Grave Fears for Chocolate Moose's Safety.

We currently have grave fears for the safety of our dear friend Chocolate Moose. Last seen in Barcelona about to board the ferry to Rome in the Moose compartment.
He may have been abducted by the Spanish authorities. We have put out a 'Missing Moose" Alert on him.
Reward offered.

You can view a retrospective on him here:
http://europe-kids.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Chocolate%20moose

Silenced for speaking his mind?

Chocolate Moose from Alhambra

We're finally posting this informative clip now that we've left Spain. The Spanish authorities had suppressed CM's freedom of speech by specific command from the King Jean Carlos. Now we're in more liberal Italy the post can be viewed!!

La Alhambra

Today we visited the breathtaking Alhambra palaces and gardens.

The Alhambra (meaning red in Spanish due to the colour of the stone) was originally constructed as a fortress in 889 (the Alcazaba) and later converted to a royal palace in 1333. The Alhambra's Islamic palaces were built for the last Muslim emirs of Spain in the 14th century and followed the consistent theme of 'paradise on earth' with column arcades, fountains and reflecting pools. The Palace of Charles V was built in 1527 and contrasts sharply with the earlier Moorish architecture.

The Nasrid palace was truly amazing with stalactite ceilings, highly decorated stucco walls, marble fountains, geometric tiles and arabesques. There were bathrooms with hot and cold running water and pressurised water for showering.

The older fortress occupies a strategic position at the front of the plateau and has expansive views over Granada.

The palace and gardens of Generalife (Garden of the Architect in Muslim) was the summer palace and country estate of the Nasrid kings and became part of the Alhambra complex in the 1900's.

I cannot find words to describe the beauty of this place, even Chocolate Moose was impressed!! He has a few comments as always... we're on the run from the Andalucian authorities now!! Back to hide out in the mountains!!

Detail of the Nasrid Palace

Courtyard of the Lions

Courtyard in Nasrid palace

View over Alcazaba and Albaicin (district of Granada)

Nasrid palace in background

View from Generalife to Alhambra

Court of la Acequia (Generalife)

Hiking the Sendero Vereda de la Estrella

Found the trail this morning!!!

Did a fabulous hike on part of the well known Vereda de la Estrella trail. It followed a river up towards the snow capped peaks in the Sierra Nevada national park.
Truly magnificent scenery and the wild flowers were beautiful.
Alex and Charlie did very well as we ended up walking over 8.2km and climbed 600 metres!!

Snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada

CM says the purple flowers give him indigestion

Just keep walking!!

Lost in the Sierra Nevada Mountains

Chocolate Moose convinced us to come and hide out in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, near Granada as he's still on the run from the Spanish authorities after his blasphemous comments about the Guggenheim Museum. CM has some long lost relatives who are still trotting in the valleys between the snow capped peaks.

Staying at a fabulous campsite with stunning panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and reservoir below.

Today we had a walk along the river this morning but had trouble finding the trail (lack of signposts)... CM kept trying to convince us that he knew the way.... never listen to a moose!!

This evening we explored the local picturesque village of Guejar Sierra situated at more than 1000m above sea level. Had delicious tapas in a local bar and then were treated to music which the kids joined in with. CM was unimpressed as he thought one of his relatives was draped over a chair.

Looking forward to visiting the Alhambra and Granada!

Canales reservoir, Granada on plain in distance

Our intrepid hikers!!

Playing the bamboo sticks (after a bellyfull of jambon, prawns, chicken soup....)

Baelo Claudia

We came across the Roman City of Baelo Claudia which is located at the village of Bolonia. This is 22 km's outside Tarifa. The city was founded at the end of the second century BC. It became prosperous and one of the principal businesses was the production of garum, a food sauce made of fermented salted fish. This was a favorite of the Romans, who were willing to pay high prices for it. It was also a site for the production of salted Tuna. Its decline was hastened by earthquakes and the town was abandoned in the 6th century. The site shows the streets, the basilica, theater, market, baths, aqueducts and salting factories. 

