little alleyways and stopped into a herbalist and spice store and had an introduction to the African way of healing. We then were walked to the old city center where, again, many stalls were lined up selling goodness knows what. We watched snake charmers, story tellers, henna artists, and monkey tamers try to get us to stop and watch and take a picture so that we would have to pay. It's all very sly but legal and tricky. Every corner is filled with bartering and if you don't barter and watch your money, you will be taken for a pretty coin. G and I have a very special solution to this problem. We just haven't bought anything. It's junk anyway.
Oh yeah, we did buy walnuts but,,,, they were full of worms. So the almonds that I bought as well went the same way as the walnuts.
Tomorrow we head out to Casablanca for a short trip and for lunch and then head to the capitol Rabat. We stay overnight there and then head back to Spain to Granada. We have done quite a bit of driving this trip but it was necessary in order to get in and around the ancient roads of Africa. G and I knew that we would never have come here if not for a bus trip and, while we are glad to have come and be here and to have learned so much, we, or rather I, will be glad to arrive back onto the European Union land once again. It's far too depressing for me to spend such a long time here. One good thing for sure is that all Moroccan's speak French. It's their second language.
Off to wash the sand and dirt. J
The entertainment was music by a male band - loosely speaking, 5 different belly dancers, a magican, male dancers and another set of singers and dancers. It was a very different experience - one that was really set up to satisfy the male portion of society - go figure. Gerhard wasn't really too excited about it because they kept coming into the audience to pick on him as he was right in the way and looking pretty conspicuous. On our way back to the hotel at 11:30 that evening, we ran across a lorry that was smoldering in flames on the road that we had to take so we had to turn the bus around and try to find another way to our hotel. All in a day's life here in Africa.
We left the next day to drive a very long way - yes, through the middle Atlas mountains - up, down, through, around and between them all. We drove for 11 hours with stops in between because we had to make it to the west coast to Marrakesh for our next stop. The drive ended up making several people ill on the bus because it was nothing but switchbacks and one-lane highways something akin to our little dirt pathways we would make for our dinky cars. Dust was everywhere. Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to tell you that my aim is pretty good. Found this out when we keep stopping for "comfort breaks" as they like to call them, and we women head off to the washrooms. Not bad I guess for a 51 year -old but it sure would be nice to rest while going. Good thing my knees are okay when squatting.
The land was quite different than we expected. Very lush forest and plenty of growth for agriculture. The government has several cooperatives delegated to the land to ensure food for their world. But...the towns and the villages, and even the cities, are filled with nothing but hovels. Mud huts, tin homes, concrete building with no doors and windows and people everywhere. It's so hard to describe the state of these people's lives and have you understand exactly what the country is all about.
Marrakesh is something else again. Yet again different from Fes and Tangier. It is filled with opulence and is the place of rich and important people's holidays. Our hotel is a 5-star with pool and spa treatment areas and bar with band etc . Bikes, motorbikes, donkeys and feet all mingle together in a mess of honking horns and shouts. We took a city tour in the morning today, a tour that was full of still more smells, sights and people than is possible for one to handle. I am so overly stimulated that I just need to sit for a bit in a quiet place. I'm pretty tired of telling people to go away.
We walked through the little alleyways and stopped into a herbalist and spice store and had an introduction to the African way of healing. We then were walked to the old city center where, again, many stalls were lined up selling goodness knows what. We watched snake charmers, story tellers, henna artists, and monkey tamers try to get us to stop and watch and take a picture so that we would have to pay. It's all very sly but legal and tricky. Every corner is filled with bartering and if you don't barter and watch your money, you will be taken for a pretty coin. G and I have a very special solution to this problem. We just haven't bought anything. It's junk anyway.
Oh yeah, we did buy walnuts but,,,, they were full of worms. So the almonds that I bought as well went the same way as the walnuts.
Tomorrow we head out to Casablanca for a short trip and for lunch and then head to the capitol Rabat. We stay overnight there and then head back to Spain to Granada. We have done quite a bit of driving this trip but it was necessary in order to get in and around the ancient roads of Africa. G and I knew that we would never have come here if not for a bus trip and, while we are glad to have come and be here and to have learned so much, we, or rather I, will be glad to arrive back onto the European Union land once again. It's far too depressing for me to spend such a long time here. One good thing for sure is that all Moroccan's speak French. It's their second language.
Off to wash the sand and dirt. J
Monday, March 16, 2009
More on the city life
I'm back. I had to get help with the cord.
Our walk through the town was slow and meaningful. The walkways, not streets really, were cobbled, falling apart and extremely small. You could put your arms out and touch the sides of each building on either side. Along the sides were many small shops full of things that I've never seen before - for example, snails crawling around in baskets for you to buy, bark to chew on, open dried fruit just covered in flies and bugs, and a multitude of wares used by the people. Shop keepers were mostly men as the women were the ones who made or gathered the merchandise to give to the stores for sale.
