Planning might have made this
portion of our trip more efficient, but we have had a great time. Once again, making friends and good weather a
priority, we decided to forgo more time in England where it was pouring and
cold and head to Spain. We decided to
fly to Malaga, where 10 days later we would meet our friends, Kevin and Cindy
Garrison. We took a very early morning
flight from Gatwick to Malaga. (Mark was
convinced that we would be the only people at the airport at 4:30AM and was
shocked when we encountered countless other sleepy individuals.) We arrived there around 9:30AM and after much
confusion picked up our rental car and headed up the Spanish coast.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBkyK_AjO7qD1EKj3lP92ZG31G9dJRf56BQDpuxHbUSSEVi5jlem4wqMls4-VtSy1LYe_RqkbthdhD8quW1cNqF_CynFNr27BwBZQm0gGUnjClQ01YIwKj2JWI9_zjz8RZ-EEcLRyfJR3g/s400/Alicante+2.jpg) |
Alicante, Spain |
Our first stop was Alicante,
a lovely beachside community where Amy hopes to live this coming fall while
attending the University there. It will
be my turn to be jealous should her plans work out. Alicante is an ideal town, with a lovely old
theatre, lots of cafes, shopping, the beach and friendly people. It has a curious hill right by the beach that
we didn’t have time to climb. However,
in our short time there we did manage to get around quite a bit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpx35DWhA4aDo7ighXsKE_d12jXyb6NllaQIjY1lsMDwizUg4vyM785QTx60BJZRWcN-V2unzdPlB7iDcyl9CQBkUYRme-Ash4rFf0zyrUEWcH6xY6mCQHugmDY7WafSWCEQVhB2vsSWkO/s400/Monserrat.jpg) |
Monserrat |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKF42v4oBeOyuRrETGGWytL2DOIU3m8OH9rIoMwMAHo14v6dwWJOeBh8l5MqLYGcMmfwIVMmFfRrwltc-FFDRJn66B2FOfGYBRZR8HXo-wJXDIPtKknZbxhkhUTZuIBmgMSdF40F9paHo/s200/Monstrol.jpg) |
Monstrol |
The next day it was north toward Andorra, one of the smallest countries in Europe. We didn’t make it all the way there but spent the night in a lovely town called Monstrol, just outside Monserrat. I had heard of Monserrat but always thought it was in France. Although we saw the monastery from the distance, I kick myself for not taking the time to go and visit it. Hopefully there will be another time.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7c1Y6AGgdei0IZKY4Ty4agLMRs02R_jNTwT5wh3n4k2aN-qAITNbZJ6IO1IFGgKq-YjYTvPB4olhmltHX_4hWoQ4Pyhsstw1gVdjiumKoWqvxr3KXmmb7Yz7WrMLXYrtcSCvqCKSxRUp0/s400/Monserrat2.JPG) |
Monserrat in the bright sunshine |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4IST5-QK9tcoWtL0WkkvepnbpztnKz8-Q013Gg4JhhR5COVRYktij-b5NxWGNWhWfsuWCNWPrfRJFz3mu8Ic3UFdmVyXHcTpIkILSD2Wg23ht5w2e5Q1fzn5loy5ononypvlfR3WGAQc/s400/Monserrat3.JPG) |
Monserrat Monastery |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZf2pdEz8RLooefdDMFUyzRKCTDTBsfgJOXgyQC6ocTrPtkL1eGXKrdyKPvxxHIRz6dTdPeHYiS31C3kJ7hnr4Vh8njy_FcGITEQd2dRHE5U9UGhJt5OdHX5wlZLn51309CKNtui1Sbgu/s320/Solsones.JPG) |
Solsones |
We loved Monstrol and Solsones, another Catalunya town we visited on our
way to Andorra.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNrG0Otu64F-JaMNPqmwz9gVhx8FhMlZA5cD7rLUF-4DlbtR-LXoxcnxbri-fkfgQxSbF8B_7DakDVykgCgcx5X_qQE7Eo7YNIOHTRcrx5GUiJvEIWWfRxDoMgT7M0g1peyHdzeUC07zP/s320/dam+Spain-Andorra+boarder.JPG) |