Basilica

Salting baths

Chocolate Moose in 200BC??

Chocolate Moose has taken refuge in Gibraltar

We've found Chocolate Moose again! He had taken refuge in Gibraltar, on the run from the Spanish authorities who were upset by his comments about the iconic Guggenheim Museum.

Gibraltar is a British overseas territory at the southern tip of Spain at the entrance to the Mediterranean sea and so is of great strategic importance. It has an area of 6.8sq km and is home to 30,000 Gibraltarians. It's sovereignty is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations and in fact there has been an escalation recently over fishing rights. This has resulted in long delays at the border crossing (sometimes up to 3-4 hours). Luckily we avoided this as we parked the car in Spain and went over the border on foot.

Gibraltar from Spain

Cable-car from the top

Panorama from top of rock looking north to spain

Barbary Macaques

Straits of Gibraltar, Africa in the background

Mediterranean Steps

CM is safe and well!

At the top... monkey on the right (!!)

CM took us on a fantastic tour! We took the cable-car to the top of the rock (426m). The views were amazing, over Gibraltar, the harbour, southern coast of Spain and over the straits of Gibraltar to Africa. The Rock is also home to about 230 Barbary macaques, the only wild monkeys found in Europe. CM had been hanging out with these guys so took us to meet them, including some mums with their babies. We then walked down the rock via the Mediterranean steps. These are steps cut into the limestone rock face and were originally created as a means of communication between two major gun batteries (top and bottom). The steps were very steep, narrow and uneven but the views were breathtaking.

Ice-cream cured aching feet at the bottom!!

Guggenheim, Bilbao

The weather has changed!!
Cold and wet and worse to come over the weekend!
Headed to Bilbao along a crazy motorway which was like doing a lap of the Nurburgring.

Arrived in one piece and headed to Frank Gehry's masterpiece. It has been Chocolate Moose's lifelong ambition to go to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao. Since it's opening in 1997 it has become one of the most admired works of contemporary architecture. It's truly an amazing building, both inside and out.
CM was very impressed by the building but felt the collection inside was a bit sparse. I suppose he is spoilt with the fantastic collection at NGV. He gave a very insightful interview which we'll try and upload.

The kids were a bit disappointed that the kids section was tiny, containing a few cushions and 2 Ikea easels and was closed!!!

Took awning down this evening, going to head south to Salamanca then onto Portugal in search of sun!

Dune du pilat, Arcachon, France

Chocolate Moose has been struggling with patchy Internet connections, lost dongles, some dingles (that don't work) and a mislaid cable. So no pics today but will post plenty tomorrow.
Had a good trip south to Arcachon on the Southwest Atlantic coast of France.
Great campsite set in a pine forest (Chocolate's favourite..... Reminds him of home)
Overshadowed by the massive Dune du pilat a humongous sand dune 500m high and 1.2km long. CM found the ascent tricky... The sand kept getting in his hooves but the views from the top over the Arcachon basin were fantastic.

Pic is of Alex in his hidey-hole... Busy reading Artemis Fowl, wants to finish the book before Dad!

Chocolate Moose arrives at Chinon!

Life's been tough for Chocolate Moose. He took a long time to recover from the flight and jet-lag. Then the freezing cold weather in England sent him into hibernation. He was very worried about catching the gastro bug that struck down Charlie and Samantha (poor Bubster was sick for 4 days), so again took to his hidey hole with a tube of alcohol hand wash.

He emerged this afternoon in the sunshine bathing beautiful Chinon. He regaled to us ( with a tear in his eye) that one of his ancestors had lived in the grounds of the chateau many years ago but unfortunately had met a nasty end and his head is now above the fire place in the great hall.

Set up in campsite on the banks of the river Vienne overlooking the chateau at Chinon. Chocolate enjoyed a hearty home cooked meal and is now tucked up in bed!