12-31 return bikes and off to Padua with a layover in Florence

I went to

Bed too late to wake up so early. But, alas, the alarm went off and it's time to move. 

We have a limited time to explore Florence. 

Up and ready for breakfast, my still damp clothes into the pannier as we bike into Siena to return our bicicletas. 

Another exciting ride except less thrilling during the day. Carlo escorted us to the bike shop and then to the bus. What a treat to not have to navigate having to find our way around. Shortly after, we were waving good bye to Carlo and in our way to Florence. 

Once off the bus we both were so thankful for the quiet days in the small towns. Time to weave our way through streets full of people. 

It was so cool to be here. The buildings in Florence are different than I had imagined. Beautiful and stunning. Overwhelmed by the people ash and I were more worried about eating and peeing before seeing the sights. Each cafe restaurant and gelateria was just as crowded as the one before. Success! We found a place and stuck with it!

From there we explored: the duomo, palacio Medici, the vechio bridge. We saw a cool art installation based around the bicycle. 

Vacation days seem to last for weeks 65 km volterra to San Rocco a pilli

Today we were treated to a great breakfast in our hotel in volterra. 

With full bellies we set out on our way to head back to Siena. Well, that was the plan. Our first 25 km were hilly. Lots of down hill but some ups all the same. It was fun, though cold and tiring. 

When we finally got to Valle de col de else we stopped for a coffe/hot chocolate to warm up. 

Thus ensued the funniest conversation of italian-English-Spanish-pantomime-pigeon language to figure out which road we needed to find. 

Turns out, we were 100 meters from the roundabout with all the info we needed just before we stopped. 

It's was a great stop anyway to warm our fingers and toes. 

On towards Siena on the 541 orange color highway: the lo g way around. 

A whole different story here. 

Flat terrain and smooth riding: lots of other cyclists along the way. 

We traveled another 40 km in a short period of time and ended up close to our friend Carlo who connected with via warmshowers. 

We had planned to stay with him a few nights before but couldn't get out to his small town. This time, with bikes, we would at least stop by on our way. 

After we met Carlo, our whole plan changed. What an Interesting and kind man. 

We arrived, did laundry, discussed so many interesting topics from politics to history to food preferences. 

 We went on a thrilling evening ride from his house to sienna to some of the best shops around town. 

It was great to speed around on a bike without having to find our way. Carlo led to way as we followed using his powerful bike lights to illuminate our way. 

Up around and down and up and up into the walled old town of Siena. Off to the natural food store, a stop for gelato, and zooming back out of town. Little stops to meet his friends along the way. 

Ashlyn and I laugh as we meet his friend, Alessandro,at a local specialty store. "he smelled good" I say in my no hesitations mode- ash adds on "better than us" as we unzip our jackets, we torture ourselves with the stink. 

Hhaha, always having a good time on these adventures. 

Thanks to Carlo, we get to shower and wash clothes and feel clean again!!!

More to add on this incredible day but getting so tired !!!

Re posting for 12-28

Wow. Today was a big day. We took off walking 3 km to the bike shop outside f the walled town of siena. By the time we were outfitted with our bikes, it was 12:30.  The bike shop was awesome and has bikes ready to go including water bottles, bike locks, panniers, and even a bike computer.

After a quick lunch, we climbed uphill out of town. It was slow and painful, but we made it. 

So as to not get lost, we stopped often to check the map. 

A nice Italian man stopped to see if we needed help with directions. 

"grazie!" we say with a smile. Then we say "englese? Espagnol?"

No he says "italianisimo"

Uh oh. Here we go... So we figured out on our own and with his help that we were going the right way. 

Then, as I asked him to take a picture of us as we were finally starting our cycling trip. I knew it would be a stretch to have him use the phone to take a photo. 

And... I asked him anyway. 

He was so cute trying to figure out how to take a photo but failing miserably and of course making me laugh while watching him stare at the phone like it might explode. Photo included. 

So we rode on to Monteriggioni, an impressive walled city up a steep hill. 

Then onto San Gimignano. 

Man, what an uphill trek to a super touristy town. 

We ended up staying in a room at a monastery towards the edge of the walled city. 

Riding around Tuscany  is quite wonderful. Nice rolling hills, pretty views, signs along the way telling you where to go. Yeah, sometimes you get closer to a town and somehow the sign says it is further. But that's okay... The kilometers go by quickly. 

