Month: August 2014

Monday. Barcalona Day. No swimming. Train to catch. We had the wrong time. We waited…..

Along with the rest of Santa Susanna. The trains are massive there, but only have half the chairs we do – so we had the pleasure of being packed in like matchmakers (Orange thanks God – not coffee) with the only loud Welshman right next to us. He was from Llandaf, and he lied, repeatedly, to his sons about all sorts of things. Well when I say lie, I do mean lie, but in the sense of he kept telling them things about life/the world that were just not correct like an ant is a tiny buffalo and stuff – perhaps he was just a little thick.

After a couple of station stops the tanoy came on, loudly, with a very bad singer – it sounded like they had given him a microphone in the front and piped his tones through all the carriages. I could not believe it, you wouldn’t have any of that in Britain. It was loud and rubbish. After a time I managed to move 180 degrees in the matchmaker box and realised to my horror that there was a bloke, some 2 feet away from me, with a mic and a speaker and he was actually “busking” to us on the train! Why the &^&* had no one told him to shut up or even turn it down I don’t know. Even if he had been Julio Iglesias no one would have been able to give him any cash as we couldn’t move – what a plonker. So he deliberately tortured us, safe in the knowledge no one could lift their arm high enough to clonk him. Thank the lord he got off after a couple of stops.

Just over an hour into Barcelona, and as we pulled into a station I thought we had at least another to go, but the whole train emptied. I was  a little shocked at this, so we jumped off with the crowd and headed upstairs. I think the station was Passeig de Gracia but even looking on Google I cannot be sure but it ended up being just the right place to get the tourist bus. After spending a few Euro on a couple of life saving waters, we paid up and took the first half of the bus tour. Luckily we took the back row of the bus, upstairs, and in the shade – it was nice. We went along the front and the side and the back and saw some stuff. We were told about Gaudi repeatedly, he seems to equal Barcelona, even though no one seemed to like his architecture at the time, and he was killed by a tram (which we were told about 10 times)

After a couple of hours we were back at the beginning, and it was time for lunch. We strolled down Les Rambles, which is a street where you are very likely to get robbed and looked for somewhere to have a drink. All looked the same, and not great – then, through the robbers we noticed a square. We sat, it was like luxury we had comfy seats and cold beer, and a “proper” hot dog, and some tumblers tumbled and no one tried to steal our clothes. It was so nice we ended up staying for three (drinks not hot dogs, although I was tempted.).

After lunch it was time for the bus again, so we shambled down the Rambles holding very tightly to our slacks and purses, and had a look around the Quay side – where we send 60 cent having a wee wee (boy it was worth it though ;o), then we got on the bus again for the second half of the Barcelona journey. We saw some more stuff on this pass, and two hours later we were back again. We did a little bit of exploring, and Kate magically directed us around all the tiny streets to the only square we found, where we were easily persuaded to spend 50% more than the rest of Barcelona on supper. But we were on the only square around – so that was okay. The toilet had a bloke in it who had the job of putting soap on your hand, starting the tap and then drying your hand – I didn’t let him.

Back on a slightly less packed train, and quick doss on the balcony before gwelly.

Another day, Sunday today, not something you really think about on your hols – all days blur into one. Up early again, and a little run into Pineda de Mar this morning, and right past the Maccy D’s. I was tempted, but it was just out of reach given my training was going that well…

Back for a swim – the water seemed a little warmer today, so we had a splash about before breakfast – Kate had Chicken Nuggets I had my normal number of rolls and greasy meat. Afterwards we got back down on our beds by the pool, but I didn’t venture in again, I didn’t want to get wet before our stroll.

Back down to Pineda, with a view to eat at the Tapas bar I had heard about. We had a look along the front, then back for the Tapas. It was good. The beer glass was frosted, and we had anchovies, calamari, bread, cheese, meatballs it was great. To top it off, we were sat outside, in the shade, with the F1 on a big telly just in front of us – now that is the life…. After nosh we relented to Kate to get a blow up thing for the water – she decided on a great big ring, which she had to carry!

Back down the beach, and into the waves in our new toy. Luckily for Kate after about 30 seconds on it I felt sea sick, so she had the joy of me pushing her in it, into the waves. Ah what fun. The sea was reasonably “warm” and the waves were fun, but I got caught by one, and spun under, as I had my ear plugs in and the sea invaded my head, it almost caused them to pop out. I had a real stabbing pain in my ear, and managed to stumble out of the sea and tag-team Sian to take over. I thought I might have perforated my ear drum – I hadn’t…

After a while we set off back, and into the pool to get Kate to practice diving through the ring, after a few worried aborted attempts she finally did it, and was well chuffed. This continued for some time and long enough to get a big scar down her leg from the creases – but she was in the pool so couldn’t complain too much ;o) I retired and the other came up soon ready for Kates special treat for supper – we were going to the Hotel Buffet – Oh no!