Dam on the way from Spain to Andorra |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFp1g2FCzN6cQG_axIn-sJwR0Z-OyM1YMFfG1nJaeMHaBh8uMj6On_rf-cdrtaa4d8yHTGFlzEGCRUQQZ_A3vFJO-YgNiQvD6Vj6Ap7svEuNP6jSbK6tbDFDCHHwzmjqn6DM0GupOJl1BT/s320/boarder+lake.JPG) |
Mountain lake near Spanish-Andorra boarder |
Andorra is a small country
tucked between Spain and France in the Pyrenees mountains. It is extremely mountainous and consists of a
few valleys cutting through the hills with numerous ski chalets.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmyPIbjU0Q0BGr3AcMLn_E2ry89sopRQtlJilpXQERzHxZgDx62FGqt07dlnpr9g1It1IH3MJbXK_DtUDZ2ClDhoZgziS3paoeGu6BWY_1ed65sNh7_G_cB5qVzMguXMUpdwbSWJcsXAU/s320/Spain+and+Andorra+flags.JPG) |
The flags of Spain and Andorra |
Andorra also seems to support itself by
offering duty free shopping. We had lunch,
a bit of a walk, a pastry and bought a postcard and stamp that we mailed before
we headed out the other side to France.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWzhfOCKq8S6GfAtJF8L0HoQWO6mVYHPPyRknQMO5eas69FJk44U9X_K7eFPG858Hg7axiNSmSPabubMzOW6xfcd3QzdC3QjLKeYY8jn_tnt_NPxoKfNle50_VIPnNgWav11JHHFWpugL/s320/Andorra.JPG) |
Andorra mountains |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xzxpRAJag1NRA_VbQoLycR3Z0nNUz_Bw8FBOdhZ0qfLTeXwnumqpgIkw-ngnZE0Xil-aDHKZ2Ym43BY8D2ML2bDQhXmQlaZfDuaqUCJPkZpfIUgiuE0OI-uYZNgHrJhBFLDjZziy0eHO/s320/Carol,+Mark+french+waterfall.jpg) |
Through Andorra, now in France where the weather is looking better |
Attracted by what looked like
a shortcut on our map, I directed Mark to take a local French road through Col
du Chioula (altitude 1430m) rather than the highway to Carcassonne. The views of the Pyrenees were amazing; the
road was windy, steep and anything but user friendly. (As I write this we are now flying over the
Pyrenees---white capped, rugged and seemingly untouched up here at 30,000 feet.
Mark asked me to mention that he is happy he is not driving there now!)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7bpQNdDHIuDmUCJcS_gQ7YrVC03oIFxXEhyN5MbYXb4S_fubnigUZbcAdAiBKV5lJ3jKHlrygU7_Lt7u62Sk2u4fHdqCSHgn3PZodMjCTIOQ5G7NVTVJKS_vNo004JcWG_avpg6zhlXD/s320/Carcassonne+at+night.jpg) |
Carcassonne |
We reached our destination:
Carcassonne around 7:30 on 29 April. We
were a little stressed since the B&B we had booked said that the innkeeper
was only there until 7PM. Having left
Andorra before 4PM, we thought we had plenty of time to get Carcassonne—that
was before we headed off on the local French road. Happily we found the B&B without too much
trouble, the innkeeper was there, and Mark was relieved to park the car knowing
he had two days without driving.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihTAboNrEhZ0Tacq95ZCIvcKQ8AP5ONkXh54B7N1pWGXPt9JE-T8agkgAmY3tEqb26zmqojFwgXQXVmhj5_lNo7C0Nqrs9aWcV4piwB-Dh2am1MC-TZuIluIctkLRLI1hzmnU43L-9jtwF/s320/Carcassonne+at+night2.jpg) |
Carcassonne |
Old Carcassonne castle at
night is exquisite. We left behind the
bad weather we experienced in Andorra earlier in the day and enjoyed Carcassonne
bathed in moonlight. The following
morning we returned to explore the old town in earnest. Unfortunately, the bad weather had returned,
but we made the most of our time in Carcassonne and loved every minute of
