Madrid 15 September 2017

We arose early headed into the city caught the hop on hop off bus route no 1, it was really cold so had to buy ourselves as cardi each. We then did route 2 and had some lunch at a lovely little place and headed back to the hotel.  We had checked out before we went into town and put our luggage into their lock up. We collected our luggage and when it was time we headed over to the station to catch our 5.30 train to Astorga. The scenery in Spain not quite jaw dropping as through Austria and Switzerland. 

We arrived in Astorga at 8.30 not a cab in sight, we had a number to call but he did not understand me.  There was a lovely Spanish lady also needing a cab so she called one he came took her to her hotel and then came back for us, the kindness of strangers.  We booked in our hotel, it was once a Palace, now all restored etc.  It was the residence of the Earl of Tepa, who ordered the construction of this building at the end of the 18^th C, Casa de Tepa has gone through several stages of splendour and decline throughout history, being seriously damaged during the Independence War.  When Napoleon came to Astorga to help French troops in the City’s siege, he stayed at this home after the conquest.  The hotel is called Casa de Tepa.  We were in need of a drink so our lovely chap at the desk suggested a place for us and gave us directions.  We came to the end of the little street and we were not prepared for what we saw.  First there is a building by Gaudi finished in 1915.  It is a fairytale castle, then there is the Cathedral both places floodlit and quite outer worldly.  Ash said I feel like I am in a Disney film, that is exactly how it looked.  We had the most beautiful meal at Serrano Restaurant and then wandered home. This was a day full of surprises, Astorga is indeed a gem. Sabine Sam and Ash  

Madrid 14 September 2017

We headed into Madrid this morning, found somewhere to have brunch, found the square and then pretty much just walked and saw as much as we could, Ash was looking tired so I said lets head back and we can come back tomorrow and do the hop on hop off bus to see what we could not have done on foot.  We went down to the bar in the hotel had a few drinks then some early dinner in readiness for our day Friday.

Madrid 13 September 2017

We took a suburban train to the new Terminal 4 from where we are staying, very good organising on Sam’s part. We were there very quickly it is like a city in itself, very modern and very efficient, we arrived there about 1.00pm and Ash’s flight was not due until 3.10pm so we just took the place in, watched the passing parade had a coffee filled in our time.  Her flight was only 10 mins late landing and she was thru customs by 4.00pm excellent really, she said it was efficient indeed.  I had made a sign with her name on it, she laughed, I needed it.  We made our way back to our hotel she was exhausted so had a good sleep and then we wandered down and had some dinner about 9.30. We then all slept well in readiness for our day in Madrid the next day, lovely to see her lots of laughter.  Sabine Sam and Ash 

Madrid 12 September 2017

One never knows what a day will bring. We awoke this morning I was pretty much packed, showered did the final touches, did not have breakfast, long day travelling today.  We walked from our hotel to the station. It did look quiet but small station. We did have to get our luggage to platform 2 via some stairs anyway all done sitting with anor lass and her two huge dogs she was obviously catching our train too.  This young man comes onto the station he is from the Czech Republic we learn.  He points to the tracks waving no train today I said to him is it a train strike ah yes he understood that, what a lovely boy. It had started the day prior he spent the night in the park because if you do not have a booking in these places the park is the only place for you.  In the meantime anor couple came onto the station we told them as well we had decided to walk back to town and catch a cab to Perpignan, of course we did not know whether it was regional strike or what so took a punt. The did not know what they would do, we said this is what we will do.  We got back to the bridge I sent Sam into a café he came out ten mins later telling me the lovely café owner had called us a cab and it would be ten mins, you know the kindness of strangers.  I went into the café thanked this man he was a delight almost hugged me we get in the cab and then just as we are taking off I see the other couple from the station walking across so got the cabbie to stop wind his window down, saying we need to take them too, meanwhile he does not speak any English, anyway he stops gets their luggage they hop in with us and off we head to Perpignan, peak hour traffic, no idea whether there will be a train or not.  We get there took about half hour it was about 26ks from Collioure we get out the cab this couple were from Seattle and she just put her arms around me said you saved us I said no the young man on the station saved us, I just wanted to make sure you caught your train to Paris if it is running, her husband hugged me as well, we thank the cabbie he almost hugs us too, funny the experiences of travel.  We go in to the station tentatively find our trains on the screen breathe a sigh of relief, I said to this man you need to google David Stratton you are his double but younger, anyway their platform  no came up we said our goodbyes they were off to Paris for five days at the end of their trip. Bit of a stressful morning but we never panic, we were only worried because we were meeting Ash at Madrid airport at 3.15 the next afternoon and had no way to even let her know, she had left by this time, all worked out in the end.  We also met some delightful people in the process.  