Rainy day bike ride 30 km to volte era

After sleeping for 10 hours, ash and I motivated to get up and get outside to bike in the rain. 

We had our yogurt and cured meat for breakfast and said goodbye to Magdalena, our mother nun for the night. 

As she watched us get our bikes ready to go, she continued to be surprised by our will to bike up and down the hills in the area. What better expression than "mama Mia" from our friend, the nun. 

I was sure that we did more climbing and more kilometers than the bike computer is willing to admit. We aspired to go 90 kms and instead, finished our day doing 30 kms. Cold wet feet were my reason for stopping and ash felt the same. 

Happy to relax and stay in volterra we shopped for a place to stay for the night. Prices were high in this little town and the seminary appeared closed. Well, maybe the monks were off praying somewhere. It is Sunday, after all. 

Siena to San Gimignano 40 kilometers-12-28

Wow. Today was a big day. We took off walking 3 km to the bike shop outside f the walled town of siena. 

By the time we were outfitted with our bikes, it was 12:30.  The bike shop was awesome and has bikes easy for us including water bottles bike locks panniers and even a bike computer. I brought my bike computer but didn't want to have to use it if I didn't need to. 

After a quick lunch, we climbed uphill out of town. It was slow and painful, but we made it. 

So as to not get lost, we stopped often to check the map. 

A nice Italian man stopped to see if we needed help with directions. 

"grazie!" we say with a smile. Then we say "englese? Espagnol?"

No he says "italianisimo"

Uh oh. Here we go... So we figured out on our own and with his help that we were going the right way. 

Then, as I asked him to take a picture if us as we were finally starting our cycling trip, I knew it would be a stretch to have him use the phone to take a photo. 

And... I asked him anyway. 

He was so cute trying to figure out how to

Rome in a day

Yup. We decided to see what we could see of Rome in one day. 

If there was more time, it would have been great to see more of this amazing city. It's just so busy and crowded that we wanted to explore by bikes (not in Rome). 

Mostly, when traveling, if I don't already have a bike, I will rent one or I'll say "I just wish I had a bike to see this city."

Not the case from Rome. 

As Ashlyn and I meandered up the Spanish steps and down the small narrow street, I said what I rarely say: " I'm so happy we don't have bikes while we are here in Rome". There is just too much going to be able to find my way around. 

Ashlyn and I got up and showered took the train to the metro to piazza de spagna (the Spanish steps) to our 11 am tour of George de chirico's house. He was one of the painters who was a strong influence towards the surrealism movement. Originally from Greece, he moved around lots and settled for a long time in Rome. 

It was cool to see where he lived and to see his painting studio.  Interesting toyr

Ashlyn and I found a gluten free friends restaurant for her and then made out way to the coliseum. We got some gelato on our way, of course. 

It's was so cool so see the

Coliseum. Though crowded with so many people, it was also cool to observe people from everywhere around the world. It reminded me of being at the aya Sofia in Istanbul. So much history and such a mix of people there to see it all. 

On our way back to the bus station we stopped by a beautiful shoe store. Almost a museum in its own right of really fancy shoes from the previous year. The window displays were just beautiful. Di saw and awesome pair f boots and sadly, they didn't fit. 

I wrote this now on the way to Sienna by bu. looking forward to less big city intensity for a while. 

Very late arrival to Rome

Our plane was delayed multiple times leaving Madrid. 

Once we arrived in Rome we easily got to each train and transferred smoothly. That was true of course until we had to take a bus. I think we waited 45 minutes if not longer. While hungry and tired and just looking down the road for where to go with no map to help up find our way walking. 

No good photos yet except for one with a boy hanging on his dads luggage. And another from the subway in Madrid on our way to the airport. 

I took the photo on this subway more to take note of the announcer voice. "proxima estathion" ---Esperanza??? Nope, not right but each time, I t sounded like the right voice for Manu chau's song. "que hora son mi corazon". 

That brings back all kinds of memories from study abroad and the end of college. 

Madrid

Hi from Madrid. After spending the morning sleeping in. We headed for Madrid. After a smooth 4 hour drive, we arrived at our hotel. 

We strolled around town then headed to the theater. 

It was an awesome venue built in 1889. Teatro Lara. 

