August 30 -September 6 ,2018- Family Arrives and exploring sights

Greetings All,

We are excited Christopher Meaghan and Paul are coming for a 3 week visit.We have driven down to London on the 29th as the kids flight arrives early in the morning on the 30th.  The flight arrives early and Paul acts a bit shy as they meet us , I am sure tired after the long flight. Paul is a real trooper as it is a long drive back to our place from Heathrow and we do it with only one stop for a bathroom break and snack.

August 31, We just relax around the house so the kids can recoup from the flight . Paul and I do some baking and I prepare for a family and friends Bar-B-Que that I have organised for Sept 1st. The BQ is a huge success and Paul is spoiled rotten as he receives a number of gifts. Once everyone is is gone Paul want's to know when our next party is and will there be more gifts. The wonderful mind of a 4 ½ year old you just have to love it.

Sept. 2nd see's us up and out early to visit Wales and Conway Castle. Castles were number one on Paul's wish list.  He explores every nook and cranny of the castle . Paul ,the kids and Grandpa do every turret while I do one and choose to sit out the rest and take photo's.  We have a pub lunch in Conway before heading off to Llangollen .

Here we go on a horse drawn bars ride along the canal. A very relaxing ride along the canal after our exploration of a castle. The picture on the right is the draft horse that pulled our barge.

Sept 3rd sees us heading into Liverpool as we have purchased tickets for Christopher and Meaghan to see the Terracotta Warriors that are on display till end of October from China. This is the first time they have been on display in a city  outside of London so we consider ourselves very luck yo be able to see them. While Mom and Dad are visiting the warriors Paul and I head to the dock to visit Thomas the Tank play world . Sadly the place is closed so after a visit to the candy store Paul and I head over to the New Liverpool Museum to explore . Fred meets us there and we spend a good hour and a half

exploring. They have a special section for younger children and Paul has a great time playing and dressing up. We then head up to meet the kids to do a bit of clothes shopping for Paul before heading home.

Sept 4th Paul has his very first haircut at a barbers with Grandpa. We had tried 2 years ago to get Paul a haircut but he was very anxious so we did not force the matter. He has had haircuts but either by his parents or other Grandma in the comfort of his home. This time he has no issues at all and comes out looking like a proper little English boy. We have been lucky with the weather up to today but it is raining so after the haircuts we head home by way of a pub stop for a relaxing day of crafts and cookie making.

Sept 5th the sun has returned and we head off to Crosby beach to get some exercise and fresh air and to allow Paul to let off some energy. We have a good run along the beach and stop to explore . We pick up some shells and come across a large jelly fish in the sand . Crosby beach is famous for the Iron men that have been planted along the beach and we take some photo's with Paul as pictured on the right .We stop for lunch at a Tapas bar in Crosby then head off to Southport to walk the boardwalk allowing us more exercise  and treats of fresh mini donuts .

Sept 6th We head back into Liverpool so Paul and I can do the Thomas the Tank play world and Fred and the kids do a pub crawl in the Baltic Triangle. Paul has a fantastic time at Thomas the Tank it is perfect for kids his age with lots of hands on things to do and explore. We all meet up at Pizza Express for a early supper around 4 PM . Shaun a waiter who we have become friends with has set up a special table for us and has treats for Paul.

I can't believe how fast the week has past. We have managed to get a lot of exploration in. While this is more about family we hope you have enjoyed this blog.

Cheers,

Sandy & Fred

July5-6,2018 - Powys Wales Mini Break

Shwmae All,

We have decided to take advantage of a offer on Secret Escapes and head off for a two day break in Powys ,Wales. On the way down we stop at Berrington Hall a National Trust site . It is a neoclassical country house built in 1778-1781 for Thomas Harley. While the outside of the house is rather plain the inside is quite ornate.

We spend about a hour exploring the house and grounds before continuing on our way to Powys and the Lake Country House Hotel our home for two nights.