The streets were dark because the sunshine couldn't make it in between the aisles as the buildings were too close together. The amount of people was astounding. Some were dressed in gowns but some were also wearing normal attire. Only the Arabs wear the gowns and hats or hoods. Following us everywhere and popping up out of the corners were the street dwellers and sellers who try to get you to buy for want of a better word - a second class item compared to the stuff in the stores. Most don't take no for an answer. I was lucky as I had Gerhard, who towers above them as you now know, and he seemed to ward off the would-be sellers around me. When I left his side or backtracked to see something, they were all over me.
In and around these small spaces were donkeys, truly burdened with too much stuff, trying to get around the crowds. This is why the screaming out of the words is important.
The smells are incredible, the amount of items for sale is unheard of and the feeling of hope for a sale from the merchants is more than one can stand. Several times throughout the walk, we were taken into special stores to learn about the craft. After this, of course, you were given a chance to buy the wares. G and I are pretty good at saying no to anything for sale but the women of this trip, mostly Americans and a few Aussies were buying up the whole city. In our carpet factory/home, for instance, one of the Aussies bought a 2000 dollar carpet. Ouch.
We went to a leather tanning outfit - small really but which gave many men a job, and watched as the men were standing and stomping in big vats full of die in order to give all the hand-polished leather a different colour. All day they stomp and walk in the liquid, not water by the way but a drying agent, with tiny shorts on. There are other men who place the leather to dry way up on top of the roofs of the buildings to be in the sun and yet others who take the wool from the sheep and do the same thing. I can't tell you how horrible it all smells - similar to feces, so that the owner gives the people pieces of mint leaves to help you breathe as you view the process. Our guide wouldn't even go in.
All around the area the homes and buildings are crumbling, the land is dry dessert-like and the heat brings up the smells until you just have to get within proximity to smell it. All in all. the people all around us seem to be perfectly happy and it was only us that thought something was amiss.
And we seem to walk around saying - these people don't know what they are missing but I think it's probably the other way around. We are too full of perfect lifestyles to even ponder being okay with living like this.
Pondering yet again about life in Canada.
J
Our walk through the town was slow and meaningful. The walkways, not streets really, were cobbled, falling apart and extremely small. You could put your arms out and touch the sides of each building on either side. Along the sides were many small shops full of things that I've never seen before - for example, snails crawling around in baskets for you to buy, bark to chew on, open dried fruit just covered in flies and bugs, and a multitude of wares used by the people. Shop keepers were mostly men as the women were the ones who made or gathered the merchandise to give to the stores for sale.
The streets were dark because the sunshine couldn't make it in between the aisles as the buildings were too close together. The amount of people was astounding. Some were dressed in gowns but some were also wearing normal attire. Only the Arabs wear the gowns and hats or hoods. Following us everywhere and popping up out of the corners were the street dwellers and sellers who try to get you to buy for want of a better word - a second class item compared to the stuff in the stores. Most don't take no for an answer. I was lucky as I had Gerhard, who towers above them as you now know, and he seemed to ward off the would-be sellers around me. When I left his side or backtracked to see something, they were all over me.
In and around these small spaces were donkeys, truly burdened with too much stuff, trying to get around the crowds. This is why the screaming out of the words is important.
The smells are incredible, the amount of items for sale is unheard of and the feeling of hope for a sale from the merchants is more than one can stand. Several times throughout the walk, we were taken into special stores to learn about the craft. After this, of course, you were given a chance to buy the wares. G and I are pretty good at saying no to anything for sale but the women of this trip, mostly Americans and a few Aussies were buying up the whole city. In our carpet factory/home, for instance, one of the Aussies bought a 2000 dollar carpet. Ouch.
We went to a leather tanning outfit - small really but which gave many men a job, and watched as the men were standing and stomping in big vats full of die in order to give all the hand-polished leather a different colour. All day they stomp and walk in the liquid, not water by the way but a drying agent, with tiny shorts on. There are other men who place the leather to dry way up on top of the roofs of the buildings to be in the sun and yet others who take the wool from the sheep and do the same thing. I can't tell you how horrible it all smells - similar to feces, so that the owner gives the people pieces of mint leaves to help you breathe as you view the process. Our guide wouldn't even go in.
All around the area the homes and buildings are crumbling, the land is dry dessert-like and the heat brings up the smells until you just have to get within proximity to smell it. All in all. the people all around us seem to be perfectly happy and it was only us that thought something was amiss.
And we seem to walk around saying - these people don't know what they are missing but I think it's probably the other way around. We are too full of perfect lifestyles to even ponder being okay with living like this.
