Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2015 10:20:10 -0700
Reply-To: thewestyman <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: thewestyman <zolo@FOXINTERNET.NET>
Subject: Re: camped at the edge in Spain
In-Reply-To: <20150605035023.3DDLJ.102381.imail@fed1rmwml304>
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Mark,
Unless you have urgent business to rush back to the Americas for, I would
say to stay in Spain and drive on the coast to Portugal visiting the major
places on the way. My advice is to use Rick Steves book of "Europe through
the back door" that would take you places where the crowds don't go and get
to know Europe the way only a few would, without the push and shove of the
millions of Asian and American tourists all over, standing in line for
visiting some place.
But yes, Spain is taking time to see and taste well. If you miss Andalusia,
Seville, Barcelona, or the Daly Museum, and especially the Daly Museum that
she would love the most on the whole European trip ever, then you missed
life.
The world best Flamenco dancers in Seville is a must in life to see once,
beside to look all the usual churches and cathedrals and romantic places, or
even a once in life bull fight there in the historical arena where only a
few tourist go.
The Daly Museum is on the other side of Spain, just North of Barcelona,
which is a really beautiful town of the World, is in Figueras where he was
born. You don't have to stand in that long line, go the office there and
ask for a tour guide and they will include you in a small group with an
English speaking guide that would tell you all the most interesting facts
about Daly's life and walk you in the center of that small town near the
museum and then you would be led into the museum without standing in line at
all. Just a small trick from Rick Steves book.
But yes, Italy is wonderful, only there are major long lines for every nice
place in the heat of summer. Few places to park the van and almost no way
to avoid to have it broken into, unless you leave it in the camp and take a
bus and be on you own all day in town without having the an as an escape or
lay down to rest. A good trip is best out of season when the schools are
still going and the young with their parents are not there. Right now, it
might still be for a week or two out of season there.
Either way, enjoy whatever you are doing and decide to visit. There is just
too much for a short time to see. Enjoy each other's company in a different
world and time, where you are originally from and really belong to. Only
it's not practical to live there for you anymore probably.
I could write several pages but I will stop now. Its enough.
Zoltan
-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Drillock
Sent: Friday, June 05, 2015 12:50 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: camped at the edge in Spain
We crossed a short distance into Spain near San Sebastian. This part of the
coast is rocky and mountainous since the Pyrenees end right at the Atlantic.
Nestled between the shear hills are quaint little densely built towns with
sandy beaches. The camping we have found is up high, overlooking the
beautiful shoreline. The views are fantastic. There are lots of people
camping here from all over Europe. Various hightop T3 vans are parked around
us, as well as many more Eurovan T4 vans and campers. When we stopped
outside one camp to check it out an aircooled 82 Westy stopped to talk to us
on their way in. In it was a young couple from Holland, who had rented the
Westy back home for 3 weeks and then made a beeline for Spain in just 2
days. They had racing bikes on the back and planned to spend their time
cycling and hiking in the mountains.
This part of Spain is Basque country and many signs are in that language,
very odd looking compared to French or Spanish. The food is great and things
in general are cheaper here than France.
Anne wants to just taste Spain and then head back north into France to get
over to the other side to start Italy. The way the countryside is looking I
think I'd rather stay in Spain and keep heading south but that may have to
be another trip someday.
Mark and Anne
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