Our Bucket List Holiday 2019
Barcelona last day
All the ticks on the Bucket List are done
As we bid Farewell to our great trip it has been a top experience of all the country’s and their cultures it was very fitting to finish in Barcelona in our own time just to enjoy the city’s sites on a Hop on Hop off bus.
Barcelona is one of the world's leading tourist, economic, trade fair and cultural centres, and its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities.
It is a major cultural and economic centre in southwestern Europe, 24th in the world (before Zürich, after Frankfurt) and a financial centre. In 2008 it was the fourth most economically powerful city by GDP in the European Union and 35th in the world with GDP amounting to €177 billion. In 2012 Barcelona had a GDP of $170 billion; and it was leading Spain in employment rate in that moment.
In 2009 the city was ranked Europe's third and one of the world's most successful as a city brand. In the same year the city was ranked Europe's fourth best city for business and fastest improving European city, with growth improved by 17% per year, and the city has been experiencing strong and renewed growth for the past three years.
Since 2011 Barcelona has been a leading smart city in Europe. Barcelona is a transport hub, with the Port of Barcelonabeing one of Europe's principal seaports and busiest European passenger port, an international airport, Barcelona–El Prat Airport, which handles over 50 million passengers per year, an extensive motorway network, and a high-speed rail line with a link to France and the rest of Europe.
Olives Alhambra Granada (Spain )
On the last couple of days of our travel’s we headed to the oldest olive grove in the region and stopped at the rural mill-factory of Almazara to taste a selection of different oils with locally made farmer bread.
Continued to Alfarnatejo, a quiet town with a population of just 500 people and surrounded by stunning mountainous landscape. Walked the town centre to see the 18th century Iglesia del Santo Cristo de Cabrilla. In small groups, we were invited into the home of a local family to join them for a delicious Highlight Lunch made of fresh, local produce with flavours typical of the region.
Granada has its usual amount of churches, museums etc. typical for a southern European city. However, Granada has the Alhambra which is considered by some to be one of the 10 wonders of the world. In case you don't know, the Alhambra is a massive castle constructed over many centuries.
It consists of gardens, fortifications and sumptuous palaces. It was the home of many of the Arab Sultans who ruled the whole province so I suppose for centuries it received the optimum in interior decoration and architecture.
TANGIER GIBRALTAR SPAIN
We left Tangier (Africa) on the ferry cross the water to Spain and continue on to Gibraltar what an eye opener you have to cross the runway of the airport to get to the rock a lot of Brahman breeders in Australia are from the rock, an overseas territory under British control since 1704.the Barbary Apes, legendary guardians of the colony.
Three Countries in one day breakfast in Tangier, lunch in Gibraltar, Tea in Spain. Staying Melia Costa Del Sol for two nights right on the beach restaurants wall to wall top shelf.
Our meals are sensational food to die for fish and all species of fish great stuff.
We also took a run up the hill to white-washed village of Mijas. strolled through the old streets and gardens and take in the views of the coast top views of the whole coast line.
White-Washed Village of Mijas
CASABLANCA TO RABAT AND TANGIER.
We tavelled north to Rabat, along the coast stopped to see the Royal Palace and Hassan Tower.
The journey continues to Morocco's great port of Tangier, overlooking the Straits of Gibraltar.
Here is where we enjoyed fantastic views of the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean and the bay of Tangier.
From Grand Hotel Villa De France we can see Tangier to Gibraltar, Tangier was considered too significant to be controlled by any single country.
Many civilisations and cultures have influenced the history of Tangier, starting from before the 5th century.
The city is currently undergoing rapid development and modernisation. Projects include new tourism projects along the bay, a modern business district called Tangier City Centre, a new airport terminal, and a new football stadium. Tangier's economy is also set to benefit greatly from the new Tanger-Med port.
Casablanca “Play it again Sam “
Well I finally got to see the place of one my favourite films Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart everybody’s knows it with “Play it again Sam “and “Hears looking at you kid”
We went to Ricks Place and took photos and videos lunch at a Restaurant on the beach Ramadan started in Casablanca today no Dan Murphy’s over hear.