Pondering yet again about life in Canada.
J
Life in Morocco - the city of Fes
Fes is titled the spiritual capital of Morocco. Lots of mosques, muslim and the palace. We ate typical Moroccan fair for last night's supper and this morning's breakfast. Tonight we head out again for a special restaurant in the old town and for some entertainment. We had our Medina (old town) tour by bus and on foot this morning until 1:30 pm. Such a thing in my life I will never see again.
First of all, coming across the country was a very sad statement for the poverty of this 3rd world country. People live in hovels, pull their water out of community wells and still ride and use donkeys for their plowing and hauling. We couldn't take our eyes off the destituteness of it all. It tugs at your heart. I felt like jumping off the bus and rescuing the children. Some mothers have up to 12 children and yet they work all day in the fields tending to crops. 60% of the people still live in the country growing food for the population. It was Sunday so we had a very good chance to see how the families spend their holy day. Lots still worked in and around their praying time.
We climbed mountain after mountain, yes, you heard me, yet more mountains - my favourite. However, after seeing the state of life for these people, a simple mountain could not bother me here.
The Medina or the center of the city where most business is carried out was our destination this morning. We had a lesson on a few Moroccan phrases to learn before we could go into the tangled, crowded area. Our guide, a Fes inhabitant, said that it took him 20 visits with a guide himself before he didn't get lost in the area. We were very carefully watched.
The phrases we had to lea;rn were: balack balack - listen for it to be yelled. If it is heard the third time, it's too late. A bloody big donkey is riding up your ass. Today i used it myself to move one of my group out of the way for a man with a cart.
The other word in Ls Shokron which means No Thankyou. This is needed in order to get the merchants off you as they try to sell their wares all over your body. Will continue my memories after I plug in.
Later
j
First of all, coming across the country was a very sad statement for the poverty of this 3rd world country. People live in hovels, pull their water out of community wells and still ride and use donkeys for their plowing and hauling. We couldn't take our eyes off the destituteness of it all. It tugs at your heart. I felt like jumping off the bus and rescuing the children. Some mothers have up to 12 children and yet they work all day in the fields tending to crops. 60% of the people still live in the country growing food for the population. It was Sunday so we had a very good chance to see how the families spend their holy day. Lots still worked in and around their praying time.
We climbed mountain after mountain, yes, you heard me, yet more mountains - my favourite. However, after seeing the state of life for these people, a simple mountain could not bother me here.
The Medina or the center of the city where most business is carried out was our destination this morning. We had a lesson on a few Moroccan phrases to learn before we could go into the tangled, crowded area. Our guide, a Fes inhabitant, said that it took him 20 visits with a guide himself before he didn't get lost in the area. We were very carefully watched.
The phrases we had to lea;rn were: balack balack - listen for it to be yelled. If it is heard the third time, it's too late. A bloody big donkey is riding up your ass. Today i used it myself to move one of my group out of the way for a man with a cart.
The other word in Ls Shokron which means No Thankyou. This is needed in order to get the merchants off you as they try to sell their wares all over your body. Will continue my memories after I plug in.
Later
j
Morocco Style
Hello from Morocco. Good thing that this hotel has a computer because I need to get this down before it becomes just a memory and not a reality any longer.
We drove yesterday for many hours crossing the country from Tangier to Fes. Four people actually got sick in the back of the bus from the bumping and jostling on the small, broken up roads that we had to take. Morocco only has two main highways and we weren't on any of them.
This country is a place of contrasts. Tangier is said to be the armpit of the country yet that's the place where the ferry dis and embarks. I actually found that Tangier was a pretty little city but it is said that it can be uite a rough place to be because of the port and the beach areas. We seemed to get through the crossing and back on the bus with no problem but as we were driving towards Fes, just outside of Tangier, 5 boys of ages 10 to 12 started to run around the bus while we were at a stop light. Turns out two of those 5 jumped onto the back of the bus and hitched a ride with us. We were going over 100 km/hr and yet they were holding on for over 30 minutes until we finally stopped on the side of the road and shooed them off. Our Moroccan guide told us "Don't worry, this is normal." It seems that they hitch often trying to hide themselves on the buses that are about to cross over to Spain and enter illegally to escape their country. The rest of us were quite worried about their safety and yet the guide said, "If they fall off, it will be their own fault." All this and only 10 minutes on the road. He said that on our return is when we really have to watch for them because they will hide themselves in the luggage area or by hanging onto the undercarriage of the bus. I felt like I was back on one of my trips to the Eastern Block of Germany. It was pretty unnerving.
