Madrid for 3 days

Oh boy, Madrid was wonderful.

We stayed in Madrid from June so 16th to June 21st...although both the 16th and 21st do not count since we had to travel between cities. Plus the 17th, we spend it in Toledo...so we were in Madrid for 3 days 😉

Upon our arrival on the 16th, the first thing we had to do was find FREE parking (paid parking is about 40€ a day). Thankfully, we were able to find a neighborhood about 2 miles out that had free street parking. From there, we Uber into the city center and check in our Airbnb. (Uber ride 5.5€).

Our Airbnb host was not the most communicative type so we were a bit concerned. Thankfully he was there upon our arrival and although check-in instructions were not clear AT ALL, we managed to find it and check in.

In order to stay in the center of the city and not cost us a pretty penny, we were willing to forgo a bit of comfort. So we found this room, on Airbnb, it had relatively good reviews and feedback plus the price in comparison to others nearby was unbeatable. What was not mentioned was the host is a single male artist who has no idea of what cleaning means!!! The place was pretty nasty overall but the location was great and we had a roof over our heads.

Well, we suck it up and made the best of it. Now in terms of Madrid, we did the typical site seeing areas like El Palacio Real, La Plaza Mayor...and its beautiful streets...

But our favorite was "El Parque del Retiro." It's the Central Park version of Madrid. This place was amazing! It used to be a private park just for the Royalty of Spain.  It's now a public park and is absolutely beautiful.   Everything was just perfect, the gardens, the paths, the people, the animals, the scents and it on top of that it has bars and restaurants right in the center!

We loved it so much that we went twice! The 1st visit was in the early afternoon. We brought a Cava with some olives at one of the restaurants and people watched. There were people canoeing, musicians playing, and people from all kinds of different strokes of life walking around. 

This experience was so good that we managed to pick up a wireless internet card and came the next afternoon to work from the park!

The nightlife in Madrid was very fun too.  For us, it mainly consisted of going from Tapas bar to Tapas bar trying their house wine and a tapa or two, then moving on to the next one.  It was a blast, all the wines and tapas were amazing plus very decent prices! 

Madrid was a great experience. Very much "alive" all day and all night, so sleep was at its minimum...

Thanks for reading. 

H & L

Sunday in Toledo

Toledo, Spain was famously known as "the city of three cultures" in the middle ages where Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities lived peacefully. Also, known as the spiritual capital of Spain, this town is located atop a gorge overlooking the Tajo River. Its mazelike streets are enchanting and it takes you back in time. The history of this small town is seen at every turn and curve. It is best discovered on foot by simply getting lost in its maze.

Toledo is where one of the largest Jewish communities in the world existed prior to the Spanish Inquisition.  There are a couple of synagogues that you can visit in the Jewish quarter. Not much to see, but we went.

After a long day of walking and exploring, we decided to stop for a bite to eat at a Tapas place. We had one of the best Tapas so far on the trip. It is called Pisto Manchego and is a traditional Spanish dish composed of sauteed veggies with slice hard egg pieces on top. WHAT FLAVOR! In addition, we ordered a pasta dish and tempura cheese balls with tomato marmalade. Everything was excellent but the Pisto was a winner! For drinks, of course, we had wine! 

After our meal, we stroll for a while longer. Just the mere act of walking in this city is so pleasant. Last, stop before heading back to Madrid was an Arab tea house-bar. We had a Chai and fruity tea. The place is called Teteria Dal Al-Chai and it is decorated with colorful tapestries, cushions, and low tables. It was a nice place to take a break from the heat and recover before our walk back to the car. Since it was Father's Day back home...I figured I'll keep it in theme the pictures of this tea adventure.

We highly recommend a day trip (at least) to Toledo for those that come by Madrid.

The rest this week is in Madrid...so stay tuned! 

Thanks for reading,

L & H

Casas Colgadas - Cuenca, Spain

Goodbye Valencia and hello open road!

As we left Valencia behind with some fond and delicious memories, we decided to make the most of our road trip heading to Madrid on Saturday June 16th.

The roads in Spain are very well-developed and easy to drive. Unlike the first road trip from Barcelona to Valencia, these roads had no toll booths! This made us very happy!

The scenery is breathtaking. Every turn and every curve just makes you want to stop and take a pic. But the more you drive the better it gets! Here are a few scenes, we managed to capture.

So we made it to a little town called Cuenca that is known to have the "casas colgadas" (hanging houses). These houses were built on a cliff and they extend past the edge making them look like they are "hanging." Most are used today for restaurants or museums. The bridge to see them brings you an amazing scenic location that no picture can do it justice. 

This small town of Cuenca is a very pleasant stop where you can spend a few hours strolling and taking in the little city. Parking is free at the top of the hill but the drive there can be challenging since you are driving on small roads on your way up. Getting to the heart of the town is a hike down from the car. Not too bad and very pretty to see. There are a few other attractions like the cathedral and museums of art that can be visited. The heat can be overwhelming midday, so a stop to get some food and drinks is a great way to recoup before hiking back to the car.  There seemed to be some great hiking trails outside of the town, but we didn't have the time to check them out. Maybe next time...

