All good things come to an end.

Regrettably the last day has arrived. We met up for breakfast at 9 am. Everyone had a great nights sleep, despite thunder and heavy rain during the night. After breakfast we return to our room to repack and rest until checkout at noon. We will have 6 hours to wait until we need to head to the airport. The girls are not keen on going outside as it is hot and humid. Will probably wander around air conditioned shopping malls, have lunch around 2 and maybe wait back at the hotel until time to go. It has been a great holiday, plenty of laughs, food, and adventures.

See you all soon.

This blog has been provided courtesy of Costalotta Tours.

Singapore gardens

We wandered around the shopping mall beneath our hotel, but all shops don't open until 10.30 to 11 am. We have a bite to eat around 11.45 and afterwards head off to the hotel in case our rooms are ready. Luckily, the rooms are available. We check in and decide to meet again at 4 pm, giving us time to have a few hours sleep and a shower. We meet up again and all are feeling much better.

We head off to the gardens. It is hot and humid, but when we enter the cloud forest. it was cool. When we first entered we were faced with a waterfall which cooled the area. The plants and flowers were fantastic. After a couple of hours we headed off to Satay by the Bay. It has changed a bit since we were there last. A bit more upmarket. We had three jugs of beer and quite a few satay sticks of beef, chicken and prawns. It was a great night. Head back to hotel for an early night.

Singapore

Just a quick report to let you know we have arrived safely in Singapore. It is 6 am and we all feel a little tired. We are resting at the airport before heading to our hotel, don't expect to be able to get into our rooms until much later. 

Update: Get to hotel around 7.30 am. Rooms not available until 1 pm. They have a comfortable waiting room which has coffees and eats and we will rest there until everything opens.

Goodbye Barcelona

FCan't believe we have reached our last day in Barcelona. Tomorrow we fly to Singapore. The weather has improved a little, around 22 degrees but cloudy with the occasional rain drops. We get up late and don't head off until after 10 am. We have targeted three areas where we wish to go. With great tracking skills we locate all three places and a few additional ones. The girls are well in to shopping mode and progress is slow. We accomplish a few purchases along the way and then head back to where we stayed last time and have tapas for lunch at an outdoor table. We amble our way back to our apartment with a few more purchases. We will have a quiet afternoon as we need to pack and make sure all the alcohol has been drunk! 

Sayings for this tour include: it's really happening, Mr Crispy (elderly American who was always sun baking), 30 and 31 (always the last to arrive), the vibe - Mabo; who would believe ........

Barcelona has been great. Where we have stayed has been in a fantastic location, easy access to many areas. 

We finish off the alcohol with chips, and argue about what to have for tea. Luggy wants pizza, the rest of us decide on Burger King. It is raining heavily and the boys are tasked with going out. Luggy gets pizza and Burger King. After dinner the girls want dessert. Another argument develops over whether we have magnums from Abu's supermarket or maccas sundaes. Everyone but Luggy has magnums, he sticks with maccas.

We are now having a lightning show and thunderstorms with heavy rain. We have all packed and will be off to bed shortly. It is 8 pm. 

Montserrat

Last night we had dinner at an Italian restaurant -ginos. We arrived at 9 pm and everyone at the tables were female. Us boys were unsure of what we had entered. In any case the food was fantastic. We all had a great meals and wine - three bottles of a lovely Tempranillo. When we left at around 11 pm there were people still coming into the restaurant. We had a great night, Ann had a better night.

This morning we head off to Montseratt. We have to be there at 8.30 am. The weather is cool and cloudy. We are a group of about 20. The drive to the Mont is about an hour. Once there we have free time until 2.30. Early it is quite cool up on the mountain. We plan to use the funicular to get to the top and walk down. However the drivers are on strike and Ann, Ross, Luggy and I decide to walk as far as we can and Karen and Kaye visit a museum. 

At about 2 pm it starts to rain and ends up raining the rest of the day. We have been lucky with the weather, but it has finally caught up with us. We leave at 2.30 and head off on the cabs and wine tour.

We visited the Pares Balta vineyard and cellars. Our guide a lovely young lass who was very passionate about their wine was fantastic. During the tastings the grandfather came out and regaled us stories about his wine. It was a great day and after sampling a number of wines we bought some to take home with us - back to the apartment.