During the night, in our hotel room, we had a little visitor who left remnants of his meals in the bathroom. Parts of the ceiling asbestos were falling onto my face, bed and luggage as I slept, I had a tubby this morning that was tepid and I had let the hot water tap run full blast the whole time and... and this is the best part of all..... the toilet seat is not functioning so when I sat down, my bottom fell right into the bowl. Needless to say, I needed another tubby. Well, things are surely interesting here for what they call a 4-star hotel.
We drove yesterday for many hours crossing the country from Tangier to Fes. Four people actually got sick in the back of the bus from the bumping and jostling on the small, broken up roads that we had to take. Morocco only has two main highways and we weren't on any of them.
This country is a place of contrasts. Tangier is said to be the armpit of the country yet that's the place where the ferry dis and embarks. I actually found that Tangier was a pretty little city but it is said that it can be uite a rough place to be because of the port and the beach areas. We seemed to get through the crossing and back on the bus with no problem but as we were driving towards Fes, just outside of Tangier, 5 boys of ages 10 to 12 started to run around the bus while we were at a stop light. Turns out two of those 5 jumped onto the back of the bus and hitched a ride with us. We were going over 100 km/hr and yet they were holding on for over 30 minutes until we finally stopped on the side of the road and shooed them off. Our Moroccan guide told us "Don't worry, this is normal." It seems that they hitch often trying to hide themselves on the buses that are about to cross over to Spain and enter illegally to escape their country. The rest of us were quite worried about their safety and yet the guide said, "If they fall off, it will be their own fault." All this and only 10 minutes on the road. He said that on our return is when we really have to watch for them because they will hide themselves in the luggage area or by hanging onto the undercarriage of the bus. I felt like I was back on one of my trips to the Eastern Block of Germany. It was pretty unnerving.
During the night, in our hotel room, we had a little visitor who left remnants of his meals in the bathroom. Parts of the ceiling asbestos were falling onto my face, bed and luggage as I slept, I had a tubby this morning that was tepid and I had let the hot water tap run full blast the whole time and... and this is the best part of all..... the toilet seat is not functioning so when I sat down, my bottom fell right into the bowl. Needless to say, I needed another tubby. Well, things are surely interesting here for what they call a 4-star hotel.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Seville, Spain
Seville is one of the southern cities, 700 000 people, where the 1992 Expo was held. Just like Montreal, you can still visit the expo pavilions and such which were built on an island right in the middle of the river that runs past the city. The city was first lived in by the Moors or the Muslims. Today we walked, slowly I might add because it was 30 degrees, into the city center and toured around the old buildings and sites. There is still a Moorish tower dated to the 1100's which we walked up 40 flights to get to the top. There, was a 360 view of the city (and a bunch of breathless people). Attached to it is the huge catholic Cathedral built after the Muslim church was torn down when the city was taken over by the Spaniards. This church is the third largest Christian church in the world. I don't know what the other two are but I'm sure I'll find out. The church is astounding, opulent, and too large. It doesn't give one the feeling of a quiet presence that you feel in many other large cathedrals. But.... it does hold some of the remains of Christopher Columbus - one of the most revered people here in Spain.
Yesterday we arrived here around 5 and headed straight to our room for a siesta. After our nap, we ate and then took the bus to our flamenco dancing show. 11/2 hours later and we don't know why those ladies and gentlemen haven't got smashed kneecaps. They can move, I'll tell you that, and they put so much passion and feeling into what they are doing. You know belly dancers and big bellies?....well, it's the same for flamenco dancers and big butts. It doesn't, however, stop them from moving and the Spanish men just love it. We had a terrific time.
Another story about Gerhard: Well, today as it was 30 and yesterday when we arrived it was between 28 and 30, Gerhard decided that he should dress as he does at home. You know, plaid shorts, t-shirt, long hairy leg with sandals. Oh, don't forget the Tilley hat and the fact that he is about 12 inches taller than inhabitants here. Well, as you know, it is still winter for these folks here in Spain and they are still (and probably always are) dressed in their European slacks, white shirts, sweaters and heavy shoes. Some of the ladies still wear coats. I am also dressed in jeans, shirt and carrying my sweater for the shadowy streets. I have never seen so many Spaniards stare and snap their heads back at one person before. He might as well have been naked. He said that he could only have been more conspicuous if he was painted neon yellow. One good thing - I could always find him in the crowd.
j
Yesterday we arrived here around 5 and headed straight to our room for a siesta. After our nap, we ate and then took the bus to our flamenco dancing show. 11/2 hours later and we don't know why those ladies and gentlemen haven't got smashed kneecaps. They can move, I'll tell you that, and they put so much passion and feeling into what they are doing. You know belly dancers and big bellies?....well, it's the same for flamenco dancers and big butts. It doesn't, however, stop them from moving and the Spanish men just love it. We had a terrific time.
