Journeys with Sonia

My Travels Around the World

Author: Sonia Page 14 of 15

Valencia and Cuenca

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On September 30, 2013

In Spain

 

We flew from into Valencia from Madrid on Sunday, Sept 30. It was a short 45 minutes flight. We quickly made our way through the airport, grabbed a cab and headed into town. Only as we drove along seeing orange grove after orange grove, did I remember. Ah, Valencia oranges! That and olive trees everywhere. We could tell right away that Valencia was a beautiful city with squares and fountains and statues and roundabouts. Most of Valencia is quite modern with it Old Town section. But more about that later.

To read more of my Valencia and Cuenca, Spain blog from 2013, click on this link:

Valencia 2013

Madrid (2013)

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On September 29, 2013

In Spain

We took off on a Thursday, at a very civilized hour from a day filled with warmth and sunshine. The kind of day you just don’t want to leave San Diego. The flight was to DFW where after a brief lay-over, we boarded our flight to Madrid. We settled into our business class seats, took off our shoes (my kids would say that is the sign that we are on vacation), got comfortable and took off right on time. After a decent meal and one movie, we changed into PJs and went to sleep (nothing like flat beds with down comforters to ensure some sleep – oh yes, and a sleeping pill).

About 5 hours later we woke up for breakfast and our descent into Madrid. Being one of the first off the plane meant no lines at passport control and before we knew it, we were out in the street grabbing a taxi to the hotel. We landed at about noon so we had the whole day ahead of us. The Intercontinental Hotel was conveniently
located so that we could walk where ever we wanted (and those of you that know us well, know we love to walk in cities). So we unpacked, grabbed our hats and headed off to see the sights.

Andy and I had both been to Madrid both (both together and separately). So we didn’t feel we needed to do all the tourist things. We headed down Calle Soreno, one of the more elegant streets, towards Plaza de la Independencia. This is where the Puerta de Alcala (Alcala Gate) was built for King Carlo III by the famous Fancesco Sabatini. It is considered one of the most iconic landmarks of Madrid…

To read more of my 2013 blog on Madrid, please click on the link:

Madrid 2013

Bhutan – a country of happiness

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On October 30, 2012

In Bhutan

We flew about 2.5 hours and landed in Guwahati. In case you are wondering where that is, I had to look it up. It is a major city in Eastern India. So I guess now we have been to India! From here it will only be a 35 minutes flight. The excitement is building. But so is the nervousness. There will be altitude (although we have taken our Diomox and have tingling toes to prove it); there will be long car rides over winding roads (although the views are supposed to be spectacular); there will be steep paths and mountains to climb. There is the unknown – more so than in any other trip we have taken. I just finished reading (no really, just a few minutes ago), Beyond the Earth and Sky (which by the way means Thank You). It was written quite a few years ago by a Canadian woman who spent 3 years teaching in Bhutan. That description does not do justice to the book, as it is really about her experiences and life in Bhutan. I learned much. One of the things I learned was to be present in the moment (mindfulness). Not to worry about the flight home and the short connection time and whether we will miss our flight. Not to worry about whether I can make it up to the Tiger Nest Monastery. What will be will be. Que sera sera. Be in the moment. Enjoy where you are and what you are doing. Remember it. I guess that is the Buddhist way. Sounds good. But I am not a Buddhist. Nevertheless, there are always lessons to be learned and I will try to stay in the moment. Yes, the excitement is rising.

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Iceland (2012)

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On July 12, 2012

In Iceland

July 7-8, 2012
We left on the non-stop American flight from San Diego to New York. This was one of those times when rather than an old plane, we had a wonderful large plane with flat beds. Wouldn’t you know it was early in the morning and we didn’t need to sleep. Nevertheless, it was awfully comfortable. We landed in NY 30 minutes
early and headed over to Terminal 7 for our next flight – which was 4 hours later. Luck was still with us as Icelandair shares a club with British Air, and while we had access to business via our seats on Icelandair, we had access to the first class club via my status on American. So we spent 4 quiet hours, eating, relaxing, reading and just waiting.

We boarded the Icelandair flight and as wonderful as the seats were on the first leg, now that we needed to sleep, these seats just did not make it. But Icelandair is a very nice airline with little sayings in Icelandic on the pillows, blankets, cups etc. That did not make up for not being able to get comfortable to sleep. The flight from JFK to Iceland was only 5 hours so we slept just a bit. And it felt like we were flying from night to day. Well, literally, we were. But as we arrived in Iceland, the sun was shining and we knew we would not see it set until we were back in the States in one week. This time of year Iceland has light 24-hours a day.

As we neared land we were very anxious to see what Iceland would look like. At first the land was green and lush, but quickly it turned into dark, brown, dry mud. The International airport is tiny in comparison to what we are used to around the world. It took 15 minutes from when we deplaned to when we were sitting in the cab (and that was with waiting for luggage – yes we decided to send it through as we had  cameras and computers to shlep).

