Tales from SPAIN...Let´s Start at the End (or what was suppose to be).

So it turns out Europe changed the clocks last night at 2am.

Too bad that, although we were still out, they don’t exactly announce this at the discos (even if they did...it’d be in SPANISH!!). Needless to say after a night of clubbing in Barcelona with Niki and all of our newest friends, I missed my flight to Frankfurt. The worst part is, I had nothing to do today so I just walked around town. However, I did get to enjoy one last day and it was absolutely gorgeous outside, it was cloudy our whole Barcelona stay.

When I arrived at the airport, with my 70 plus pounds of luggage, I waited in a few long lines only to find out that instead of still having 1 hour and 15 minutes until my flight, it was closed and boarded. Nice. Well, our tour guide did tell us in Sevilla that “tourism is not mathematics, and sometimes 2 + 2 = 5" she was very right about that. Not terribly upset though, thankfully it has been such a great trip so far that nothing could ruin it and I still love Spain just as much.

The airlines here do things differently than in the states. I am quite the frequent flier these days but I wasn’t good enough to get myself anywhere today. I was able to get there tomorrow for free though, which turns out was quite the accomplishment. One woman told me they couldn’t get me there until April 1st (still 2 days away) and it would cost me an extra €162 Euros (aka about $235), yikes. I threw on the Ashter charm for the next airline I tried and was able to get on a flight tomorrow for free.

Phew, Niki’s book is right. It’s always better to love everyone and treat them all with your best because you’ll get a lot farther in life. I know this from lots of experience. I’ve managed to get very lucky many times and know it will continue. It’s not that only some people are lucky, it’s just that the others don’t ask for it… So I’ll be asking for a little more luck tomorrow and arriving at the airport a few hours early this time, yes I changed my watch.

I´m ready to take on Germany now

** I found out later that Niki also missed her flight back to the States…she stayed at a hostel down the road. Major lack of communication there.

I'm off to Europe and you're all invited!

Yeehaw! This is my first time blogging and I'm really excited about it! Tomorrow is the big day, my parents and adorable (but wild and as full of life as any healthy 4 year old should be) nephew are in Knoxville to see me off. I’ve packed as much as humanly possible into my lime green (of course!) suitcase. I’ve tested it and it shuts…but tomorrow is the true test when they put this baby on the scale. No worries though, that’s what parents are for and they aren’t going to leave the airport until we’re sure I’m getting in –along with all my boots, jackets, books, clothes, and yes, more shoes. Ok so I’ve packed WAY too much and I know it but 7 weeks is a long time and since I’m going to 4-7 countries along the way you just never know. I have a feeling that the last minute black and white pok-a-dot rain boots are going to turn out to be the best pre-trip purchase I made.

Tomorrow after a hefty lay over in my fav US city, NEW YORK! (unfortunately the lay over will still suck) I am meeting Niki in Madrid, Spain at baggage claim. I know it’s risky but we are suppose to arrive only 10 minutes apart so pray that for once the travel industry is running on time and we find each other across the ocean. This should happen around 8:30am Friday March, 21st. As all of you who have traveled in Europe know you have to hit the ground running, no time for naps or resting up. We have 3 short days in Madrid and a million art museums and parks to see. Plus we need hours on end to meet locals and eat tapas at the Spanish Pubs! I’ve been reading up and see that they stay out until 6am in Spain… Niki and I have agreed that we are both grandmas already (at the ripe ages of 24 and 26) so we aren’t quite sure how we are going to fare but I have faith. Like we say … “when in Rome.” Wish us luck and lots of good fortune on our quest to see almost all of Spain in 10 Days!

Our itinerary: Madrid (3days), tour of Cordoba, Seville and Granada (4days), Barcelona (3days). Then I’m off to Germany, hopefully with some great Spanish tales!!

Adios!
Ashter