Another story about Gerhard: Well, today as it was 30 and yesterday when we arrived it was between 28 and 30, Gerhard decided that he should dress as he does at home. You know, plaid shorts, t-shirt, long hairy leg with sandals. Oh, don't forget the Tilley hat and the fact that he is about 12 inches taller than inhabitants here. Well, as you know, it is still winter for these folks here in Spain and they are still (and probably always are) dressed in their European slacks, white shirts, sweaters and heavy shoes. Some of the ladies still wear coats. I am also dressed in jeans, shirt and carrying my sweater for the shadowy streets. I have never seen so many Spaniards stare and snap their heads back at one person before. He might as well have been naked. He said that he could only have been more conspicuous if he was painted neon yellow. One good thing - I could always find him in the crowd.
j
Friday, March 13, 2009
Spain or Portugal?
We pick Portugal. It's way prettier - a bit more like Greece with all the pure white houses and red roofs. Both places are very mountainous - as a matter of fact, Spain in the second most mountainous in Europe after Switzerland. The people are friendlier in Portugal although both countries only grow shorter people. We also find them quite a bit more sophisticated in P probably because years back the government decided to spend a lot of money educating and creating a more world-sense public. Most speak English.
The number one employment area for both countries is the tourist trade. Without us, the countries would suffer. I say if they care about us that much, they should create more toilets somewhere.
Their way of life is odd for us. Some parts are very nice - like the way they take so much time to relax and enjoy the day and each other. But other parts, for example, the way they are used to having no privacy, the way they are used to living in filthy environments ( at a restaurant they just throw their napkins and junk all over the floor), the incredible amount of time they spent traveling amongst each other to get from one place to another. This is what it is like to live in a place where space is a premium and land is small plus, there's packed into this small land, more people than can be expected.
I guess what I'm saying is that Canada is great!!
We've met so many wonderful people in the last month and a bit. People from all places, people from all walks of life. Each and every one of them is making an impact on the stories of our lives and we are thoroughly enjoying that impact. Even though we didn't feel lucky to have taken this trip because we had planned for it for 5 years and saved and borrowed and gave up things for it and luck had nothing to do with it at all, we are beginning to feel incredibly lucky to have such a diverse and interesting world to be a part of.
We will be heading to Morocco in a couple of days and we know that this particular part of Africa is pretty strict and sometimes backwards so we may not get to a computer unless our hotel has one. As a woman, I must keep my shoulders and upper arms covered and, I must go and ask again, but one of my hands I must not touch anything with. One hand is filthy and the other is clean. Hmmmm! I could be in trouble. These days, with all the new stuff around me, I can't keep a thought in my head for more than a minute.
Love to everyone, J
The number one employment area for both countries is the tourist trade. Without us, the countries would suffer. I say if they care about us that much, they should create more toilets somewhere.
Their way of life is odd for us. Some parts are very nice - like the way they take so much time to relax and enjoy the day and each other. But other parts, for example, the way they are used to having no privacy, the way they are used to living in filthy environments ( at a restaurant they just throw their napkins and junk all over the floor), the incredible amount of time they spent traveling amongst each other to get from one place to another. This is what it is like to live in a place where space is a premium and land is small plus, there's packed into this small land, more people than can be expected.
I guess what I'm saying is that Canada is great!!
We've met so many wonderful people in the last month and a bit. People from all places, people from all walks of life. Each and every one of them is making an impact on the stories of our lives and we are thoroughly enjoying that impact. Even though we didn't feel lucky to have taken this trip because we had planned for it for 5 years and saved and borrowed and gave up things for it and luck had nothing to do with it at all, we are beginning to feel incredibly lucky to have such a diverse and interesting world to be a part of.
We will be heading to Morocco in a couple of days and we know that this particular part of Africa is pretty strict and sometimes backwards so we may not get to a computer unless our hotel has one. As a woman, I must keep my shoulders and upper arms covered and, I must go and ask again, but one of my hands I must not touch anything with. One hand is filthy and the other is clean. Hmmmm! I could be in trouble. These days, with all the new stuff around me, I can't keep a thought in my head for more than a minute.
Love to everyone, J
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Lisbon
We left the northern part of Portugal, which was full of lemon and orange laden trees, beautiful scenes of homes on the very hilly terrain and warm sunshine. Our first stop was a small town way high up in the mountains. It was the town of Fatima, where a huge area of the town in the 70's was set aside to dedicate to "Our Lady of Fatima" a young girl who lived there and was said to have seen apparitions of the Virgin Mary monthly on the 13th of the month starting in May for 6 months. The whole thing was built on a shepherd's field. The area was built to the size of around 1 square km. I can't even put into words the feeling of being there. The quiet awe of people as you stand and view the area in its silence was overpowering. People would actually get down on their knees and crawl and pray down the marbled approach. G and I lit many candles and spent 2 hours walking and breathing in the positive nature of the place.