it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rlJz4o-C5UYG1mtBEgH6HMA7wWwtkEVdfAIfZ5QGwSEFNV547kT1q2plAEjZGg0MSXG2MTXvv1ssb_rM0IYiNRp95GwWuCwpqMJcFTZ7W8VK6rTHvrE63ZF5BV5Y8sVumlQV51z1dzQa/s320/Dad+Tshirt+Carcassonne.JPG) |
This is SO true. Mom and Dad are spending your inheritance. |
We had two lovely meals at
Restaurant La Trivalou, just down the road from our lodging (Les Florentines, the first night and Cote Cite, the second). One of the highlights of traveling is meeting
interesting travelers: we met a lovely
couple our first night at La Trivalou from Devon, England—Jan and Stuart. On the second night we met another fun couple,
this time ironically from Issaquah—Theresa and Don. Our only regret was missing our rendezvous
with Linda and Andy Redfern who we had hoped to catch up with in Carcassonne.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LuuRqSiEKesjgOrIXLR7HiYJTza_MQbxRWlOhqyCTXfmfh2hDIoLCcpGARO-rD-wIJozoa7t3sx08zbM3n78Lt546f1pzu7jQFFhgGcSlKrdWTbs3xceh6WdK4H13FnCFhhV6uEL2IMP/s320/The+Lot.JPG) |
Lot, France |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_ayqz3epax0yex1Y5sYZkaZy-NXbzXVAvX7F3oCrO7ZkzQz9Hi1uLra_abjtBZQtcnnDsShyDLeEs_BsG88HCObq2qYxzY_l1GLEb_B4h5lbtLkBq057AKmjq77pHaUY08CK4PO5zIvY/s320/Clarice+the+mule.JPG) |
Clarice the mule who lives down the road from Monique and Denis |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMXtXnvyKv0UNYHPQ9cPOqNhHmHxCwW9JlVWpWyBK8NWJc1Z170M9heLpL0Nt0cmwEYk3SSb3_Y7PbWBKRXXF06KN-osFm5y0_SIq9Kd3q7oaOG00kYzat1DEY9yd62YPiGxb5ruF1npl8/s320/Monique+as+I+remember+her.JPG) |
Monique beautiful then and now |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFEuKmH_w14otG-vc4OePAO9rSOdxNB8HutWK8FCLW0605rwhdWePMiBGWqRKk_-6T4oh8Il_1UR6Ywo1JDmNuE653tJuyb-3Zul0T53AlB18udenBf6itKMILtIavmoWkj6wArqEa4yS/s320/Denis+in+the+kitchen.jpg) |
Denis, gourmet chef |
After two days in
Carcassonne, we continued 4 hours North to the Lot to spend four days with
Monique and Denis. Monique has known me
since I was a child; I love her dearly.
I marvel at how much we have in common.
As always our visit with her and Denis was far too short. Denis is a great chef and kept our bellies
full while Monique made sure we were entertained.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroJVGAi4B2uCEuvjUs8xmcD6U-HEeM0quWJplHDJUUqTtMs-R4OyLskXuL9ssPIPku9bYMt17ESvQpk4G2Fi9Fjp0jY70NYXAaXOuSjt1YelYHt8lT-9kYVrYoJubSkZr5nd6sLF3uZEX/s320/View+from+Monique's+backyard.JPG) |
View from Monique's backyard |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCBcykUYwndU3LJzb58_LJ6RKI8rzxbxazUNj_xIsBRmHiZ63x_CA_Szi1EbCrdKGZpcdb1yPjkYHsXN9B5pIlWIlDuAuKvuNjMNMh8cjaQR7460GvFpa0QWx227InRV5vGagPuoDO0T8j/s320/Abstract+photo.JPG) |
Southern France abstract |
But it was soon time to hit
the road again so we could be back in Malaga to meet Kevin and Cindy Garrison,
friends from Issaquah on Sunday evening, 6 May. Early Friday morning, we bid Monique and Denis farewell and headed
toward San Sebastian, Spain. I wanted to
take a quick peek at Northern Spain and I am so glad we did. It is absolutely lovely. We took a quick detour into St Jean de Luz,