One our arrival we are shown into a lovely room that has a large seating room, king size bed ,bathroom with a walk in shower as well as a bath. Once we are settled in he head up to the main house for a drink and to relax before dinner. While there we met the manager and have a nice chat about where we are from and retirement. The gentlemen looks to be in his mid 70's and lets us know he is not ready to retire any time soon as he loves his job. Well I think that is the key if you really love what you are doing why stop.

Pictured on the right is the main part of the lodge which back in the Victorian era was a Gentleman's hunting lodge. While enjoying our drinks we are given appetisers to enjoy. We then change for dinner . You need to book a dinner time when you check in and we have picked a 7:30 sitting. While sitting in the waiting area we are given the menu and choose our meals as well as drink choices . We are one again offered appetisers and have pre dinner drinks. We are the seated at our table were our wine order is waiting and given a amuse bouche,then our main and dessert. After dinner we decide to walk the grounds. It is 10:00PM and the sun is just setting and it is still very warm. Check out my FB wall for pictures.

July 6th after breakfast we are out early to explore the area .We have decided to do the Elan Valley Dams. June has been unseasonably hot for the UK with little or no rain. As we travel the dams we can very clearly see the results of the dry month. The river bed is dry in a number of spots and some of the water levels at some of the dams are really low. The tour around the dam takes a couple of hours with stops at each dam for photos.

Fred's brother has told us about a pub in the area Felin Fach Griffin so we decide to give it a try. I decide to be adventurous and order fish as I am not a fish eater. Turns out was not a good choice,my fish was under cooked and the meal had to be returned. The melon mint amuse bouche was refreshing and the soda bread was delish. Shame the fish was off. We head back to the hotel to relax, cool off and sort pictures.

We head up to the main house for pre dinner drinks. Tonight I have a fancy cocktail and Fred has a local beer. Our appetisers are seared scallops for me and Fred has beef carpaccio. My main is venison and Fred has pork belly with pork lion and chive croquette. It is absolutely delicious .

We have really enjoyed this break and would return to this location should it come up on offer again.

Cheers ,
Sandy & Fred

May 27-30,2018 - Bilbao, Comillas, and Home

Hola Amigos,

We have a bit of  lie in and after breakfast  head out to explore the old quarter . We come across the Plaza Nueva, the town square and they have a flea market on. Nearly everything you can think of is on sale. There is a man seeing canaries and I try to get a close up picture with my phone of the birds but he taps my arm and signals No,no with his finger so I move on and apologise . I did however get a picture earlier that he was not aware of. I wonder if what he was doing was somehow illegal as of all the things on sale his is the only thing that is live.  
There are numerous bars and restaurants around the square and all are selling tapas. The picture on the left shows a good selection of the tapas available. We continue our exploring and end up at the Guggenheim Museum. Pictured on the right
is a beautiful dog sculpture that is made up of flowers. It smells amazing. The Guggenheim itself is a awesome structure designed by a Canadian-American contemporary architect Frank Gehry. It cost $89 US Millon to build and was opened in October 17,1997. It was built in a decrepit port area to revitalise the area and bring in income. Pictures are not allowed in the museum but I do take some of the interior structure itself which I have posted on Facebook. The rooms themselves that have the art work are all heavily guarded. The art is not to our taste at all. My four year old grandson could do better paintings then what they are passing for art. We really don't spend very much time looking at the art and head outside to take in the sculptures that are outside the museum. On the way back to the hotel we stop at a restaurant for a very late lunch or early supper and have burgers . We continue our walk and come across a bunch of cafes and restaurants that are selling roast chicken dinners.The street is right around the corner from the hotel , if only we had found this yesterday.

Our last day in Spain and we head off to Comillas in the rain. It is about 1 ½ hr drive away and as we motor along the skies clear up.  We are headed here to visit El Capricho(1883-1885)  that marks the starting point for the acclaimed Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi.
Considered to one of his first works of importance, El Capricho is the start of the modernist movement. Gaudi who was fresh out of architecture school was commissioned by a young lawyer Maximo Diaz de Quijano who dealt with legal matters of the Marquis of Comillas. Saudi was only 30 years old when he finished the house creating a new style of architecture. Sadly the lawyer dies as the house was completed of a disease he picked up while working in Cuba. We spend over a hour exploring the home before heading back to Bilbao. The pictures posted here do not really do the house much justice. The ceramic sunflowers and brickwork are hard to see. Check out my Facebook wall for better pictures.

