09/06/09- Bought my ticket to go to Europe again. This time I am concentrating on Spain with a stop over in Southern France. I am meeting a good friend of mine, Ivette, who is already in Europe. My length of stay will be from Sept 14th to Sept 30th.
09/14/09- Woke up extremely early to catch my shuttle to the airport. I arrived at LAX around 6:20am for my 10am flight. Customs was nothing to go through. I was very surprised. I arrived in Atlanta for my layover without a problem and continued onto Madrid from there. I was checked very thoroughly before boarding the next flight by the TSA. Apparently my sunglasses gave me away as a drug smuggler.I did meet a person on the first leg of the flight that was also going to Madrid. We ended up talking on the next flight about meeting up sometime while we were there.
09/15/09- Wow, 9 hours later and finally got in to Madrid. You would think I would be used to this by now with my other trips. Thankfully the flight was very smooth. I arrived around 9:30am and grabbed my luggage. I waited 2 hours before Ivette’s plane arrived from Rome, which came on time. We soon boarded the metro and found ourselves on Gran Via street looking for our hostel (Hostal San Martin), which we found with no problem. So far everything is going very smoothly.
We throw our things in the room and head straight out to view the city. This is my second time here in Madrid so I know my way around a bit. We begin by walking around Puerto del Sol and Plaza Mayor areas and ate lunch. We then headed back to the hotel to catch up on some sleep. I was very jet lagged.
09/16/09- Began our day hunting for a good pastry place. Spain is very famous for their pastries and the last time I was here I went to an awesome place. We checked 3 different places and finally found one that we liked. We loaded up- which I ordered completely in Spanish. Okay, okay all I said was “me gustaria… uhhh… this one”. Hey, it worked. We then ventured off to the west side of Madrid.
I saw the changing of the guards at the Palacio Real and saw the Temple Depod. We also got a hold of Joana, the person I met on the plane and was going to meet up with her later.
We found her hotel and all ventured onto this museum that features Picasso paintings. Very nice place. We then met up with some of Joana’s friends for drinks. I was still very tired but stayed up until around 1am I think. We also met up with two girls visiting from Germany at the bar and told them of our plans to train to Toledo Spain the following morning. All 5 of us decided to go together and spend the day. Hey, when in Europe- go with the flow.
09/17/09- Got to sleep in a bit and Ivette and I met Joana and the two German girls to board the Toledo train around 12pm. It was actually raining this morning and a bit cold. Although the train itself was very comfortable. It only lasted 30 minutes.
We get to Toledo and immediately are faced with the choice of taking a bus for 10 Euros each. We all decide to walk not realizing that it is about a 30 minute walk to the actually city. No biggie. Even in the rain we had our umbrellas. We finally get to the city and find a good sit down place to eat. Afterwards we venture back out and find the rain has stopped and the sun has come out. Finally, picture taking time for me.
We walked, and walked and bought souvenirs and walked some more. Overall it was a very nice, relaxing day. We took the 7pm train back to Madrid and ended up meeting people for tapas and drinks again that night. It was funny because the person that was to pick us up at Joana’s hotel only had room for a few people (not all 5 of us) so 3 of the girls including Ivette went with him for the first round. This did not settle well with me since I did not know him at all. Eventually he came back about 20 minutes later to pick Joana and I up as well. This time there were many more people that came along. Some people from San Francisco and Ireland along with more people from Madrid. It was crazy but fun none of the less. What does that mean none of the less anyhow? I hear people saying it and I always wondered. Anyhow, Ivette and I had a very early morning train to Sevilla but we stayed up until 2am. Hope we make our train.
09/18/09- Well we missed the train and the station stated there were no refunds. What a bunch of crap. And another ticket would cost us over $100 each. We spent over an hour trying to talk with the representative there for some resolution with nothing gained. Screw that we are taking the bus. Bad part is we didn’t have a place to stay at all. We luckily found a hostel close by for cheap and decided we will take the bus tomorrow to Sevilla. There is a party tonight with everyone anyway and we all went out for drinks and dancing until 5am, so it wasn’t a total loss. Ivette did have her jacket and sunglasses stolen from the dance club though. We did find that the bus was only $20 each, so that helps.
