Strange trip report on my trip to Spain.
Apr 13th, 2012, 07:18 PM
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Strange trip report on my trip to Spain.
I'm not sure what I think about my recent Spain trip because there were so many disappointments and twists, but what the hey---if I decide not to finish it, I won't. And if you decide not to read it, that's okay too.
I've been to Spain several times and have always enjoyed it, but this time there were some specific things I wanted to experience that I'd missed before--among them being the casas colgadas in Cuenca, the peaks of Montserrat and Escalonia, the boys' choir at the monastery there, the Alcazaba in Málaga, along with more of the Semana Santa processions and especially the Spanish legion. I also wanted to see the Sardana in front of the cathedral at Barcelona and to wander the streets of Barcelona.
I'd used frequent flyer miles to schedule a trip from Seattle through Frankfurt and then to Madrid. This plan got off to a horrible terrible no good very bad start when Lufthansa had an previously unannounced strike and my flight was cancelled. Since I'd made my reservations through United Mileage Plus using the aforesaid miles, Lufthansa wouldn't reschedule my flight. Turns out the United people wouldn't do it for me either. They told me I had to call Mileage Plus and make new reservations through them.
I called and was on hold for 20 minutes or so, then gave up and went whining back to the United counter. They insisted that they couldn't do it--something to do with their computers, so I went back to Mileage plus and was on hold for half an hour or 45 minutes before I spoke to a real, live, human person. She got busy looking for new flights, which took about half an hour when suddenly....the call broke off!
I was distraught--ready to become hysterical. I didn't know if my cheapie phone would hold its charge through another hour and a half stint on the Mileage Plus line, and my charger cord was in my checked baggage with Lufthansa. It is possible that at this point I MAY HAVE RAISED MY VOICE because a lovely lady standing nearby told me that she had an extra phone charger cord and I could borrow hers. She said that if she saw me later, I could give it back. If not, "Merry Christmas."
I was saved! I called MIleage plus again and was on hold for the usual half an hour or 45 minutes when I talked to another representative, giving her the flight information that the previous agent had tentatively given me. She was able to confirm those reservations, but unfortunately by that time it was too late to make the first flight. She made them for the next day. Since my phone was charged up by this time, I was able to lend the borrowed charger cord to a young guy whose phone needed a charge. I was pleased about that.
I then went to see if I could snag my bag from Lufthansa, and not only was I able to get my bag, but Lufthansa volunteered vouchers for a room for the night and $25 worth of dinner. Later, at dinner I talked to other passengers who'd lost their Lufthansa flight and I lent one of them the magic phone charger cord. I was reminded of "the sisterhood of the traveling pants." The sisterhood/brotherhood of the traveling phone charger.
The next day I got up at 4:00 a.m. to take the 7:00 a.m. United flight out of SeaTac. I was expecting another mess a la Lufthansa, but I didn't even have to wait in line. A United rep took my passport, ran it over a scanner, and gave me my boarding pass. The flight was okay, but I didn't sleep much. Instead I watched a Japanese film about their great admiral Yamamoto. Very interesting, though the film did not mention his famous quote that if Japan attacked America, he feared that it would "awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." I've always thought he was a tragic figure since he did not want war with the U.S., and the U.S. forces made a special effort to eliminate him.
When I arrived in Madrid I took a bus directly to Atocha station, where I caught a bus to Cuenca. I had intended on spending that night in Madrid, so as to help recover from jet lag, but since I was a day late, I went directly to Cuenca.
I think I'll continue this tomorrow. I think jet lag is getting to me.
I've been to Spain several times and have always enjoyed it, but this time there were some specific things I wanted to experience that I'd missed before--among them being the casas colgadas in Cuenca, the peaks of Montserrat and Escalonia, the boys' choir at the monastery there, the Alcazaba in Málaga, along with more of the Semana Santa processions and especially the Spanish legion. I also wanted to see the Sardana in front of the cathedral at Barcelona and to wander the streets of Barcelona.
