Gib and Andalusia - March 16, 2010

Finally we were on the last day of our 3 day adventure. This day was really windy - 27 mph. It was just what we had been hoping for. The reason we wanted to go bird watching in this area is because it is the closest place to North Africa and hence the raptors migrate by soaring above the Mediterranean each Spring and Autumn. Even though the wind was strong, the raptors didn't make the journey that day.

Instead, we spent the day exploring again. This time we made it Medina-Sidona where there is a cool castle and wonderful food! This time we ate at a little place in the town square. Cheri had a wild boar stew and John had a meat platter. Yummy!!

We turned back to Algecrias and returned the car. We decided to take the ferry over to Gib, but the wind was making the seas/waves too rough, and so we cabbed back. Once in Gib, we found a nice cab driver who took us one last time to visit the macques! What a way to end the trip!

Enjoy!
John & Cheri

Gib and Andalusia - March 15, 2010

We awoke to another fine day and decided to go exploring again. This time we got up past Cadiz. It was very relaxing to poke through the little towns and see the country side. Again the food was outstanding. We stopped in El Puerto Sainta Maria and ate at Romerijo (www.romerijo.com) right on the sea side. The abundance of seafood left us both full and very content! We ate outside with the sun shinning on us.

We passed back through the mountain region and found some red-legged partridges. They sure did run fast!! Very pretty birds. John kept asking, "Can you eat these?". We were looking for raptors, but only saw a hand full of vultures.

We headed back to Gib again at the end of the day for more fun with the tail-less monkeys! Each day they got to know us a bit more. At one point John was leaning on the stone railing, when the alpha-male decided he needed to pass. So the alpha, pushed John's lens out of the way and ran right on past!

Enjoy!
Cheri & John

Gib and Andalusia - March 14, 2010

The next morning we slept until we woke and then grabbed a quick breakfast at the hotel. Great coffee!

We struck off to the Hertz office to pick up our 6 speed BMW and roared off into the country side. We elected to explore the coast before heading in-land. North Africa is clearly visible from the coast, even though there was mist in the air above the sea. We were pretty lucky that we had sun all three days. Up until that weekend it had rained since Christmas!

There is lots of renewable energy in this region and we saw windmills all over and solar panels in a few places. Being power engineers...they were beautiful to us!

Towards the end of the day, we made our way to Gib to commune with the Barbary Macques. They are really something; what personalities!! We arrived around 4 so we could get the good light. Fun!!

Enjoy!
Cheri & John

August 29, 2009 - Barcelona 2 - Morning

We awoke a bit late to a glorious day without a cloud in the sky. The hotel offered a full breakfast for €10 per person which John and Cheri gladly scoffed down. Betty and Christina elected to walk a bit and find something on the way.

The hop-on, hop-off bus seemed like the best way to get the lay of the land and we jumped on the green like. It was hot, hot, hot and by the time we reached Parc Guell it we were all ready to hop off permanently and find some ice cream!

Parc Guell is not to be missed. If there is one thing you can say unequivocally about Barcelona – it’s Gaudi! Examples of his work can be found all around the place; very fun to look at and all the rage in the 1920’s. Lots of aspiring musicians can be found in the park. We ran across a guy playing his drum, making the most incredible sounds that had you not seen it you would swear he was playing wind instruments and guitars! Cheri bought a CD. Yeah – touristo!!