We really enjoyed visiting this tiny town and taking a break from our drive en route to Madrid. 

Thanks for reading!

H & L 

Our time in Valencia...continued

Hi Guys!

Sorry for the lack of blogging but the weekend was kinda crazy! But here we go, where we left off...Valencia continued...

We stayed in Valencia for 3 nights in total and loved every minute of it.

Our two full days, started with us exploring Thursday morning the "Mercado Central". This market is open from 7am to 3pm almost every day. Offers over 1200 colorful stalls where you can shop for meats, cheeses, vegetables, fruits, wines etc. The place is about 8,000 sq. ft., so it takes time to walk and explore all the options. Although many stalls do offer similar items, it is the act of walking and seeing this magnificent display of colors that mesmerizes you.  Watching people buy and sellers prepping their displays to stand out of the crow is a show of its own. Click play to view some images we wanted to share with you from this amazing market:

Next, since our Airbnb was so centrally located, we found a bike rental place and got a pair of bikes for 14€ for 2 bikes for 5 hours. 

We headed towards the beach to check out the famous Playa Malvarosa. The bike ride there was amazing! The whole city of Valencia dedicated bike lanes that makes it super pleasant and very safe. Check it out:

The ride to the beach was about 25 minutes, give or take. The weather was perfect and getting to see Valencia on a bike was a great experience. Not to mention the parks and pathways we crossed. Makes us feel like moving there. 

Once we arrived at the beach strip, we locked our bikes and head in for a stroll. The sand was soft and warm and a brownish color. The beach has wooden paths that lead you down to the water where we sat for a while and took in the view. We decided to test the water after a while of hanging under the sun and WHOA that freaking water was cold!!! So needless to say we just dipped out feet (keep in mind we are used to the bathwater of SFL beaches).

On this beach strip, there are some little cute huts that seem to sever a bite to eat and drinks. So, since the water was way too cold to get in, we decided to check out the closest hut. 

What an awesome little place!!!! It is called "La Mas Bonita" and it offered great wines and snacks. 

We hung here for a few drinks (each 5€) and olives (2.5€), goodness these were GOOD!, before heading back to the Valencia city center where we were staying. But due to this great little adventure, we decided to do it all over again the next day! With the exception that we went beach bar/hut hopping and drinking. 

Our evenings were a mix of paella, tapas, and flamenco! 

On Thursday, we went to CANELA, a restaurant that specialized in tapas. Since we are not seafood eaters, per say, we ordered the Cod and Cauliflower paella with a lemon squeeze on top! The lemon just brought it together to a very tasty dish. This was about 22€ for the paella and 14€ for the wine. 

On Friday, while we watch a bit of the world cup (Spain vs. Portugal), we enjoyed some tapas for dinner (about 15€), plus a drink stop before heading to an amazing Flamenco show. 

Needless to say, Valencia has a place in our hearts. This city has a lot to offer, so come visit!!!

Up next is 2 beautiful towns, so stay tuned! 

Thanks for reading,

H & L 

Oh, Valencia

Day 1 in Valencia. Oh my, what a city.

We began in Valencia the day we arrived at 4pm. After settling in, working and resting, we went for a stroll through these Spanish streets.

The architecture is just breathtaking. You can go from a busy, people everywhere place to all the sudden be down an isolated corridor full of balconies and flowers and not a soul in sight.

The weather is amazing, although is it hot and the sun is out almost until 11pm, the heat is overlooked since there is always a nice cool breeze that refreshes you as you wonder on. In the evening, the temperature drops quite a bit, making it super pleasant to be out an about.

Our first Spanish tapas meal was at a place called Taverna ROJO. Here, we quickly learned about the serving portion and names for both food and drinks.

Local beers come in Caña o Doble. This is basically 4oz or 8oz cups. Prices are super cheap from 1€ for a Caña to 2€ for a Doble. Wines bottles range from 7€ to 15€..again, not the glass. This is for the BOTTLE!!!

But the best is the country's signature drink, SANGRIA, it was only 2,5€ :). So yes, this was my drink. What an amazing freaking sangria!

For tapas, we got Cazuela de provolones which can basically be described as an amazing pizza in a bowl with toasted fresh bread on the side. This was ridiculously amazing...We also got a Tabla de queso y pan, is a sampler of cheeses from the country and a side of fresh bread. Best blue cheese ever!

We truly enjoyed this first meal, super affordable, filing and beyond satisfying.

After returning to work for the evening, we decided to go out for a late night stroll. This city doesn't sleep. Food is available past 11pm and people just hanging out everywhere. Great atmosphere. 

Our first day was short since our "getting here" was quite long! But stay tuned for day 2...there is so much Valencia has to offer!

Thanks for visiting,

H & L

Upon Arrival...

Oh boy, we are so excited to have finally arrived!

The trip here was quite an adventure. As we departed from the US, we had a few hiccups but overall it was ok. It all started with our separate seat assignment. Apparently, AA has a new "process" which seem to have caused seat scattering for most people traveling on this flight. The poor staff at the gate were pulling their hairs trying to accommodate everyone's request. Thankfully, they seem to have managed. 

