Flying these days makes it almost impossible, in the inimitable words of our First Lady, to “be best.” If we can get by without major delays, missed connections or cancellations, we feel as though we’ve achieved a victory. Actually, if we can maintain civility and not devolve into fetal positions or temper tantrums, it’s a… Continue reading Be Your Jet Lag Best
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Remembering Graz
“Bella Grazia!” That was a tourist campaign slogan when we were last in Graz in 1985. That year we spent 4 months traveling, got a 3 month Eurail pass and fulfilled credit for a German class at UNC Asheville following my professor Henry Stern’s wonderful itinerary through Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We always wanted to… Continue reading Remembering Graz
Reflections on Vienna
Kitty and I are less than two weeks away from 4 weeks of October travel in Austria and Hungary. We’ve been planning for months, eager to return to a German-speaking country. Originally we seized on Berlin, a favorite city, but found ourselves wanting some of that historical architecture we had come to love in Barcelona.… Continue reading Reflections on Vienna
Barcelona Reprieve
February 16, 2019 What a reprieve this day turned out to be! We hustle and get up early to clean and leave the apartment in Valencia by 6:30 am. Our train is at 7:20 to Barcelona. Originally our plane to Atlanta left at 1:00 out of Barcelona. It was cutting it tight to arrive via… Continue reading Barcelona Reprieve
Baroque Excess vs. Culinary Restraint
Last night we were so excited with our day trip to L’Albufera at midnight we enthusiastically set into planning our next outing for early the next morning. We had chosen a nearby town with hillside ruins, but then reconsidered adding an extra day trip when time here was so limited. Instead, we took time in… Continue reading Baroque Excess vs. Culinary Restraint
Albufera de Valencia, El Palmar
Shabby, but with a sense of justice Wednesday 2/13/2019 We had long anticipated this day trip to this nearby region that balances rice fields, a fresh water lake, salt water estuary and bird habitats. We were especially intrigued by the possibility of sighting flamingos. The Albufera is protected environmentally, and what tourism there is revolves… Continue reading Albufera de Valencia, El Palmar
Doom and Gloom and the Blue Hour
2019 Feb 12 Tuesday We set out to do museums today, and started with the (redundantly named) Museu de Patriarca. I was excited to see a Caravaggio in their collection, but ended up being most charmed (in that dark and gloomy Gothic way) by El Greco and the colorful and detailed 15c Flemish tapestries in the… Continue reading Doom and Gloom and the Blue Hour
Valencia Cathedral, Jardins Real
Monday, Feb. 11 2019 Micalet Tower We head out to see Valencia Cathedral and take a slow route on back alleys. When we get to the main square, there are emergent clusters of tour groups. I suspect cruise ships, but it might also be buses. At any rate, we are early enough to not feel… Continue reading Valencia Cathedral, Jardins Real
Sunday Catch Up
Lorena wanted an early morning for picture taking so we were up and out at dawn. There were no people because it was Sunday so Lorena was in snap heaven. In the big main square (think Times Square) they were blocking roads and erecting barricades. We looked at signs and realized that there had been… Continue reading Sunday Catch Up
A Walk in the Park
Saturday, Feb 10 Apartment Entrance It’s a beautiful day, so we set out in the morning to walk in the Turia. Not surprisingly, it’s full of people. Many are on bikes and jogging. Someone described it as an outdoor gym, and that description fits. We sit by a pond and eat our late-morning sandwiches. One… Continue reading A Walk in the Park
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