Before this area we had a session of port tasting in one of the town's port cellars. This reminded us of our taste testing of scotch that we attended once in Scotland.
We arrived in Lisbon, a beautiful city, by supper. G and I went directly to the grocery store for cereal and milk. We rested for the rest of the evening and today we had a bus tour of the city for the morning. This afternoon, after our siesta of course, we headed out and took the subway to the center of the city where we had a regional big meal for lunch. We had a lamb dish and salad which we both shared.
Tomorrow morning we head to Seville and to a traditional flamenco dance show for the evening along with an included supper. Every second night on our trip we have an included supper so it's a night of our not eating cereal.
We are now back in our hotel, way ahead of everyone usually, and having another rest before the evening. It's different for us because we are here for a longer period of time than everyone else and don't feel like we have to fit in hoards of things before we head home. The rest of the folks are scrambling to go to all the extra excursions in order to see all that they can see. The problem with that is that it turns out to cost an extra 500 euros and they end up not seeing the city we are living and staying in, but rather the stuff outside of the cities that are touristy.
I need a nap. Love to everyone.
J
Before this area we had a session of port tasting in one of the town's port cellars. This reminded us of our taste testing of scotch that we attended once in Scotland.
We arrived in Lisbon, a beautiful city, by supper. G and I went directly to the grocery store for cereal and milk. We rested for the rest of the evening and today we had a bus tour of the city for the morning. This afternoon, after our siesta of course, we headed out and took the subway to the center of the city where we had a regional big meal for lunch. We had a lamb dish and salad which we both shared.
Tomorrow morning we head to Seville and to a traditional flamenco dance show for the evening along with an included supper. Every second night on our trip we have an included supper so it's a night of our not eating cereal.
We are now back in our hotel, way ahead of everyone usually, and having another rest before the evening. It's different for us because we are here for a longer period of time than everyone else and don't feel like we have to fit in hoards of things before we head home. The rest of the folks are scrambling to go to all the extra excursions in order to see all that they can see. The problem with that is that it turns out to cost an extra 500 euros and they end up not seeing the city we are living and staying in, but rather the stuff outside of the cities that are touristy.
I need a nap. Love to everyone.
J
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Logging in No problem
Hi Guys,
Glad to hear things are going well, love the stories J. I don't feel sorry for G, frostbite here :) I;m looking forward to my first bug bite. We'll be waiting for more travel tales.
Take care Trev Jo
Glad to hear things are going well, love the stories J. I don't feel sorry for G, frostbite here :) I;m looking forward to my first bug bite. We'll be waiting for more travel tales.
Take care Trev Jo
We continue to press on
Yes, even though it's very hot outside, we do continue to wear sandals. G got a sunburn on his feet today from sitting in the square while we ate lunch.
Yes, we have had to pack away our winter coats and carry them, whoa's us, in our backpacks.
Yes, we do get up each morning to someone making us breakfast. Such a chore.
Yes, we are letting someone else do the planning and driving for the next three weeks.
Drats, there's bugs out - wasps, little flying flies in our rooms each morning but....I guess we can stand it... and they do need to live somewhere.
Yes, the trees are green and now have leaves and...are obscuring our view of the landscape but we do need the shade to get out of the hot sun.
Yes, we are poor. Could someone send us a million dollars?
Yes, we have had to pack away our winter coats and carry them, whoa's us, in our backpacks.
Yes, we do get up each morning to someone making us breakfast. Such a chore.
Yes, we are letting someone else do the planning and driving for the next three weeks.
Drats, there's bugs out - wasps, little flying flies in our rooms each morning but....I guess we can stand it... and they do need to live somewhere.
Yes, the trees are green and now have leaves and...are obscuring our view of the landscape but we do need the shade to get out of the hot sun.
Yes, we are poor. Could someone send us a million dollars?
Sitting in Coimbra
We left Madrid this morning on our bus trip. We stopped into two cities on the way. Avila, is another in the list of medieval towns surrounded by a high wall. We visited the church where Saint Theresa lived and later, in Salamanca, we ,G and I, walked the old town and ate lunch in the sunshine of the large city square. One thing we have noticed a lot on our travels is that we are learning how to spot a place to go to the washroom. Today it was in the McDonalds.
We drove on to cross the border in Portugal. Quite different than Spain and a pleasure too. We pulled into a beautiful city called Coimbra and are about to go down for supper. Tomorrow morning, we head out for a tour and walk of the old city and then drive onto Fatima for the day. We will end our day in Lisbon where we stay for 2 nights.
