Internet on the Move

Some people have asked how we get Internet access while away. It can be very frustrating! Other lentil chomping, sandal wearing friends have said why bother have a break from technology. This is all very well in theory but we use the web to keep in touch, teach the kids on line and as a means of planning the trip.

So here are the methods we have used to connect in the 5 countries we have visited so far.

A UK mobile phone sim in the iPhone. 
This is great for universal access it will roam to any available 3G network and give you access.  Through 02 It costs £2 a day for measly 25 mb. The network also prevents using the iPhone as a personal hotspot. This means you can't connect you're computer via the phone. But it does keep you in touch with limited access.

A Spanish mobile phone sim in the iPhone.
This is a great option. It was 30 euro with 500GB of data. It also allowed a wireless hotspot from the iPhone. It was 15 euro for an extra 1Gb of data. You need to show your passport to get the sim. Also only after purchasing did I realize it allowed Internet sharing. We used Vodaphone and had great coverage virtually everywhere. The staff were also really helpful in the Vodaphone shops.

A 3G USB modem in Italy.
This cost 50 euro with 5 Gb of data included (valid for a month). You again had to show your passport to get this. This was a great option it allowed us to share the Internet connection from our MacBook to our iPads and iPhones. The coverage again with Vodaphone was generally excellent and the speed was typically between 1-2 mbs which is fine for everything.

Wifi in the campsites.
Virtually all the campsites offer Wifi. This sounds good but its virtually always slow and unreliable. Sometimes a minute to load a single webpage (a carrier pigeon would be faster). It is also typically very expensive at around 10 euros for 24 hours access.

Recommendations:
Get a 3g modem and change the sim in each country you stay in.
Keep your UK sim as backup to allow 3g roaming if and when you need it.

Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli

Emperor Hadrian assumed power on 2nd Aug 117AD. He was a highly cultured man, appreciated all forms of art and had a special passion for architecture. He rebuilt London in 122AD after the fire and constructed Hadrian's wall. His private villa was constructed between 118-134 AD and occupied a site of 300 hectares of which only 1/5 is still visible today. The villa complimented the surrounding countryside and was of a scale and refinement not previously seen.

We particularly enjoyed the scale of some of the buildings, the fish and turtles in the water features.

Emperor Hadrian
(born in Spain)

The great Baths in the background

The Canopus

Tarragona, Northern Spain

This post is slightly out of sync as we're still having real problems with internet connectivity.

We've travelled up to Northern Spain, staying in the town of Cambrils (180km south of Barcelona) which has fantastic cycling / running tracks along the foreshore so rented some bikes (see kids blogs for pics) and set off. Did some lovely rides, highlight being going on the tandem... except don't be behind Daddy (?!!) then jumping in the sea for a refreshing dip at the end.

Also visited the nearby city of Tarragona which has some fascinating Roman ruins. The Pont del Diabel which was an aquaduct, 217m long and 29m high. We walked across the top to the other side then down into the gorge. The aquaduct was very poorly signposted and difficult to find and the main freeway to Barcelona had been built right next to it. You can't help but think that more could have been made of this important site.

In the town of Tarragona itself there is the remains of a Roman Circus (chariot racing arena, the Roman equivalent to Formula 1) which was 450m long. There were amazing tunnels under the arena for the gladiators and their entourage to prepare in which the kids loved running around and having their own "chariot races" in. There was also an interesting museum with lots of Roman statues and a large amphitheatre.

Bubster in the tunnel under the Roman Circus

Amphitheatre

Alex's impression

Today we went on a beautiful cycle ride along the water front in Cambrils in Spain. We also went to a Roman Aquaduct near Tarragonna. It was built with out any cement. The stones were cut so precisely  so the stones would stay up. We also went to a Roman Circus, this is where they held chariot races which were like the Grand Prix 2000 years ago. There were cool tunnels under the tracks which we ran in.
I'm really missing all my friends in 3/4C and Jaqui
From Alex!

P.S Can 3/4C Please leave a comment
PP.S Code Time What number is this !#%@$

To Prep D, Love Charlie

Hi Prep D

We went to the Roman Aquaduct. 

This morning we went bike riding and I went on a double-decker bike with Daddy.

Having a brilliant time but missing all my friends in Prep D and Miss Sally.

Love Charlie  xxxx

PS: Please can you leave me a comment! And your name!

Albayzin, Granada

Went into Granada this morning to wander through the streets of the Albayzin district which is on the other side of the gorge opposite the Alhambra. It's the old Moorish district with narrow cobbled streets, white houses and spectacular views over to Alhambra.
Alex and Charlie really enjoyed getting some 'treasures' from the shops, especially having their names written in Arabic.
Had a fabulous meal at the restaurant at our campsite with spectacular views over the reservoir and mountains.

Shops full of 'treasures'

Alhambra with Sierra Nevada mountains in background

Sledging in the Sierra Nevada!!

Went on a drive up into the mountains today, up incredible roads clinging to the sides of the mountains with more hairpin bends than you can shake a stick at.
There were incredible view over the valley and surrounding peaks. We drove up a bit further and who would have thought it but ended up in the snow with a bunch of kids skiing ad sledging. Despite completely inadequate attire (sundresses and crocs) we hired a sledge and off we went! Remarkably good fun despite very cold feet!!

Charlie and Alex 

Panorama looking down over the valley

Mum and Alex get some air!

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....)

Africa

There Stunning Views of Africa from Tarifa. Morocco is just 16 km away across the Straits of Gibraltar. The EC is looking at a bridge or a tunnel but the channel is deep at between 300 to 900 metres and the rock is very hard. Until then you can catch a ferry easily from Tarifa.

Roger looking very happy

Spain in foreground Morocco in Background. Fantastic!!

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??

Salamanca

Set off in hard driving rain this am heading south and onto Portugal. It seems the whole of Spain is covered in dense cloud, it doesn't just rain on the plain.
Drove to Salamanca, parked the caravan at a nice site by the river Tormes and headed into the city for some dinner.
It really is a beautiful city, as the tourist information map says: "Every area, with its columns and its supports, opens up and finds a meaning(???) ..a true outdoors museum"

Headed to Plaza Mayor where a party was going off... The Salamanca regions womens basketball team had won the premiership and were being toasted by the city! It was great fun. (Rog wanted to stay..)

Had pizza and ice-cream for tea and headed home... more hail!!

New cathedral, Salamanca

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!

Alex Say's Hi from Spain

Alex at the beach having a luxury milk shake.

Basque Anchovies

Walked down to the market in Zarautz this morning via the beach.
Found a terrific fishmonger who was very adept with her knife. All the locals were buying fresh anchovies so we thought we should too.

Recipe:

1. Remove backbone and tail and butterfly fish.
2. Lightly dust in seasoned flour.
3. Shallow fry in a hot pan.
4. Eat!!

Fish!

Team work

Proud Chef's 

Donostia San Sebastian

Beautiful day! 30 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.

Explored nearby San Sebastian (20km away). Lovely city in a sheltered bay with a great beach. Reminded us of Barcelona but much cooler and less touristy. Took a mini train ride to see the main sights to save our legs. Then went up the Furuncular to a Hasta la Vista point. It was like going back to the 1950s up there, a dated theme park but (un?)fortunately everything was shut!!! Phew!

Ice cream saved the day.

Picasso Rides Again! 

Donostia San Sebastian

Cable Car Station