Our winter holiday in Egypt
Hello everyone, I’ll tell you how we wanted to go to Egypt, but ended up in Spain in February 2016
After last year's vacation in Sharm, I thought that in January-February I could not be dragged anywhere except to the Red Sea beach . . But in early February, having contacted our travel agency, they heard that the weather at that time was not very good, who rested at the end of January - at the beginning of February they were dissatisfied with their vacation because of this . . Therefore, we decided to go to Non-Egypt . . There were a lot of options for Non-Egypt, they beckoned to Goa, Sri Lanka and the UAE, but here in the search box there were no upcoming tours - the Costa Brava, Spain, the hotel - the roulette system... The price, to put it mildly, made us very happy and my husband said - Let's go! We will see Barcelona. And I said let's go! We'll see Madrid (near Madrid has been living for more than 10 years, my old friend and family). It was decided, we paid, we went to take a picture for visas, left our fingers and waited for confirmation) waited) We looked at the map, the prices for travel in public transport and decided to rent a car for sure.
We flew well in an old plane with an old cabin and small sandwiches like "breakfast") but that's not the point, the very fact of the flight always makes me happy! ) left the old terminal of Barcelona at 8 am on February 13, +16 street, sun, air sweet, smells of oranges, palm trees, the sea and something else very tasty. The hotel fell out to us in Lloret de Mar 4 *. At first, we were a little upset, thinking that 75 km was still far from Barcelona . . But the guide reassured us, quietly whispering that of all the possible options (Malgrat de Mar, Pineda, Calleia and Blanes) we have the most beautiful and green coast.
The HTOP Royal Star hotel had nothing to do with roalty except for the name, it was an ordinary roomy, battered hotel. Thank you for having a place to sleep for 5 nights and for the delicious yoghurt for tomorrow. I thought not to write, but okay - hihh, for the first time we lived with a hotel not a sea view, not a garden view, not a pool view, but a sementari view (after 15 meters there is a cemetery fence, though the cemetery is beautiful, we slept like a dead sleep, but I think this is due to fatigue, not with neighbors. )
There were 2 hours left before check-in and we drove off to look for a car, it's good that we knew where and what class we were taking. 3 days + 1 day as a gift + full insurance + unlimited mileage Skoda Fabia 1.2 engine (average consumption city + highway 5.5 liters of petrol) = 168 euros. The price for 1 liter of 95th gasoline is 0.97 - 1.13 euros.
Well, we immediately rushed to the supermarket to skimp on the path to Madrid. In my opinion, having traveled and climbed all the possible mercats of the country), the cheapest is Lidl, Dia, Mercadona, Alcampo (in the common people, our Auchan). They can’t stand the French) They bought mostly inexpensive non-elite non-black jamon at 9e per kg, sheep Curado cheese at 7-8e per kg, cheeses like Gorgonzola, Brie, Camamer around 2 euros per 200 grams and baguettes at 0.25- 0.37 per piece Pineapple - 0.89 pieces, local oranges at 1-1.2 euros per kg, mango - 1 euro per piece, strawberries - 1 e per kg. drank Lemonade and juices, orange, mango mmmm at 1.35 per 1 liter, we don’t drink alcohol, but the prices for wines were impressive, if for a bottle of red dry 2014-2015 - 1.35-2.5 euros. and in 2010-2011 - 6-8 euros each. Spaniards mainly drink the Roja brand. We had an order for Torres Esmeralda, in supermarkets they asked for 7 euros, but we went to a market where Arabs sell and got a couple of bottles of 5. magnets for 0.75 euros and coasters for mugs instead of 5 euros for 2)
We left at about 15 on the free road N11? although the signs persistently led to the paid С32 (30 euros to Madrid). We drove to Barcelona, stopped for a moment to orient ourselves and go to Lleida, and immediately the police stopped nearby with Spanish police girls and asked what happened)) I say: we are from there and there, right? she - yes, everything is correct, so go, Astaluego)))) A2 road, and they left, they didn’t ask for a license or documents for the car. The road is gorgeous, you go - you rest, the markings are perfect, there are a lot of signs, it’s impossible to get lost, the limit is 120, there are radars from time to time, but there are 101 warnings in front of them)) I got the impression that all the cars on cruise control go 115 km))) like robots)
From Lleida to Zaragoza we got into a downpour, wind, hurricane) And it's impossible to stop, all the way to the right. The rain did not bother anyone, everyone was driving under 120, and further.
From Zaragoza along the district line to Guadalajara and began to call friends - they say, meet) They live in the Picturesque Alcala de Henares (a city on the Henares River), 25 km from Madrid, where he was born and got up, oh, he wrote, oh Don Quixote is low, oh, the great Cervantes. 12 years of separation and complete ignorance are gone with the first hugs and we sat down at a real Spanish table with real Spanish paee (they say paella, not paella)), tortilla, all kinds of shells, oranges, jamon and cheese. And at 12 at night, when I went to bed, they told me - let's go, I say - where? - night! Like where, everyone goes out for a walk at this time. And indeed, all the streets are filled with people, both young people and pensioners, seniors, seniors and seniors with their hair, with evening make-up and toilets) there are a lot of police, guarding the order. We walked, looked at the house where the aforementioned lived, the square named after him, but I was impressed by the library, which works with them until 4 in the morning, in which the daughter of our acquaintances sat, the child is studying. .
