Larissa's "when she feels like writing stuff" page
description..Um, read the title :)
Monday, March 20, 2006
Solo Viajar Continuado...
Dive- COLD, VERY PRETTY, SHORT and SHALLOW. The two dives were at Penon de Ifach. The first dive had very little visibility, around 3-5'. We dove along the side of the rock in this picture. There was a semi-strong current, so it was a little weird. I didn't see much fish on this dive.
The second dive was on the other side of the rock and was a bit shallower. The visibility was round 10-15'. There were many fish and even some shells I was able to pick up-
There were lots of plants. I didn't get to see any eels or octopus like the dive instructors had mentioned we might see. Apparently octupus are laying their eggs at this time of the year.
The water was a very pretty dark turquoise. I have never seen the ocean this color. The temperature was around 50 degrees, so it was pretty cold. I rented an underwater camera, so I will post pics once I develop them.
I was done with the dive and had to begin my long journey back to Alicante before the train left. I decided to take a taxi to Calpe, then take a bus to Alicante. From Alicante I had to walk about 1 mile to get to the train station, again asking quesitons as I wander. I make it, just in the nick of time- or so I thought. The train I planned on taking was completo! And the next 2 trains for the evening were completo tambien! Oh, great- this is just GREAT! I booked a ticket for ticket for Tuesday at 7am and started looking for a hotel. My Aunt told me Alicante is a big tourist city, so I need to watch out for pocket pickers. I did fine and found a hotel that was vacant (first couple I tried were completo tambien!). I decided with it being near 8pm and well, a city I don't know, that I will grab some mmm cafe con leche y un otro! bocadillo, pero esta vez un bocadillo de chorizo (not like hte mexicans make it- this is sliced like salami). Ick, too much pan y not enough carne, como todos bocadillos!
For the first time I attempt to use the bidet (yep that is close to how I looked, but w/o the shorts), but the one at this hotel doesn't spit out the water right, so I hover and do not get shot at, the water just drizzels down into the bowl. Darn, I was really willing to try this out.
Take a shower and blog. When I get out of the shower the hotel personnel comes to my door inquiring on the next time I am going to take a shower, I reply en la manana, como seis. Apparently while I was freeing my bod of all the Mediterranean sea drops, my shower leaked onto the first floor. LOL... oops!
Words I've learned while in Espana: Bocadillo- Sandwhich (Spains has TOOOOOO many of these) Cola- Train Proximo- Next Completo- Full (like the trains and hotels were in Alicante) Autobus- Bus Boceo- Scuba Diving Abajo- Below (I thought this only meant short?) Llegar- Arrive Precio- Prie Coche- Car (used for train car) Firma- Signature (Not firme like I used to say back in the wannabe gangsta days, HA!)
Adventure? Uh huh, I think I may be lucky to be alive….
2pm on Sunday I left for Moraira, Spain via train. I took a 3 hr 40 min train ride to Alicante, Spain. In Alicante I waited for a bus to take to El Campello. The bus ride was nice as I got to see some of the city and rode up the Mar Mediterraneo for 40 min. I was left off at El Campello. According to the map, the other Estacion de Cola should have been nearby. I walked a couple blocks and then asked a girl where the train station was. She told me to go up down the street one block, and then go left up one block. Sure, todo en espanol, but I think I understood . I followed her directions and ended up on a dirt road around a few houses. I found my way out and asked directions again, a man told me to go left, up the street a couple blocks. Followed directions and arrived at the station. Hm, this isn’t a very big station, nor is very um, developed. I got on the train to Teulada. It was now 720pm. Geez, 5 ½ hrs since I got on my train! 1 hr and 40 min later I FINALLY arrive in Teulada. Nice, it is night time and I’m in a SMALL town.
There is no one at the train stop. There is no one a block away. There is no one many blocks away. Ok, how is Larissa going to find a taxi? Stores aren’t open; there are no hotels around. Larissa wonders helplessly up and down the main street with hopes of finding SOMETHING open. Woo, a bar. Do I enter? Nope, it is a bar and I look like I’m lost- Stupid American wondering around in some small Spanish town with her bags and obviously NOT walking shoes. I call my aunt who suggests going back to the bar and asking for them to call a taxi. Um, ok. Bars in Spain are a bit different than in US. Families come to bars, bars aren’t only places to get drunk like they are in US.
On the opposite side of the street, I head back to the bar, it is some where around here. A dog is now following me. Good, no one will try to mess with my now that it appears I have a dog guarding me. HA, yea, right! I find a restaurant that is open! I ask a waitress if I can get a # to a taxi. I call up a taxi, 10 min later I’m picked up. Phew….
I arrive to my hotel at 10pm! How nice, it took me 8 hrs., I could have been on a plane 2/3 of the way home by now!
Hotel (Villa Comodin) is nice. The owners are very friendly and offer me something to eat. Oh yes, please!! Tengo mucho hambre! Mmm, med-rare (well was suppose to be, is a bit rareeee) steak and potatoes. I’m satisfied, for now.
