http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Hilda/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Hilda en-us Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:27:14 +0000 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:27:14 +0000 Hello Subscribers to the H H BlogContrary to popular belief we have not fallen off the end of the earth Wersquove been at home for 12 weeks and it has been like having a full time job. By the end of our first week at home I had handed my notice in to the Children Young Peoplersquos Service. I think that we had both decided by the end of 2007 that going back into in to the bungalow g http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/Kent/Canterbury/blog-323966.html Ola Bo DudJust to let you know that wersquore well restored and recovered from our misfortune in Barcelona. Howard now has a soft material wallet on a long cord which can be hung and tucked into the most interesting places beware all pickpockets you could get more than you bargained for So trussed and tucked we made our way back to Barcelona.Over this year of travel we have become conn http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-282503.html Ola Bo DudSo here we are at Vilanova Park this is the biggest camp site that we have ever visited complete with log cabins static caravans indoor and 2 outdoor pools and a small very smelly zoo. Our parcella is huge and we have a wonderful view over Vilanova and down to the sea. The town of Vilanova is uninspirational and bland being only 25 miles from Barcelona and having an excellen http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-282502.html Ola Bo DudSomeone turned the thermostat up in Spain we are currently getting temperatures in the mid 30c and the sun is extremely hot. Itrsquos been far too hot for driving about in the car and site seeing so wersquove been awaiting a little cloud cover before setting out.Guadalest was top of our list for a visit. This is a historical town perched on one of the highest points of the Cost http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Valencian-Community/Benidorm/blog-276247.html Dear Bo DudWhat a surprise the Costa Blanca has been to us a few days in Benidorm has turned into a couple of weeks which in turn is probably going to become a month Our situation is glorious we are almost in a basin surrounded by the glorious Serra de Aitana. The camp site is much bigger than our usual choice the facilities are superb and the parcela is hedge marked huge and full http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Valencian-Community/Benidorm/blog-272193.html Ola Bo DudI forgot to tell you about something strange that I spotted en route to Fortuna. We left the motorway just after Murcia and immediately the scenery changed from being urbanized to rural countryside. Standing in the middle of nowhere was a young woman low top and short skirt revealing more than enough of her body and with knee high black high heeled boots. As I was supposed to b http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Region-of-Murcia/Cartagena/blog-266741.html Ola Bo Dud Semana Santa my Spanglish is coming along nicely We decided that we would have a quiet Easter not too much excitement and certainly no chocolate the eating and drinking are far outweighing the exercise at the moment. The Spanish holiday starts Thursday so the camp site was filling up for most of the day. Good Friday and the place was buzzing so we decided to have an outing http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Region-of-Murcia/blog-264022.html Ola Bo DudI never thought that we would be sad that winter is over. As we know from experience it is difficult to get any sort of travel insurance for more than 68 months at a time did you know that Howard and I are on a lsquogaprsquo year and we have a policy that is intended to cover students so Torre del Mar is emptying of the pensionistas heading back to the UK.It took us the best http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Region-of-Murcia/blog-261994.html Ola Bo DudlsquoThe time has come the Walrus said to speak of many thingsrsquo and wersquove been doing a bit of debating between ourselves about moving on. There is an air of change in Torre del Mar the paseo has a workforce of its own completing a new childrenrsquos playground cleaning and sweeping the beach trimming the trees and flower beds. The chiringuitos open air bars ar http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/blog-258075.html Ola Bo DudWersquove been experiencing a bit of weather here of late strong winds and rain. Yesterday was just like being in the UK drizzle all day we only ventured out for a few bits from the supermarket. Itrsquos been a good time for doing a bit of a spring clean of the caravan. Under the bed has become our lsquoloftrsquo and wersquove been storing all sorts under there since w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/blog-249969.html Dear Bo DudWhere the time has gone since you returned home I have no idea. We have been so lucky with the weather it has been glorious with sunshine all day every day. We have been told that this is very unusual and that we are experiencing an extraordinarily good winter. This morning we needed to go out and lsquodorsquo a big shop all the heavy and bulky stuff. Itrsquos been so n http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/blog-245221.html Dear Bo DudHow wonderful it was to have you come to visit over the New Year. I hope that you enjoyed your stay with us as much as we enjoyed you being here.Getting here on New Yearrsquos Eve was brilliant and Irsquom pleased that you were able to join in the festivities and the Spanish traditions. The red underwear is worn to bring good luck I hope that our fellow campers will appreciat http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/blog-240327.html Ola Bo DudThank you so much for forwarding our Tax Disc it has arrived safely. What a time wersquove had without it. In France and Portugal not having a tax disc in date does not seem to be too much of a problem we thought that the same applied to Spain how many times have I said to you ldquonever make assumptionsrdquo We never gave it a second thought knowing that the new Tax D http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/blog-229079.html Camping Torre del Mar Parcela 103 Paseo Maritimo Torre Del Mar MALAGA Espana C.P 29740 Ola Bo DudWelcome back after your holiday in the Maldives I hope to be receiving an email from you complete with photographs and a day by day diary.We arrived in Torre del Mar on Sunday 4th wersquod been looking forward to this day for some time. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/blog-223963.html Ola Bo DudAnother action packed week. Last Sunday we moved just to the north of Cadiz on a site at El Puerto de Santa Maria. This is within the Sherry triangle so guess what a visit to the winery of Tio Pepe owned by Gonzalez Byass. Sherry is something that Irsquove only ever used in cooking and itrsquos usually been something like Harveyrsquos Bristol Cream not really my tipple. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/blog-220148.html Ola Bo DudWersquore back in Spain and staying just outside of a most unusual town El Rocio. We were told about lsquohorse townrsquo but the description didnrsquot do it justice. Wersquove just never seen anything like it and never imagined that such a place could exist outside a 1950rsquos Wild West film. All the houses bars and shops have hitching posts outside for horses. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/blog-220146.html Bom Dia Bo DudHow we love Portugal 4 hours travelling south from Evora and wersquore at the seaside again. Before we set out on our Great Adventure we bought a comprehensive map of Europe and asked family friends and colleagues to write on postitnotes places we should not miss and stick them in the book. We didnrsquot fancy the lsquotouristyrsquo bit of the Algarve and a note http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Algarve/blog-216594.html Hello AgainWersquove been so very lucky with the weather so far but this week has been almost too much to hope for. Wersquove travelled inland about 100 miles and the temperature has gone up several degrees. The site we are staying on is within walking distance of Evora but it really is too hot to walk fortunately there are plenty of places to park free of charge just outside with cit http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Alentejo/-vora/blog-213408.html Bom Dia Bo DudThought we needed a midweek update so much is happening at the moment. Donrsquot know if I mentioned but this weekend has been a Bank Holiday. We were told about a festival that was lsquonot to be missedrsquo. The village of Vila Franca de Xira lies just outside Lisbon on the north bank of the Tagus River the village is known for being one of the prime places for bull http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Lisbon/blog-212308.html Bom Dia Bo Dud Apart from obrigado thank you this is the full extent of my Portuguese and Irsquom not sure that the people understand even then what I am saying. Any road up where were we Thank goodness I keep a diary or I think we would have forgotten more than we remember.Before leaving Porto we decided that an outing was in order to follow the route of the Douro River the Douro http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Lisbon-and-Tagus-Valley/Cascais/blog-210123.html