Tag Archives: travel

barcelona birthday?

02 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by in welcome

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bcn bdayI’m not sure quite how this happened, but sometime between going out to the gym this morning and arriving back home I’d decided that I should go to Barcelona next week for my birthday (!!!). Close followers of casa az (with long memories) may recall that I first went to Barcelona seven years ago to celebrate my 50th birthday. This was all before Twitter and food blogs and whatnot, so although it was a fun and interesting trip, I know I’ll get much more out of it this time round.

So I got home and immediately checked out flights. Ridiculously prohibitive prices. Then I remembered the AVE high-speed train now goes from Sevilla to Barcelona, via Madrid. And it turns out that if I modify my dates a bit I can get there and back again for 140 euros (airfare was double that!). But if I go on my birthday it would be an extra 60 euros. So… if all goes well I shall celebrate my 57th birthday here with cats and friends, then take a day off to pack and whatnot, and then head out to Barcelona the morning of the 9th. It’s a 5 1/2 hour trip, leaving at 9.00 and getting in at 2.30. Just in time for a late snacky lunch. But first I need a hotel!

I checked with Room Mate since I’d had such a nice time at their Málaga Lola Hotel last month, but they don’t have the same great 3-night offer. Then Twitter friend @criadera recommended Market Hotel, and I remembered that my friend Edu @differentspain had also mentioned that one recently. So we got into a Twitter chat and Market Hotel says they’ll get back to me tomorrow. Fingers crossed that I can get a nice room at a reasonable price. Meanwhile… squeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Looks like I’m going to Barcelona!

travelling girl

26 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by in animals & pets, cats, Malaga, spain, summer, travel, trips

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travelling kitten

The other two (Loki and Luna) would’ve been screaming their heads off. But as you can see, little Morcilla is quite the relaxed traveller. The only thing she doesn’t like is being jostled around in her carry bag, but once we settle down and she feels comfy, well, you can see for yourself. The woman sitting next to me on the train was totally charmed by Morcilla, and others looking over at her suddenly smiled. She has that effect on everybody.

And now we are both unpacked and happily settled in our fabulous Málaga apartment. I’m just going out for a quick snack. More mañana…

holiday plans

26 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by in cats, holidays, Malaga, travel, trips

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holidayA little while ago I made some changes to my original summer holiday plan to have a northern Spain adventure. The idea of schlepping around the northern coast on my own suddenly felt like it would be more lonely than adventurous. And it turned out that I really didn’t feel okay about leaving Morcilla (aka Smudge) for two whole weeks. She’s still too small to comfortably leave with the two bigger incumbents.

So now she is coming on holiday with me to Málaga! My friend Manolo (once again) very generously offered me his beachside apartment so I’m going to spend my first week there and then have another week in the centre of town in a very chic duplex apartment. I quite like the idea of having two very different Málaga experiences.

This is going to be my first “proper holiday” in, well, probably my whole life. I can’t remember ever taking an entire TWO WEEKS off, staying somewhere else, and just hanging out and enjoying myself. As I’ll be on my own it turns out that Málaga is a nice choice because I feel very at home there and also have friends I can visit. I also want to do a couple of day trips. But mostly I don’t want to over-plan. I just want get down there, unpack my stuff and get the kitten set up, pick up some groceries, and then…. BREATHE.

change of plans

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by in london, spain, summer, travel, trips

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suitcaseWell, maybe. Remember my Northern Spain Adventure? I’m having second thoughts now that summer vacation time is almost here. Mostly because it’s not the kind of trip I want to do alone. I think there would be too many amazing moments that I’d want to share with someone. And I think it’s the kind of trip that is best done with a car, so perhaps better another time when I can go with someone who wants to do the same thing and who can also drive. The thought of me on my own catching buses and trains and then just hanging out alone in new places I’ve always wanted to visit somehow doesn’t appeal.

Having said that, I am still determined about taking my first ever proper holiday, as in, taking more than a few days off and not working while I’m away. So I may spend a whole two weeks in Málaga (if I can get Manolo’s apartment – still waiting to hear back) which would be different from my past quick getaways, and it would allow me to do some day trips while I’m there. I don’t mind exploring on my own but I think it will feel more relaxing to do this from a place I already feel at home (and I could take Smudge with me). I’m hoping to do this during the last two weeks of July, so fingers crossed.

I’m now thinking of also taking a week or so in August and doing a quick London & Bristol visit. Because who knows what news the September PET scan will bring? So I really want to make the most of this summer, even if I don’t do the northern adventure.

What are your summer plans?