Re: more info on nice place

"-hh" <hh.huntzinger@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1181152204.960118.156640@g37g2000prf.googlegr oups.com...
> "chilly" <slar...@shaw.canada> wrote:
> >
> > Just got back from Spain myself. LOVED it!!
>
> Ah, you're just in it for the fine food...
>
> http://www.huntzinger.com/photo/2007...apas(6026).jpg

LOL, I have to admit, it was very bizarre to be looking at medieval
architecture with a Starbucks or a MacDonald's on the mainfloor.

I ate some amazing food, it's true. I also had some things that just
weren't all that, same as one can encounter at home.

For me, it was more about the gawking all about at history, art and the
energy to be found there.

On Jun 7, 5:11 pm, "chilly" <slar...@shaw.canada> wrote:
>
> I ate some amazing food, it's true. I also had some things that just
> weren't all that, same as one can encounter at home.

I had a funny one in a small place...my compatriate ordered by number
off of the menu, so I chose to do the same: fortunately, I was able
to remember what "14" was in spanish, but to my dismay, the waiter
assumed this to mean that I was very fluent in spanish. Nada.


> For me, it was more about the gawking all about at history, art and the
> energy to be found there.

There is quite a bit of it all over. I try to make it a point to see
something on each of my trips over, but business comes first, so
there's often not much real free time to do any tourist-like sites.
The 'Chicago Hot Dog' stand photo was from Madrid earlier this year,
and I only had not even half of an afternoon on the last day after our
meetings were over, but I tried anyway to get down to see the Royal
Palace. I got there 10 minutes before they closed, but they did let
me inside for free...just to go to the gift shop. Maybe next time.


-hh

"-hh" <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote in message
news:1181254227.808733.101170@w5g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
> On Jun 7, 5:11 pm, "chilly" <slar...@shaw.canada> wrote:
> >
> > I ate some amazing food, it's true. I also had some things that just
> > weren't all that, same as one can encounter at home.
>
> I had a funny one in a small place...my compatriate ordered by number
> off of the menu, so I chose to do the same: fortunately, I was able
> to remember what "14" was in spanish, but to my dismay, the waiter
> assumed this to mean that I was very fluent in spanish. Nada.

LOL!! Ran into that a few times myself, though I can't remember the word for
14. I will tell you that Numero Siete at Bar Plata in the Macarena area of
Sevilla is not to be missed!! I particularly laugh to myself remembering
the cab driver that thought if he yelled (in Spanish) I would understand him
better . . .

And my pronounciation of "Quanto questa por favor" is quite good,
unfortunately, I can rarely understand the response. :^) At this time, my
immediate plans for personal development is to vastly improve my fluency and
understanding of Spanish.

> > For me, it was more about the gawking all about at history, art and the
> > energy to be found there.
>
> There is quite a bit of it all over. I try to make it a point to see
> something on each of my trips over, but business comes first, so
> there's often not much real free time to do any tourist-like sites.

Have you seen Sagrada Familia in Barcelona?? There are no words . . .

> The 'Chicago Hot Dog' stand photo was from Madrid earlier this year,
> and I only had not even half of an afternoon on the last day after our
> meetings were over, but I tried anyway to get down to see the Royal
> Palace. I got there 10 minutes before they closed, but they did let
> me inside for free...just to go to the gift shop. Maybe next time.

I had no time to enter the Palace but have about a dozen pictures of the
exterior. Actually, I had lots of time to enter the palace at the beginning
of my trip, particularly since it was pouring rain for 3 days, but I was
seriously jetlagged and/or hungover, so didn't have my bearings yet. I
regret that particular waste of good indoor time opportunities. Won't
happen again.

(Trip began with 3 days in Madrid and ended with 3 days in Madrid)

chilly wrote:
> "-hh" wrote:
> > ...I was able
> > to remember what "14" was in spanish, but to my dismay, the waiter
> > assumed this to mean that I was very fluent in spanish. Nada.
>
> LOL!! Ran into that a few times myself, though I can't remember the word for
> 14. I will tell you that Numero Siete at Bar Plata in the Macarena area of
> Sevilla is not to be missed!!

