<< Previously in Portugal >> Next to Nerigean, France
Monday 29th April - Thursday, 9th May (10 Nights) in Spain
Summary: Three nights in Barcelona. Train ride to Zaragoza for tapas, and then onto Logrono, capital of the Rioja country. Two nights there before catching a bus to the famous Bullfighting town of Pamplona before bussing it up to San Sebastian for three glorious days in the Basque Country. Our Spanish visit ended by nipping over the French border to Bordeaux to spend Leb's birthday with her sister Lucy.
Arriving in Barcelona (Monday 29th April)
The flight to Barcelona was relatively quick and smooth but when we arrived we were greeted with a downpour.
I booked the cheapest hotel I could find that wasn't too far from the city center and also on the way from the airport. We caught a bus to the city center and got off just 5 minutes away from Hotel Bejar. Our first reaction was exciting as the hotel was in a busy area near an old Bull ring, close to Nou Camp, home of FC Barcelona.
Leaving Lisbon's Blue Skies
Hostal Bejar - The Worst Stay of All
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| Leaving Lisbon's Blue Skies |
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| Hostal Bejar - The Worst Stay of All |
Rambling down Las Ramblas in Barcelona (Tuesday 30th April)
Ramblin' around Barcelona. Laundry wash. Followed by long walk to see three famous buildings of Antoni Gaudí. Lovely Hot chocolate stop. Then down La Rambla through the old town to 4 Cats, allegedly the oldest bar in Barcelona, then to a couple of markets before getting to the waterfront. Back to our room by metro as my feet could not take any more walking.
It was a relief getting back in Hostel Bejar for a few minutes until it began to dawn on us what an absolute shit hole the place was. Our tiny, room was three narrow doors away from a rather disgusting shared toilet and as we settled down to sleep it soon became apparent that the walls were made out of paper and right next door the manager coughed up what we could only imagine were sluggish huge green grollies all night long. We both got ill after this stay and we're convinced we caught the bug from El hombre con la tos repugnante e interminable.
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| First Day in Barcelona |
2nd Day in Barcelona (Thursday 2nd May)
Last bimble in Barca. Nice brekkie walking down avenue Paral Lel. Back to La Rambla for delicious hot chocolate followed by a little surprise in Barceloneta and its beach. Then, we walked up to Park de Monjuïc before descending down to some great paella and sangria before heading back to our "shit hole" of a room.
Leaving Barcelona for Logroño via Zaragoza (Friday 3nd May)
Headed *west* from Barcelona (not north-west as I'd imagined) to Zaragoza for a few hours of sight seeing hot chocolate and delicious tapas, and then on to the rioja region and the lovely town of Logroño. Our room here is 10x better and 3x cheaper. The food and wine in Spain... are so good. Tomorrow I think I will get totally rioja-ed.
Drinking Tempranillo in Logroño (Saturday 4th May)
Lovely indulgent day in the impressive town of Logroño, capital of the Rioja region. Bodegas (winery) visit followed by luxurious tapas bar crawl with lashings of fabulous red wine.
Bus from Logroño to Pamplona (Sunday 5th May)
Logroño to Pamplona bus ride was smooth. Greeted with vibrant vibe in the city center. Then, miraculously, watched Forest beat Sheff Utd in a good old Irish pub.
Pamplona (Monday 6th May)
A visit to the amazing Pamplona bullring then a (tiny) bit of one of the many routes of the Camino de Santiago without walking sticks.
Pamplona to Donostia (San Sebastian) (Tuesday 7th May)
Pamplona to Donostia (San Sebastian) through beautiful Basque country and then a lovely first of three evenings at our last stop before France.
Day in San Sebastian (Wednesday 8th May)
Donostia has it all: Beautiful old town with endless delicious pintxo bars, gorgeous protected beach, spectacular hilly views, and a totally unique language and culture and... so much more.
Last Day in the Basque Country (Thursday 9th May)
Last day in Iberia before heading to France. Lovely walk to the castle overlooking spectacular Donostia, followed by a fruitful pintxo tour of the suburb of Gros over the river from the old town. Then Real Madrid overcoming Bayern München in the Champions League semi final.
Adios Espana (Friday 10th May)
Adios España, allo encore, La France!
From Donostia to the Bordeaux region of France and Lucy's tranquil piece of paradise near Nérigean