So, on we went to our seats. After everyone was boarded and the door closed, we realized the row of 4 seats in front of us was EMPTY!!!!! Comfortable sleeping arrangements anyone? 

So, we manage to score a whole 4 seats for us! This is gold when it comes to a long flight!!! Especially considering that we land at 8:50am in Barcelona. Now we can rest with more space and comfort. 

Next was out sleeping pill idea. When taking sleeping pills it is adviced that you only take it once you are out of the gate. The last thing you want is to have to get off the plane and you are all kinds of sleepy!!! So, as we pulled out of the gate, Henry was ready for his pill, he wanted to make sure to get as much sleep as possible. Me, on the other hand, wanted to wait for dinner 😏... To his luck, he took the pill and the PA comes on...pilot saying, "We seem to have a "small"' technical issue but they were going to fix it on the runway...so just a few minutes folks..." 

30 minutes later, Henry out cold, we were headed back to the gate! This small issue took over an hour to fix. Thankfully we didn't get off. That would have SUCKED!!!

So off we went, food was ok but the wine was great! I did get some sleep and were very grateful for the full row! After this long and tiring trip, we finally made it to Spain 🇪🇸!!!

Landing in Barcelona was great. The line in customs, as always, took a while. Our luggage was ready when we were out and on we went to get our super cheap tiny European rental. 

We booked a car from Goldcar which is a very affordable car rental company in Europe. The battle for this cheap price is to reject every add-on they offer you. So we were mentally ready to say NO...Yet, we quickly discover we couldn't rent it!!! 

These rentals are only for either Europeans or people with international licenses. This sucked but we had a backup plan. We went to Alamo, good old American company, and with a few keystrokes voila we got a car...manual, but a CAR never then less! 

Now, we just had to drive 3 and a half hours to our destination! 

The road trip was very beautiful, we go to drive down the coastline and see a lot of green farmland. Plus a quick stop for coffee at L'Ametlla de Mar. A small town full of locals. 

 

Finally, after hours of traveling (by air and land) and 50€ on tolls later,  we made it to Valencia! We went from open spacious highways to "out of a movie" tiny ancient European roads. Next task was finding parking. In the city center, parking is either super expensive or non-existent. So we went to the nearest neighborhood called "Bohemian" and got super lucky with free parking. 

At last, we checked in to our Airbnb, which we liked. Its small but has great wifi, working area, view and only $25 a night! Location wise is at the heart of Valencia and everything is walking distance. So for now, the car will just stay parked...LOL

Sorry for the long post, but it was a LONNNNNNG trip! Hope you enjoyed it. 

Love, 

L & H

Packing.....and thinking ahead

Packing...some people pack months ahead...others, like us, pack just hours before take off...😏

With time and experience, we have learned that the sooner you pack the more unnecessary crap you manage to justify its need for! So we leave the packing to the last minute, where we are normally tired and just want to get it over with before we go to bed and flight out the next day...it seems to work great for us. Now, we are not saying that we don't take unnecessary stuff...we still managed to. But in comparison to when we started traveling, where we used to pre-plan the packing. Pack weeks ahead and repack days before...we definitely have learned how to pack "light".

Now for this trip is tricky!!! Why you may ask...well you see, we are faced with all kinds of activities and adventures ahead. We love to (and want to) explore from the roughest terrain to the most amazing elegant vintage cafe. So, this will require us to prep for things such as formal outings, yoga classes,  sightseeing, outdoor adventure exploring, eating and drinking...oh and did we mentioned we have a whole week of backpacking, hiking and camping through the villages along the Italian coast exploring the breathtaking Cinque Terre!!!!

So yes, rolling luggage is not an option...

With months of pondering, we each came up with the perfect mix of wardrobe that we thought will allow us to dress for the occasion. Yet, putting it together into a hiking backpack...well not what we expected. Here is what we did:

So we began...we separated EVERYTHING that we wanted to take.

Oh, yea and add two pillows (not in the picture)...after much stuffing and reshuffling, we eliminated the smaller backpacks and managed to fit everything on our hiking bags plus 2 small carry-on foldable bags!!!

So, we are very excited about our end result...(finger crossed, we have everything that we need)...LOL

Worst case, we shall go shopping :)

Thanks for reading,

H & L

Off we go!!!...well almost.

Hi Family and Friends!!!!

First of all, THANK YOU for all your help, support, and encouragement as we embarked on this crazy adventure. Without it, this would not be possible. So again THANK YOU!!!

Many have asked for us to keep them posted on the places, things, and adventures...or simply asked for pics!

SOOOOO...Instead of individually sharing with each of you, we decided to put together a TRAVEL BLOG as a central place to keep you updated on our progress and share our daily adventures. We are not writers but we will try to paint a picture with each post :)

This trip is a work-cation, so we will also share lessons learned and tips for those that work remote and want to take on an international workstation.

Please comment and share with us your feedback. We would love to hear from you! And, of course, if you want info on a specific subject, let us know. We will try our best.

So here we go, we are off to start our 65-day journey through Europe. We hope you enjoy our posts, where we will share our food/drinks adventures, work locations, accommodations, and everything we fall in love with!

See you in August, 

H & L