Casablanca, known as the white city is the largest city in North Africa and is the economic and financial capital of Morocco. With a population of 6 million.
Casablanca is undoubtedly the biggest economic contributor in terms of household final consumption and of value creation.
In fact, it stands out with its business centre, its port and its university centre which happen to be the most important ones in the Kingdom.
MARRAKESH OURIKA VALLEY
We headed out early to the Ourika Valley very scenic drive south of Marrakesh we were treated to the hospitality of a family tuck away up on a mountain range, the Morocco tea and pancakes made by the family was sensational.
The view of the Atlas Mountains which are snow-capped nine months of the year topped off a good morning.
Interesting to note that the Family had told me they need a new cow and the cost was 6,760 Dirham which is $1000.00 Australian, in our travel’s bulls are not about as its all AI over hear and a lot of Santas as well.
The rhythmic stomp of flamenco
A Day in Seville
THE ANCIENT IMPERIAL CITY OF FES.
We visited the ancient Medina.
Explored this walled city of hidden courtyards, mosques and workshops. Walk through the souks and pass one of the world’s oldest universities. Learnt about the ancient craft of carpet making and gain an insight into the motifs and colours used in the designs.
A real eye opener for those that have not experience an adventure of this kind.
HOLY FÁTIMA.
We crossed the Portuguese frontier and near the Estrela Mountains en route to Fátima. There is a huge square in Fatima, which to me resembled the square at Vatican City which was a surprise considering that Fatima has a population of approx. 12,000.
The Basilica of the Holy Trinity has the three young shepherds buried there it was very interesting to walk around the church to read and take in the art work.
Markets of Marrakesh
The covered markets of Marrakech where bartering is the only way to get the deal you want, a vast network of alleyways pierced periodically by shafts of sunlight. Each souk has a different specialty, be it rugs, leather goods, spices, metalwork or clothing. Haggling is compulsory; the first price the merchant mentions is usually a fanciful multiple of what they actually expect.
The Real Fawlty Towers
Another day on our bucket list tour we left Madrid for our bus trip to the city of Salamanca on the way we stopped at a roadhouse for a comfort break, we decided to get a cup of tea and a piece of fruit for morning tea, but they didn’t sell fruit but we could purchase a fully automatic gun of many shapes and sizes if we wanted to !!!
Arrived in Salamanca, a beautiful UNESCO listed city, it’s home to the world renowned Salamanca University, the Plaza Mayor (Town Square) which reminded me of the town square in Venice, on entry to the city we stopped to take photos at the Roman bridge.
Salamanca is also home to the Convent de San Esteban, Clerecia Church and the Muesum Art Nouveau.
It’s also home to a very welcoming and friendly population except for one individual !!!
I never thought it was possible but the Spanish version of Basil Fawlty is alive and well and working as a very self-important head waiter at the Hotel we stayed at called the ‘Hotel Almeda Palace’ aka Fawlty Towers.
There were 3 tour groups staying at the hotel and we were allocated the 8am breakfast slot the following morning and God help anyone in our group that decided to enter the dining room before our time, unfortunately some poor souls did and were chased out (literally) by Senor Basil in his very smart black suit !
I think most of us in the group were actually feeling like the down trodden ‘Manuel’ after our very ordinary scrambled eggs and bacon, it would have been easier cracking the Da Vinci code than finding the pepper which I found out after breakfast was on a window ledge behind the curtain !
The cutlery was the size that you would use to set a table for a family of ‘Smurfs’ and if you needed a knife or fork it would be at your risk asking Senor Basil !
One poor lady from the travel group before our breakfast decided to take 1 orange from the bowl at the end of her breakfast obviously for her morning tea but Senor Basil was having none of that and chased after her bring her back into the dining room to place the 1 piece of fruit back into the bowl, the look on her face was priceless.
And if you wanted hot water to take away it cost 2 Euro’s ! anyway enough accolades for Fawlty Towers.
