Two Thousand feet up- visiting Ronda today!

Ronda- an ancient town high up on a plateau on top of a mountain range!  Dizzy drive up to the town.  Windy today- almost blew off the edge!  It was supposed to rain today, but the wind  blew the clouds away.

We spent the day touring Ronda and ate at the Escudor Hotel- the dining establishment that Michelle Obama visited recently!  Visited a shop for cheese and salami treats!

 We visited the haunts of Hemingway and the like.  This was the writer's dream home away from home.  He was close friends with a local, famous matador and stayed here much of the time and wrote some of his most famous works (The Sun Also Rises, For Whom the Bell Tolls).  The view from the famous "New Bridge" of Ronda was worth it- new as compared to the one they were using in the 16th century!  Tomorrow we're off to Seville including Flamenco Dancing and horse dressage exhibition - most of our horses were descendants of Spanish horses.  We'll spend the night in Seville and return to Torremolinos in two days!  Will learn more tomorrow!

Malaga Day Trip

Very busy day today. Great breakfast at hotel got us going!  Short bus ride to Malaga in Cadillac bus. 
Overlooked Malaga surrrounded by lemon trees

Back on the bus to town center:  great treat:  Malaga Bull Fighting Arena- met a young troubador who would be in the next bull fight.  He said his Mom thinks he's crazy.  But he loves to learn the bullfight ballet!

Met Picasso- Malaga is his birthplace and he's everywhere!  Checked out his museum and his influence can be seen in even the architecture!

Tomorrow:  Off to Ronda!

Torremolinas Trip Orientation and FREE day!

This morning, we learned during orientation all the neat trips we want to take over the next 10 days.  Signed up for almost all of them.  Late morning, we roamed the little town of Torremolinos and shopped!  Beautiful Lladro nativity figurines, leather purse and wallet, earrings - and that's just Marcia!   Ellen- 30 Euro curling iron!  We ate a great lunch at a Bodega- crispy eggplant tapas with honey! And Vino Blanco- good house wine so far!  Tonight we eat Chinese with our friends we met on the tour!  Checking out the sea from our balcony- sunbathers and windsurfers- all enjoying this marvelous seaside town.
Tomorrow-touring the town of Malaga.  Weather gorgeous- breezy, 70 degrees and sunny.  No sweat, no pain!  Marcia handled all the steps to the top of the town with only her cane!  What a trooper!

Home Base: Bajondillo Apts- Torremolinos, Spain

What a GREAT apt- everything we need and a great view!

Flying Time- What Day is it?!!

Louisville to Detroit to JFK to Madrid to Malaga.....

Not sure how we did it on little sleep, but it was so worth it!!  Resting in our hotel apartment with an end room overlooking the Mediterranean- we've died and gone to heaven.  Fried our makeup mirror and two converters already, but we're still in a good mood!   Will catch up on more sleep tonight and plan to hit the ground running on Friday the 29th!   

Spain Trip 20 years Ago- and Now

Just an added note- it has been twenty years since Ellen's parents took this same trip to Spain with Grand Circle Tours.  It's so "tried and true" that their accomodations and itinerary are the same.  Ellen's Mom's travel journal tells of early morning side trips, breathtaking views and wonderful food to eat!  (The Sisti's relish good food and enjoy new tastes!)  Ellen will be taking her mother's journal on the trip and making notes in the remaining blank pages- what a great momento!  Attached is photo of Ellen's Dad relaxing at the same apt-hotel we will be staying in!

Preparing for Our Trip- A Two Year Effort!

Marcia and I had this trip planned two years ago- down to the airline tickets in our hand.  We were celebrating Marcia's victorious fight with cancer and this trip to the Sun Coast of Spain was a wonderful treat for us both.  But we didn't figure on the nasty chemo side effects- it swept Marcia off her feet and into the hospital.  Thanks goodness for travel insurance!  With Dr. Ueland's affadavit, we were both let off the hook- total refund of our vacation expenses to be saved for another day. 

Now is the day!!!  For 2010, we have confirmed our itinerary with Grand Circle Tours, paid our deposits and balance, made reservations for accomodations and travel and now we are thinking about what to pack!!  It's finally going to happen!
Trip Schedule:  Marcia's spending the night at Ellen's on Oct 26th.  We depart Louisville at 7:40am to JFK Airport via Detroit on the 27th.  Then we wait for our connection to Spain!  Better waiting for awhile than miss our connection!  We're flying Alberia Airlines to Madrid and then raking a puddle jumper to Malaga.  Arrival time:  10:35am the next day!  Our destination:  the seaside resort of Torremolinos on Spain's popular Costa del Sol- the Spanish Sun Coast. 
Accomodations:  Bajondillo Apartment Hotel.  These lodgings are centrally located on the shore promenade just across the street from the beach.  We have a private balcony overlooking the ocean, full bath and kitchenette. 
Itinerary:  Our base is the Apartment Hotel- from there Grand Circle offers tours and optional side trips:
the picturesque Andalucian villages including a picnic hosted by a Spanish family!  We can choose to go to see the magnificent Alhambra Palace overlooking Granada, wander the ancient town of Ronda, which Hemingway dubbed "the most beautiful place on earth".  We can even take overnight excursions: romantic Seville- the home of flamenco dancing and world famous sherry.  Our most exciting trip will be across the strait of Gilbraltar to exotic Morocco!  We will spend two days there exploring the "kasbahs" and bazaars- and of course, great shopping!  Best of all, we'll learn about the Spanish culture and meet some very interesting people. 
26th more days to go!