FUN-travel: Arcos de la Frontera to Tarifa, Spain
August 29, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Arcos de la Frontera to Tarifa, Spain
Trip Day 43 – Wednesday, August 22 – Arcos de la Frontera to Tarifa, Spain
What I LIKE
- 7:30 – wake up coffee on patio overlooking valley
- 9:30 – ready to go on to next adventure
- 11:30 – arrive Tarifa
- Garmin is still working after update last month
- much cooler by the ocean – high 80s
- we are staying right in the middle of the old town
- Hotel Blan+co – really, really, cute
- recommended by Rick Steves
- we’re on the top floor, loft with coved ceilings
- have a suite with refrig & stove top
- 12:30 – people watching & beer
- 1:30 – lunch in park – sandwich from breakfast buffet
- stroll down to beach – find Moorish castle
- 8 pm walk to “Souk” – restaurant recommended
- 8:30 – attempt to find another restaurant in area
- 9:00 back to plaza by hotel
- dinner @ Morilla – across from church – big, thin cut tuna steak – mixed salad with tuna, tomato, onion
- 10:00 pm streets are filled with tourists
- sights & sounds are abundant
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- 11:00 hit traffic in Algeciras
- OMG more narrow twisty teeny tiny streets in a walled city
- have to snake through narrow streets
- no place to park to unload car in the old town
- have to go around the entire old city again
- didn’t read the fine print
- no elevator or air conditioning
- hotter than expected
- room not very functional
- no closet or drawers & very little shelf space
- “Souk” no open & nothing strikes our fancy
WOW Word-Of-the-Week #421: Festivity
August 29, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on WOW Word-Of-the-Week #421: Festivity
Festivity – the pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration.
When was the last time you enjoyed the festivity of a celebration? Do you like going to festivals? Do you remember the last one you attended? Are you like me and just don’t like crowds?
I have to say that I am pretty surprised by how I am feeling about taking part in festivals. We started our Spain trip in Pamplona for 
the Running of the Bulls and are ending it this week in Buñol for La Tomatina, which is the Tomato Festival. Last September we went to Galway Bay, Ireland for the Oyster Festival. This is all new for me!
What I am discovering about myself is that I love the smaller celebrations. I love the joy and gaiety that all of the people bring to the event. I am getting to experience local traditions that are very different than what I have ever seen or have ever been a part of.
This week we got to Buñol on Monday and walked into the small town of 9000 residents. Not many tourists had arrived yet and I loved sitting and watching the locals. That night was the paella cook off. The street by the park, which was over four blocks long, was lined on both sides with families and groups cooking. They put sand on the pavement to create their fire pit, had firewood, a metal stand to make their stove, and their big metal pans with handles. It was unlike anything I had ever seen.
Tuesday night they lined the main street with tables and chairs. They brought their dinner and ate and drank. We ate and drank alongside them and enjoyed the “show.”
Then this morning at 8:15 we started for the center of town where La Tomatina is held. The street was already filling and the main plaza was “packed like sardines.” I was really glad that we had negotiated to share the roof top of a home with the family yesterday!
We have had incredible experiences being at these festivals and watching it all happen. There were times when I definitely felt outside of my comfort zone and inside someone else’s! For someone who said, “I don’t like crowds” – who knows – we may turn into “Festival Junkies!”
This week’s focus is on festivity. What kind of a celebration would bring you pleasure or joy? How would it feel to bring an atmosphere of festivity to work? What could you do to create pleasure and joy for your customers, guests, clients or members?
Reader Responses
“There is something about a neighborhood festival that allows us to belong. That sense of community allows people who are new to the area a chance to celebrate; not necessarily the type of neighborhood but simply being with other people and having fun. And in those type of festivals, everyone wants to be around other people to enjoy the music, the food and the moment. That sharing, that festivity, is something that reminds me of a book I am reading right now entitled “Take Time Out For Paradise,” by the late Commissioner of Baseball A. Bartlett Giamatti. His whole premise is that the leisure time we spend, especially in communities, brings us closer to the idea of Paradise. Every year at the Fourth of July in our town of Arlington Heights, IL, we have Frontier Days. Basically, the carnival comes to town and our daughters get a chance to see all of their school friends, some teachers and people we know. The kids love the carnival rides and the games. It reminds me of the old midways in Lake Geneva, WI, for their annual summer festival. In addition, there are pop and rock bands, some old time rock ‘n roll groups like Loverboy, Kansas, The Ides of March, Eddie Money, Dennis DeYoung and this year, Burton Cummings, former lead singer of the Guess Who. It was great. Just being with friends, family and the community makes these kind of festivals fun. Now, the crowds that I am trying to avoid are the professional football fans. I have not been to Soldier Field to see the Chicago Bears since 1997. The game that I attended that day convinced me that I did not want to attend another professional football game again. Throughout the game, security officials were escorting people out of the stadium, either for fighting or excessive drinking. It just was not enjoyable. When we do go to a football game, it is usually at Northwestern University. No alcohol is served at the game, but there are students in the parking lot drinking as part of their pre- and post-game tailgating. Usually, they don’t bother anyone. We can bring our girls to those games. I also try to avoid professional baseball games because of the drinking that goes on and unruly behavior. It seems today that the high price of a professional sports ticket entitles people to act any way that they choose. It is too bad that we have to put with that boorishness, but it seems now more and more of a fact of life at professional events. So, those are the type of crowded events I try to avoid. Maybe it is because I am older and have children, but I am finding that I just don’t enjoy it. But there is a joy, Susan, to just watching families and friends have a good time. That is what it is all about. Great word, festivity. Thanks, Susan. Take care.” – “Warrior” Joe
FUN-travel: Arcos de la Frontera to Rhonda, Spain Drive
August 26, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Arcos de la Frontera to Rhonda, Spain Drive
Trip Day 42 – Tuesday, August 21 – Arcos de la Frontera to Ronda, Spain
Grazalema
What I LIKE
Ronda
- 7:30 – hot strong coffee on patio
- 9:30 – head down to main road
- at least it’s a one way lane
- drive through heart of Andalucía’s white hill towns
- beautiful & scenic through mountains
- 10:30 – 1st stop – Grazalema – postcard cute hill town
- 11:15 – drive to Ronda
- 11:45 – arrive
- find parking garage
- nice walk through town
- eat lunch of sandwich made @ breakfast
- main attraction is The Gorge & New Bridge – ravine is 360 ft down & 200 ft wide – built 1751 to 1793
- 1:30 – head to Zahara de la Sierra – tiny town clinging to side of hill with a Moorish castle on top
- aqua colored lake at base is actually a reservoir
- 3:30 – arrive back to parador
- happy hour beer with olives tapas
- 8 pm – venture out & down to cobblestone walkway (also known as “main street” & the same one we drove up on!)