So we ummed a little, but ended up going back into the breakfast room for supper, to be honest it wasn’t bad, but it did make me think what a great choice we made in just booking breakfast. There was a good choice, for me mostly veal and lamb chops. But it was good to have a little of everything, and then a little more, and then a little more, and then …. So we were home sooner than usual, so took a littlel stroll up the shops and got some goodies. Nice to be back early and took the opportunity to get some extra zzz’s. Sian and Kate fell asleep with their Kindles open.

Hotel Buffet – 6/10

Lots of thunder in the night, but the morning was clear. I was up early and off for a run to Malgrat. Felt really good to run, and I went around the back a little and further than we had walked previously. Years ago my folks had stayed here in a hotel which I tried to find, I couldn’t – I ran back the other way, along the road by the coast, and it was great. Got back, far to sweaty to go straight in the pool, but I did anyway – the shock of the cold water nearly gave me a cardiacarest but I survived. Yet another massive breakfast, and afterwards, as we had put some towels down in the morning, we spent it around the pool. Bit of a doze, a little swim and some nice relax took us to lunch. I ordered a beer and a fanta, when the waiter saw this he did an amused “oooh lalaaaa” to me – not sure what he was insinuating, but it seemed to amuse him no end.

After lunch we went back, and the girls splashed around and I went back to my hidey hole on the balcony and drank and ate cooked pig skin – life was good. After they came back it started to rain again, but only when I noticed the ball, and my T-shirt were still around the poolside. I got wet.

Another walk up the strip and a visit to the same place we went on the first night, very slow service, and I had another Spaghetti Fruti de Mar – this one however had no sauce – just lashings of olive oil, it was okay, but no where near as nice as the others I had. After waiting for a week for the food and final drinks we mooched back. Kate and I had our silhouettes cut out by a bloke on the front – it took him about 30 seconds, it was so impressive, although whilst typing this it doesn’t do it justice.

Didn’t see much of Tenacious fly today.

Bei Peppe – 6/10

Thunder in the night, and rain in the morning. So we decided to head back to Girona. Had the big breakfast again, and got some tickets – remembering to Validate them. On the train along with Tenacious, we set off to Girona. The trains are big, but have few seats, so Kate sat across the way from us and after a couple of stops had Micheal Jackson sit next to her. He obliviously had some condition because his fingers, toes and some of his hand was white, the rest wasn’t. He looked a little like a snake shedding his skin. I don’t know if there is a phrase which says in every black person there is a white persons trying to get out – but if there is, it was his.

Girona was pretty good, we walked around the old Ciry, and walked the walls. At one point we had to go up a tower on a spiral staircase. As it was busy I waited for the girls, but then the queue disappeared and I risked the climb – I don’t like heights or staircases you can see though, but to make it worse as I was half way up some woman was coming down on a mission. She physically pushed by out of the way which meant I was pushed into the central column of the staircase, which was rusty – so I had bronze boob for the rest of the day.

We found a little cafe for a beer, and then after some wondering around trying to find a food place with room, we sat on their Rambals and had some great tapas, we shared everything, and to give him is dues Tenacious fly waited until we had finished before he launched in.

We walked around the rest of the town, and then it started to rain, alot. So we had to get in a pub, and fast – which we did. We had a train to catch, so we braved the storm – which luckily for us was just about stopping and managed to get a seat for the journey home. Once back the pool side was quite quiet – ideal for a swim, so we splashed about a bit.

Along the strip again, and actually found the place we he been looking for the night before – it was good. It was down a backstreet, and we were quite pensive when we arrived, but it was great, and had to large parties of locals in. I had a monkfish stew thing, which was a great thing – best place we went to.

Whilst there we could hear and see the rain picking up again, so we got a little wet on the way home, but there was hardly anyone on the strip – which was magnificent. I didn’t mind a little rain when we almost had the pavement to ourselves. We got back and sat on the balcony watching the lightening flash, the thunder roar and the rain pour – it was good.

Antonios – 9/10

Next day and it was Water Park day – unfortunately. Big old breakfast, then we had to get our towels and look for the free bus to the Park. A bus came with no room, everyone ran to it, then another cheaper looking one came, which we managed to get onto after a bit of faffing, as we didn’t have a ticket. Two days later we made it to the Park in Lorett de Mar, just as it opened. Some more faffing and we got in. I felt sick.

