Thirty-eight years ago as we began our married life, we cycled out of Strafford, Vermont and began a year-long bicycling adventure traveling around the world. (The photo is from Nepal.) Then came another wonderful adventure -- children and careers. With children on their own and our careers behind us, we entered the next chapter, again with a bicycle adventure. That one was more modest, train trips across the country and five weeks on bikes from Los Angeles, CA to Portland, OR; but it greeted us with we good riding, great sights, and interesting people.

After two bicycle trips on the west coast, we tried something different. With an old dog along for the ride and a camper in the bed of the pickup, we set off for the desert southwest exploring national parks, enjoying daily cycling, and even playing a little golf.

In Spring, 2017, we decided on an international adventure. We landed in Lisbon, Portugal and rode a loop through Portugal and Spain and back to Lisbon. Once again, seeing the sights, meeting people, and pedaling 1600 miles were wonderful!

In March 2018 we left Maine after a big snow storm and headed to North Carolina for some warmth - we didn't find it. We went further south to SC - still didn't find it! But we did discover new places to cycle and explore!

It is now August 2023, kids are married with families of their own (five wonderful grandchildren) and we are off on another adventure! Our first stop will be Lily Bay State Park on August 13, then head north and west, across Canada and into Alaska driving and camping with bikes and a canoe. Here is the family, though missing Miles' wife, Baily.

Sunday, March 26, 2017

La Alhambra

     We had a great rest day in Granada visiting the Alhambra. The day started at 5 am when we rose in order to make it to the ticket line by 5:301!  8000 people a day visit the Alhambra, but there are only 200 same-day tickets sold. We stood in line in the dark freezing morning for 2 1/2 hours waiting for tickets to go on sale. The small group right around us made the time go by nicely -- a man from Belgium, two young women from London, and a young man from Columbia with his German girlfriend.  All were interesting and had great senses of humor. We had a nice morning. Fortunately, we got tickets that let us in at 1:00 and we spent the better part of the afternoon soaking in the beauty.                What can you write about the Alhambra to do it justice -- simply one of the most awe-inspiring human constructions on earth. Looking at some of the detail work leaves one wondering at the patience and skill of the creators. Dana had visited the place 40 years ago and always wanted to return. It was Anne's first visit. Both is us were glad to be in the presence of such genius and beauty. By the way, we heard today that the Alhambra is the second most visited tourist site in Europe. But no one knew what the first is??.
 
 
 
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2 comments:

  1. MaryAnn ShupeMarch 26, 2017 at 8:12 PM

    Beautiful!!!

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  2. MeganMarch 26, 2017 at 8:34 PM

    So glad you made it to the Alhambra. I remember thinking "it's made of lace!" Your pictures are beautiful, and your story so far has me thinking of how to convince Pat that we'll need to do that some day. I hope your new itinerary isn't a disappointment, sounds like you'll still have plenty to enjoy and more freedom to enjoy it. I never spent any time on the roads in the south (all my travel was in a train), so it's no wonder the roads don't go where you need them to. The tractor count sounds about right though. There's an enormous cut flower industry down there around Cádiz and Jerez de la Frontera, those might be greenhouses you were seeing. They say the immediate coast to the Atlantic side of Gibraltar is more interesting than the coast on the Mediterranean side of Gibraltar, in case that option comes back into your route. I'm enjoying your updates every chance I get. To me, it feels like the trip is flying by, I wonder if it's the same for you. Take care and enjoy.

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