Travel Day!

We packed up in Madrid this morning and prepared for a travel day! Our check out was 10am but we weren't due at the airport for a few hours. The apartment manager had initially offered to store our bags but late yesterday upped the price to €50 (OMG!) so we decided to lock the luggage up at the nearby train station and head for a nearby park to kill some time.

Mmmmm on second thoughts perhaps we can lock Jack up!

On the way we passed a series of bookstalls along the way, Jack was tempted by some vintage Asterix.

The park was very pretty and allowed the kids some space to run around before we had to sit for the afternoon on planes/trains!

Then it was time to wave Adios Madrid and start our journey to Den Haag.

Here's the kids pretending to be 6 again in the airport!!!

The flight was uneventful and we easily found the connecting train once we arrived at Amsterdam.

So we are 10 mins away from seeing our Aussie mates the Cohen's!

Our Last night under the Spanish Stars.

So... It was actually great that the blog malfunctioned last night and my long whiny post was lost... today has been a much better day!

The crowds, very noisy neighbours and sleep deprivation had us all feeling like we wanted to flee Madrid by yesterday evening.

Thankfully today dawned woth a lovely sky and much quieter city streets and we all felt much happier about things and set out to enjoy our last full day here.

This bear graces the square across from us- aparently the most iconic statue in Madrid and even features on the city coat of arms. Though they say he is up a strawberry tree?  

We checked out the San Miguel market on our way to join the Segway city tour- it was nice to look at but high prices compared to those we have enjoyed so far so we weren't tempted to taste the wares today. Though I did come close with the mozzarella vendor!

I have promised Amy she can be our blogger for the Segway tour so I can't offer much more than it was FANTASTIC! I want one! This is how excited Amy was before we even set off.... And it just ramped up from there.

Afterward we tried to find a restaurant recommended by our guide, but our spanglish failed us so instead we headed for the roof of El Cortes Ingles.

Strange choice you say? Yes it is a department store but their flagship store on Grand Via has a gourmet food market on the 9th floor where you can sit, graze and sip while enjoying amazing views of the city.

You won't be suprised to hear that we spent a good part of the afternoon here, before heading home for a siesta. On the way I couldn't help but take a pic of this Bacalao vendor- the shop couldn't have been wider than 6ft!

It may take me some time to get used to not having my nana naps when we arrive home, and also for the kids to be in bed at 7:30 not 11pm!

We have had to rearrange things a little for tomorrow, as our plans to store luggage have changed. Long story with a less than friendly airbnb landlord. Let's just say I will leave posting my review until our bond is clear, and it won't be fantastic.

Rested up, we headed out for our last local meal. Tomorrow we are going to use luggage lockers at the train station en route to the airport, and that gives us the chance to explore a different area altogether.

The streets were quite pleasant as the sun set.

Jack and Amy were very interested to see how the street vendors with rip off bags/sunnies/perfume etc work. Their goods are laid out in blankets with ropes on each corner so that when they get a whiff of the police they can snatch it up and move on. We saw them at full bolt later in the evening!

Our dinner started at a tiny taco place we spotted a couple of days back when we ducked down a side street to avoid the crush. And well worth it- Yummy yummy soft taco's that initially the kids poo-pooed until they tasted our food and we had to order another whole meal each!

To finish off we headed back near Plaza Mayor so that I could try the famous bocadillo calamares.

The walk en route passed by some more sights (yes that was a bull head) and street performers, including a romanian lady who invited the kids to join her after we dropped a few coins.

The rolls were yum, but yet again hijacked by the kids who initially thought we were crazy but after a taste wanted more so we had to re-order. It seemed populated by tourists and locals alike, and there was free tapas generously ladled out to complement the beers and food.

We are off to Casa del Cohen at Den Haag tomorrow which we are all looking forward to- The kids are missing their mates as are we! The weather will definitely be cooler for our next week so I have been swapping the winter gear to the top of our bags tonight in readiness.

Nigh nigh's.... Amy will post our adventures on Segways tomorrow!

Blog Malfunction!!!