We found a spot and Mr Miserable didn’t want to do anything, so the girls went off and had a great time on all the scary water rides. I dossed, and slept a little, and dossed some more. I did enjoy the day, as it was a great day to totally do nothing what so ever, which was one of the ideas I had for the holiday – but it meant that I didn’t go with the family on anything, which was bad. At about 12:00 Tenacious fly turned up, he obviously missed the first bus, had a lay in and caught the second free bus – either that or he flew all the way – I’ll never know. They enjoyed the rides though I think, and they even went around again in the afternoon. I stayed in my bin.

After planning out a book, it was time to catch the bus home. We got there on time, and we had seats. After a bit of time on the balcony we headed out for some more nosh. I was after a specific place, but we couldn’t find it. We headed to the place, as mapped in Trip Advisor and the place wasn’t there – what was there was nothing. I was gagging for a wee-wee, so in the end had to run into a hotel to find a toilet. We walked some more, and some more and found nothing, so headed back to the strip.

We say outside the place, and after ordering, we discovered the Malbro Girl was sitting next to us, and she managed to smoke a fag constantly for the two hours we were there. Whether she was on the phone, eating, drinking, talking, holding her breath she still had the fag in her mouth. Given the amount of smoke drifting over us she probably wasn’t really smoking it at all, just holding it and pointing the red bit at us. It was a shame really because the food was great. I had another Spaghetti Fruiti de Mar here, and it was better than the first one. The staff were arseholes though. Tenacious fly was back.

They started okay, but were so slow, and although I appreciate it that Europe does things differently in restaurants to us normal people, and things are more “laid back”, but when you wait for 15 minutes for a drink, and then have to ask three times for the bill it gets a little frustrating. At one point I asked another waiter for the bill and he looked at me with disgust, and said something in some foreign language. Well I showed him, I left no tip! HA!

Home bed.

Vistamar (food) – 9/10

Vistamar service and other customers – 1/10

UP early doors, and spent some time watching the imbeciles actually queuing at 8:00 to be allowed to put their towels down. Some of the loungers have towels on for most of the day with no one there. It is a self fulfilling process though, as because people do it, then in order to get a bed, you also have to do it – stupid.

So we went down just after 8:00 and had a little swim. This was nice,hardly anyone else around, almost the whole of the pool to ourselves – although with five people in the pool it was a little crowded for me. We spent around half hour in the pool, which was surprisingly cold when you first got in it – then off for the first of many massive breakfasts. Standard hotel fare, big huge buffet with everything you could want from fruit, cereals, bread, cheese, hams, bacon (well a sort of European bacon), eggs, chicken nuggets, chips and on and on. I immediately got into a routine which stayed with me for the remained. Two rolls, lots of meat and cheese and some orange juice.

Once sated, we decided to find the “private” beach the hotel may or may not have, it may not, as far as we could see. So instead we walked along the coast to the other town – Pineda de Mar. This seemed like quite a trek, and Kate couldn’t wait to get in the sea, but wait she did ;o)

We had a little look around, and big brave Kate climbed a playground thing with a slide, then we went to the Amstel pub. Amsel beer glasses, Amstel menu, Amsel table, Amstel ashtray, Amsel chairs – but oddly no Amstel lager. Nah – I’m kidding. After this brief stop we headed back to find a piece of beach we liked. That took longer than you might expect. Finally we found a spot we liked, so the race was on to get in the sea. The beach was a sort of shingle, with a steep incline down to the sea, there were big breakers but as the beach was so sloped within about 15 foot you were out of your depth – I was scared as I didn’t know how the undercurrents might behave, but after a time we were pretty confident. If you weer caught in a wave you got pummeled – this is a lot more fun than it sounds. I had a little sit in the sun whilst Sian took over sea duties with my book, my water bottle and Tenacious fly for company.