Once back in Bilbao we hook up with John  as he has a wine buyer he visits and has asked us if we want to go. We are always up to check out new wines and make some purchases. The shop is about a 30 minute walk away and I stop for more pictures as we head off. The shop keeper does not speak English at all as far as we know and is one of the most miserable people I have come across in a long time. Given his lack of personality it is a wonder he sells anything. It also may be that he just doesn't like foreigners but business is business so you think he would adjust. We do purchase 4 bottles of wine to use for special occasions at home.  Once we have dropped off the wine at the hotel we arrange to meet up with John and Adrienne for dinner. We have tapas for dinner is a very lovely looking restaurant that seems to be very popular with the locals. The experience is somewhat different for us as you go up and pick what Tapas you want at the bar and they then bring your choices to your table. We have a fairly early night as we are off early to be at the docks for our ferry to the UK by 9:30 AM. Fred packs up the car so that in the morning we only have our overnight bag to take down to the car in the morning .

The boarding of the Ferry is much more efficient in Spain then it was in the UK and we have no waiting at all once we are through customs. Our trip back is very smooth the ocean appears almost glasslike it is so calm and the fog rolls in late in the evening. I am wide awake at 5:30 AM and the fog horn is sounding as the fog is thick. We arrive in the UK at 9:30 AM and get off the ferry very handily. We get through customs and are pulled over to have the car checked. The officer explains it is due to anti-terrorism checks . Sad to think this has become a necessity in life today, but something I for one am glad they take seriously and enforce . We are on our way home in no time and we know we are back it the UK as it is raining. We arrive at home just after 5:00 PM to a very hot house but have had a wonder vacation and made some new memories. This trip Fred has driven 2783.5 miles ! We hope you have enjoyed this segment of our travels.

Ta ra for now,

Sandy & Fred

May 26,2018- Salamanca & Bilbao

Hola mi amigos,

We are up and after breakfast I notice a stork is nesting on the roof of the Parador. Once I get my picture we are off to Bilbao our last rest point before returning to the UK. We are stopping at Salamanca  another World Heritage site and one of the most important university cities in Spain. Founded in 1218 it is the oldest university in Spain and the 4th oldest Western University . With its 30.000
students together with tourism  it is a primary source of income for Salamanca .

Pictured on the right is Plaza Mayor . It is one of most beautiful and largest squares in Spain. While we were taking pictures and I was pointing out a figure on the building a elderly Spanish gentleman approaches us and try to tell us a bit about the figures. He's speaks no English and we no Spanish but in the end we get what he is trying to tell us about the figures. As with other cities in this area of Spain it was once ruled by the Moors. He points to Fred and touches his arm then  points to me and touches my arm. I get it a history of dark which I am compared to Fred and white rulers . He get the biggest smile on his face nods and then walks us towards the tourist information centre and say mucho walking to do.
Since being built in 1755, the square has hosted a the Consistory, been a market,bull-ring,concert hall, theatre and a general meeting place for people and their families. Plus it has witnessed all political , socio-economicand regions changes that have occurred in Spain and Salamanca since that date.

The picture on the left is of Casa De Las Conchas , The House of Shells and is one of the most well know palaces in Salamanca .Built and the end of the 15th and start of the 16th century by Rodrigo Arias Maldonado who was very close to the Catholic Monarchs and a member of The Order of Santiago. The shells which are the main decoration are present in his wife's heraldry and symbolise his love for his wife and  the Order to which he belonged.
We explore more the the city but really don't spend enough time here as we would have liked as we still have a a good 3 ½ hours of driving to get to our hotel in Bilbao or at least Fred does.