It sure is nice to be here in the Best Western, who would have guessed, and to have free computer use.
We drove on to cross the border in Portugal. Quite different than Spain and a pleasure too. We pulled into a beautiful city called Coimbra and are about to go down for supper. Tomorrow morning, we head out for a tour and walk of the old city and then drive onto Fatima for the day. We will end our day in Lisbon where we stay for 2 nights.
It sure is nice to be here in the Best Western, who would have guessed, and to have free computer use.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
In Madrid
Well, we are here in Madrid. Our flight to Spain was delayed for 40 minutes and the flight was very hot, heh, it´s RyanAir - budget airlines, but we arrived safely. There was no arranged seating as usual for airlines, so when it came close to flight time, the people started to line up like cattle. The flight attendants weren´t very charitable about how the spanairds behaved with the flights so I won´t repeat it but it seemd to go along fine in the end. I managed to get G an exit seat so that he had leg room. We landed and found a shuttle bus shared with another woman for only 26 euro which was great but it´s so busy here, traffic and construction, that it took us 1 hour to get to our hotel.
Madrid is something else. Similar to Mexico we find. Very poor and very crowded and the city itself is extremely old. We spent two wonderful days taking the bus to the old part of town and walking, eating, picture taking and viewing. The next day we walked in the new part of town going to museums and enjoying the 18 degree weather. Today, 21 degrees outside, we are just going for a slow walk around to places that we´ve yet to see. Gerhard is wearing his sandals.
Thursday night after we settled into our hotel, we needed to eat so we walked down the busy street of our hotel. We were invited to enter a small restaurant to eat and we had what we call - breakfast. Too funny. They gave us toastados - toast, eggs and meat. We loved it. The two guys inside the restaurant were gems. We managed with broken language. We said we were from Canada after they´d asked. The one fella said, ¨´ ah, Toronto!! ¨ We said, ¨¨No, Winnipeg, Manitoba.¨ He looked at us and asked, ¨huh?¨ I guess we aren´t really well known we Manitobans.
We went back to that same restaurant the next morning for a real breakfast and lo and behold, the female waitress heard me say ¨nein¨to Gerhard and came right over to speak German to us. Life is very funny sometimes.
I forgot to tell you more on the ongoing story of Gerhard getting used to Europe. On the way back to the hotel after our first day here, Gerhard thought that we should stop into a bar along the way. He puts his hand onto two big black doors that have¨, in Spanish, ¨¨no trespassing¨¨ pasted onto the front. I tried to pull him away and tell him no, but you know that he has his own mind. Well, he opens the door, pulls apart the curtains and is faced with ten, not nine, but ten woman of the evening who, all at once, look up at him and say, ¨¨ola!!¨¨ Sheepishly, he backs out and we had no more beer that night.
So, the rest of the bus group arrive today and we meet tonight for supper. Tomorrow, we have a free day and tour around the city or Toledo and then we leave straight away on Tuesday morning. We are very excited that things have been working out well. This is the first time that the two of us have been thrown into a country where we don´t really understand the language. It´s pretty amazing how easily we are getting along with sign language and facial and finger movements.
Onward over the mountains we go.
Madrid is something else. Similar to Mexico we find. Very poor and very crowded and the city itself is extremely old. We spent two wonderful days taking the bus to the old part of town and walking, eating, picture taking and viewing. The next day we walked in the new part of town going to museums and enjoying the 18 degree weather. Today, 21 degrees outside, we are just going for a slow walk around to places that we´ve yet to see. Gerhard is wearing his sandals.
Thursday night after we settled into our hotel, we needed to eat so we walked down the busy street of our hotel. We were invited to enter a small restaurant to eat and we had what we call - breakfast. Too funny. They gave us toastados - toast, eggs and meat. We loved it. The two guys inside the restaurant were gems. We managed with broken language. We said we were from Canada after they´d asked. The one fella said, ¨´ ah, Toronto!! ¨ We said, ¨¨No, Winnipeg, Manitoba.¨ He looked at us and asked, ¨huh?¨ I guess we aren´t really well known we Manitobans.
We went back to that same restaurant the next morning for a real breakfast and lo and behold, the female waitress heard me say ¨nein¨to Gerhard and came right over to speak German to us. Life is very funny sometimes.
I forgot to tell you more on the ongoing story of Gerhard getting used to Europe. On the way back to the hotel after our first day here, Gerhard thought that we should stop into a bar along the way. He puts his hand onto two big black doors that have¨, in Spanish, ¨¨no trespassing¨¨ pasted onto the front. I tried to pull him away and tell him no, but you know that he has his own mind. Well, he opens the door, pulls apart the curtains and is faced with ten, not nine, but ten woman of the evening who, all at once, look up at him and say, ¨¨ola!!¨¨ Sheepishly, he backs out and we had no more beer that night.
