Air? This was semi-easy. The least expensive air fare at this time was to fly Chicago-Frankfurt on United, change to a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt-Barcelona on the outbound. The return was a little more complicated. An Aviaco flight from San Sebastian to Madrid, Iberia from Madrid to Paris, connecting to United back to Chicago, our final destination. A multitude of airlines fly to Spain. You shouldn't have any problem deciding for yourself what carrier to use.

Hotels? Some additional reservations were required. Since the tour began in Barcelona, we decided to spend one extra day at the Hotel Regencia Colon, the group hotel. We had never visited Barcelona and would do a little power-sightseeing. Picked the Hotel Ezeiza in San Sebastian for two nights at the end of the tour (down the road from Hondarribia, tour's end) and Sofitel Madrid for one night.

Continue reading "Planning The Spanish Pyrenees Trip" »

Posted by Sheila at 05:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I have day-hiked and walked extensively through Europe and the Alps over the years but never gave a thought to the Pyrenees. The Pyrenees are shared by France and Spain with Spain containing the three highest summits and, supposedly, the best scenery. The Pyrenees look like the Alps with peaks, flower-filled meadow, glacial amphitheaters, dense forests and rivers but are much less visited than the Alps.

I knew nothing about any of this until my yearly Wilderness Travel catalog appeared with a trip into the "Heart of The Pyrenees." A 12-day rigorous inn-to-inn hiking adventure. (Since we took this trip, the itinerary has changed slightly.) We've traveled with Wilderness Travel on nine (9) different trips. They are reliable, quick to respond and take action when a trip doesn't go to plan. For example, read about our infamous Hunza Odyssey. Wilderness rebated a nice chunk of money to all participants for the inconveniences and general trip dissatisfaction.

Continue reading "Into The Isolated Spanish Pyrenees" »

Posted by Sheila at 05:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I firmly believe that family traveling is one of the most rewarding parts of life. It's an opportunity that may never come again and just takes a lot of planning and flexibility. We had three glorious days to talk and share experiences with Sarah's undivided attention. Not like the usual phone calls or visits where I ask.."What's new?" and they reply..."Nothing"...while I.M.'ing to friends, i-Pod earbuds on, the television on and heavy metal music all going at one time. There was just the three of us for almost four straight days.

Sarah's, 13-year old teenage thoughts:

- Rome was a ball and is already planning where she should travel when she graduates college and lives with her parents (Michael...Paula...are you ready for this? No job...just travel?)
- What is a bidet and how do you use it?
- Roman baths were gross. How could everyone bath together and why was it a big social event?
- The people at the 5**** Hassler Hotel across the street were snobs.

Continue reading "Traveling With Teenagers (or Children)" »

Posted by Sheila at 05:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

The driver took us back to Fumincino Airport for check-in at Lufthansa. Our return entailed a short Rome to Frankfurt flight, overnight at the IBIS Hotel and fly home to Chicago on United early the next day. Lufthansa offered to check our bags all the way through to Chicago. Sounded good to us, took out some clean clothes for the night and checked those bags through.

In a lounge until flight time. Sarah loved the Lufthansa flight and thought they were the greatest. Lufthansa had:
- Little Diet Coke and Sprite Cans in German..."Grandma, aren't they cute?"... (Had to wash them out and take as souvenirs.);
- Cheese sandwiches on a cheese bread. (Got an extra one from the flight attendant and she snarfed both down); and
- Interesting wax paper bags the sandwiches were served in. Each bag described a different fruit or vegetable in German and English along with its origin.

Continue reading "Sarah says: Arrivederci, Roma" »

Posted by Sheila at 05:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

No one could have asked for a more wonderful last day in Rome. Not a cloud in the sky and hot! Breakfast and then we have to finish packing. Today Sarah ate Jif Peanut Butter on bread along with Honey Nut Cherrios. Many evenings she'd eat some of the dry cereal as a snack before going to bed.

Final packing over with Sarah's presents locked in our suitcase (TSA lock), we took them out of the room and left with the owner until 4:00 pm when the driver would take us to Fuimincino Airport. We had a plan. The first stop? Trevi Fountain where there was only a small amount of people this early and Sarah was able to throw her coins into the fountain to ensure she returns to Rome one day....View image...

Continue reading "Sarah's Last Day in Rome: Much To See and Do" »

Posted by Sheila at 05:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Rome is very, very crowded this week. Easter Week, Spring Break in many countries, families with small children, school groups, locals, tourists from every country in the world. I knew the lines at the Sistine Chapel would be long and were advised to go around lunch time. We did, but still....

The line stretched for blocks, creeping towards the one and only Vatican entrance unless you pay for a tour. Tour groups enter differently and free-lance tour guides stationed themselves along the line offering tours (expensive tours). We crept slowly onward until we reached security. Everything goes through the x-ray machines, you step through the sensors and once through, you must check backpacks. Then, buy expensive tickets and enter.

Continue reading "Sarah's 2nd Afternoon in Rome: The Sistine Chapel" »

Posted by Sheila at 05:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I had just dropped off into a deep sleep last night when I heard someone crying. Sarah was a little homesick, couldn't sleep because Grandpa Sonny was snoring and there were too many noisy cars outside. A little comfort, few hugs, poked Grandpa to make him stop snoring and she fell asleep. For the next two nights, the two of us will use ear plugs.

Up around 7:30 am for breakfast. I came equipped with Honey Nut Cheerios , Cocoa Puffs, individual packs of Jif Peanut Butter, lunch-size packs of Doritos and Potato Chips AND one Kraft Easy Mac n' Cheese just in case Ms. Finicky Eater didn't like the food. Sure enough. The bread was okay, she didn't like the milk and ate Cocoa Puffs dry and I nuked the Kraft Easy Mac n' Cheese in the B&B's microwave.

Continue reading "Sarah's 2nd Morning in Rome: Fountains, Pantheon and Castel Sant'Angelo" »

Posted by Sheila at 05:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)