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Europe » Spain » Andalusia » Alhaurin el Grande March 14th 2024

Everything went as planned - apart from getting absolutely drenched in Wales on the 21stFeb on the way to the airport!! Caught the end of the carnival in Mijas on the Sunday ( I always thought they finished 40 days before Easter?!) and did a few walks, including going up to the Castle at Alora and lunch at Kens with all the dogs (Six of them!!) We were leading a walk up the Alhaurin mountain so that was reccyd and then enjoyed by about 20 people and we also went to a few of the European Cricket matches as well where the Scottish Team and supporters all turned up dresses as ‘Vinny’ – the cricket commentator who dresses very flamboyantly!! Unfortunately we are not here for the finals ☹ My sister also came over for a ... read more
Inside the Mezqita
View of the mezqita from the Bell Tower
Me & Tracie doing the quiz around Malaga

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Greater London March 14th 2024

Hope and Irene from Uganda had the opportunity to attend a leadership training for non profit leaders put on by Girls Not Brides in London this winter. Normally this time of year I would visit them in Uganda to check on our work, but since they were in London I thought I would take the opportunity to meet them there. This was the first time both of them had left Africa. It gave us a chance to reconnect as well as review the status of our current loan recipients. England is quite expensive for them compared to home and my first time there so the three of us explored for the first time together. We started with taking in the sites of London. Then we rented a car and headed into the countryside. We stayed in ... read more
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Driving, Riding eBikes & Driving Some More March 13, 14 & 15, 2024 After a great breakfast, we’re checking out of Oberstdorf and beginning our journey towards home. Well, it’s not over yet. However, we’re beginning our trip back towards Frankfurt. So, we make a picnic lunch from all the stuff we haven’t eaten for breakfast and unless we find something better, we’ll eat our picnic lunch. Also, it a good day to be heading toward Frankfurt, it’s raining and will be raining for the next two days. We set our Google Map to Karlsruhe, and off we go. Along the way, I’m surfing the internet for attractions. I find this Kloster that was formed by the St Francis order. You know the guys that wear the cool brown robes with a hood and sandals. I’ve ... read more
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Europe » Spain » Andalusia » Estepona March 12th 2024

Our friends and neighbours Laura and Doug are visiting with us in Estepona and after a couple of cloudy and rainy days, the weather cleared and we were able to enjoy some nice, warm sunshiny days while touring the immediate area before heading out to Cordoba which is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Estepona. The area around Cordoba is one of the largest olive growing regions in Spain and unlike Granada, which sits besides the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Cordoba is nestled in a valley surrounded by acres of olive and almond groves. During the Moor occupation of Andalusia, the city was once its capital before falling to the Conquistador’s. The Mezquita (Mosque in Spanish) is an astonishing structure that was started in the 8th century AD soon after the Muslim conquest of the area. ... read more
Inside prayer room of the Mezquita
The Mihrab
The Catholic Alter

Europe » United Kingdom » England » Kent March 11th 2024

"Beside the noble art of getting things done , there is a noble art of leaving things undone." Lin Yutang The plan had been to visit a different town with different shops and places to see . Ticked the box. Visit a museum - done . See a castle and a cathedral . Both visited . Take in a dockyard and ships and a mighty river . Been there done it worn the T shirt. So what was left - a garden . Not just any old garden but one of the finest in England . That was the order of the day today . Tomorrow would be a stately home . More a stately house owned and lived in by one of the greatest prime ministers of the 20th century. Well that was the plan ... read more
The tower looking from the garden
the tower
The Elizabethan ranges of Sissinghurst

Europe » Germany » Bavaria » Oberstdorf March 11th 2024

Gondolas, Rodelbahns and Ski Bikes March 11 & 12, 2024 We both woke up looking at each other, what time is it. We both slept hard after yesterday. Kirsten fixes breakfast while I’m checking emails and texts we received over night. With today’s technology you can run, but you can’t hide. After breakfast, Kirsten has picked out two mountains with Gondolas we can ride and walk to restaurants. My eyes get as big as silver dollars, and she says it’s ok, it won’t be like yesterday... I promise. So, we’re heading back to the mountain pass, and we drive up this narrow road; up and up we go. Finally, we get to the restaurant, and it’s closed. We get out, walk around and I slip and almost fall on the ice. I bounced like a rubber ... read more
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Europe » United Kingdom » England » Kent » Chatham March 9th 2024

Chat Ham /Chath Am - we pondered on the pronounciation of the town on the Medway. Of course it is Chat Ham we said . But being Welsh the th could be pronounced slightly differently . Did a Man of Kent say it one way and a Kentish man the other ? That was the chat over a large meal in the restaurant attached to the Premier Inn. A meal of fish and chips and a steak and ale pie for me. Sadly no brocolli and I was looking forward to that . A pudding rounded it off . A large glass , scoop of ice cream , Cadburys buttons , lots of cream and a dousing of chocolate sauce . We slept well . For a Premier Inn it was quiet , the bed hard ... read more
a room full of models - all as intricate as this one
Museums full of ships artifacts - memory of sail
Figureheads saved from destruction

Europe » Germany » Bavaria » Oberstdorf March 9th 2024

Heading East to Oberstdorf..... March 9 & 10, 2024 Last night we went to bed not knowing where tomorrow would lead us. As we sat and ate our breakfast, we discussed where do we go, France, Switzerland, Austria or Italy. We checked the Weather and MyRadar apps to see if we could predict where the rain was heading. We decided to head east toward Oberstdorf. this is in the bottom of Germany between Zurich and Innsbruck. This means, we must cut through Switzerland and Austria, along the southern end of the Bodensee. While we finished eating breakfast, Kirsten found us a Gast Haus in Obermaiselstein. Can you say that three times...? Ok, the car is loaded and us Gypsies are on the road. As I’m scouring over Google maps, I find this place called Rhein Falls. ... read more
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Europe » United Kingdom » England » Kent » Rochester March 8th 2024

So when is a city not a city? An old definition of a city was a place with a cathedral . The more modern definition is a place with a sizeable population . Not historical but more around the way our country is growing in population . What were once towns can now be designated a city if the monarch allows it . Our own town Wrexham was moved to city status last year . The largest town in North Wales it more than deserved the honour but it was not well liked by many in the town . Many harked back to the market status of the town . The markets had gone years ago . They harked on about the Wrexham of the past with the shops full . Again long gone. The cry ... read more
The bread oven/embers bin
The Old Bridge
The council chamber

Europe » Germany » Baden-Württemberg » Bodenseekreis March 7th 2024

Cruising around the Bodensee...... March 7 & 8, 2024 Kirsten is up before me, as always. She come in the room making noise to no avail. Finally, she gives me a shove and I come out of bed like something just grabbed me. WHAT!!!!!! Good morning my love, I made you a German breakfast, as she hurries back into the kitchen. I get up and dress, head into the kitchen and yes, awaiting me is the perfect breakfast, rolls, cheese, meats, and soft-boiled eggs. After filling my face, we are out the door heading toward the Bodensee, big lake, where the Rhine River begins. That’s what the WiKi says. Did I mention it’s raining.... Our first stop is Insel Mainau. A botanical island located on the Bodensee, imagine Bok Tower being an island. Kirsten parks and ... read more
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