Okay here we have to list the negative things about Valencia (and Spain):

1) Toll roads. (applies also to FRANCE). THINK before you DRIVE on motorways! We spent as much in tolls as in petrol. Outrageous...
2) HUMIDITY. Way too humid, even in September.
3) Language. We had to be lucky to find a Valencian speaking English.... LEARN A LANGUAGE, VALENCIANS! Some seemed to know English, but preferred to reply in Spanish - so our dialogs ended up like them speaking in Spanish and us speaking in OUR language - Greek.
4) Turbulant sea. Too much wind and waves.
5) Driving (see below)
6) THEY DON´T SELL (AND DRINK) FRESH MILK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only long-last "derivatives"... Oh my God... No FRESH milk?????????? (This is for Spain, not only Valencia).
7) Expensive camp-sites for not as high standard of services as in Scandinavia.

Still, WE ENJOYED our 7-night stay!! There were plenty to see and do (yet we preferred the sea and sun most of the time hehehe). We stayed in El Saler camping, just off Valencia.

We got some tan eventually! The sea in all of the beaches around Valencia were most of the time too wavy, some days even red flags were raised. But there were endless and beautiful sandy beaches.

Driving in the city is an unforgetable experience. You are on a 5-lane road ending up in a 6-7 lane roundabout!!! and then trying to squeeze your car through the 2-lane exit... hahaa.

Valencia has many attractions! From the sandy beaches in front of the city, to the old town and the old towers (part of the walls), to the modern artistic area with magnificent structures (hemisferium, opera, museum of modern art, aquarium and stuff) designed by Calatrava. A must visit!

This sign (writen in Greek) is in the main train station:

Paellas and Sangrias... miam miam. delicious!!

And as Formula 1 fans, we of course drove on the streets where the new Valencian Grand Prix was held this year!! We even made a "virtual" pit stop (no there wasn´t anyone waiting for us to change the tyres...). Maybe one day, we ll be swimming in Valencia, and walking to the grand stands next door to watch Fellippe Massa and Ferrari!!!!

Georgia is waiting for tyre changing in the pit stops!!!

Last, a photo from our visit to Algemesi (a village near Valencia). On the Virgin Mary's birthday (8 September), they have big celebrations, with parade of traditional dancers and music - it is a street "party" for Virgin Mary's birth outside the church and on the streets. The highlight was the men-towers!!

Barcelona wasn't that humit and hot as we were expecting. That helped us to see the city around! We also camped outside Barcelona, where it was really chilly at night!!!!!!!

What can one say about Barcelona? Attractions: Plenty. Architecture: First class. History: Abundant. Diversity: Plentyful!!

We stayed 4 days and they weren't enough! Even from day 1, we figured out that the name Gaudi means a lot to Barcelona. He was a genius really. We were lucky to decide to visit one of his projects: Casa Battlo (this house does NOT have a single corner... it resembles the nature, every single piece is astonishing, the roof, the facade, the Interior... even the loft!) >>>

More Gaudi structures (including the Park Guell, where Gaudi's excellence is demonstrated):

And La Sagrada Familia (or, Gaudi's unfinished project, that is being constructed for 100 years). This again is impressive. HUGE! Seriously big church...

Around Barcelona old city:

More Barcelona beauty:

Open air - escalators!!!!!

On 13/9 we hopped off the turistic bus to visit Camp Nou Museum. When we found out that there was a game that night, Barca-Racing Santader, we changed our plan!!! Oh yes, we were in Camp Nou, the biggest stadium in Europe watching Barca live!!!!! (Georgia needed some persuading!).

Catalunia History Museum was very interesting - and interactive too! >

On the teleferik (cable car) and at the Castle:

By the end of our visit, we were really aware that (most of?) Catalonians do not consider themselves Spanish. We had learned Gaudi's contribution to the city. We admired the Olympic Games area and we had also some time to walk across La Ramblas, the busiest street of the city!

(we forgot to comment on the homeless / beggars issue... but... okay.. no big deal).

The ICING ON THE CAKE: In the village (Alella) next door to our campsite, there was a WINE FESTIVAL!!! Which of course meant cheap local tapas and plenty of wines!!!! We appreciated it a lot!!! (Allelia is supposed to be famous for its wines, but we are not experts on this subject)

The tiny Principaut de Andorra offered us two things: A change from the Mediterranean climate to the mountain surroundings and some... spa time!!!!

Impressively located villages between the mountains, it is a recommended destination even for the summer. We enjoyed mountain hiking (for our standards, ascending 500m altitude was an achievement!), breathtaking views from altitudes of 2500 metres! Nature everywhere! And, of course, there was some of the Principality atmosphere!

