Wandering Madrid

Sept.20 2010

We love Madrid! It is a beautiful and incredibly vibrant city. People from Barcelona say, ‘why have a museum when you can have a beach?’, but walking through Madrid tonight seemed to generate a party within my tired bones. We went to sleep with a mariachi band singing in Sol after a long night of walking the city. Sol is a massive square that seems to generate the energy for a lingering and late, night life. The photo at the top is a photo of a church that we just happened upon. It still seems unfathomable that a church like this can just be ‘happened upon.’ Madrid is full of wonderful cathedrals and is steeped in all that is Spain.

For those travelling, Madrid is a easy city to find a hotel, or better ‘hostal’. These are typically cheaper hotels that perch themselves on the upper levels of the downtown buildings. Not being large hotels some of the perks may be missing, but they really do put you close to the action. Best thing to do is plan to have some time to walk in the neighbourhood you want to stay and simply check some out till you find one that works. If we go back to Madrid, I think that we will simply try a different neighbourhood to stay in because they are really very different and all seem very lively.

After walking for a few hours we found a tapas bar and had some authentic Spanish salami and bread, some salad. This was an amazing imersion in spanish culture and a great way to gear up because tomorrow we pick up our bikes and then........ THE CAMINO!!

Carry your own @#$@# luggage....inspiration to travel light.

Have you ever wondered what you would do if all you had on earth were the possessions you could carry with you? What would you keep? What would you get rid of? This trip has been a living lesson and our answer.......take less. Enjoy.

Improvising Tent Pegs and Budget Travel

Scotland,Oban

September 10 2010

That’s right, that tent peg is a tooth brush. The other one is a tooth brush holder. We got in at 10pm the night before-walking the nearly 500 meters from the front of the trailer camp to our campsite. Set up in the rain and dark. We keep saying that this has to stop. I suppose we aren’t the only ones who would like to control the weather. As for the set up time, we have realized that most travel and budget travel in particular isn’t geared to children.

EasyJet one of Europe’s biggest discount airlines only travels at off peak times-early mornings and late in the evening. It is for us with 3 kids as hard to think about getting to an airplane at 5am, as it is to think of the wailing it would take to leave on the last plane at 11pm. This is just a reality check to the budget family adventurers. The thing we realized is we would rather take a night train than try to shuffle kids around past bed time. Plan your trips well. You may have to take hit on some connections just for the sake of your sanity.

As for the tent pegs- well I just couldn’t find them in the dark. While Kate went to take kids pee and brush teeth I improvised with the toothbrush holders. It was amazing that the ground was soft enough to place a peg almost 1inch in diameter with very little effort.

Late Late and more Late

This is the theme of our trip from Madrid to Zambia. We nearly missed every flight and every connection. The flight from Madrid to Heathrow was actually forced to sit on the runway till we could haul 3 kids from one end of the airport to the other.....Never fly IBERIA. However, 3 flights, 3 trains, a bus and a car ride and 24hrs later......Ndola airport.

Fortunately we had a bit of reprieve in the Kerr pool. They took us in for the weekend. Now some more humble dwelling at the Transafrica Theological College.

We had an awesome time in Spain biking the hilliest country in Europe. We could not believe how challenging and rewarding it could be....I don't want to give it away, because we will be blogging about it shortly.

After Europe Zambia is a bit of a culture shock. In our first 2 days we were faced with the death of 2 people via Malaria. It is hot....we are dirty, the shower doesn't work, the kids are sleeping in a tent because there are no mosquito nets, but we have already begun building, networking and kate is teaching English. There is a huge crunch to get some plants in the ground here too because there are 3 weeks till it rains.

More to come soon.

R