Geo: 37.1765, -3.59793After checking out, we headed to the train station to catch a noon train to Granada, our last stop on this blitz through Spain. This train was a bit of a milk run to Granada, albeit quite comfortable, with the last segment by bus because the train tracks were under repair.It was a short taxi ride from the train station to our hotel in the old town area of Granada, the Hotel Anacapri. After check-in and dumping our bags in the room, we navigated our way to Plaza Nueva to pick up the city card, Bono Turistico, that we'd purchased online to cover admission to the major sites, including the Alhambra, the Cathedral, and the Royal Chapel.We have an early 8:30 AM entry time to the Nazrid Palace on the Alhambra site tomorrow.Our walking ... read more

Geo: 37.3833, -5.9965Today's entry could be subtitled "Lost in the alleys of old Sevilla." After checking out from our wonderful hotel on the Puerta del Sol, we had an easy cross town subway ride to get to Madrid's Atocha train station. After a pleasant train ride to Sevilla from Madrid (love train travel!), we suddenly found ourselves in a much warmer climate.Caught the bus from the Sevilla train station to a point that we thought would be easy walking distance into the central part of the city and the old historic neighborhood, the Barrio Santa Cruz, where our hotel, the El Rey Moro, was located. As it turned out, it was not so easy.The walk from the bus stop turned into a very long walk when we entered the labyrinth like streets and alleys of the ... read more

Geo: 40.4167, -3.70327Today, we took a self-guided walking tour from Puerta del Sol to take in an old cobblestone city square, Plaza Mayor, a market, a small church, the Town Hall, Madrid's Almudena Cathedral, and a walk-by the Royal Palace.In the afternoon, after securing our train tickets for tomorrow's day trip to Toledo, we took the train and walked out to the Prado Museum, a confusing but well-stocked labyrinth of great European painters, for its free evening admission. A long queue to get in didn't leave us quite enough time to see everything we wanted to see, but works by Velasquez, Greco, and Bosch made it worthwhile.The light (and most enjoyed) moment of that night at the museum occurred at the security check at the entrance, where the museum was confiscating all selfie sticks.Hooray, and kudos ... read more

Geo: 41.3879, 2.16992Awoke (if indeed we ever slept) to any early morning landing at London Heathrow. Rambled through a long series of seemingly random hallways through Customs and baggage security check.Sharon and I were funneled through two separate lines. My process was long, I thought, because of my near strip-down search due to my pacemaker, which can't go through electromagnetic security machines. When I finally reassembled myself, I looked around and Sharon was gone!OK, so I thought Ms. Smartypants left the security area and headed for our next gate without me, figuring I was just being my usual slow me and would just catch up. So, I headed off in search of my travel mate.But she was nowhere to be found. Back and forth for about 20 minutes I searched. A couple of the security guys ... read more

Geo: 44.9332, -123.043Bonjour, family and friends!We slept in our own bed in Salem, Oregon last night, with our dogs Charlie and Onnie by our side. It was the culmination and reward from a 24-hour trek back home that started at 5:30 a.m. Paris time. What sweet sweet sleep. And, thanks to Sharon's industrious burst last night, all the clothes are clean.The trip from Paris to Salem, with flights from Paris to San Francisco (11+ hours) to Portland (another 2 hours), was actually pretty painless except for the obvious posterior targeting and leg cramping. While full, the United CDG-SFO flight was comfortable, clean, sans crying babies and cranky children (off-season travel a joyful perk of retirement), and equipped with a full array of media options.Watched 'The Great Gatsby' (good movie), 'Now You See Me' (REALLY enjoyed that!) ... read more