On the morning of February 14, after kissing our beloved and presenting a Valentine card, we went to Madrid. First, 4 skyscrapers, then Plaza del Tores, were invited to a bullfight, but this is not mine. powerful, impressive. There is a queue in the photo)
Then we parked in the center. Oh, at the expense of parking, this is a pipe) If you are not lucky, not lucky, who is lucky and there is a place in front of him, it’s better to walk on your feet or take the subway) The entire roadway is painted, where they ride bikes, where is a taxi, where is the bus, where paid parking, but a maximum of 2 hours, where paid (even more expensive) parking up to a day. On average, 2.5 euros per hour. And if the white dashed line is free, but it is unrealistic to stand on it. If you succeed, I bow my head.
The Royal Palace, the Cathedral, Mayor Square, the surrounding streets and quarters, we examined under the rain with hail), but we really liked it. Then friends took us to a restaurant. Well, I'm not sure if this is a restaurant (although it was written that way), that a place where they serve a fried egg as a dish and french fries as a dish is one. Okay))) it was cool for 6.90 Iceberg salad with tomatoes, fries, egg and chicken chop, everything is very tasty. They brought 0.5 sweet mineral water to the wine. My Spaniards are dear. poured water into a glass, wine on top and began to drink)) like everything is normal, but what)))
On the same day, we moved to Toledo, I confess, I don’t know the history and geography of Spain well, so I won’t be smart, read on Google) Fortified city, museum city, how many towers - you can’t count how many gates, churches, cathedrals - too. We watched and did not breathe . . Then the Miniature Park of all European sights and sleep. On Monday morning we left for Valencia and did not even imagine that out of the cold, the grunts would get to the region from +20, oranges and lemons on the trees and singing parrots. How cool they came up with, having built a huge park-street in the middle of the city, which runs through the whole of Valencia. We looked at the central square, their del Toros parade ground, went into the Cathedral, bought ice cream and went to our hotel. We slept, as you understand, well)) In the morning we went to see Barcelona on the same road. Since they don’t like left turns at intersections, they set up a bunch of circles, made the road on the circle the main one and you wait, skip it))
On the outskirts in some industrial zone in the southeast of Barcelona, miraculously parked and got on the subway. The fare for one is 2.15 euros, if you take 10 trips - 9.95 euros. We got off at the Sagrada Familia station. And then it's time to be stunned)))) I didn't think that the Cathedral was so close, just come here like that, take it and look. I can’t describe my feelings, so I won’t try. Ride and see. Further on foot (so that you understand, on that day we walked about 17 km in Barcelona) we went to the houses of Mila and Batlló , went to la Rambla, went to a couple of shops, yes, I knew that the time for discounts had passed, but the pain in my heart when looking at the price tags, this didn’t decrease......... , then to the central market, gg, funny prices there, for 100 grams of chocolates (I won’t hide, they’re cute) 7 euros) fruits, seafood, everything is on the pictures . Then a tour of Plaza Catalunya, the Gothic Quarter. Again we bought food in the supermarket, had a bite and went to the Camp Nou for impressions. Match 28 Barca-Sevilla, the cheapest tickets are 90 euros, they are few, then 110 and 320. Entrance to the FC Barcelona Museum is free, inside you can buy everything from bottles, t-shirts, ending with balls.
Then we went on foot to see the Cathedral of the Holy Family in the evening) Then we looked at the statue of Columbus, the Agbar tower, and crawled to the car, we barely found it))) drove home.
The next day I drove back and forth to Girona, I liked their main Catholic cathedral and the narrow streets adjacent to it. At 12 we handed over the car and finally went to see the sea already at home, in Lloret.
I was very surprised by the beach, not sand, not stones, but like a crumb of granite, sheer cliffs, Palm trees and coniferous trees, a wide line, I don’t know how it is in summer, but it’s very beautiful in winter))))))
Lloret himself is dynamic, joyful, friendly. We looked at all 11 main attractions, as expected) very easy to get around.
In general, I outlined in chronology what was most memorable.
from what I saw. overheard. overheard - the faces of homeless people live there, everyone has a dog, a warm blanket, they spend the night in bank branches, they smoke in bed)
- people are amazingly open and responsive,
- a lot of black people, didn't expect to see so many,
- I knew that the Catalans don't like Madrid, but I didn't think it was that much....
- clean everywhere, free toilets, showers, ideal conditions for people with increased needs,
- the culture of driving on the road.
This is how the week flew by in an atmosphere of celebration, inexplicable joy and happiness. We will come again, next time we will go to see Portugal and get discounts, otherwise my heart hurts))))))
I wish you all good travels, take care of yourself!