We arrive and get checked in and head out to check out a pub that Fred looked up as the big Game Liverpool vs Real is on tonight. We find the place but it is a little hole in the wall. Plus the area looks sketchy and I don't need Fred to get beat up as he is a Liverpool supporter in Spain. We purchase a bottle of wine and look for a place to eat. By this time we are both tired and turned around. It is getting on and Fred finally gets his bearings. We pick up Kentucky Fried Chicken for the room. I know all the great food we have had this trip and we settle for this. I am tired, sore and cranky plus Fred wants to watch the game so that is what we have.

The hotel has the game on so we head down to the bar to watch it and enjoy a couple of drinks. We are in Basque country so Fred figures there will be more Liverpool supporters then Real Madrid. There is a elderly gentleman who is a Real supporter and a real ass. Fred gets a bit agitated and I tell him to calm down or we will leave. Sadly Liverpool lose and we graciously shake his hand and congratulate him on his teams success .

Adios por orhora,
Sandy & Fred

May 25,1018 - Caceres and Placencia

Buenos Dias Amigos ,

We are off fairly handily and stop at Caceres a city founded by the
Romans in 25 BC.The old town which we visit still has its ancient walls and is a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1986. We visit the
highlights and spend about 2 hours exploring. There is so much we have not seen and this city would be worth a revisit at some point.

Pictured on the right is a portion of the old walls and on the left a old music transcript that was in the Cathedral.

We then head off to Placencia and the Parador that will be our home for the night. The Parador is a converted Convent and a beautiful hotel. Pictured on the right is the ceiling in bar. Our room is a lovely little suite complete with a comfortable sitting room 2 TV's
.

Placencia itself is somewhat of a disappointment for us. Compared to all the locations we have been so far  the city seems dead. Thankfully the Parador itself has made this stop all worth well. We have a amazing three course dinner complete with wine and the prices are very reasonable . Our starters were goat cheese salad with grapefruit(mine) and Saffron flavoured wet rice with chicken and mild mushrooms basically a soup (Fred), we both had Pork tenderloin with  apple and dessert Almond Biscuit with creamy chocolate (mine) which was extremely rich and Cheesecake with berry sauce (Fred). Our wine was Urban Ribera a Duero which was very good. Check out my Facebook wall for pictures.

Adios,

Sandy & Fred

May 23-24,2018- Exploring Seville Continues

Hola mi Amigos,

We are up and out early as we want to explore Real Alcazar a Royal Palace with over a thousand years of history. We take the bus to reserve some of our energy. Sadly we did not plan this very well as we should have bought our tickets on line to avoid the hour and bit wait in line in order to get in.Thankfully it is a much cooler day then yesterday so we are comfortable. We meet a couple who are from Calgary and have been traveling around Spain by train,we have a nice chat while waiting. Throughout the palace we are taken to key moments in Spanish history. The palace a preeminent example of Mudejar architecture in the Iberian Peninsula and renowned as the most beautiful. The upper levels are still used by the Royal family as their official residence in Seville and is the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe. Fred and I think the Real is much more impressive then the Al Alhambra building was but the gardens are not much special when you compare the two. The pictures here show some of the intricate work and detail in the architecture.

We next set off to the Barrio de Santa Cruz. It is the former Jewish Quarter the streets are narrow with may small courtyards. We stop and have lunch at one of the many restaurants and cafes in the Barrio. I have a selection of tapas with Sangria and Fred has Roman Chicken and chips with beer. Fred's did not look very appetising but he said it tasted fine. One our walk back from the Barrio to the

the hotel we come across a monument to Christopher Columbus. One one side is King Ferdinand and the other Queen Isabella names are on the ship. The reigning monarchs that gave Columbus his charter to explore the west.
We then make our way down to the river and back around to the university. I am stopped by some school kids and asked to to a video about what I though of Seville. They have a number go questions then ask me to try a Spanish tongue twister. We all have a very good laugh as it is extremely obvious that I have really messed up the twister. We stop for some refreshment on the way back to the hotel. We have walked 6.1 miles tiring but not as exhausting as yesterday .

