We recently decided to take advantage of both being 'between jobs' and head off to Spain for a week of sun and fun. We spent 4 nights in Barcelona and 3 nights in Valencia. Enjoy the photos!
The Gothic Quarter of Barcelona: lots of striking, old, stone buildings and quaint alleyways.
One of the several fruit and vege stalls at a big market off La Rambla (the main street). Lots of yummy tropical fruits and fresh juices as well as butcher stalls with some interesting meats... sheep heads, pigs ears and trotters and big tongues.
The 1992 Barcelona Olympic stadium. We saw Danyon Loader's name on the champions' board at the pool.
View of Barcelona from Montjuic.
Sagrada Familia, Gaudi's cathedral which is still being built.
Barcelona coastline.
Coastal road in Barcelona.
Another Gaudi creation: Parc Guell - heaps of funky mosaics and a nice view of the city.
Parc Guell and the mosaic ceiling of the temple.
More Gaudi: Casa Mila. Looks like something out of the Flintstones.
This city is all about Gaudi architecture really: this is Casa Batllo.
The National Palace, Barcelona.
We took a boatride round the Barcelona coast.
Yummy paella.
Sunset on the port, Barcelona.
Gaudi's house in Parc Guell.
John in the hot Barcelona sun, Parc Guell.
Our first day in Valencia and there was definitely no shortage of wind! We headed to the America's Cup port and looked at the exhibition they have there.
John and Sir Peter Blake, America's Cup exhibit, Valencia.
The lucky girl picked out of the crowd to be this busker's assistant.
A bit out of sync, boat ride in Barcelona.
And again, a bit out of sync, boat ride in Barcelona.
Pretty square in Valencia.
The bullfighting ring in Valencia. John was disappointed there was no bullfight on while we were there. MC was glad.
Ultra-modern space-age buildings in Valencia. This is a science museum.
Palace of Arts in Valencia.
The Team NZ base in Valencia.
The great beach in Valencia.
Relaxing in the sun, Valencia.
This cathedral in Valencia has the only Holy Grail recognised by the Vatican. Don't know about the Holy Grail but we found a great place for lunch round the corner - 3 course meal and bottle of wine for 10 euros each!
City centre, Valencia. We liked Valencia - more laidback and less touristy than Barcelona, plus a fantastic beach. Also stayed in luxury but cheap accommodation: after surfing the net for a bit found a site which advertised top hotels but wouldn't tell you the name until you booked as the hotel didn't want to be associated with such cheap rates! We took a punt and definitely didn't regret it - 4 star hotel for only 10 euros more than our hostel in Barcelona cost.
Pretty alleyway in Valencia.
So back in London now, MC has a new job at the Royal London Hospital (first day today!). It is a maternity leave position so could be for up to a year all going well. She is working in the Production department, will soon have a surgical ward as well being the pharmacist on the hospital nutrition team (ward rounds with dietitians, nurse specialists and nutrition doctors). Quite different work to what she has done previously so will be a good challenge! It is also a bit closer to home (in Whitechapel) so not so far to travel each day.
John is still in temporary unemployment (but loving it...). MC is jealous so hopefully he will have to start work again soon! He is playing baddy and soccer and is enjoying being back into that.
Was fun to see MC's dad again in London before he travelled home to NZ, we went to one of our local pubs and tried mushy peas.
Have a few more trips lined up - we want to go to the Christmas markets in Germany (either Dresden or Nuremberg, can't decide which one yet) and also to a Leeds football game in ...Leeds (for MC's Dad). Also still have to decide where to spend Xmas and New Year (maybe Scotland?).
That's about all the news for now
Love MC and John
To work up a Christmas lunch appetite, we went for a walk up Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano which has good views of the city. As usual, John insisted we take a 'shortcut' on the way down as he preferred to scramble down the rocks rather than take the pathway. It wasn't till he got down to the bottom that he noticed the stairs to the right of the photo and stood laughing watching MC struggling down the cliff-face!
Holyrood Palace (where the Queen stays when she's in town) from Arthur's Seat.
John getting into the festive spirit. We had Christmas dinner in a cosy pub on the Royal Mile.
It's Oor Wullie! (That's for Jonny...)
Bahaha. At the Royal Museum.
Stirling Castle. Pretty impressive castle an hour or two out of Edinburgh, and the scene of lots of Scottish history (Robert the Bruce and William Wallace etc) which we learnt all about!
John attempting to climb up Arthur's Seat.
And again.
The view of Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat.
John on top of Arthur's Seat.
The bonny bonny banks of Loch Lomond.
Loch Lomond
Aberfoyle, a sleepy wee town out of Edinburgh.
Dramatic cliffs below Stirling Castle.
John and the walls of Stirling Castle.
View of Edinburgh from another cool castle - Edinburgh Castle.
MC and Edinburgh Castle, sitting on another extinct volcano.
St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile (series of ancient streets which lead from The Palace of Holyroodhouse to the castle).
John and Loch Lomond.
Loch Lomond.
Festive Edinburgh by night. Ferris wheel and ice skating surrounded by a Christmas Market.
The Broons! Was funny as MC was regaling John with stories of reading the Broons and Oor Wullie comics at Grandma and Grandpa's house, and then the next day we saw them in all the bookshops!
John on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle, where they hold the military tattoo.
View of Edinburgh from the castle.
More views of Edinburgh from the castle.
John looking out onto Princes St and the Winter Wonderland they set up at Christmas time. We had fun seeing all the street names that are the same as in Dunedin (Princes, Great King, George, Dundas, Forth, Albany, Moray Place, the list goes on...)
Gluhwein at the Christmas Market. MC was disappointed not to be able to make it back to Germany for the Christmas Markets, but happily we found a little Scottish replica here.
Those funny wooden German men that smoke incense.
John and the Christmas carnival.
MC in front of the gothic Scott monument.