After beach time we headed home and went for a quick bite to eat in the hotel outside restaurant – I had a “horse” sausage – make of that what you will – it was tasty, but a little dry..  Afterwards the girls took themselves off to the pool again, and I relaxed like an over-weight life guard in my chair on the balcony. Couple of beers and 17% of my book later and we were all back together ready to hit the strip. This time we didn’t walk so far, and went to another recommendation from tripadvisor. We hadn’t really got into the Spanish way yet – we were ready for food at eight, Spain isnt ready until way after nine, so we ended up being the only people in this place. The manager was friendly, I think, as he didn’t seem to speak any English – and the waiting staff kept walking passed us like it was an aquarium. We had some free things from him, which as we couldn’t speak the lingo we had no idea what they were – there were nice though, and I had my first Spaghetti Fruiti de Mar – it was nice. Couple of beers later and it was time to join the streams of people on the front. Back home to the balcony, and I couldn’t even finish my beer everyone was asleep again. We had had the air con all day, and the curtains closed, so it was chilling nicely, but also chilling noisily – good job I had my earplugs…

Via 7 – 8/10

Well we finally booked a holiday. We had planned to go on the last week in Aug this year, and I stupidly thought we would just get our pick of any “last minute” holidays and get going – well it wasn’t like that – everywhere I looked for a good hotel was booked, and when you have no location in mind it gets a little long winded. Anyway I ended up getting a hotel which had good reviews on the coast in Spain. After booking the hotel and flights separately – bloody RyanAir add’s extra money for everything. We decided to go to Santa Susanna on the Costa Brava about an hour up the coast from Barcelona.

I went to check in via Ryan Air and realised two things – one is that if your flight ids longer than seven days you either have to pay for allocated seating, or print out your ticket once you get there as you can only print out tickets within seven days of your flight. The second thing we realised was that Kate didn’t have a valid passport! We had just over a week to get it, so they went to the passport office in Newport of the off chance – but children cannot get a passport on the day, they have to send off and it takes a week – this was Monday, we were leaving the following Tues. The next appointment in Newport was three weeks in the future, so even though it only takes five minutes we eventually got a session in Liverpool on the Tues morning. So Sian and Kate got on the train Monday afternoon for a night out in the ‘pool.

They stayed, they saw and after a fire alarm scare they sat in front of Mrs Passport and after approx. 3 minutes it was stamped – we just had to hope it came before Tues. It did.

So up early doors on the Tues morning, and arrived into the airport car park at 6:45. Ready to queue, and queue we did. The bag checkin was slow as usual, but security was empty. Slightly annoyingly we have to make sure things are packed right, and have to take off all our clothes to get though the scanner, but the staff were mucking about with each other on the air side of the scanner. It’s a little frustrating that we have to do all these things to get through, and our security didn’t seem to give a shit. They did test Sian’s phone for drugs though – which was nice.

Once though we got ourselves into the holiday spirit with a big BK breakfast, and the the cattle market started for the flight. As everyone had assigned seats now, I don’t really understand the mentality to get there first. But a couple of hours later we were in Girona. Once we arrived we went to colelct your baggage, and also to pick up Tenacious fly – he is your own private fly who stays with you throughout your trip. He fights off the other flys so you only ever have one with you, but he stays there all holiday. After picking up the bags and Tenacious we met our non-communicative driver at the gate, and were ferried in the back of a nice minibus thing, with a number plate of HKY. Forty minutes and a five euro tip later I was standing in an air-conditioned queue listing to some annoying Russians try to check in, and had to hear the constant bleating of some Americans that things were not exactly the same as at home.

Room was okay – but warm, decent balcony which looked down on the pit of evil which was the pool side. So many people, my heart rate raised, my palms were sweating (although that was probably the 29 degree heat) and I thought I might have a panic attack – 8 days of this!!!!!

We set off for a little wonder down the strip, and stopped at Kate’s first choice of the week – the Burger Club. I was hyperventilating at this point – but luckily could breath enough to get a big fat bacon/cheese burger down my neck and the first of an occasional beer. I would have left there and then if I could have – I am just so rubbish.

So back to the hotel, and the girls went to brave the throngs in the pool, and I tried to relax with a can of beverage on the balcony. It was getting better, I could see them, but was far enough away from the crowds. I sat and sweated in the heat, read my book and drank my beer – actually this is okay I started to think…

Later on we walked down the avenue to the next village, Malgrat and as we walked in the heat we saw all the people – there were loads. The strip was okay, stalls on one side, bars/shops and restaurants on the other.. We had a plan for tonight, the number one place to start with – it seemed like it was miles away. We arrived we spent days waiting for a beer, and had some okay nosh. I decided to eat like a Spaniard, so had the Paella – but a meat one – expecting some meaty deliciousness in a variety of small fleshy parcels I had chunks of bony chicken in wet rice.

We walked the length of the strip back, and I relaxed out side on the balcony for a final beer – the girls were asleep, cuddling their Kindles when I came in – I think it was fair to say we were tired.

Burger Club – 7/10

Bei Pepe – 7/10