09/19/09- Okay, this is not a day I want to remember ever again. Got up this morning ready to take the bus to Sevilla, but first we walked around Madrid a bit and got something to eat. By the time we were done with our food I looked down to the ground and saw my camera bag missing. WTF!!!!I was around a pillar in the corner of a restaurant, how in the F can someone grab my bag like that, especially without anyone noticing. I was livid. I mean PISSED!!!!! I mean this was my professional camera with an expensive lens and back up camera. Everything I had regarding photography was in there. Over $2 thousand worth.
Needless to say we decided to skip Sevilla completely and take the bus straight to Granada. But first we went to the airport to see about switching our flights. I mean without a camera I was in a tight spot. I didn’t want to spend double for a new camera and I had 11 more days before flying back. Unfortunately Delta was closed and I had to come back in the morning to speak to someone. Well, it looks like yet 1 more day to spend in Madrid. Man, all I want to do is leave this damn city now. All I keep thinking is if I never missed the train the day before then I would still have my camera. I guess things happen for a reason and I’ll find out what that is later. Right now, it is time to get drunk. Ivette and I met our friends and partied all night at a gay bar. That’s right. I’ve never been but I didn’t care. I wanted to drink dammit.
09/20/09- We partied until 4am and made our way back to Joana’s hotel who was holding our bags. How nice of them. Unfortunately we couldn’t stay long and with zero sleep we made our way by metro to the airport. Problem is the metro didn’t open up until 6am, so we stayed right by until they did.Ivette caught some sleep at the airport while I ran around like a chicken trying to find out what I can do. I was offered $1000 to be able to fly back tomorrow to LAX, which I did not want to spend. I was also told I could leave from Nice France, which was my original departure city for only $250. Problem was getting there fast.
Finally around 5pm I had everything settled. I decided to still go to Granada since I already had prepaid plane tickets from there to Barcelona on the 22nd. I also decided to leave from Nice to LAX on Sept 25th instead of Sept 30th. This way I can still see Granada, Barcelona and Nice for at least a day each. Any more than that and I would be bumming about not being able to take pictures. At first they said it would only be a $250 change but when I actually called to make the change they bumped it to $320 due to the weekend rate. I protested and they said just inform them when I arrive at the airport in Nice and pay there.
We left the airport by metro and headed straight to the bus station. Our bus was not due to leave until around 11:30pm so we had plenty of time to kill. Ivette slept but I still couldn’t at all. I was livid, wired and physically tired. Finally though I am leaving Madrid.
09/21/09- We arrive in Granada around 4:30am. I was actually able to get some uncomfortable sleep for a few hours but not much. I can’t believe I just spent the last 2 days partying until 4-5am and not having a place to sleep at all. The station was still closed and we didn’t have a place set to stay that day either. Instead of waiting until 8am for the tourist info desk to open we decided to just take our chances and take a taxi to town. Not before reaching around the info desk for a free map. Hey, you’re not here to greet me, then tough. The taxi cost 8 Euros and it took us to a hotel in town. Unfortunately they did not have any vacancies but the place around the corner did. We booked a night for cheap and asked if it was possible to get in early since it was around 7am and we needed sleep. The guy first said no, but after realizing we were going to hang out in the lobby until we could check in he whispered us to come over and gave us the room key. Sweet!We get to the room and Ivette crashes immediately. I on the other hand start looking for my envelope of Euros I had in which I took out to pay the cabbie. I tore my suit case apart and could not find it. I soon realized that I must have dropped it in the cab. OMG, what else can happen? No wait, don’t say that- I swear I didn’t mean it.
I added up the total and figured I lost about 90 Euros (or $150) in that envelope. I had the hotel call the cab company to report it hoping the cabbie was nice enough to return it. I know it was a lost cause but doing something was better than nothing. I went back to my hotel room and was ready to throw the biggest tantrum ever. Instead I decide to cleanse my ora as much as possible. I changed my clothes that I wore since my camera was stolen, took a shower, put on a new cross I bought back in Toledo onto my necklace (which was a jewish cross so I thought I may have been punished for not putting it on sooner for some reason) and finally got some sleep. I woke up a few hours later determined to change my way of thinking and finish off these next few days on a high note. (By the way... this is the only pic of me that I have in Granada) Go on, laugh it up a bit.
