Subject: Location: Segovia, Espana Our day began early and we decided to walk back to the town center of Segovia, then up, up, up the steps to the many churches and the Alcazar. Segovia's Cathedral was the last gothic church to be built in Spain. The Alcazar, a fairytale castle with gabled roofs and turrets, was first... a castle, then an artillery college, next a prison, and finally today a historic site. We also climbed to the top of the tower, 152 steps, for a neat overview of Segovia. This old town is set high on a rocky spur. One thing [View Full Entry]

---

---

Segovia, Spain Camping "El Acueducto" As we prepared for our drive to Segovia, we decided to take a morning walk. The further south we go the temperature keeps going up, so AM is the time to walk. We drove to the town of Gernika, and I did some good walking while Bob searched for yet more historic sites. The drive to Segovia is 4/5 hours, and as we started toward the main highway, we again became aware of serious bikers taking to the hills with a passion. The bikers claim a lane, going- three abreast on a narrow two lane [View Full Entry]

---

---

Today's adventure started on a public bus to Bilbao from the campground, about one hour. It is a lot less stress not to be driving an RV into the narrow streets of a busy city. After a stop at the tourist info, we were off to the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum. This very modern structure houses a grand collection of Modern and contemporary art. The special show is... Art in the USA 300 years of innovation. We have traveled this far to track US art? Go figure. We tried to get a SIM card so our phone would work here in [View Full Entry]

---

---

We continued our walk around St. Jean Pied de Port in in the AM and it was busy with pilgrims moving out, on their journey. The weather is beginning to warm up some, just a bit foggy in the valley. We decide to move on to Spain, time in the Basque area is time consuming because of the mountains, valleys, and roads, but beautiful countryside. Lots of sheep, the farms are very small along the hillsides. In this region the language is not French but Basque, talk about being baffled. This regional language is a source of pride for the [View Full Entry]

---

---

We are sending this from the coast of Portugal we are near Nazare The Basque Region of France We stopped and walked around Oloron St. Marie, and up, up the steps to see the old church, then on to the UNESCO Notre Dame Cathedral. Lots of Notre Dame Cathedrals in France!! Today we got so miserably lost in the Pyrenees/Basque Country of France, it was stressful. Then we were approached by a herd of cows complete with bells!! What a hoot! We stopped, of course, and laughed our heads off! What's the rush?? This is the 21 century, right? How many [View Full Entry]

---

---

April 21/22 Today was a rainy day and it took seven hours of driving. The day was on and off rain, we enjoyed a book on the iPod as we drove. The Bel Air is a lovely campground and the owner is making great renovations. The thing we enjoyed was having WIFI! It gave us the opportunity to catch up on emails and blogs. Sometimes it is difficult to find internet connection. Our toll on the main highway today was 39.50 E$ that is about 58 US$. One other thing... the fuel... just don't complain about the price of gas [View Full Entry]

---

---

Before leaving the Normandy Beach area, we made a stop at Pointe du Hoch/Ranger Memorial. On June 6, 1944, 225 Rangers scaled the 90 foot cliffs at Pointe du Hoc to neutralize German guns. With grappling hooks and rope ladders the Rangers forged upward even as enemy troops above unleashed a blizzard of fire and grenades upon them. Within a hour 150 survivors of the climb seized their objective. As we walked, the entire area is punctured with deep bomb craters and the remains of the cement German casemates, it created a surreal moonscape experience. Mont St. Michele is our next [View Full Entry]

---

---

Bayeux to Omaha Beach, Normandy As Bob went out for our morning baguette, he discovered a wonderful Saturday market beginning to set up in Bayeux. He also found a Laundromat. So after breakfast we worked on the blog, did laundry and browsed the market place. What a wonderful market! Everything imaginable... fresh veggies, fish, poultry, clothing, shoes, etc. Then we headed for the library and worked on the computer. Eventually we found our way out of town toward the American Memorial and Cemetery at Omaha Beach. What a magnificent and yet sobering place. On June 6, 1944, a massive assault [View Full Entry]

---

---

On we go to Bayeux, it is a bit longer trek than we thought. Arriving at the campground, we discovered the campground will open next week?! Oops! The owner directed us to the public camp area behind St Patrick's church, "the luck of the Irish!" It seems Europe has public camp areas, with water, dump station, recycle area, etc. So here we stay in the center of town for the night... FREE! As we walked around the town, we found a cell phone company to help us activate our phone, we thought we HAD done this in Amiens, France?! On to [View Full Entry]

---

---

Warm baguettes before we leave Paris for Chartres, YUM. Leaving Paris is a bit tricky, but the countryside is welcoming and calming. The campground in Chartres 'Les Bords de L'Eure" is efficient and clean. For Americans, it is necessary to check the bathrooms. Many do not have paper, but they are spotless! Another consideration is the choice a "squat" or a ceramic bowl. Bob was impressed with the fact the office had beer taps. For the RV owners, dumping you tanks can be a challenge. But the camp sites so far have something we have never seen You drive over [View Full Entry]

---

---