Our train was on time 11.17am to Madrid Atocha at 3.50pm. We then took a suburban train to Chamartin where we are staying because of its proximity to heading to the airport then leaving here Friday for Astorga.  We booked in slept for a couple of hours had something to eat and slept until 7.30 this morning (Wednesday).  We have had breakfast just planning a lovely day tomorrow, been tracking Ash’s flight and we will leave shortly to collect her.  It looks like a beautiful day out there.  Take care Sabine and Sam.  I will post my pic of Collioure Station house

Collioure Monday 11 September 2017

Collioure is indeed a gem.  We slept very well last night up reasonably early today to see as much as we could in the time we have.  First of all we took our laundry to the Laundromat we had googled, went for a walk along the waterfront while we waited, what a beautiful place, the town wall is mostly intact. 

This is not only a lovely place but an interesting one as well.  There is a record of the castle at “Castrum Cauocliberi” having been mentioned as early as 673 indicating that the settlement was of strategic and commercial importance.  It was taken by the French 1642 and officially surrendered to France by the 1659 Treaty of Pyrenees. 

In 1793 Collioure was besieged and occupied by Spanish troops marking the last Spanish attempt to take the city.  The blockade was broken a year later by a French General. 

There is a beautiful church Eglise Notre-Dame des-Anges de Collioure  (Our Lady of the Angels) constructed between 1684 and1691.  There are eight chapels with the most beautiful altars, the main altar being probably the most beautiful and ornate I have ever seen and Sam said that is saying something as even he has seen many.  The Chapel of St Vincent has a relic and I have put in a pic of that.  There is also the Chapel of Lourdes. 

We went back to our laundry met a couple from Sandringham funny the people you meet.  The dryer did not work had to bring back my wet washing to our hotel thank heavens I have a balcony (strict instructions in the folder not to hang anything on the balcony) what to do hung some of it on hangers put some on the balcony out of eyesight, anyway it was a good day and it pretty much dried, I have ironed it dry now and packed it away for tomorrow.  One does need to be a girl guide on these journeys. 

We spent the rest of the day seeing as much as we could.  It is a very busy little town, all old baby boomers like ourselves, what would the world do without the baby boomer, I do not think it would turn at all. There would be 100s of kerbside restaurants all full and this is not even official holidaytime.  Every hotel has no vacancy signs, too bad if you came to one of these places without a reservation you would have to sleep in the park. 

We have been out for dinner I am all organised for tomorrow we have a 9.53 local train to Perpignan then a booked train to Madrid arriving at 3.45.  We will then meet Ash at Madrid airport on Wednesday afternoon it will be lovely to see her.  Time for my bed. Sabine and Sam

Collioure Sunday 10 September 2017

Here we are Sunday morning I awoke very early so got started on my day. I went back to bed for a little bit and slept until 6.00am but I was ahead of the game I was already showered etc. Sam had to get organised.  We had our brekky just a small one big day ahead today.  We left the hotel at 8.15am walked to the station lovely morning rain all gone so good start to the day. 