We trek around Granada by foot, get some food from the market (pastry and apples) and continue on with my free map to the sites. It did indeed turn out to be a very nice day. Our legs were extremely tired though with all the walking. I also saw the best sunset I’ve seen in days, but without my camera I couldn’t really enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
09/22/09- One week into the trip and so much has happened already as you have read. Our flight to Barcelona doesn’t leave until around 9pm so we are going to go around Granada some more and hope to enjoy another crazy free day.After roaming around a bit we made it back to the hotel and waited for about 2 hours before we needed to take the bus to the airport. At the bus stop we ran into someone who was also flying to Barcelona. She is originally from Japan but met her now husband in Los Angeles before moving to Barcelona a year ago. She said her husband is picking her up and would be happy to take us to our hotel to save us the taxi fare. Things look to be finally turning around for the better.
09/23/09- I only have a few hours in Barcelona to spend before my evening flight to Nice so I will have to make it count. We stayed the previous night near the airport and we are going to go to the city center to find Ivette’s hostel she will be staying at the next few days. Today is where we will part ways as she will be staying in Barcelona a few more days before finishing her trip in Germany.We get on the train and take it 20 minutes to the center. Once there I realize I left the address at the hotel with my luggage (which they are holding for me). Determined not to have another mishap I quickly call the hotel and get the receptionist to grab my backpack and read me the address. It was tough since he didn’t know English very well, but it worked. Saved me a trip back.
We get her checked in and begin walking around. We stop at a place to eat which advertised a 3 course meal for only 7.95 Euros. The food was good and the dessert flan was awesome, but they didn’t tell me that a coke cost 5 Euros. Guess that is where they make their money. We walked around the city and the beach area for a few more hours.
We part ways around 4:30pm at the central train station. But before going back I decide to go to the police station to report my camera that was stolen in Madrid 4 days earlier. I found out that I could claim the loss with my renter’s insurance but I will need a police report as evidence. It took over an hour and a half but I got through it with my copy of the report and then went straight to the hotel to pick up my bags. I had to take a taxi from the hotel to the airport since time was getting close now and it cost me over 25 Euros. But the police report was worth it. Hopefully everything works out okay.
The flight was easy and I got into Nice around 11:30pm. Walked across the street to my hotel (Premiere Classe Nice) and crashed.
09/24/09- My last full day in Europe. I leave the hotel and grab a bus to the city center. It took about an hour with all of the stops but finally I make it there. Immediately I am off and going. I find a crepe place that had an awesome fruit fais crepe for very cheap. Did I tell you I love France.I walked around the touristy areas of town and went to several shops looking for a jacket. I was going to buy one in Madrid before my camera was stolen so I decided to save the money. But now I really didn’t want to leave empty handed. I find a shop and buy a hat and a t-shirt (hey at least it is something) and was directed to go to the old Nice by the beach. As I walk by the beach I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was so nice outside in Nice- that’s weird to type, and found that the beach was totally topless. And the best part was they were actually good looking people there. My first topless beach and me without a swimsuit. Oh well, next time. Because there definitely will be a next time here. I love it in Nice. The first place in Europe that I could actually call home.
I ate a slice of the best pizza and headed back to the hotel. I didn’t have a reservation for that night because I didn’t want to spend the money quite frankly, but the hotel let me stay in their lobby. I had free internet as well. They didn’t know I was staying the whole night. They just assumed I missed my flight and I was waiting on a call from the airport.
09/25/09- I tried to get some sleep last night in the hotel lobby but was unable to afraid they would kick me out. I did leave around 6am that morning and walked across the street to the terminal. I went in expecting to fight to only pay the $250 change fee as I stated earlier. First in line there was a guy there checking my passport and asking if I packed my luggage. He then noticed that my flight was scheduled for the 30th. I told him that I phoned in to get an earlier flight and that everything was taken care of already by phone. He was about to send me to the customer relations counter but sent me straight to the ticket counter instead. The lady never asked me to pay. I get my tickets and go straight to the terminal.As I am waiting for my flight I swore I heard my name over the PA system. But it was in French so I just ignored it. I was hoping that it wasn’t about me having to pay still. Sure enough though I was able to bored the flight without a problem. I almost felt like I was smuggling something because I was waiting for someone to stop me from boarding.
I made it to NYC as a layover and waiting a few hours before my 2nd leg to LAX. The flights again were very smooth and I made it back by 8pm that evening. My wife of course was there to pick me up. Traffic was a bitch for some reason on the 405 but we made up for the time “catching up”.
END OF BLOG