Darn it, just wrote a whole page and it dissapeared before I could publish it....

Must go to bed now as we have a long noisy night to try and sleep through- will elaborate when I rewrite tomorrow. But our day saw flowers, crowds, an ironman, cracked eggs and lots of action. All will be revealed!

Jack visits the Bullfighting Arena Seville

Hi this is JACK the guest blogger!!! I went to the Bullfighting Arena with my family and my Uncle Mason and Leslie (his partner) This is a photo of the stadium. This is where there are people called MATADORS. And the Matadors do more than just wave a red flag they have a spear behind the flag and when the bull runs past they grab the spear and throw it at the bulls neck.

This is my Uncle Mason and I in the stands.

When the matador kills the bull the crowd carries him or her out on their shoulders. These doors where double story height and only open when the matador wins.

This is the top of the stand in the arena where everyone watches. The city provided the money to build the arena to the city guard soldiers. These soldiers to protect the royal family and the arena was originaly used to train for battle.

This is a picture of a matador dodging the bull but there is no spear here.

There are bulls heads that have been killed over the years and a picture of some matadors. There was a bull they spared because he fought so bravely, and he only died last year.

This is me and Amy standing in front of a suit that a guy wore when he was 14. He got killed by a bull at the age of 22. The guy started at 9 years old.

These are the main matador suits that they wear.

This is the chapel. Where they pray before a fight. They pray that they don't die, it's a fair fight and its a bit of meditation.

We couldn't see the stables because there was a fight the next day so there where bulls in the stables.

Thats the end of my blog hopefuly I can do it again!

Adios Sevilla

We had a great day after we bid our villa adios and moved back into the old town of Seville yesterday.

Jose Maria at Aguilleras5 Suites welcomed us like old friends and settled us back into the rooms we had occupied 5 days earlier.

We took off on foot to tick off a couple of local attractions, again heading through the narrow streets of the old town. I love the detail that you find in unlikely places- here's a doorstep!

Peeking through doorways and windows as we walked, we found what looked to be an 'authentic' flamenco outfitter. The shawls, elaborate fans, hair combs and dresses were nothing short of amazing. I had no idea a castanet could cost upward of €125!

Little girls outfits- let's just say it was tough to convince Amy we didn't have room in our case for all those ruffles.

We found many 'Hostals'- They are small hotels hidden behind single doorways that open into these amazing interior courtyards. This one had an airy restaurant in the courtyard, and one we found later in the day behind a pizza restaurant had a gorgeous garden and pond. A perfect escape from the busy streets. 

The biggest choc pastry I have seen yet..... Leslie was impressed!

Next stop was the Bull Ring. I can't write about that as Jack was super interested and wants to blog that- but it was really cool. We then caught an actual bull fight on TV later that night which we let the kids watch a few minutes of the early stages, before it was gory. I have to say I didn't find it 'sporting', tormenting an animal to exhaustion and then eventual death... But I can appreciate it's part of tbe Spanish history all the same and the museum was great.

Our next stop was the Alcazar, the oldest Spanish palace still in use. I'm sure we didn't see the half of it as the kids got bored walking the HUGE grounds.

It was nice to relax in the palace gardens.

Back home for siesta and a drink on the roof terrace, then off we went again for tapas.

This shop specialised in sausage, and had their wine in huge cardboard casks just propped on the stairs.

We couldn't quite figure out what was happening here.... But people had painted and left shoes which others were now trying for size, and some even packing boxes full to cart away.

It was in all a lovely day, ended with a heartfelt farewell to Mason and Leslie as they were leaving early Thanks for sharing in our Sevilla adventure!

We slept a little later then took the high speed train to Madrid. Very easy and comfortable- 3 hours door to door and we checked in to our new place.

We are perched on the 5th floor overlooking the Puerta del Sol.

Baz and Jack have taken off via tbe Metro to see Real Madrid- From the morning papers it seems he may be going for a goal score record of some sort tonight?

Amy and I having a rest before heading off for dinner. No fussy eaters to cater for.... Bring on the gourmet goodies!

Beuna noche