Fornos Hotel Zaragoza

Spent another night on a parking lot near the city centre. When trying to find a decent place to park our van near all the sights, we got caught up in a lybyrinth of narrow streets, filled with cars (sometimes even in the middle of the crossings...). Well, Boštjan is a very good driver, but my nerves are not as good as I thought.

With the help of a security guard at a bank in one of the ...

... the tone was almost one of extreme curiosity, possibly also because of my appearance. Us dark Spanish-speaking Chinos are a rare breed, after all!

Anyway, sounds like Paola's had an exciting few months living in Barcelona and traveling around Spain. Apparently her sister's flying out here soon, and they're going on a Mediterranean cruise before she moves back to Mexico. I don't think I could do another cruise, but a Mediterranean one might be ...

... sign on the bridge says 15.23 and 33 degrees, yes, it is very hot. We walk past some Roman shop ruins and their great sewage system. There is a statue of Caesar Augustus with stone arched walls behind him. Some of the brick work here is the influence of the Muslim era.

The Basilica de Nuestra Sra. Del Pilar is really beautiful outside, with statues along the top, colourful tiles on the roof and about ...

Boring long day on the A23, highest col 1223m.

Looking for aire in Zaragoza when Brits James, Clare and Katie in their motorhome took us under their wing to the park they'd already stayed in. Left over from 2008 water based expo, with typically spanish rusty iron "sculpture".

35 degree C until light shower cooled us all off.

Bren washed her hair in the public drinking fountain, starting a trend with the other family.

... local shops, we went down with another kiwi Ron who said it was the local Mitre 10. Camp site had freezing cold showers, you had to pay 20dirham (2euro) for a hot one so we just stuck with a cold one, everybody seemed to catch up on there washing. One of the women on the truck got mugged had a knife held to her throat and lost 500dirham (50euro)and her video camera and camera so not very great but it just shows that you cant go walking by your self and have your wallet out and ...

... t there anymore, aside from my best mate "the k dog", but i really hit home in Madrid through one of the so many leaving parties of how many people have come into my life that mean so much, i mean its such a cliche sometimes to give it all that "aww you're such a mate and i you and me get on so great blah blah..." but when you literally have met people that have had such an impact on your life that are such great friends and suddenly you have to say bye to all of them ...

We said goodbye to our wonderful host Sylvia in Guadalahara. The morning light and warmth felt like late May back home. We took to the A2/E90 heading NE towards Zaragoza. One hour later we turned off the highway to visit an old Roman fort on the top of a mountain with a spectacular view, Mendinacellini. Structures ...

... started by spending a long time gazing at Aljaferia Palace, which I had actually already passed several times walking to and from the train station. It was originally built at the Moorish Muslims who ruled here at the dawn of the second Millennium. Zaragoza served as capital to one of the many taifa or petty Islamic kingdoms, that ruled most of the peninsula following the collapse of the Caliphate of Cordoba. Time for another little tangent. Basically, the ...

18.9.07 my family is absolutely wonderful. we have such a good relationship and it makes this experience so much better. i met a spanish boy the other night and he keeps calling my house and my dad keeps making fun of me for it. my american friend, dan, also calls my house. so my host parents are very entertained by this "problem" i have. they told me to make a schedule so i hang out with dan on my mondays, wednesdays and fridays and paco on tuesdays ...

... bus at around 9:15AM to head to the wine country of La Rioja Province, Spain. The gentle rolling vineyards of La Rioja rose and dipped like playful waves on the verdant hills of this region. Tall impressive mountains guarded over the vineyards like watch towers. We went first to a Bodega, which in Spanish, meant Winery Estate. The Bodega Dinastía Vivanco, a palatial building set amidst the orderly rows of lustrous vineyards, had an exceptional museum of wine. Everything ...