Will have to remember that for when I start to plan a holiday trip.

> I particularly laugh to myself remembering
> the cab driver that thought if he yelled (in Spanish) I would understand him
> better . . .

It works in America, so why shouldn't it work in Spain - or France,
etc.

> At this time, my
> immediate plans for personal development is to vastly improve my fluency and
> understanding of Spanish.

I'm figuring French, maybe German - thinking about maybe spending 5
years over there right after we retire; just haven't really decided
quite where.


> Have you seen Sagrada Familia in Barcelona?? There are no words . . .

I've heard good things, but haven't gotten there yet. Try the
cathedral in Bourges, FR: its like Notre Dame, but with no crowds.

>
> > Royal Palace. I got there 10 minutes before they closed...Maybe next time.
>
> I had no time to enter the Palace but have about a dozen pictures of the
> exterior. Actually, I had lots of time to enter the palace at the beginning
> of my trip, particularly since it was pouring rain for 3 days, but I was
> seriously jetlagged and/or hungover, so didn't have my bearings yet.

I had the lag hit me pretty strong on that trip, as well as a more
recent one. Hopefully, its not a trend.

> Won't happen again.

I only kick myself if I blow it off more than once. I have a possible
repeat, so I'll have to check their summer Sunday hours and drag
myself down there from the Cuzco Plaza area uptown.

-hh

"-hh" <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote in message
news:1181313093.148256.162900@q66g2000hsg.googlegr oups.com...
>
> >
> > LOL!! Ran into that a few times myself, though I can't remember the word
for
> > 14. I will tell you that Numero Siete at Bar Plata in the Macarena area
of
> > Sevilla is not to be missed!!
>
> Will have to remember that for when I start to plan a holiday trip.

It is just a little tapas carne dish, served with tiny fries. We couldn't
get enough of it.

>
> > I particularly laugh to myself remembering
> > the cab driver that thought if he yelled (in Spanish) I would understand
him
> > better . . .
>
> It works in America, so why shouldn't it work in Spain - or France,
> etc.

My exact thought, I even told him yelling at me wouldn't help. I'm not sure
he understood that, so I yelled it. ahahahahaha

>
> > At this time, my
> > immediate plans for personal development is to vastly improve my fluency
and
> > understanding of Spanish.
>
> I'm figuring French, maybe German - thinking about maybe spending 5
> years over there right after we retire; just haven't really decided
> quite where.

Have you been to Costa del Sol area?

> > Have you seen Sagrada Familia in Barcelona?? There are no words . . .
>
> I've heard good things, but haven't gotten there yet. Try the
> cathedral in Bourges, FR: its like Notre Dame, but with no crowds.

OK, sounds good, but I found no crowds at the Cathedral in Malaga. I don't
know that it is in the least like Notre Dame, but it made me cry
none-the-less. It was awe inspiring and quite conveniently, a few steps
away from the Picasso Museum, where I also welled up over a Chagall.

> > of my trip, particularly since it was pouring rain for 3 days, but I was
> > seriously jetlagged and/or hungover, so didn't have my bearings yet.
>
> I had the lag hit me pretty strong on that trip, as well as a more
> recent one. Hopefully, its not a trend.

I arrived in the morning, slept until around 5, went out for the evening
with a friend until around 5:30 am. After that, I had no idea what was
jetlag, what was hangover/lack of sleep and what was depression from the
pouring rain and massive electric storms.

> > Won't happen again.
>
> I only kick myself if I blow it off more than once.

Well, I may not have immersed myself in ancient culture, but I guess I did a
quite fine job of immersing myself in current culture . . so in true
retrospect, perhaps not so bad at all. I am happy to be home to eat meals
at regular times though. Dinner at 11 pm was just too weird.

> I have a possible
> repeat, so I'll have to check their summer Sunday hours and drag
> myself down there from the Cuzco Plaza area uptown.

Why are you staying there? I can recommend an incredible hotel down by
Atocha station though you'd then want to hop the metro to get back to the
palace. However, from the hotel, you are a short walk from Prado Museum and
Retiro Park.

By the way, when planning your vacation, make sure you take the AVE bullet
train in first class. We didn't want to get off.

>
> -hh
>