Life from altitude of 2500 metres!!

For quite a while during our trip, we were expecting the moment to get to Andorra. The reason?? CALDEA SPA CENTRE!!! Advertised as the biggest in Europe (probably correct), we went there two 3-hour sessions of spa: Saunas, Turkish Baths, jaccuzis, pools with water of 36 deg temperature... SOOOO RELAXING!!! And we also treated ourselves with a professional massage too!!!!!!

(Manos also dived in the cold 14 degrees pool, but only lasted 30 seconds, before rushing into the hot water pool!!!!!)

They seem to have a nice taste of humour in Andorra la Vella. We found teddy bears like this (in various colours) in many places in the town!

Στο δρομο προς Ανδορρα, μετα τη Βαρκελωνη, ξεχασαμε να αναφερουμε οτι ειχαμε παει σε ενα καταλανικο χωριουδακι πανω στα Πυρηναια. 300 ατομα κατοικοι!!! Παρα πολυ γραφικο μερος της Ισπανιας (Καταλωνιας), με ωραια θεα!

In France, we stopped in Carcassone, a small touristic city in south France, with a prestigious castle standing on the hill (we didnt enter it). It looked a great place to stay, judging from the 3 hours we spent there!

Μερικες φωτος απο Carcassone, τουριστικο μερος, δυστυχως δεν ειχαμε χρονο να παμε στο καστρο, το οποιο πραγματι φαινοταν εντυπωσιακο. Ειχαμε αλλες 4-5 ωρες οδηγημα μεχρι την Nice...

Then we headed for Nikaia (now known as Nice), in South-eastern France. It took its name from ancient Greeks who had founded the city.

There still were people trying to sunbathe, in late September!!! Anyway, we visited the Laskaris music instrument museum. Funny experimental musical instruments were exhibited and also some of the palace's original furniture was there.

Η Νικαια, στην Γαλλικη Ριβιερα, ειναι πολυ ομορφο μερος. Ολη η περιοχη εκει στα νοτιοανατολικα της Γαλλιας πρεπει να ειναι πανεμορφη, κρινοντας απο τις ματιες που ριχναμε απο το αμαξι.

Στο μουσειο Laskaris (καμια σχεση με την Λασκαρη):

We of course walked up the hill where a few hundred years ago they created a waterfall (from water diverted from a nearby canal)!!!! Outstanding views of all sides of the city from up there!!!

Ο καταρρακτης αυτος στο λοφο της Νικαιας ειναι τεχνητος, με την εννοια οτι παιρνει νερο απο ενα κοντινο καναλι! Τον εφτιαξαν 100-200 χρονια πριν!! Απο ψηλα εχει πολυ ομορφη θεα της πολης!

We also dared to visit the modern art museum (it was free!). Haha, it was HARD to understand the meaning of STONES forming circles on the floor!!!!

Πηγαμε (τζαμπε) σε μουσειο μοντερνας τεχνης. Εκτος απο πετρες στο πατωμα που σχηματιζαν κυκλους (!!!) ειχε και εναν "πινακα ζωγραφικης" που προφανως καποιος τεμπελης αρχισε να μουντζωνει με λασπη. Παρε και 2 μουντζες απο μενα:

More Nikaia photos:

FRENCH ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SNOBBISH WITH THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. TO PUT THINGS RIGHT, THEY WERE NOT. THEY ALL KNEW ENGLISH AND THEY ALL TALKED TO US IN ENGLISH. CONTRARY TO SPANISH, WHO EVEN THIS 1% THAT KNEW ENGLISH, THEY WOULD ALWAYS REPLY TO US IN SPANISH...

written by  ManosGeorgia on September 19, 2008 from Nice, France
from the travel blog: Europe trip 2008
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Principaute de Monaco... What can one say... FERRARIS. POSH. RICH. PORSCHES. FORMULA 1. POSH. FERRARIS. LUXURIUS. FERRARIS. PORSCHES. POSH. FERRARIS... AROMA OF PRINCIPALITY LIKE NOWHERE! And in case we forgot to mention, full of Ferraris, Porsches and other similar super-cars!

We OF COURSE drove the world famous Grand Hotel hairpin on our little Peugeot 206! We drove through the tunnel (yet the other way round), we walked almost every corner of the Monaco Grand Prix (many parts of the Grand Prix are only used during the Formula 1 weekend and access was not allowed to make a complete lap!)...