I head back up to my room. Spain’s main house doors do not have useable door knobs. The main door has a deadbolt and a knob in the middle of the door that is used to pull the door shut upon dismissal. I attempt to open the door, click, no open. Click, no open. Click, no open. Oh geez, I CAN’T EVEN OPEN A DOOR ON MY OWN IN EUROPE? I try about 20 times than give up. This is ridiculous. I go downstairs- “Perdon, pero necesito ayudar con mi puerta”. Si, porque soy una tonta . The owner, Felix, walks up to mi cuarto conmigo. Click, open. Um, ? “Buenos Noches…”
I took a hot shower and got into bed. I have a long day tomorrow- 2 dives and another DAMN long trip back to Madrid. I was hoping I could find an easier route back, but this hotel (which is pretty nice) doesn’t have a phone line into the room. Wish me good luck, please!
I'm going to go back a few days here since I haven't been able to blog every day.
Portugal was nice! Not really what I expected, I thought it'd be nicer.
My Aunt Becca and I began our Portuguese journey by waiting 1 1/2 hrs in the airport for the delayed 1 hr 10 min. flight to Lisboa (pronounced Lisbon in English). We arrive at our hotel, Hotel Riviera in Carcavelos, Portugal around 4pm. We drop our luggage off and wander along the coast to grab something to eat.
Um...lot's of dog crap! Not a good choice of restaurants, not a very scenic walk. Back towards the hotel... we find a cute little tea house that sells tea, beer, sandwhiches and desserts. This seems like THE place to be. Lot's of folks enjoying their afternoon tea and scones (biscuits in English :P). This place gives me an idea...
IF I EVER want to open a business, what do you think about a International coffee/tea/brew/snack house? This cafe will brew all different types of International coffee- in it's proper form. This means the Indian coffee will be 'filter coffee', Spanish coffee will be served as cafe con leche and Turkish kahve will be served in the little, as Americans know it, Espresso cups. The brew will vary with the true German Hefeweizen, English Ales
Mmm.. Along with all my favorite coffees and beers :), many traditional desserts will be available, Portuguese Pasteis de Nata will be endulged, Italian Torta Caprese will be served and French souffles can be munched on.
Yah! With hip wordly music to sawy to!
Ok, sorry... I went off onto another topic...
We did our first 'tour' in the rain in Cascais (pronounced Cascash). We saw very cool walkways- no American tradiitional cement, there are small tiles in black and beige. A lot of small shops that are nicely tucked in the tiled cement walkways. Unfortunately we were walking in puddles, getting wet our whole journey.
We went to see the Boca Do Inferno (translates to Hell's mouth)which is absolutely amazing, pictures to come soon (when I develop my cheap lil disposable, since my Aunt forgot her camera too- we must be related? We BOTH forgot our cameras).
We walked back along the coast to downtown Cascais. Many very cool houses and beautiful ocean. Later in the afternoon (after a wannabe Indian meal [was more like Thai- Portuguese don't know how to cook Indian]), we went to Sintra. This town was very pretty! The town had many cool buildings with lots of character and MUCH greenery! A lot of foliage and cool, but weird, statues. This town has lot's of castles.
We ended our day on a long, semi-scary trip back to Carcavelos. Becca got squished while we hopped on a train, we had to walk down a dark, unidentified area, to the next train. Looong ride.
The next day (our final day in Portugal), was spent in downtown Lisboa. We saw a dozen more monuments and shops and had our first Pasteis de Nata, mmmmm. I don't like custard, but this was yummy!!
Portugal is nice, I wouldn't mind seeing other parts of the country.
Walk in downtown Madrid, lot's of neat buildings and clean streets. The city contains many pocket pickers, but the place wasn't dirty and uncomfortable. Here are some pics:
We went down to a park, Buen Retiro... Fuente De Alcachofa
Me and Becca in front of El Monumento A S.M El Rey D. Alfonso XII
El Monumento A S.M El Rey D. Alfonso XII
I'll have Portugal pics up when I get back since, well... I forgot my camera in my car back in US and my aunt forgot her camera in Spain (yes, we are related) so we had to use disposable cameras on our Spain trip :(.
I flew into Madrid yesterday afternoon (200pm), but had left SF Monday afternoon. I had a layover in Frankfurt, Germany. I almost missed my flight since my ticket said a diff gate # and ,my flight wasn't posted on any terminals. I RAN to the other side of the airport with 30 min left to board and got through the gate, on the bus (that took me to airplane) and had 1 min left. After I boarded the bus, the door closed 1 min, later!
Madrid is very much like San Francisco, although it is much cleaner and less congested. Old Madrid is pretty, nice large old buildings with lots of character. I'll post some photos later.
I got to experience the metro system, wee and what a metro system it was! We jumped on one metro, then onto another metro, then on another one! I think there are about 6 metros here. Very cool!
I'll be going to Lisbon, Portugal in a few (it's 11am here). I'll be there until Saturday, then returning to Madrid. I'll be heading out to Moraira, Spain on Sunday to do some scuba diving in the Meditterranean. Water is very pretty, but cold (~50 degrees).