On the drive home it rained continually. We got home after 7.30 pm and decided to have in house tapas from the cheese, meats biscuits and wine we had.

Can't believe we have almost finished. Tomorrow it appears it will be a shopping and relaxing day in preparation for our flight home.

Shortly after standing in the magic circle, Karen miraculously threw her walking stick away!!!!!

Sagrada Familia

Last night we stayed in and played cards. Kaye had brought a pack of cards so we played pontoon. We had a great night with plenty of laughs, pretend bets only.

We had a sleep in this morning as our tour today did not start until 1 pm. We had planned to leave about 11.45. The girls wanted to have a look at the dept store across the road and I wanted to confirm  where we had to pick up our tickets. We left at 10. I went to the tourist office and they were a bit vague, but I noticed the line for the bus had about 30 people lined up. I went and found the girls and suggested we should leave earlier. So we went back to get john and Ross. John had just gotten out of the shower. When he had finished his sss, we went off. By the time we got to the bus it was three times the length. We eventually get on, get to Sagrada and find where to pick up our tickets. 

While we have been there before, there have been changes. Our guide tells us it is 67% complete and they are planning to complete it in 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudi's death. There still seems a lot of work to be done. It is amazing from the outside and indescribable from the inside. Learning about the development and the story behind the design and the reasons why things are where they are and their meaning helps us understand the building. 

After our tour it is 3 pm so we decide to have lunch. We find a little cafe and have baguettes with coke, beer and sangria. When we pay we are a little surprised. We had one baguette and a coke which cost 12 euros, 6 euros for the baguette and 6 euros for the coke. Ross had a sangria for 12 euros, Luggy had a beer 8 euros! Ripped off by Indians in Sagrada Familia.

We get back to the bus and head off home, we get home at 6 pm. Beers o'clock is getting later !!!!

Park Guell

Today we headed to Park Guell, a park which includes some Gaudi architecture. The weather is cloudy and cool, max temp around 20 degrees. Not what we have been used to. The park is unbelievable. It covers a vast area and the side of a hill. It has some fantastic scenery. We spend about 75 mins there and then head off. We get back on the hop on/ off bus and head towards the port. We arrive there after there just before three. We do not go up top as it is too cool. We alight from the bus and walk the Las Ramblas. We are getting hungry. We eventually end up in the area where we stayed last time and went to one of the restaurants we went to last time. 

After lunch we head back to our apartment and pick up groceries. We end up back home after 6 pm. 

N

Opera

Wow! What a night. The opera and flamenco show was unbelievable. We all feel very cultured now. We had second row seats from the front of the stage and obviously great views of the performance. The opera signers had great voices, while the dancers were fantastic. There are no fat flamenco dancers. We were exhausted just watching them. The apartment is in a great location and very comfortable and secure. After breakfast we are off to Park Guell.

OUR SCENIC STASH

 THE STAGE

The CEILING

 SOME CULTURED PATRONS

Goodbye Seville

This morning up early as the girls are worried about taxis, being Sunday. Our train departs at 8.50 am so we check out at 7.30. It is only about ten mins drive but do not want to streets if we can't get a taxi. It is about 200 metres over cobblestones to the rank. When we get there no taxis. Have to wait two mins when one arrives with another one shortly after. We arrive at the station before 8 am.

Board OK store luggage and settle in. Train departs two mins late and we quickly move to 250 km which seems to be cruising speed. There are a couple of stops along the way and after we bypass Madrid we hit 300. The speed comes back to around 260 kmh and we sit around this for most of the time.

Arrive in Barcelona right on time. Taxi queue is a shambles. No taxis but quickly arrive and we are on our way. Arrive at our apartment before Ross, Karen and Kaye. Our taxi cost 15 euro, theirs was 27 euro, but their taxi driver was nice! Our contact not there so I have to ring and eventually he turns up. It is a great apartment in a great location, we are going to have a great time. The weather is cooler but still  20 degrees.  Luggy, Ross and I go to the supermarket to stock up while the girls unpack. The beer is not cold so we have to have red wine! We have our opera and flamenco show tonight. Who would have though two boys from Garden City and one from Albert Park would be attending an opera in Barcelona!!