The show was called burundangas. It was a comedy. Well done though I probably understood only around 70% of it. 

Tomorrow we plan to check out a museum and then head to the airport for Italy. 

I hope everyone had a great Xmas day. 

Big hugs. 

Rel

Cena de la noche buena

Dia de San Tomas

12/21

The days start to get longer. Little by little. It's a wonderful thing. 

Today is a day of celebration in basque country. People are out on the street drinking and eating. 

It's hectic and full of life. 

12/23: Exploring the rails to trails

Today Ashlyn and I took a field trip.
We grabbed our bikes and headed for the hills.
Well, first to the train station, then to the hills.
There is this great path along a former railway starting in a town called Andoain.
After hopping off the local train with our bikes we took this outdoor double ecalator up the hill into town and started on our way.
At first there were lots of people out exercising.  We would greet them as we go by, Kaixo (pronounced kay show), "hello" in basque.  The further along the path, the fewer people we saw, as we greeted them with an "aupa" Ash says "that's what I say to greet people when hiking".
Okay, I am starting the learn the different basque (Euskera) nuances.  The only tough part is that I know the right word, but I forget when to say what.  I just shout out something in Basque and then kind of hope no one heard me...
Stick with spanish, I think to myself.
So, we rode up a gentle grade seeing beautiful hills, a gorgeous river, and through dark tunnels along the way.
Because the trail was initially made for trains:  they had done mining in the area...
the tunnels were already built nicely.  They were lots of fun as sometimes dark, drippy, and full of puddles.  Ahslyn rode ahead of me, and all I could see was darkness and her blinking light.
I just had to trust for that short moment in time that the ground was right there in front of me even though I couldn't see it.
Its like that same feeling of getting to the top of a hill, but you can quite see the top because it drops down right after it peaks.  Fun.
After a 3 hour ride, we took the train back and continued planning the rest of our trip.
Plans changed, and we aren't going to the small town near Portugal anymore.  We had planned on celebrating the holiday in Kepa's mom's country home there.  But, instead, we are now going to Bilboa with a picnic and tourism along the way.
With that, i have to pack up and prep to leave San Sebastian.  Such a great city!
I hope everyone has a great  holiday, time to relax, and enjoy!
Sending love!

Not sure how to delete these didn't mean to upload multiple times. 

Rain sun and rain in San Sebastian

Today is 12/20. I have lived like a spaniard taking a siesta after lunch each day. Today my body got confused and took a nap after breakfast. Oops, waki g at 11 meant that my original plans to travel to Vitoria had to change. By the time I got there, I would have to trim around and head back. 

It's ok. After that hike my ankle swelled up and needs a break from all the walking. I finally found wifi so I am uploading some photos. 

Donostia/San Sebastian

You know you are not in the US when you can buy digestives and convince yourself they are healthy.  At least they sooound healthy, right? Mmm.
Really, though, it seems like one of my favorite things is to walk down the aisles of the grocery stores once in a foreign country.
Today, I got up early, left the house with Ashberg and went for groceries.
My first stop was the milk vending machine in the Plaza Hernani.  Yup, bring a bottle, drop a euro, push a button, and viola:  Milk dispensed.  All fresh, no middle man.
I shmaied (browse for those yiddish speakers) around looking at the bioloque stores and the shoe stores and finally made my way to the grocery store, super Amara.
There I explored, amazed by the variety of cured meats.  I listened to hear how people ordered.  I knew what I wanted...with all that pork product every which way, I wanted my Cecina, the only one option of cured meat sin chancho.
The last time I tried to get some thing, I just didn't know how much to order/how to say how much I wanted.  You can't really show that with your hands.  I definately didn't want a kilo, or medio kilo, do I say, 1/8th of a kilo?  Nah, I got it!  I want 150 grams.  Thats right.  So, it worked great, a little bit of eaves dropping and I was good to go.
Next I asked this poor old man if he knew what was in the albacore?  Do they have albacore in water here?  He looked at me like I was an alien?  Okay.....tell me then, what is Escabeche...
A  nice woman saw our interaction and chimed in.  Some kind of vinegar she told me.  We smiled and agreed that there were just way to many options as she handed me the bonito en aciete with the option of less salt.  Perfect!
So I headed home, cooked up some veggies I bought at the market the day before and had a nice lunch before my afternoon nap.
At this point I haven't found wifi (en espanol se dice como: weefee) so I haven't been able to upload pics yet.
So far: day one, arrival to bilbao:  took a bus into town, rented a bike and explored all day by bike before taking a bus to San Sebastian (Donostia is the basque name).
Day 2:  walking around town, make lunch, nap, tweaked ankle, biked, and rested, iced, and elevated ankle so that it didn't get any worse.  Note:  always turn light on when going down the stairs :P
Day 3:  today!  shopped, napped, hiked, beautiful, though stormy, views of San Sebastian.  What an awesome town!
thanks for reading,
Rel

