Start of Summer 2006 - Spain

First stop during the summer holidays

Pamplona, Spain for the San Fermin Festival "Running of the Bulls"- July 5th - 8th

What a wild 3 days - Camping with the Fanatics in Pamplona. The festival was massive. I flew from London to Bilbao, Spain on July 5th getting aiport transfers to the Pamplona Campsite "Ezcaba". I was not prepared for camping. No sleeping bag or Mat!!! Bec gave me her Lilo to sleep on - What a friend!!!!Travelling light was the idea and I thought it would be much hotter at night than it was. I froze for 3 nights but the alcohol, late nights and early mornings made it a little easier to cope. Met Bec, Bel, James and Ernie at the Campsite. Murph and Co were also there, however Murph didn´t make it back to the campsite for the first 2 nights - Massive!!!!

The first day of the festival began at 12 noon. The whole town were dressed in traditional gear - White and Red for the whole festival. The first day had everything. I have never seen so many people in one place. Everything was thrown around the town and on our lovely white kits - Sangria, eggs, flour, champagne and shaving cream were thrown just to name a few. I even saw people diving from a 4 metre high statue, putting their faith in the arms of the crowd. A few smashed noses and other injuries were had.

The Running of the bulls began the next day beginning at 8am every morning. The campsites were up at around 5.30am to get into town & ready, either booking a spot in the bull ring arena, or getting to the start of the run!!!!

I booked a spot in the bull ring arena. Great seats. This was so exciting, there was music and mexican waves before it began. I had adrenalin pumping just wathcing everyone scramble!!!

After the morning run, people kept drinking and partying long into the evening and at night the Bull fights were on.

It was such a life time experience and memories that I will never forget!

San Sebastian- 'Donostia' (Basque Country)

July 9th - 12th

Loved San Sebastian - Such a Gorgeous city. Said to be one of the world's most beautiful urban beaches and they weren´t lying!!!!

Trendy seasides, Clean streets, friendly people, great Tapas, Basque cuisine, wine & awesome beaches.

Travelled from Pamplona to San Sebastian with Bel and James. Met Bec and Ernie here. Ernie is from Argentina, so speaks spanish and also now lives in Spain depending on the season. His sister is from San Sebastian. He found us great accomodation in Gros, took us to the best Tapas bars and beaches, and above all translated for us to make it very easy to communicate. Watched the world cup final here, sun baked, swam and sampled many great wines and tapas.

Went to many beaches: Playa de La Concha -famous for it´s perfectly sea shell shape, awesome soft sand and calm waters sheltered by two moutians on either side (Monte Igeldo & Monte Urgull)); Playa de la Zurrioloa -smaller beach with more waves for the surfers. Here I watched Bob Dylan perform a free concert on this beach the night I left for Barcelona. Went to a beach in Getaria -Just out of San Sebastian. Great views, small and secluded. Said to be the winery region.

Last day I toured around, hiked up Monte Urgull, seeing great views over the bay. A lot of history here, with low castle walls and a statue of Christ on the top, which can be seen from anywhere in the city.

Had an awesome few days here and then departed for Barcelona on the overnight train.

Barcelona - July 13th-16th

Arrived in Barcelona alone and checked into Hostel Centre Ramblas where I stayed for 3 nights. Just off the famous La Ramblas street where all the action happens around the clock. Was a little quieter here travelling alone, but meet some great people in the hostel and around the town. Barcelona sits right on the Mediterranean so swimming in the water was a highlight. I just floated - it was so clean and refreshing. I sun baked, working on my tan. The sand was a dark orange shade with little rocks. Not gorgeous sand like in San Sebastian but I have to say the water was better.

I took a tour of Barcelona with Bus Turistic. Here I got an overall feel of the city and hopped on and off when I felt like it. Saw the Olympic Village, Barcelona Football Club, went shopping at Placa Catalunya and also on the street named Ave Diagonal "Francesc Macia". It is an exclusive shopping strip that runs for 10 miles!!!! Barcelona is famous for it´s Modern Archtercture - Thanks to Gaudi´s works of art. Went and saw his famous Catherdral - Gaudi´s dream - "La Sagrada Familla". This is the only Cathedral in the world still under construction and I don´t think it will be finished in a hurry! Walked around Gaudi´s park - "Park Guell", just amazing, so unique and detailed!!!! Went into La Pedrera - Displaying some of Gaudi´s exhibitions in the builiding he built and toured around the period apartment he designed and roof top - modern for it´s day. Walked around Gothic Quarter & El Raval. Ate Seafood Paella, walked around the port, drank Sangria and just strolled La Ramblas getting entertained by all the buskers and acts along the way.

On the beach photo if you look close enough you may see many topless women. It´s all the go on the Mediterranian. Also included Gaudi´s apartment building, me in Park Guell, La Ramblas and Placa Catalunya.

I´m now about to catch the overnight train to Madrid, where I will fly to Milan tomorrow night.

Will post again soon. Adios!!!!!

Madrid - July 16th - 17th

Caught the overnight train from Barcelona to Madrid, thinking I will be flying out of Madrid that night for Milan.... Little did I realise until the train arrived in Madrid that it was Sunday the 16th, not Monday the 17th. I had no accomodation booked and no idea where to head. I found an internet, got the address of the Cat´s Hostel which has been rated one of the top 10 in the world and headed there. I was lucky to get a bed for the night but had to wait til 12pm for check in.

To fill in time I went to the city's main Market "El Rastro" which was huge, but didn´t take my back pack. The guy running the hostel said don´t take anything - they will cut it off you. Got a little scared and paranoid. Any person that ran past I was ready to do kung-fu too!!! I eventually relaxed, checked in, showered and headed for a day of sightseeing. Madrid is a nice, clean city full of trendy cafes, tapa´s bars, parks and gardens. It´s also got lovely historic buildings, monuments, many museums, fountains and flash hotels.

I´m not usually a museum person, however it´s Sunday and they are free Sunday´s so I went and had a look. Went to view Picasso amoung many other talents at the National Museum of Art "Reina Sofia", went to the "Del Prado" museum which also featured Picasso and then went to the Museum "Thyssen Bornemizsa" where I saw Monet and many others. I am glad I went and I really appreciatted their work, detail, inspiration and the history behind their peices.

After the museums I went to the Royal Botanical gardens ´Jardin Botanico´, walked around for a while, grabbed some food and headed back to the hostel. It is an awesome, clean and trendy hostel that I would recommend to anyone travelling to Madrid. Great people here also. Very Sociable.

Madrid is a great place and the weather has been unreal - over 30 degrees everyday! So although seeing the city was good, i´d rather be by the water.