We rode our bikes to town today to the weekly oudoor market. You could buy almost anything you need there. I bought a new dress and we found lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and some great roasted chicken and sausages. Then the next stop was up the hill to check out the castle. You cannot go inside the castle because someone lives there. But you can walk around the streets of the ancient town which are enclosed by the city walls. People live in the buildings within the walls. As we wandered around the narrow streets it is fun to imagine what it would be like to live there. After trying out one of the local treats, gelatto (Italian ice cream) it was time to go home and enjoy all the great stuff we bought ... read more

We have arrived at Castiglione della Pescaia, Italy- It is a small beach community on the Mediterranean Sea in the region of Tuscany. This is our first home exchange on the trip. Wow! what a place. We may just stay here for the whole two weeks and forget doing any sight seeing. This place is amazing. It is a beachfront community in the countryside with pine trees galore. Each property owner also has their own space on the beach. Most of the spaces are covered cabanas. And there are very few people around. It is our idea of paradise! The town of Castiglione della Pescaia is a small fishing village with a long wide beach promenade. There are pizza restaurants everywhere you look! The marina looks interesting and there is a castle on the hill overlooking ... read more

We arrived in the town of Vinaros by train. Jerry's first train ride. Trains in Europe are fast, efficient, and a great way to travel. Once we got settled in our seats came the thought, "how will we know when to get off?!" After we got that figured out we relaxed and enjoyed the ride. Vinaros is a large, seaside town halfway between Valencia and Barcelona. It is primarily a fishing area and has a very nice port and marina. And the beaches here are very nice as well. We stayed for three days and enjoyed pretending we were a part of this town. We were amazed at the culture in Spain and it was quite obvious in this smaller town. In the morning the streets, markets, and plazas(of which there are lots) are full of ... read more

Our stay in Seville has come to an end. The weather has been hot -90 to 93. We understand now why they have siestas. It is just too hot in the middle of the day. Seville is a great city and we hope to come back some day. There is a sweet fragrance in the air coming from the orange trees. The narrow cobblestone streets, the ornate architecture, the cultural sights, the ringing bells every hour, the food, the people all blend together to make this city special. This is a city that has much to offer. It seems to get into your system and we hate to leave. But it is time to move on. Tomorrow --Valencia!... read more

Another amazing day. The first stop after arriving at our hotel in Seville was to get tickets to a bullfight. We were in luck. There was an event that night and still available tickets in the shade. So our first day in Seville was planned. Before the fights began we wondered around marveling at the sights and deciding what we wanted to see and do while in town for the next three days. Clearly not enough time in this ancient city. We are staying in the old town where the streets are incredibly narrow. There are town squares everywhere and old buildings all around. After a late lunch it was time for the bullfights. Luckily Jerry had noticed that people were dressed up so we put on our nice clothes and we were off. Nice clothes ... read more