Hostal Aisa Ochoa 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 ...

... especially if there are lots of Spanish women aboard.

Back in the room was a Madrileno, a guy from Madrid - we had a really cool chat, discussing common misconceptions about Canada, the USA, and Spain. We got into the issues with the Spanish economy, and the falsehoods about working life in Spain - it's not all about sangria and siestas. Truthfully, I've always known this, but having my bubble burst was like finding out the truth about ...

... 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.

... that Chris & Gary knew off, so we camped at the back of the Police Station least we had good security but not good facilities, we stayed one night and then we were going to bush camp but had to go along way out of town and not worth it as have to come into town everyday so back to police station for the night. The reason we are here is to obtain Mauritania and Mali visas we managed to get the Mali visa in 3hours which normally takes 24hours so one step ahead there, next trying ...

... the home town of Elena where everyone refers to each other as a maño o maña being the collegial term of one of the inhabitants. quite weird to to hear really as its not like "mate, son, boss, etc" its something that everyone uses through all ages, status, walks of life or whatever i mean being English can you really imagine talking to your gran and calling her "mate", or having a chat with a bank manager and then he/she just shouting out "alright son"to one of his ...

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 ...

... vision of the Virgin Mary on the spot the church was built. Apparently they have a pillar inside that marks the exact spot she appeared on. As a rule I tend to avoid going into religious buildings, partly out of respect for the worshippers, partly because they sometimes have admission fees. However I decided that the exact spot the Virgin Mary supposedly appeared on was probably worth a look, and admission was free. Of course there is no actual evidence the ...

... The later it got, though, the more I started hating myself for what happened between Juan and me. I just felt like such an imbecile. I wanted to cry but I don't really cry that much anyway so I didn't. I just wish I was in my own house with my mom so I could cuddle or something. I'm sure my host mom wouldn't turn me away if I went into her room right now but she might be wondering why I'm in her room at 2:30am so I think ...

... general purpose of which was to present a great opportunity for two families to get better acquainted before the wedding day. This was also a great opportunity for two families with two distinct cultural backgrounds and wedding traditions to blend and unite as one. Everybody was dressed very formally. The matriarch of the family, Marta's 92-year old grandmother, was present with all of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren -- in total almost 35-40 people strong. On John ...