Signing off

My career as a blogger has ended

I have written much more than intended

There's some things I can't shirk

So it's now back to work

And besides, all my money is spended!

This was my first summer in 2014.

http://flipagram.com/f/F4ONmmFx27

Enjoy!

Things we are looking forward to.

Den wants Green shakes for breakfast

Lou wants 3 ply toilet paper in normal sized toilets

We both want a place with no steps

Lou wants to kiss a horse that doesn't bite her

Den wants a day with no Voltaren

We both want to eat dinner before 9 pm

Lou wants her Southern Comfort and cola stubbies

Den wants her mango frapppes

We both want a big bowl of green salad

Lou wants her washing machine

Den wants to wear her jewellery again

We both want a big hug and to see family.

Three weeks later ........... Den wants to go away again!

Gaudi = Genius

When I was younger I was a huge Alan Parsons fan. He was famous for his concept prog rock albums and one I loved was about Antonio Gaudi, an architect from Barcelona. The music sparked a life long desire to visit La Sagrada Familia, so it's one if the reasons Steve and I came to Barcelona in 2010. We saw Gaudi's work: La Pedretta, Casa Batlo, but it was a public holiday in Spain and the queues were four deep around the church and we did not get inside.

Yesterday, I went inside.

Looks like I'm coming back to Barcelona again, because Steve will want to see the inside too. Like a forest, the pillars reach toward the light and what I loved was that whilst full of symbolism, it is a space where people from many religions could come and be at peace. I'll let the pictures tell thousands of words.

For those who haven't seen La Sagrada Familia, you must. For those who have, hope the photos bring the magic back.

Gaudi. 1852 - 1926

Packing Up and Shipping Out

There are lots of ways you pay when you are travelling. First you pay when you book your travel. That's the easiest and most painless part. You pay when there are no porters and you have to actually move your luggage yourself. For us, travelling by train was great but the beginning and end of the journey was especially tough because we had to get our bags on board and find a place to store them. Lou has muscles in places I'd forgotten about. She needed them too, because the wheels on her bag broke early in the trip so she was dragging her heaviest suitcase around as well as managing a fully packed carry on, a gigantic handbag and a backpack. She also helped me lift my suitcase on and off each day, so whilst my feet and knees paid, so did her back. 

You pay when you purchase your souvenirs (not only with money, but with the brain power needed to constantly convert Pounds to dollars, Euros to dollars, Lira to dollars and at the same time keep track of your credit card account balance which grows exponentially without you even trying.

But you really pay when you have to pack to come home. It hurts my triceps trying to roll my clothes into small cylinders, and the chunkier you are, the more you have to roll. It is stressful trying to stuff items into shoes, or down crevices between things and I know It shouldn't but a little part of me dies every time I place the Elsa and Anna dolls face down in the case and dump clothes on top of them. It's certainly no way for a Disney Princess to travel.

You pay when you have to ship ANOTHER box home because the stuff won't fit in your bag. So far between us we have sent over 28 kg home this trip plus a box from the Bruges Christmas shop and a platter the size of Lou's carry on from Lucca.

There is, however, a pay off that balances it out. All this pain means it's time to head home, to bore people with our constant travel stories and it means we get to see our family and friends again. 

 So put the kettle on or get the Southern out, Den and Lou are heading home today!

Top Ten Moments: Den

Not in any order of importance:

1)  seeing the London Shows, especially Matilda.

2)  high tea at the Ritz

3)  reaching the top of Mt Kitzsteinhorn on the cable car without panicking

4)  the library at Epheses, finally.

5)  the shop window displays, especially in London and Paris

6)  the view from the Eiffel Tower

7)  standing on the balcony at sail away time in each port

8)  Lucca 

9)  The stained glass windows at the Sacre Coer and at La Sagrada Familia

10) eating gelati in San Gimingnano

Narrowly missing the cut:

The Amalfi Coast

Finding Anna and Elsa

Bruges

The train trip between Salzburg and Venice

And of course, spending time with Lou.

Top Ten Moments: Lou

Not in order of importance.

1) tobogganing backwards down the slope at Mt Kitzsteinhorn

2) riding the merry go round in the Kensington Palace Gardens

3) catching up with Jessica in London

4) dipping my toes in the water at Mykonos

5) seeing 'Matilda' in London

6) everything about the Eiffel Tower

7) The duomos in Italy

8) Buckingham Palace, even in the rain

9) Schnitzel in Salzburg, actually EVERYTHING in Salzburg

10) Greenwich

And those unlucky to make the top ten

Everything else! (except for Pompeii)