Our last full day in Seville sees us up and out early again. Once again we take the bus to conserve energy and this time head to Barrio de Triana. This district is known for it flamenco, bullfighting and the peoples passion for the Holy Week. Pictured on the right is some of the beautiful tile work that adorns many of the houses in tis area . I sneak in as the door is open to take a picture as it is so beautiful. There seems to be a church on every corner in the area and even the smallest church has the most ornate altar. We went looking for the fort but are unsuccessful. We do come across a

fabulous market that has everything you can think of in the food department from sweets to spice. Check out may FB wall to see more pictures. We head back to the main square and come across the bull ring. We have one more point of interest to explore in the main square and as we head there Fred discovers a lovely looking Tapas bar which we decide to return to for a late lunch after checking out the Divine Saviour Collegiate Church. It is the second most important church in Seville. In 1661 the existing mosque is torn down and a new one is built. It however collapses and in 1712 it is rebuilt and a collection of altarpieces and artwork are added.

Everywhere you look there is opulent artwork and altars. It is almost overwhelming as there is barely a bare wall in the church.
We spend about a hour exploring the church before heading out for a late lunch. Postiguillo is the tapas bar Fred discovered earlier so we head there for tapas. It is really a unique place . There are bulls heads all around the bar. These are some of the past competitors in the ring and hopefully died in old age rather then the ring.

We have really enjoyed our stay in Seville . Tomorrow we are off to Placencia with a stop in Caceres.

Adios por orhora,

Sandy & Fred

May 20-22,2018- BQ Family Leave ,Departures and Seville

Hola mi Amigos,

The vacation with family is winding down and the weather must know we are departing soon as it has turned overcast and showery. We all take advantage and do some laundry. I make more lemonade with the remains of the lemons that Geoff and picked earlier in the week. This lot is rather tart as I use the left over sugar syrup rather then make more .  The three boys bar-b-que , I make the salad and Tracey sets the table. Adrienne is busy packing as her and John are off early as they continue their travels through Spain and Portugal. Monday John and Adrienne depart early and then there were four. Our last day we shop for dinner , do laundry and pack for our departures. Geoff and Tracey have volunteered to

prepare supper. We have bruschetta for starters ,with burgers and potato chips or crisps . We finish packing and tiding up the villa as we have a early departure in the morning as Geoff and Tracey need to be at Malaga airport by 9:00 AM and we are continuing our exploring of Spain.

Tuesday after dropping Geoff and Tracey at the airport Fred and I continue onto Seville. We arrive in around 12:30 and get checked in our hotel for the next three nights. We decide to walk into the centre of Seville which is also where a number of the main historic sites are. As we look for a place to have a late lunch we come across the University. Founded in the 15th century under the name Colegio Santa Maria de Jesus, it is one of the top ranked universities in the country with over 65,000 students with teachings dedicated to science and technology . It is a beautiful building , a wonderful place to learn. Check out my Facebook wall for pictures.  We find a place for a very late lunch. Fred has seafood paella and I have a pork cheek stew washed down with cerveza  for Fred and Sangria for me.

Our next stop is the Cathedral of Saint Maria of the See better known as Seville Cathedral.The Gothic Cathedral started out as a the main mosque 1184-1198. Parts of the mosque are conserved in the Orange Tree Courtyard and lower sections of the Giralda tower. In 1248 after the Reconquest of Spain by Ferdinand III the mosque was consecrated as a Cathedral. Construction the Gothic Cathedral began in 1434 and was completed in 1758. The last significant works on the Cathedral was done between 1825 and 1928.  In 1987 is was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. It is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the World  and in July 2010 it was declared a Site of Exceptional Value.

The picture on the right is the main entrance of the Cathedral. Inside the cathedral is breath taking. Artefacts inside date back to the 14th century.
The picture on the left is of Christopher Columbus's tomb. We spend a good  couple of hours exploring the Cathedral before walking back to the hotel.
It has reach 31 C and we are exhausted. We have walked 5.6 miles and seen some beautiful buildings some which are Embassies of various countries , some historic and some purpose built.

We are exhausted so we hit the bar ,enjoy a refreshing drink before calling it a early night.

Adios por orhora,
Sandy & Fred