So, the rest of the bus group arrive today and we meet tonight for supper. Tomorrow, we have a free day and tour around the city or Toledo and then we leave straight away on Tuesday morning. We are very excited that things have been working out well. This is the first time that the two of us have been thrown into a country where we don´t really understand the language. It´s pretty amazing how easily we are getting along with sign language and facial and finger movements.
Onward over the mountains we go.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Waiting for our Flight
Okay, you buggers!!!! We have snow. Actually, it's snow rain mix and is supposed to turn to all rain by afternoon. Our flight is 15:45 and seeing as we are at an old military airbase, the landing strips are all heated so the snow is not a problem. Just the day to get snow, when we are taking off for more southern weather. Actually, in the northern mountain areas of Spain and the Alps of Switz, it is snowing like a banshee.
Check out some of the pictures I was able to get onto the blog because we had a really relaxed day yesterday here at the hotel. I hope to get a few more on before we leave. Please note, that if there is no picture for an entry, it is because the picture for that spot has people in it and we have promised to not put anyone into the blog.
Hope your snow turns to rain as well.
j
Check out some of the pictures I was able to get onto the blog because we had a really relaxed day yesterday here at the hotel. I hope to get a few more on before we leave. Please note, that if there is no picture for an entry, it is because the picture for that spot has people in it and we have promised to not put anyone into the blog.
Hope your snow turns to rain as well.
j
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Sitting in Frankfurt Hahn waiting for a flight
We left Rothenburg by train yesterday to arrive in Frankfurt to take a 1 3/4 bus ride up the mountains into Hahn. There, is an old military base purchased by the Ryan Air Flight company to use as their cheap flights' base for Europe. However, the only way up here is to take a bus or drive. We had a lovely bus ride, sunny day, G's first experience on the autobahn and then.......left our camera in the elastic seat part of our chairs. Panic -- not for the camera, but for the 1000 photos on the disk. So, G ran. literally, ran, first to the parked bus to see if it was ours, then to the ticket booth to have the lady phone the bus company. Turns out, that our bus, whose company also belongs to Ryan Air has its terminal here at the airport and was in the bus washing stall just minutes away in the small town of Hahn. G took a taxi to the station, got the camera, gave the driver a tip, got back into the taxi, came back to the hotel, gave the taxi driver a tip, walked over to the lady in the ticket booth and gave her a tip. Jeez, if this keeps up, we're going to be poor. But...we have our camera!!!!!
So, the adventure continues. We fly out of here tomorrow - good weather we hope. We have heard that in Spain most of the internet centers have been closed so we may have trouble getting onto the blog to fill you in unless our hotels have access. We shall see.
We are eating breakfast now, lovely spread. Same as usual - bread, rolls, meat, eggs, cheese, juice and coffee. It's nice to know that some things we can count on. We would never have found this place out except for the advice from James to take Ryan Air which is super cheap. It's 139 to fly to Spain. Air Berlin, however, coming back is over 600. Couldn't get a flight with Ryan Air back at all.
So, the adventure continues. We fly out of here tomorrow - good weather we hope. We have heard that in Spain most of the internet centers have been closed so we may have trouble getting onto the blog to fill you in unless our hotels have access. We shall see.
We are eating breakfast now, lovely spread. Same as usual - bread, rolls, meat, eggs, cheese, juice and coffee. It's nice to know that some things we can count on. We would never have found this place out except for the advice from James to take Ryan Air which is super cheap. It's 139 to fly to Spain. Air Berlin, however, coming back is over 600. Couldn't get a flight with Ryan Air back at all.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Old Town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Tomorrow we leave this very pretty place that feels like we have stepped out of the world into a painted book. The buildings are dated around 1100 onwards and the town in circled by a high wall and a deep moat. We have been staying in a inexpensive pension - we are the only ones there - and that feels very strange. Things are very quiet for us and we have been having a wonderful rest. We head back to the room for a rest each afternoon and pretend that we are actually Germans who take a "pause."
We took a nighttime walk with a local Nightwatchman who told of us of all the good and the bad of times back then. We also had an interesting 2 hour tour of the Criminal Museum where we saw all of the actual torture items used in the time of this town. Gerhard is threatening to use some of them on me if I don't stop bugging him- like the iron mask with the long pinnochio nose for liars.
We leave tomorrow by train for Frankfurt Hahn to catch the RyanAir flight out to Madrid on Thursday. Good news to us by our travel lady - all of our booked bus trips have come through. Tomorrow, however, we need to rearrange our bags as the cheaper flights of RyanAir are very strict about weight and baggage.
Off to Spain ------- and sorry about this-----the warmer weather.
Love J and G
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)