FUN-travel: Northern Spain – Pamplona to Hondarribia, Spain
July 18, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Northern Spain – Pamplona to Hondarribia, Spain
Day 7 – Monday, July 16 – Pamplona to Hondarribia, (near San Sebastian) Spain
View from Parador
What I LIKE
Old Quarter
- good cappuccino @ hotel only 1.5 Euro (same price as house wine)
- driving to Hondarribia only takes 1 hour
- GPS & road atlas to takes us
- nice, helpful woman in dress shop writes down directions to Parador
- beautiful old 12th century castle sits high on the hill overlooking the bay and town
- takes 30 minutes to walk around the old quarter
- nice lunch recommended by front desk @ Danontzat – 35 Euros – fresh salad & rice w/vegetables – wonderful wine Novellum de Toro
- nice nap before going to San Sebastian
- direct bus only takes 25 minutes and costs 2.25 pp
- meet up Mariana – travel agent from GSincoming we booked the Balcony & Bull Fight with in Pamplona & new friends we met in Pamplona – Susan & Jay live in Bay Area
- go on “Tapas & Wine Crawl” – 6 different entree tapas & one dessert – really, really good!
- having FUN walking around & eating little bits & good red wine
What I DON’T LIKE
- GPS can’t find our Parador because our reservation name & the name of Parador are different
- GPS can’t find it even with the address programmed – has us going in circles 2 blocks away
- TI closed from 1:30 – 3:30
- no bus after 9 pm
- taxi costs 30 Euro & he can’t find parador either – only been a taxi driver for 2 weeks
Tapas & Wine Crawl
FF (FUN-fact) – The Basque Region of Spain is the “Paris of Spain.” Lots of balconies and very cute, well maintained buildings.
FUN-travel: Northern Spain – SOS Del Rey Catolico to Pamplona
July 15, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Northern Spain – SOS Del Rey Catolico to Pamplona
Day 4 – Friday, July 13 – SOS Del Rey Catolico to Pamplona, Spain
Pamplona
What I LIKE
Pamplona Partiers
- the Euro exchange rate is at an all time low
- the most expensive local wine in the grocery store is $6
- only takes 45 minutes to get here
- Zenit Hotel is 1.5 miles from Pamplona City Center
- free shuttle every 20 minutes
- away from the maddening crowds
- fresh, crispy bread
What I DON’T LIKE
- too much bread – not enough vegetables
FF (FUN-fact) – The Running of the Bulls happens every year from July 6th to the 14th.
FUN-travel: San Diego to Northern Spain – 17 Days
July 13, 2012 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: San Diego to Northern Spain – 17 Days
Day 1 – Tuesday, July 10 – San Diego to Barcelona, Spain via London
What I LIKE
- 8:05 pm flight
- non-stop to London
- 2 business class seats only 100,000 miles
- full lay down seat
- taking a sleeping pill
- waking up feeling mildly refreshed
- able to get on local time zone
What I DON’T LIKE
- the actual airport/travel experience
Day 2 – Wednesday, July 11 – London to Barcelona, Spain – arrive Barcelona airport 8:30 pm
What I LIKE
- Barcelona airport – no visa – no reciprocity fee – smooth sailing through customs! It wins a Gold Medal in the Travel Olympics! 10+ rating
- free shuttle to Renaissance airport hotel
What I DON’T LIKE
- having to go back through security when I am changing planes (it borders on the ridiculous!)
- waiting on delayed flights
- paying for internet at any hotel! the LAST TIME I will ever stay at a MARRIOTT property (this is 2012! we’ve had free internet all over the world)