The Gorge & New Bridge
- 8:15 – dinner @ Mamma Ttina – authentic Italian restaurant (owner is from Italy) – caprese salad, spicy pepperoni pizza & tiramisu – really VG!
- one of the best meals we’ve had so far
- after dinner “tapas” of Lemoncello
- decadent dessert day!
- had ice cream cone in Rhonda too
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- on pins & needles driving down from parador
- just as narrow & twisty as coming up
- locals go any direction they want on one-way streets!
FF (FUN-fact) – I have never eaten, let alone seen, as many olive types, tastes, sizes and colors as I have since I’ve been in Spain.
Zahara de la Sierra
FUN-travel: Sevilla to Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
August 26, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Sevilla to Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
Trip Day 41 – Monday, August 20 – Sevilla to Arcos de la Frontera, Spain
Plaza on Top
What I LIKE
Church in Plaza on Top
- there are 3 Starbuck’s within 5 minutes of our hotel
- 9:30 ready to go on to next big adventure
- take taxi to parking garage for $6 Euro
- not trying to drive on the crazy tiny, narrow streets
- don’t have to drive far
- 11:30 arrive – Arcos de la Frontera
- sheer cliffs
- dramatic views
- once again Parador is on the very top of the hill
- 12:30 lunch here – big mixed salad – tuna sandwich & beer
- stay cool & take siesta
- 8:30 – dinner @ Parador – “typical” local dish of huge white beans & ham, grilled tuna steak, salad – pretty good
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- had to go to all 3 Starbuck’s to find the one that opens @ 7:30 am
- OMG more twisty, teeny, tiny cobblestone lanes for streets
- really, really hot!
FF (FUN-fact) – Andalucía is the home of bullfights, flamenco, gazpacho, pristine whitewashed hill towns and glamorous Mediterranean resorts.
Plaza on Top
FUN-travel: Sevilla, Spain – Day 2
August 25, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Sevilla, Spain – Day 2
Trip Day 40 – Sunday, August 19 – Sevilla, Spain
Plaza Espana Tiles
What I LIKE
Alcazar
- 9:30 – walk to Plaza Espana in Maria Luisa Park (Sevilla’s Central Park)
- 1929 international fair was held here – colorful ceramic tiles & grand architecture
- stroll back to town along the river
- Cathedral is free on Sunday morning during service
- get to walk in & take pictures
- save $17 Euro!
- 11:00 – snack @ Gusto across the street – Panini & coke – $5 Euro
- 11:30 – Alcazar – 10th-century palace – still functions as one today & is the oldest in use in Europe – Christopher Columbus recounted his travels to the queen here – many tapestries, colorful tiles, elaborate facades, courtyards & lush gardens
- 12:30 lunch @ Doña Francisquita – need cold beer to cool off – Mexican chicken salad with corn, carrots, jalapenos – Risotto with mushrooms – nice light crisp white wine
Cathedral
- today’s “tapas” is a digestive – shot after lunch
Alcazar Gardens
- great service!
- 3:00 – siesta
- 5:30 – tea time @ hotel – free coffee, soft drinks & sweets
- 9:00 – walk 6 blocks to Indian restaurant
- 9:45 – back to Doña Francisquita since it was so good
- service truly does make the food taste better
- anchovy tapas & vegetable pizza & wine – $44 Euro
What I DIDN”T LIKE
- this morning told we have to pay $2.50 per cup for coffee
- river walk promenade is closed
- really hot – over 100+ in afternoon
- Indian restaurant closed on Sunday
- Doña Francisquita not so good tonight
FF (FUN-fact) – Sevilla’s Cathedral is the third largest church in Europe (after St. Peter’s in Rome & St. Paul’s in London) and the largest Gothic Church anywhere.
