A Little Sleepy in Granada

Hola! como estas?

Gemma and I have left Barcelona/Arselona and Tarragona/Shouldn'tagona well behind. Gemma and I decided on the second nicknames when things didn't quite go right (i.e. walking to a museum on a mountain 3 HOT days in a row in Barcelona before getting the right opening hours, and paying exorbitant amounts of euro for laundry in a Tarragona hotel).

And Spain is funny, we caught a train through a town called Peniscola and they have a road called Gran Colon. hahaha, munt

Second day in Granada, slept a little last night after a house party (yes, house party in spain!), where Gemma and I made lots of friends with people from the hostel. I also have met a Perth chick, Liz, who seems pretty cool - good way to meet locals from back home it seems.

Oh yeah, Granada = free tapas. In San Sebastian Aaron and I would spend 20 euros on 6 little tapas, in Granada a huge plate comes free with a 2 euro beer. Go figure. In Valencia we found a bar that has 100 little rolls for 1.20 euro each, or 6 for 6. So cheap, and yummy (prawns in garlic mayonaise, or ham and cheese, or salmon and philadelphia, so many to choose from).

Hmmm having a big night in Valencia, 5 hrs sleep, no sleep the next day and then an all-night bus to Granada = well deserved siesta. Spain is warming up! In a few days I'm heading to Cordoba, which is reputed to have 50 degrees heat. I have 6 days in Cordoba (what am I thinking), so instead cancelling a few days and hitting the coast at the Homeswest settlement of Malaga (ok, not really a Homeswest boganville, but that image still springs to mind).

I managed to get Gemma O and myself to the beach in Valencia, after about 4 attempts. We made it to the beach in Barcelona (only at night), when we got into the water it was brown, about as warm as a normal bath, and no swell to speak of. Since we were already hot and sweaty (38 degrees and humid), it wasn't as refreshing as we hoped, but hey, it is still ocean water! I want the San Sebastian beach again...

So our last night in Valencia was starting off quiet, Gemma and I were on our rooftop terrace having vodka con limon gas (vodka and lemonade for those playing at home), when the reception crew who befriended us (Sue from England, Mike from New Zealand, and Britta from Germany) invited us to mojito bar (shots are 2 euro, strong cocktails 2.50 euro), and then a bar and when that closed at 3.30, another bar until 5. We got home around 5.30, until waking up at 10am to pack bags and check out, but our 8hr-long bus ride to Granada (all trains full) didn't leave until 11pm that night. I was pretty hungover and the day was tough to get through, saw a few DVDs and chatted in the common room.

But now in Granada, which is awesome, its pretty hot still but dry heat so you can stay cooler for longer. We are also situated on a street thats like covered in Islamic stuff (shisha and that special tea they have), and it smells really exotic and just cool. Granada is agreeable. But haven't made it to Alhambra yet (the massive castle complex about 5 minutes walk away) - apparently its pretty busy, and seems to be the main thing to see and do here, so lots of tourists there but apparently awesome.

One guy (Chris from Melbourne) from last nights party is still drunk (its about 1pm here at the moment), and Gemma walked him back from the house to the hostel this morning - he hasn't slept yet. Although I was up on the terrace where he was sleeping and he just randomly got up and stumbled around, and collapsed on me looking pretty messed up... I think he will be pretty rotten later in the day. Pretty funny stuff.

So in the following days Gemma and I head separate ways, Gemma is off to Paris and I will be heading to Cordoba, Malaga, Seville, Tarifa and Lisbon! Lots of trains and buses to catch. After Lisbon I'm thinking of heading up to Porto and then flying to Valencia for La Tomatina. Apparently Valencia will be packed (Formula 1 is just before La Tomatina), but reception people have offered their floor if I can't find accommodation or get stuck - yay!

Oh yeah have been trying to see a bullfight, and Granada has a stadium. They tend to have them on Sundays, so tomorrow Liz and I will be trying to get tickets. Not that I'm really for the gory killing of the bulls, but hey it is part of their culture. In Madrid, Aaron and I (with Adnan from Michigan) went to the Prado Museum, and missed bullfights; in Barcelona Gemma and I were late so couldn't buy tickets; in Valencia the stadium was closed for renovations - so hopefully Granada will be kind.

Oh yeah after La Tomatina I think I might fly to Ireland, where Hollie Ponton and Mark Hanvey and Gemma O will be living. So that would be around end of August/start of September. Joanne McCallion, is Cork near your old stomping grounds (thats where Gemma lives), and Mark, don't you live in Belfast? Might try to catch up with my favourite irish peeps!

Oh yeah Katie, how's the travelling over in Croatia? When do you head for the Turkey contiki? Message or email me around La Tomatine (I might fly in a few days before), as I know of some pretty good hostels (if they don't get booked out).

I also have a very full bag - have little/no space for anything! I bought a wallet in Perth before flying out, it was effectively destroyed in the mosh pit at Pamplona (doesn't really hold coins well). And my sunglasses are held together by the polarised layer on the lens, minutes from breaking I think. But otherwise no dramas.

I am aware these emails are big, so apologies. Oh yeah, anyone from Council (or Ocka) have Matt Riordan's new email in Dubai or his hotmail? I have some "mug" travelling shots to send him.

Hopefully everyone is well, and its only 2 months til I come home - exciting but sad.

Keep in touch, and hug yourself for me!

Oh yeah!, no wait, I got nothing...

Mick