And then it took about 40 minutes to get into town. The drive was interesting. The land seems very flat although in the distance one can see mountains. The houses were all very square, somewhat colorful, but really rather boring looking. No very interesting architecture. The roads were empty (it was 6:30 on a Sunday morning after all). The one bright spot was the carpets of purple flowers along the side of the road. We noticed stone sculptures that looked like people along the road as well. Turns out they were cairns (man-made pile or stack of stones) used as markers along the numerous single-file roads or paths that crisscrossed the island…

 

To read more of my Iceland blog from 2012, please click on this link:

Iceland 2012

Basque Country

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On July 2, 2009

In Spain

Spain

Evening of July 2, 2009 and July 3, 2009

Let’s start with just a bit of Basque history.  All the towns/cities have two names – the Spanish name and the Basque name.  San Sebastian is Donostia in Euskara (the Basque language).  Hondarribia is Euskara, with the Spanish name Fuenterrabia. On the roads, all signs have both names listed.  Another interested tidbit about the Basque part of the country – most signs in Spanish have been painted over so only the Basque language signs can be read.  They are ferociously nationalistic.

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Berlin

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On June 24, 2009

In Germany

Berlin

June 24, 2009

 

We arrived in Berlin at about 1:00 in the afternoon. Since we connected through Brussels, our passports were stamped there and arriving in Berlin was just like arriving in Chicago.  No customs, no passport checks, just collect your luggage and grab a cab.

Downtown Berlin was just minutes away.  We were enthralled with the sights and couldn’t wait to drop off the luggage and start walking.  By 2:00 we hit the streets.  That was much better than sitting down as we probably would have crashed.  We decided to just walk the area around our hotel.  Ha – those of you that have traveled with us know we would never stop at that.  One street literally led to another and before we knew it, we had walked for three hours.  So – where did we walk and what did we see?  Keep reading….

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Sapa, Vietnam – 2009

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On March 22, 2009

In Vietnam

Sapa and Northern Vietnam

March 22

When we were making up our itinerary, I said I wanted to go to Sapa.  We were told we couldn’t fit it in.  I said, “Find a way!”  So they suggested we take the overnight train from Hanoi to Lo Cai in North Vietnam, spend the day, and take the overnight train back.  And so we did.

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Hanoi, Halong Bay and Final Thoughts on Vietnam – 2009

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On March 20, 2009

In Vietnam

Hanoi

Friday March 20

Early this morning we left Hoi An and drove back to Danang to catch a 60-minute flight to Hanoi (as it turns out which is really Ha Noi). Khan (as in Genghis Khan) met us and off we went. We were only in Hanoi for one day so we had a lot to cover. Khan didn’t think we could do it all, but we assured him that we were fast.

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Hoi An, Vietnam – 2009

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On March 19, 2009

In Vietnam

Hoi An

March 19

We had left Danang and were driving to Hoi An, a lovely town of about three streets. Hoi An translates as “peaceful meeting place.”  And indeed it is such a peaceful place.

Our hotel, Life Resort, was on the Thu Bon river. Each room has an upper level (up just a few steps) and a lower sitting area with a beautiful black couch with raw silk black and orange pillows. There is a sitting area outside with views of the river, just a few hundred yards away. After a swim in the endless pool, I sat outside our room writing about today and watching the small river boats go by.

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Hue and Danang, Vietnam, 2009

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On March 18, 2009

In Vietnam

Saigon to Hue

Wednesday March 18, 2009

Today was a lazy morning as we were not being picked up from our hotel in Saigon until 11 (see the Saigon entry). We had our last wonderful breakfast on the roof overlooking the river, packed and then Phyllis and I headed out to do a bit of shopping. And what do you know – I found a dress, perhaps to wear to my daughter’s upcoming wedding!  Down the block from the hotel was a shop of a young, famous Vietnamese designer, Minh Khoa. Here is what Travel and Leisure says about him: “Members of the city’s beau monde favor couturier · Minh Khoa who has made a career out of reimagining iconic garments.”   His dresses were all beautiful – I could have bought any number of them. And the prices were ridiculously cheap by our standards. One in particular caught my eye. They offered to make one for me in two days. I told them we had one hour. So, they motorbiked it to the factory and fixed it to fit me. Even made me a matching shawl. So at 11 we were ready go, dress in hand.

Saigon from above

 

Hue

The flight to Hue was only an hour and once again we were met by our guide, Oanh (pronounced One). Hue was the capital of Vietnam, the feudal sovereignty, from 1744 when the Nguyen lords controlled all of southern Vietnam from the city. The dynasty of the Nguyen family lasted from 1802, when Nguyen Anh defeated rebels to control the city, until 1945, when the last emperor abdicated. The city was severely damaged in the 1968 Tet offensive when house-to-house fighting lasted for weeks. Almost everything was destroyed and is now being rebuilt.

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