So we are on our way to Shanghai for 4 weeks and then a week’s vacation to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary in Singapore, Tokyo and Tokyo Disney!
Deme – thank you!
Deme – I appreciate all your planning for our wonderful trip! It was so great seeing Greece and Spain with you and I cherish our 2 weeks together!
Thank You Lauren, Juanka and Helena
Thank you so much Lauren, Juanka and Helena for your amazing hospitality! I appreciate you showing me all around Sevilla and Cadiz. It was so great to spend time with the 3 of you! XOXO
May 3rd – My Final Day in Sevilla
My last day was filled with a little bit shopping and a few last minute sites!
Lauren and I went to a lovely market where we bought fresh fruits and vegetables, olives and some octopus so we can attempt to make the dish we love!
We picked up Helena from school and then the four of us had a nice lunch. We also went up to the top of Metropol – what a wonderful view of the city!
Later we cooked dinner and relaxed at home. The octopus was delicious! My early taxi pickup (5:30 am) was going to come too quick! Also, as a side note – when I was on my way to the airport at 6am we passed a niteclub that was still packed with people! The Spaniards know how to have a good time!
Thank you so much Lauren, Juanka and Helena!
Thursday May 2 – our excursion to Cadiz
A fabulous day in the coastal city of Cadiz!
Our day started with a train ride from Sevilla to Cadiz.
Cadiz is on the water and is a popular cruise stop. It is a very tropical town that looks like we stepped into the Pirates of the Caribbean!
We had a wonderful day walking around, seeing some of it’s sights – like the Plaza de San Antonio, Plaza de Mina, the City Gates, Plaza de Espana with the Monument to the Constitution of 1812 and the beaches.
We enjoyed a nice snack then lunch and later some delicious ice cream! After ordering a delicious pistachio gelato I saw people eating a pre-made cone coated with chocolate. I had to order it! It turns out it is an item they are known for for the past 70 year!
After a lovely train ride back Lauren and I go have a drink at a wonderful roof top bar that overlooks the cathedral! Magical!
Wednesday May 1st – May Day
May 1st is also called International Worker’s Day. Interesting enough that many other countries consider it a national holiday (not the US!) but the day acknowledges the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago.
Because of the holiday we had a low key day. There was a protest in town that we went to see (very calm – just some people chanting and carrying signs/flags.
Lauren, Helena and I had a nice lunch with a playground next to the restaurant. We all ate and Helena was able to play.
The four of us had a nice dinner down the street from their apartment and had a relaxing evening at home.
Look familiar – my fellow Star Wars fans????
So cool – it is Naboo!
The Plaza de Espana is located in the Parque de Maria Luisa in Seville. It was built for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition World’s Fair which was hosted by Seville.
Simply amazing!!!
Tuesday April 30 – Seville with Lauren, Juanka, Helena and Deme!
What a lovely – action packed day!
After having breakfast at the apartment Lauren gives us ladies a tour of the center they are affiliated with – The Center for Cross Cultural Studies. The building is amazing…
Then off to lunch in the Triana neighborhood where we sit by the river and Juanka and Helena join us.
Lauren, Deme and I then head off to La Plaza de Espana (see my next post!) which is simply amazing.
It is now mid-day and we are getting hungry for a snack. What else would we have – Chocolate con Churros at a fabulous chocolate store – Valor.
So Helena has been bugging Lauren to take her on a horse and buggy ride which is a common touristy activity in Seville. We figure what a fun girls thing to do! Helena loved it! She was so excited and so engaged and then suddenly she fell asleep.
After putting Helena to bed the girls did a little tapas hopping and had some delicious items. Amazing octopus and mussels, yummy sandwiches called montadito de pringa and a smoother version of gazpacho called salmorejo. Delicious and fun to be out with my cousins!
April 29 Granada
So waking up and getting dressed on the train was interesting – what a fun experience! Deme and I have a lovely breakfast in the dining car and wait for the train to arrive in Granada. It turns out there was snow overnight which has delayed our arrival but the morning scenery is lovely. I also couldn’t believe how many rabbits I could see from the train.
Once we get off the train we store our luggage in a convenient place by the train station and head off to our tour of Alhambra.
Alhambra is amazing….the gardens…the architecture. We get very lucky and have wonderful, sunny (but chilly) weather while we tour the grounds.
After the tour we explore the town, have lunch at a great tapas place with the most amazing tomato salad and garlic mushrooms and browse through town. We also go to one of Lauren’s favorite places – Kiki’s which has an amazing view of town and Alhambra.
Deme and I are about to catch a train to Seville and find a nice place for dinner near the bull fight arena. We had this amazing dish with tomato cream, olive oil ice cream and ham – yum yum!
Seville here we come!
Saturday April 27 – return to Athens
We are back in Athens for part of the day. There wasn’t a great way to get to Barcelona so we decided to spend some time here before meeting Lauren in Barcelona!
Deme and I take the metro downtown from a lovely Sofitel airport hotel. After walking through the streets a little more we have lunch and then go to the new Acropolis Museum. The museum is a must see! Rich and I didn’t go when we were in Athens the last time and I’m so glad Deme and I had time this trip!
Our flight to Barcelona seems quick and we arrive at the hotel where Lauren my cousin) is waiting. Lauren asks for a tapas restaurant recommendation and luckily we go to Tapas 24. Delicious! The best tapas we had the whole time in Spain! Tomato toast, melted ham and cheese sandwiches, a bomba, fries with egg, cheese and ham and marinated beef. We finished off with a chocolate dish with a mouse like texture and drizzled with olive oil and sea salt!