We arrived at the station waited for our platform to go up on the board and made our way to where we needed to be.  Our train started its journey at Ventimiligia today it was a train to Paris Gare De Lyon.  We were the only ones on board our carriage (a booked train today) until we reached Monaco then it took on passengers along the way.  It was a very lovely day today and as the railway line follows the coast it was pretty indeed.  We have used this line before so knew it quite well having alighted at the beach etc. on our last couple of journeys.  There was a lovely dog on board (dogs are permitted on all trains in Europe and the UK and what a good idea) he was funny his owner was having something to eat and she gave him a dentabone type treat he was unimpressed and just dropped it on the floor, Sam and I did laugh when we gave our Chifley his dentabone he would put it under the piano stool we would give him one just to see what he did with it and every time he did the same.  The dogs are so used to travelling they just come on board and sit where they should.  We had left at 9.10am and arrived at Avignon TGV at 12.55pm.  Avignon TGV is a lovely station very State of the Art, it has been added to since we were here six years aso.  We found our platform to go to Avignon Central got on board very space age. Funny they did not check our ticket on the long journey but on this very short one they did. We arrived at Avignon Central most definitely not State of the Art bought something to eat and a coffee and awaited our 3.37pm to Collioure.  Interesting station there is a piano there and whoever wishes can play it, this lovely young man obviously a music student played a Chopin piece just beautiful, anyway this homeless fellow was speaking to this young man and then he sat down and played as well it was beautiful and sad because he was fabulous whatever happened to him I wonder, for him to end up so tragically and he could play beautifully, this lovely young man opened his wallet and gave him some money, humanity hey.  This young man continued to play I did have to go and speak to him he was a delight. It is never the destination is it is always the journey and the people one meets. 

It was time for our platform to go up on the board we hot footed it to the platform as it was a Regional Train, we found a seat stowed our luggage as it was to be a four hour journey to Collioure.  It was the kiddie express all the youngsters all the way along the journey seen off by their parents to uni for the week, Sam and I were the only constants on this journey. We had to hop off at Perpignan and go further up the train to take us to Collioure, which is on the coast about 20 km from the Spanish border.  We had found Collioure in the Good Weekend, they had said it was a pretty seaside town etc. this really was not good enough, after we found our hotel up a hill and we ended up being on the very top floor (he assured us it was the best view and it is) we were the last to arrive for the day, anyway we booked in checked out the pool which is where I intended to spend tomorrow then went down town for dinner, my goodness Good Weekend did not do it justice what a very gorgeous place much to do tomorrow I am afraid.  Poor Sam hoping for a break by the pool. An extremely interesting history and I will embroider on this tomorrow.   We are back in our room I think we will sleep, gracious me anor big day tomorrow but one cannot waste them.  I am very tired now, will post some pics tomorrow.  Sabine and Sam xxx    

Ventimiglia 9 September 2017

Today I am tired the bells are ringing telling me it is 9.00pm.  We have just had dinner down by the beach in Ventimiligia, back at the hotel and I am going to do this before I put my head on the pillow.  I have taken off my dress given it the once over and you know it will do for tomorrow, very long journey tomorrow I am not going to see anyone I will ever see again. 

We left Lugano this morning for the 8.40am train to Milano Centrale. I was very pleased to be going thru Milan Centrale Station because it is absolutely beautiful and and I only saw it quickly on my way to Lake Como about ten days or so ago.  This was a regional train so quite civilized as no bookings required in Switzerland.  Lovely train and gorgeous crossing over the bridge on Lake Lugano into Italy.  This took us an hour and quarter, pretty, but not in the order of the last few days thankfully, it is exhausting trying to take in all that beauty. We arrived in Milano Centrale found a seat amazing really huge amount of people passing thru.  We waited for our platform number to come up because the minute it does a swarm of people go for it, all bookings mind you, we are in Italy now.  Our wagon was no 11 seats 9a and 8a no specific luggage compartment but there are spaces behind the seats, poor Sam this stresses him a bit, I am good at this get our luggage stowed, anor young Chinese couple looking stressed told them where their seat would be and to pop their luggage on top of ours, she was gorgeous said thank you, came and saw me later, it is interesting, we have met lovely young people, but it is funny really, wherever we are I always get asked for directions, anyway mostly I can show them on the map everyone is delightful, says  thank you and off we go. I guess all these things make ones journey. 

We left Milano Central at 11.10am arriving at Verntimiligia at 3.10pm, it was pouring with rain and no shelter on the station and stairs,  anyway we got down had something to eat and a coffee, checked the weather and decided to get a cab to our hotel, he was not too pleased as they do not like to take you if you are close, tough it was wet we ignored his displeasure and he took us, very funny it turned out to be the hotel we stayed at the last time.  We were exhausted had a sleep in between the church bells etc went and had some dinner down by the beach and now in readiness for our big day tomorrow to Collioure in France. I have decided we are intrepid travellers.  Looking forward to seeing Ash on Wednesday in Madrid to start the Camino on next Sunday I think we will sleep for a month when we return.  All the best Sabine and Sam