Seville apartment rental

There were a few road bumps on the way of my plane (2 hr delay sitting on it in DFW), train (OMNI is not getting a good customer service review from me), and automobile (taxis today...just to tired to hoof/bus/subway that big suitcase).

But check out the view from my rental apt with a private terrace. 

Weather is a fresh cool. Very comfortable to sit out, although temp is dropping with the sun, so that may not last.

Happy space ✔️

Time to find some dinner...

Picturesque Puertollano

Little village seem from the train, about halfway from Madrid to Seville .

Red tiled houses crawling up the hill over a pretty church.

There's a monument to miners standing on a hill overlooking the town. And since of the town is less picturesque, with tin roof shacks and clear evidence of the mining that occurred here.

My American is showing

  

Already can tell that Spainards are used to being a little more flexible than in the U.S., or the Asian counties I have visited more recently. 

Waiting for a train at Madrid's Puerta de Atocha Estación del tren begins with everyone hovering by the display board, waiting to find out what gate their train is coming in to. Which happens about 15 mins before the train arrives, and then everyone rushes to the gate. Then another line.

Then they've changed the train, so the seat I reserved doesn't even exist. Handed me a printed card with no consideration of window, aisle or solo seat I originally booked.

Lots of hurry up and wait. Not a place to  try and follow a super strict schedule, at least not for a first time visitor on day 1

Right now, I'm wishing I'd slept more than a few hours on the plane, so I 

Outward Bound

After a long hiatus from travel, and a longer break from blogging, I'm one more off to explore the Tookish side and put my Baggins away for a few days.

Twelve days to explore southern Spain and Portugal.

Sidenote, my seatmate on the plane is a lovely woman named Pilar, and I've already reached the limits of my Spanish, before we pulled away from the gate. SMH

Another day, another adventure

On the beautiful island of Puerto Rico with Andrea and Kevin. First beverage in hand! Already confronting cultural differences with a cockfighting arena right next door to the hotel.

Grandma Ellie

So grateful for this time to visit my lovely, funny, wonderful grandmother. 

Brrr

Glad I packed all the cold weather gear and carted it around 3 countries.  Barely needed even my coat in Korea or Japan, but I just landed in Reno and it's 32 and 18 tomorrow morning. Little shock to the system.  

More than worth a little frost nipping at my nose to see my grandma!