Real Alcazar Seville

This morning we went early to the Real Alcazar. It opens at 9.30 and we were there at 9.40. The line had about 100 in it and it took 15 mins to get in. It was an amazing place, better than the Córdoba alcazar. The gardens were bigger and much more extensive. We left at 11.45 and decided to walk to the Plaza De Espana. The maps in Seville are hopeless as are tourist directions and street signs. There will be the name of streets on the side of buildings, but they don't appear on the map. It is not a grid pattern and difficult to navigate, but we eventually get there, probably took twice as long as we should have.

The plaza is an amazing place. It is a huge semicircular building with a vast courtyard and a moat, with whole complex surrounded by gardens. It is spectacular. Apparently it was built in 1929 as part of an Iberian-USA World Exposition. It now contains govt offices and museums and is a major tourist attraction.

It is now 1.30 and we are all feeling pretty thirsty - another 30 plus degree day. On our way back we find an Irish pub - O'neils and call in for some refreshments.

We head back to our hotel to rest, pack and prepare for Barcelona. The weather forecast is not good for Barcelona - cloudy and 20 degrees. Been pretty lucky so far with the weather.

The square next to our hotel

Córdoba

Good news from our travel agent, he was aware there was an initial problem, but believed it had been sorted out. He will refund us all payments at hotel.

Up early as we have to be at pick up spot at 8 am. Ross and I had walked there yesterday and we took 20 mins walking back, so we figure we need at least 40 mins. We leave at 7.15 so we have plenty of time. We reckon we missed a turn yesterday so we think we have a better route. Where we are staying is all alleyways and lanes. Easy to get lost and confused. We think we are heading to the river, but are probably running parallel. I think we need to turn left and at the next intersection, we turn left and we are there. It took 15 mins!  We found a short cut but don't know how.y

The bus arrived at 8.20, heavy traffic. It is warm but just becoming light. The bus has to pick up other passengers and we arrive in Córdoba at 10.30. It is 150 kms from Seville and took 90 mins, on the train yesterday, we stopped at Córdoba and it took less than 30 mins to get to Seville.

Our tour guide Paki was fantastic, she gave us a wealth of information with plenty of humour. Our walking tour started in the Alczar at 11 and we finished at 2.45 and we had an hour free time. Just enough time for lunch and a rest. The Alcazr and gardens were beautiful, the alcazar had previously been a Roman customs house and had been destroyed and built over until the 13 the century when the Alcazar began construction. We then went to the Jewish quarter and the synagogue and lastly the mosque which was incredible. The building and surrounds had been a mosque, which had been extended many times and is now a cathedral. Parts had been destroyed and parts had been built over. It is an amazing mix of different architectural styles, with incredible Arabic columns and arches and silver and gold plated religious artefacts.

We arrive back just before 6 and are in need of a few beers!

About 8 we head off and find a place for a lovely meal.  Another guuuuud day.

Seville

"This morning we are off to Seville by fast train. Ann and Kaye approached the the hotel last night and sorted out the best way to get to the station. The concierge told them two taxis, ten minutes and around ten euros. When we were ready he would arrange the taxis. We checked out at 9.45 am and were then directed to the taxi rank! It was about two hundred metres away, some of it over cobblestones. We had gone half way when Ann and Ross grabbed a taxi that had just dropped someone off. Ann, Kaye and Ross took that one while we continued on towards the rank. Plenty of taxis going by, but all filled. We get to the rank and we are fourth in line, but no taxis. After ten mins Luggy suggest we go back to where the others got a taxi. We head back and pick one up almost straight away. We eventually explain to our driver where we want to go. It takes no more than ten minutes and the others are waiting for us. Fare was about six euros but we were happy to round it off at ten. Going through the station was easy and we waited and calmed down for our boarding.

We boarded but luggage area was limited, until we saw the overhead space above our seats. Very comfortable and we took off right on 11 am. To our surprise we were given complimentary drinks, snacks and sandwiches.  We hit speeds of 260 km and then we reach 300 Km. 

