Our last 4 days were spent in Madrid after we dropped our car off. We were relieved that the temperature finally dropped to manageable levels, but demonstrations against the government which became heated, and on one evening violent, meant that we couldn't go out safely in the evening. We still managed to see all the sights we intended but had to split the museum visits over several evenings (free entry after 6pm).... read more

On Tuesday we left Grenada and travelled to Ronda famous for the origins of bullfighting and for its "new" bridge which crosses an amazing chasm. Then we stayed in Algeciras, across the border from Gibraltor where we spent an enjoyable afternoon speaking and hearing English and visiting the barbary apes on the rock.... read more

We started our Spanish leg of our holiday in Bilbao where we left the ferry at 7am on Tuesday morning. The first day we drove to Burgos with a short stop in Vittoria. The bridge there was the site of a battle in 1813. On Wednesday our first stop was Segovia where a huge aqueduct goes straight through the centre of the town, and then on to Avila, famous for its almost complete mediaeval city wall. Thursday we drove to Toledo, another walled city with a gothic cathedral and an alcazar or palace.... read more

The purpose of Greg's trip to Moscow, with his friends Scott and Sam, was for the 200th anniversary of the battle of Borodino (150 km west of Moscow) against Napoleon in 1812. They journeyed to the battlefield on the day and also saw a large scale re-enactment with 3000 people and 200 000 spectators. As part of the celebration they went to a military tattoo in Red Square which finished with a fireworks display over St Basils.... read more

On returning to England we had just over a day in London to see lots of museums. We met up with Greg's friend Scott and the guys started with the Imperial War Museum and the National Army Museum while the girls opted for a later start and a visit to some of the London Harry Potter filming sites. After meeting up we all went to the Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum and Science Museum! The next morning Carol took Greg and Scott to Heathrow airport where they flew to Moscow to meet another friend, Sam, and join a tour around the re-enactment of the 200th anniversary Battle of Borodino. Carol and the girls then head for the Cotswolds and a week of recuperation!... read more