Enjoying the journey

Aw traveling...
On my way out of town, I have that weird feeling when going away for a while.
I have those questions, ¨am I really going somewhere?  Is there and adventure awaiting me?  If so, what kind?¨
I didn´t talk about this trip much because I just didn´t plan a ton.  I wasn´t so nervous, but more hesitant not knowing exactly what would happen.  When I feel that way, I know it will work out, but I tend not to talk about it.
So, without fail, the adventure begins.  To me, it really starts when I meet people along the way who inspire me in some way.
On my layover in Chicago, I joined the thick crowd of people surrounding the charging station.  Nothing like a grouping of electric outlets to bring people together.  Our modern well.
I had to ask someone to plug my phone in for me.  I couldn´t reach without having to squeeze between people.  ¨hey, will you charge me? uh, will you plug me in?¨-fun for me sometimes to make a situation more weird.  The guy I asked took one peek at my classy bike pannier¨luggage¨ and thus started the conversation.  Fellow bike tourers, you know how that goes.
He wanted to know all about bike touring.  He had made his own panniers out of small trashcans and explored on his own bit, he told me.  He wanted to explore and live, he wanted to be young and enjoy it.
 He was on his way to Poland to visit his grandparents and get away.
A senior at UNC in computer science, he just found out that he had to do another semester in order to graduate.   He was sick of it.  He said he needed a break.  He wanted to ¨take advantage of being young¨.  If he had only studied abroad, it all could have happened differently.
So, this trip, for him, starts a semester off.  He looks for both inspiration and acceptance (his parents are pissed).  I hoped that whatever he seeks to learn, my words were enough to help him have some direction.  His eyes were full of questions as he seemed to be trying to pick them out slowly, one by one.  There was time for a few more topics and stories, as we traveled into line, waiting to board the plane.
We separated when finding seats and I wished him a nice flight. 
Meeting people like him are the reason traveling is just so exciting. 
Without fail, the adventure begins.

My need to get away

This year something changed.  Well, lots changed.  When getting my place, I talked to many different people.  I connected with my parents and friends, people in my homebuyer education classes (yup, I took two), my lender, realtor (s), and many neighbors.  If you were around me, I talked about it.
I learned lots about so many aspects of getting a place.  I calculated loans over and over, I read small print for so many things.  I applied for assistance programs for which I wasn´t sure I would qualify.  I remember the moment that Sean, my neighbor, in congratulating me, said, ¨get ready to always have a project to work on¨.
I heard his words.  I thought I knew what he meant.  Having projects sounded daunting and exciting at the same time.  I just didn´t realize how it would make me FEEL.
As the excitement and feelings of being so fortunate, started to fade, feelings of responsibility became ever present.  Normal. 
With the sense of responsibility, came this difficulty in being able to relax.  Now, I have always liked doing things, being active, not sitting still, and making the most of my time.  You could say I have ants in my pants or a short attention span, whatever words you use to describe it, that´s me
It got more intense this year: it changed, affecting me in a different way.  With that, I could not relax when at home.  I could finally relate to the people who take vacation to relax, to get away.  It never made sense before.   Now, I get it and need it.  I can relax when away, something that is just not possible when I´m home.  At least, not this year.
Everyone (I talk to about it) says it will get better.  I am looking forward to it.  To mellow things out for me.
Here I am, happy to be on vacation. Processing, relaxing, and reflecting.

Heading out

I am headed out of town for another trip. The unknown lies ahead of me. 

I know I am looking forward to having some time to refresh. 

It will be great to visit friends, avoid xmas, re learn my Spanish, and leave a big calendar year behind me. 

I'm thankful for my miles to get me so far and I'm already dreaming of my next trip. 

Goodbye bay.