The train ride was great and punctual. We pick up two taxis and the driver explains he will have to drop us off nearby, as no cars can enter. He gives us directions, but we soon get confused. It is a maze of narrow lanes. We ask directions and find the place. We then find accom not paid for. Apparently, travel agent paid by Amex which was rejected. We pay and will chase it up with agent. We then find Luggs and Johnstones have a three bed room and have to pay more! Will sought it all out with travel agent. Right now we could all do with a beer.

Madrid hop on hop off

We board the hop on hop off bus about 10 am. Once again it is cool but sunny blue skies. Expected to hit 30 degrees.  The tour of the historic areas takes about 85 mins. When we get back to our starting area a Spanish lady tells us the Queen is coming. There are police and crowds everywhere. There are Red Cross people seeking donations and we think this is their big event and maybe the Queen is their patron. Anyway we head off to lunch to the market we found on the first day where we have some tapas dishes. We are early so it is not as crowded. On our way back to our next hop on/off the queen is there so we have a look and try to take some photos.

Our next route is the modern one and lasts about an hour. On this route we went past the Real Madrid stadium. It holds 80,000 people. John and Kaye did a different tour and went to an Egyptian park and missed the stadium. 

We decide that tonight is our pizza night, so after a few beers, gin and tonics and scotch and coke, Ross and I head off to find pizzas. Luggy is banned because he always orders too much. We bring back the right amount and finish off with some port. Actually that turns out to be a bottle and a half of port.

Another great day.

PIZZA NIGHT AFTERMATH 

Toledo and Aranjuez

Tuesday we have two tours, one to Toledo in the morning and one to the spring palace at Aranjuez.

The morning is cool around 12 degrees but is clear and sunny. It is an hour drive to Toledo. The town is very old and buildings are brick and limestone, very picturesque. The old town is on the top of a hill and we visit the Jewish, Catholic and Arabian areas. The cathedrals are magnificent. We view a synagogue built by Arabs. It was a very cosmopolitan city where all three religions lived harmoniously, until the spainish King believed the catholic orders and the Jews were too rich and powerful and conspired with the papacy to abolish some orders and evict the Jews. 

It was extremely interesting to hear the history and our guide  told us he had on three occasions met Jews who still held the keys to their old houses which had been passed down through the generations.

The getaway palace at Aranjuez was extraordinary, with beautiful gardens and magnificent palace rooms and furniture.

By the afternoon the temp is in the 30s. We get back to Madrid about 7 pm in desperate need of a beer or two. We decide to find something to eat on the way back and Ann and Ross find a hamburger place. We have two beers each and a hamburger each. The first beers went down very well.

It is such a busy place, even at 9 pm people are everywhere, the temp is mild - mid 20s and you would think it was a weekend.

The roads are fantastic, but traffic is very heavy. There is an underground road system through the centre of the city as a bypass, and we exit the city from an underground bus park and a six ks road tunnel - amazing. Wednesday we have the hop on hop off bus.

THREE SIRENS

Madrid

Flight to Madrid was uneventful apart from the pear juice served on the plane. Our pick up at the airport was ok - had to wait 10 mins for him to show up.

Hotel is being renovated and is a bit noisy during the day but it quietens down at night. The location is great, but the rooms are basic but roomy enough. After checking in we go for a walk to find our bearings. We locate the area where we need to go for our tours. On the way back we find a supermarket where we pick up rolls for lunch. We also get some beers for beer o clock. After lunch we find a food market and it is packed with people having their lunch tapas style, it is an amazing place. On our way back we pass through a square where there are restaraunts all around. We come back here for dinner and are amazed at the amount of people wandering about. It is about 7 pm, the temp is a comfortable 28 degrees, and everywhere you go there are crowds of people. Dinner which was hilarious - started off with rolls, followed by chicken and prawn salad and ham and cheese, the chicken and seafood payella, then a disgusting dessert, then mini magnums and a liqueur. We were walking home and a square we walk through which has fountains has crowds of people  sitting on the edge of the fountain. Madrid is amazing place and operates to a very different time scale to us. You would have thought it was a weekend night.

No pictures maybe tomorrow.

Farewell to Portugal

Last night we had our last dinner on Scenic Azure. The crew put on a signing performance to say, not goodbye, but until we meet again. The song was followed by a conga line where Kaye, Ann and Karen excelled themselves.