We spent some time outside the Monte Carlo Casino and the Grand Hotel... So many Ferraris... You could hear an approaching Ferrari engine every 2 minutes! It was weekend and the weather marvellous for them to show off!

Oh our visit was not only to check Felippe Massa's tyre tracks on the kerbs... We visited the palace located on a hill, from where we stared at the centre of the city (unfortunately, photos were not allowed). We saw the guards change, we walked through the adjacent public park with impressive trees and cactus.

We had a frappe next door to the palace...

Monaco is a different place in this planet...

written by  ManosGeorgia on September 21, 2008 from Monaco, Monaco
from the travel blog: Europe trip 2008
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All we can say is that WE HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN.

The smiles in the photo are fake.... Goodbye trip...

Arriving in Igoumenitsa - we visited a friend. Here is the local church:

Cloud games with the mountains:

We made the best of our trip to Thessaloniki, by stopping in Ioannina. Ioannina offered us some of the greek beauty. Highlight is the lake and the venetian wall. We took the boat to visit a little island in the lake. This island (with some 200 inhabitants) has some history in the greek revolution against the Ottoman empire - now you ll find monasteries and a small museum. We also had some tasty greek fish by the lake!!

This is a reaaaaally old tree (one can find such trees in many greek towns and villages - impressive):

We didn't have the time to visit Metsovo, the other touristic town of the area. Another time!

We arrived in Thessaloniki around 23.00.

THE END

PS We will post a general comments article soon.

written by  ManosGeorgia on September 23, 2008 from Ioannina, Greece
from the travel blog: Europe trip 2008
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Here is a short review of the places we visited. I ve already missed Norway, Brugge, Monaco, South France, Stockholm and the swedish festivals, Andorra and Copenhagen...:

NORGE:

+ Friendly people, astonishing scenery (fjords, waterfalls, cliffs), Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), Oslo Open Air Museum, wonderful Bergen

- Too expensive, no proper highways, drug dealers in Oslo train station

I would definately go again!!! I want to explore more fjords... I want to go hiking to Kjerag (google it), I want to go to Bergen again.

SVERIGE:

+ Very friendly people, majestic Stockholm, free August music festivals around the country, great little towns, tourist city bikes, excellent campsite network, very clean even during the festivals

- Erratic weather, expensive car parks in Stockholm.

I d like to go to Stockholm again! Goteborg is a great visit during the festival too!

DANMARK:

+ Bike-friendly country, good campsite network, peaceful countryside, Beautiful city of Copenhagen, Jacobsen beer

- Expensive, flat and as dull as England country side, Copenhagen city-bikes were like ghosts (nowhere).

I enjoyed Denmark and I might like to go to Copenhagen again.

DEUTSCHLAND - HAMBURG

+ Bratwurst, beers, submarine museum, cheap, funny atmosphere in St Pauli, Autobahns without speed limit
- Not a place to stay long (2 days were enough)

NEDERLAND - ARNHEM

+ Great little city with much green space, walking by river Rhine
- Where are the souvenir shops???

BELGIE

+ Brugge....... wonderful!! Belgian beers, bike-friendly cities, cosmopolitan Brussels
- Traffic in Brussels

I will definately go to Brugge again!!!!!

LETZEBUERG (luxembourg)

+ Marvellous city on the hills, exellent views, great walking paths around the city, very cheap fuel.
- A bit quiet.

Luxembourg is different and cute. I dont think i ll visit it again, but I liked it.

ESPANA & CATALONIA

+ Sun, Gaudi buildings and designs in Barcelona, festivals and fiestas, city architecture, great food
- Spanish denying to communicate in other languages but spanish, disappointing sea (if you want just sunbathing okay, but do NOT go to Spain expecting to find proper sea for swimming), humidity, toll roads (rip off), rediculously expensive hotels and hostels, beggars and homeless issue, driving conditions in the city

I will NOT go to mainland Spain in the summer again - the sea is only suitable for wind surfers. Barcelona did the trick though - great city.

ANDORRA

+ Magnificent views during the mountain hiking, Caldea Spa centre, very cheap country
- A bit quiet

A place that I d like to visit over the winter in the future.

SOUTH FRANCE - MONACO

From our short stay in Nice, I think I made my mind: I have to visit Cote D Azur in the near future! As for Monaco? Out of this world! Posh... and posh! I d like to have a dinner in the Casino in the future!!
Oh, not to forget the ULTIMUM RIP OFF: French toll roads. You pay more on tolls than on petrol...

written by  ManosGeorgia on October 1, 2008 from Thessaloniki, Greece
from the travel blog: Europe trip 2008
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