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Published: June 23rd 2006
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Tuesday afternoon we arrived in Spain entering from the northeast corner from France and stopping at Bilbao. Had some trouble finding the campground since Spain is under construction and new roads replaced what the GPS said. Finally found it on a high hill overlooking the ocean. Beautiful view. Immediately headed into town to see the Guggenheim Museum. For you super museum buffers, we will disappoint you. We primarily wanted to see the exterior of the building with its modernistic style and fish scale type covering. Quite a sight sitting on the river directly across from old world style buildings and numberous new blocky apartment buildings. It is an amazing structure. We didn´t go in since neither of us are too into modern art which is its forte. We walked along the river to the old town, wandered among the shops, had some truly bad and NOT authentic paella and some very good tapas. Headed back to camp to see the nightly soccer match.
On Wednesday we woke up to rain to decided to head for Madrid rather than visit the beach as first planned. Stopped for lunch at a truck stop near Burgos and at noon in a busy parking lot our RV was broken into and our computer and inverter stolen. Obviously done by professionals. They didn´t even get into the van to look for anything else which is the good news. David´s Got Milk backpack was on the floor so it made a convenient carrying case for the computer. We will watch for that distinct backpack for the rest of the trip. The bad news is that we no longer have the GPS and now have to travel the old fashioned way. The good news is that we had everything of value on us and they didn´t damage the RV in the process.
We continued on to Madrid and found a campground after much effort (about an hour and a half of searching). Had nothing to do with the lack of GPS, but with all the new road construction the directions in the guidebook no longer applied. Finally got settled and completed this trying day with a bottle of wine and another soccer match.
News tidbits or tapas about Europe.
France and Germany very lush and green. Soft would be a good word to describe. They reminded us both of Missouri, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Spain more rugged and moutainous in what we have seen so far. Reminded me of the plains and rocky hills of central Montana or northern Colorado.
In sourthern France at the resort town of Mimizan de Plage they have dog dishes at the bars so people with dogs can get water for their pet while they wet their whistles.
There is an amazing array of baby strollers and buggies. Everyone walks so all have these.
A key fashion statement for the men - in Europe they wear beachcombers everywhere. Haven´t been able to talk David into a pair yet but still trying.
Have been having my mocha each morning, but since our refrigerator space is limited I have purchased a 6 pack of UHT milk. For the dairy folks, cows are everywhere and the variety of cheese is huge. Have had more milk, cheese and yogurt in the last month than in the last year I think.
Here is an investment tip. Buy toilet brushes. Every stall in every restroom WC in Europe has a brush. Could make a fortune. All the facilities in public areas and campgrounds have been immaculate. Sometimes have to pay to use, but very clean. More so than public ones in US.
Nothing standardized in Europe. All campgrounds list several types of power hookups. We have 2 small tanks of propane with us. Used the first one quicker than average due to cold weather when we first arrived. Are now on our second tank and using very sparingly because our connectors are German and they don´t use those in France. In Spain they don´t use propane, only butane. We are learning to be very conserative.
Having a great time. The people are all friendly and seeing the different topography, architecture, and cultures is interesting and enlightening.
One last note I alsmost forgot. Everyone or almost everyone in Spain lives in a high-rise (8 to 10 stories) apartment. When you get close to a town of any size it is an unending view of these buildings.
Adios til we write again.
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