France and a little hike to the beach nearby.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNmQsCw5YLxt2IR9exrK4tnrjaDOee27kMisuT3gQrP0F2s1Fr4v6LR_MkWmq521H-rDV1umhxz9R3Gvz14MNvYQmi1C-khmFup8KgZRd5JQhrzLojzkiXeZqHIZut4AQD_VqQ6DpCdac/s320/St.+Jean+de+Luz+beach.JPG) |
Near St. Jean de Luz, France |
We actually bypassed San Sebastian and settled just down the road in
Zarautz, Spain for the night. It is a
small beach town with a quaint downtown and a marvelous stretch of relatively
deserted beachfront. We made the most of
our short stay there with an evening and morning walk on the beach.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsaon8vM9PolIwFXA_I3PGHkH1iMJpZTXRIIlA6hnFJo3K_m3E9pD1M3n8UGjqYbULDKGlccfIpQVrZi7_kz2_flJ4LiCUK-y8lB9QnkcyDcdl3_pPZjE10bQ7t0Bt70V0_yBuSXJwzMP0/s320/Zarautz.JPG) |
View from the beach in Zarautz, Spain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32jaYszentJMWkd2X7BJaFGK5AZzOqxovQywF32lsm1wPX8QKKLjgaaOUe3bUIdxID8d6irCcQ451Ic6IBwimjBTv5TcLEPankyE4Yeqih-2hJpwRDmvD6CdKdKXHgdIOKdmLgYNjMlUk/s320/Zarautz2.JPG) |
Zarautz beach in the morning |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ARIuhOzCVlnOFfWcodpRWH0uH69R2QUvs2ODegEv_sV3EXh51KlFOo52y0OiLxS9A4tSJdR3lFEu7uZALsepy29sHVChGuBtveUL1BA2Gh7FdHSG2H_qqwgNJqM-voG_O5cJwGuBMFDE/s320/Cordoba+patio3.jpg) |
Cordoba patio |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-SsA_3M5513YCbXPr4CUYis0HroR3U5LOYESkCu0EH2QGd_TzAY4PGd0Q7Gd1AMIQo_74_OnmLmb7x015mFDiS4VNjzBdN_J3XrMiXJ5NEfPxMP6qGsT1ulYgEzVNv1Yya1SRh6HWNg_/s320/Cordoba+Meq.jpg) |
Cordoba Mezquita |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWoFqIA_0QfQgHXWquohWQFSL6gZIjuRn9r5wf5m8cqaYVU2oCwoeMhDKORPKgmG-Xxau8hDGMJ4XNn92UE2Wm9s4mFjUo9oV-yNtiSugfRSktLROV-aGC4qj810hwbNOFh-1E3m6yGcyZ/s320/CordobaMe.jpg) |
Captivating architecture |
We made it to Malaga on Sunday evening to join Kevin and Cindy for a week. We stayed at a Crown Resort condo in Calahonda, about 30 km south of Malaga. We made the most of our Southern Spain time with visits to the picturesque town of Nerja (on the coast 25 km north of Malaga), a day in Cordoba, one in Granada, one in Gibraltar and one in Ronda, as well as the Pileta Caves.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIG1yyPLuWJS6PYcwW_alwsSGDqZbaymnngzw48BltRq0-D3-9bDsG-TUEoNz9D_jSgzvD-sOpJ0uvypjye2gdxcxeDHpXd8RLmzlFf61cOu4moUIYS-bjM5E5rm8ZE5ocCgmwVb1fMfvM/s400/Alhambra1.jpg) |
Alhambra summer palace |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQW9A7fy_cdWzio2ZK1XNTisa6xLskZuqfkaLWkXFAhL6l2pKsivartPqkcnzOPZ9JALWhSgMTZCoeS5fIe2dXj1cR-eq2udl2Nq_RtD106_EKMyMcMEStr98M07U37TjglOOafRi1jx8I/s320/Alhambra+garden.jpg) |
Alhambra garden |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSebI4JLTDhlCbq5FWZ2ffp8jxEEfRSjISHYaibEIhG_Xv8hxkZ5Rd7IguW9lKImzgRWQZq2HxXXZVLGBobN-h7S67bS9-F5Zjm7dkcSYUcp5uDsk1gJ8jr7fQaUb7AE-lQReI3_chSa3/s320/Alhambra+2.jpg) |
Alhambra's Moorish artwork |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhojU_qxSiBB4x9b9_RbXQBwVsHOeoI6Peq3EHFRAteP54MQySllF7GH8pwL195cilcwSC4dWG9YOCyNFCHKLlMFPrCz7tC5ShW-qym3raqC69PiLKdbVJayNhWl2dIRCznt3DOVBzchihG/s320/Jan+and+Steve.JPG) |
Steve and Jan: A Melbourne coupe we met in Granada |
Hi! Great blog post - I am interested in using one of your images for the website I work for. Please contact me so we can discuss. Thanks, Tara
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