April and Andreas' Journey of a Lifetime

Initially Andreas and I wanted to do the Camino de Santiago but after much discussion with friends and family, we decided that we weren't going to do it by bike but by foot and not this summer. Perhaps another time...

So we decided to travel through Spain, Portugal, France and Italy instead. We flew out on July 5th from Berlin to Madrid. This was Andreas and I's 2nd flight together ever! Haha- we've always been flying to see each other but rarely flying together.

We arrived in Madrid and quickly headed to the bus station to grab a bus to take us to the beautiful city of Logrono- where I once lived and now missed terribly. We took the next bus out but before we did this, we headed out to explore the city around the remote bus station in Madrid. We entered a corner Tapas restaurant where everyone was standing and crowding around the bar to get a canaita ( small beer), a glass of Spanish wine and ahhh... tapas!

We later arrived into Logrono to be picked up by Ruth and Sergio, my wonderful old roommates.

The next few days we spent lounging by the pool, eating tapas on Laurel and going to...the Fiestas de San Fermin!! A.k.a. the running of the bulls in Pamplona! Andreas and I were there for the opening ceremony, clad in red waist bands and white shirts! We got nailed by wine while walking down the crowded streets of Pamplona and joining in the festivities of wine and beer. Ahhh, we couldn't have asked for a better time!

This is us afterwards. It was a great experience!

We then went to Coruna and Vigo then into Portugal to Lisboa- where Andreas got bitten by bed bugs...poor guy.

Then to Sevilla and to Granada, where we got to go see the beautiful Alambra.

Then to Madrid where we met up with Rene, Andreas' cousin and his beautiful wife.

From there...off to Valencia and finally to Barcelona.

Ahhh, Barcelona... we met up with Marc and Carmit, an old time friend from the Dominican Republic. We had such an incredible time eating tapas, dancing the night away and looking at amazing Gaudi monuments. Did I mention tapas? Because we ate a lot of tapas and drank...a lot...of wine! It was a great trip!

Seeing family was great! I can't wait until my next trip with Marc and Andreas...and of course, Carmit. Off to Israel we go.....

There is still more to come...the French Rivera and Italy!!