We arrived in the city of Lisbon and that night we were taken to a very traditional seafood restaurant if was absolutely fantastic we had prawns, crabs, fish and seafood soups along with good wine, beer and port, the staff were nothing like Fawlty Towers absolutely fantastic.
Thank you Meagan, our tour director for arranging a top night.
ONE WILL NOT FORGET THE FAWLTY TOWERS EXPERIENCE
The Journey Begins
After leaving London we arrived in Spain at the Madrid airport this is the best I have seen it is massive as far as airports go, architecturally designed to let light through the whole building very large building and has only been open for ten years.
With five terminals and four runways and well over 50 million passengers flying through it each year, Madrid Airport is the largest and busiest in Spain.
We are staying a few nights at the Miguel Angel Hotel absolute magnificent thinking of heading to Madrid for a holiday this is the one to you need to stay at.
Whilst we had a free day to our self’s we took the opportunity to explore this great city it so happen that the Madrid Marathon was on and it was great you could move freely about the streets.
10,000 runners rocked up to the Madrid Marathon on Saturday I was to late to put an entry in it’s a very big event for Madrid.
Rock 'n' Roll Madrid Marathon on April 28, 2019 is the only event in Spain where athletes can qualify for the Abbott World Marathon Majors Wanda Age Group World Championships, being held as part of the Virgin Money London Marathon in 2020.
An interesting shopping mall in the heart of Madrid it is all digital and like something out of Star Wars you shop till you drop a must see in Madrid
The biggest shop in the whole of Spain! Primark is an Irish shop following the style of low-cost fashion.
Our holiday begins TREASURES OF SPAIN, PORTUGAL & MOROCCO 17 days
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A Day At London West End
Wednesday, 24 April leaving the K &K at 10 o’clock in the morning we headed over to West End to try and get tickets to two fantastic shows Dolly Parton musical 9 to 5 and the Story of Tina Turner.
We arrived at the Savoy and purchased two tickets in the front stalls, after getting our tickets we went and had a lunch at the Coal Hole Hotel absolutely magnificent lunch the building built 1873.
The Dolly Parton musical was a fantastic show if you have seen the movie it’s very similar to the movie, included in the tickets two small bottles of Moët and a box of chocolates.
The choreography is absolutely fantastic and actually Dolly Parton narrates a bit of the show by video A must on anyone’s bucket list, Dolly finished around 5 o’clock we then headed over to try and get tickets to the Tina Turner story.
Yes and we got front row stalls seats again and all the Who’s Who of London happen to be at the same show to celebrate its 100 days of production. Boy George also attended the Tina Turner story and sat two rows behind us.
Heading out for dinner at a Hotel for pie and peas because we’ve already spent The Children’s Inheritance.
Prior to heading into the show which started at 7:30 I got talking to Paul Richards the Aldwych theatre security firm he escorted some very important people to a lot of shows he told me that he had actually escorted Michael Jackson‘s mother to see Thriller live in London, he was also Michael Jacksons bodyguard when he was in London.
The Tina Turner story was very sad in a lot of places but as we all know it did turn out okay there is only one way to describe the show it was "Simply the Best".
We can tick off the bucket list.
Bucket List Holiday 2019 LONDON
Well it is that time again when we travel overseas and tick off the bucket list.
We arrived in London at 7:30 in the morning the long haul from Australia we eased the pain by upgrade on Qantas Monday 23rd of April.
Janelle and myself have been to London six times so we have seen a fair bit of the attractions around London.
After lunch in at the K and K at Kensington where we have stayed a few times we had you guess it fish and chips.
One of the attractions, we missed has been the Churchill War Rooms it has been on our list for sometime.
Let me tell you it’s very interesting deep down Churchill was very different, if you’re looking for a bargain think again with the guidebook £88 ($168) for two of you and no guide yes you guessed it those little walkie-talkies still it was quite good as our stay in London is only four days we are taking in our most favourite thing to do when in London is the West End shows we like to do at least two a day.
We will also be doing our best to attend Anzac Day in London prior to heading to Spain,Portugal, Morocco,on the bucket list
The original door was put on display in the Churchill Museum at the Cabinet War Rooms. (This was very interesting)