I'd used frequent flyer miles to schedule a trip from Seattle through Frankfurt and then to Madrid. This plan got off to a horrible terrible no good very bad start when Lufthansa had an previously unannounced strike and my flight was cancelled. Since I'd made my reservations through United Mileage Plus using the aforesaid miles, Lufthansa wouldn't reschedule my flight. Turns out the United people wouldn't do it for me either. They told me I had to call Mileage Plus and make new reservations through them.
I called and was on hold for 20 minutes or so, then gave up and went whining back to the United counter. They insisted that they couldn't do it--something to do with their computers, so I went back to Mileage plus and was on hold for half an hour or 45 minutes before I spoke to a real, live, human person. She got busy looking for new flights, which took about half an hour when suddenly....the call broke off!
I was distraught--ready to become hysterical. I didn't know if my cheapie phone would hold its charge through another hour and a half stint on the Mileage Plus line, and my charger cord was in my checked baggage with Lufthansa. It is possible that at this point I MAY HAVE RAISED MY VOICE because a lovely lady standing nearby told me that she had an extra phone charger cord and I could borrow hers. She said that if she saw me later, I could give it back. If not, "Merry Christmas."
I was saved! I called MIleage plus again and was on hold for the usual half an hour or 45 minutes when I talked to another representative, giving her the flight information that the previous agent had tentatively given me. She was able to confirm those reservations, but unfortunately by that time it was too late to make the first flight. She made them for the next day. Since my phone was charged up by this time, I was able to lend the borrowed charger cord to a young guy whose phone needed a charge. I was pleased about that.
I then went to see if I could snag my bag from Lufthansa, and not only was I able to get my bag, but Lufthansa volunteered vouchers for a room for the night and $25 worth of dinner. Later, at dinner I talked to other passengers who'd lost their Lufthansa flight and I lent one of them the magic phone charger cord. I was reminded of "the sisterhood of the traveling pants." The sisterhood/brotherhood of the traveling phone charger.
The next day I got up at 4:00 a.m. to take the 7:00 a.m. United flight out of SeaTac. I was expecting another mess a la Lufthansa, but I didn't even have to wait in line. A United rep took my passport, ran it over a scanner, and gave me my boarding pass. The flight was okay, but I didn't sleep much. Instead I watched a Japanese film about their great admiral Yamamoto. Very interesting, though the film did not mention his famous quote that if Japan attacked America, he feared that it would "awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." I've always thought he was a tragic figure since he did not want war with the U.S., and the U.S. forces made a special effort to eliminate him.
When I arrived in Madrid I took a bus directly to Atocha station, where I caught a bus to Cuenca. I had intended on spending that night in Madrid, so as to help recover from jet lag, but since I was a day late, I went directly to Cuenca.
I think I'll continue this tomorrow. I think jet lag is getting to me.
Apr 13th, 2012, 07:43 PM
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Yikes - I'm taking a Lufthansa flight I booked through Mileage Plus to Italy in October. Am taking note of what happened to you and hoping I don't have the same problem! Guess I better plan to put phone charger in my backpack, not in checked luggage. I hope the rest of your trip got better!!!
Apr 13th, 2012, 08:33 PM
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Yes, put your charger in your carry on. I loaned my charger to a lady at my hotel in Rome as her luggage was lost with her charger in it. She was needing to make a lot of calls to track her luggage.
Peg - You must continue. I just saw a cheap flight to Spain so I'm thinking I should book it since flights to the rest of Europe seem so high this year.
Peg - You must continue. I just saw a cheap flight to Spain so I'm thinking I should book it since flights to the rest of Europe seem so high this year.
Apr 13th, 2012, 09:22 PM
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I think you were caught by Frankfurt airport strike of March 27? I was caught by the Spanish general strike of March 29 and my KLM flight booked through Delta got canceled. It took me 3 hrs of calls back and forth between Delta, KLM, and KAL which finally provided a flight out of Madrid. Like your experience, none of them took responsibility of what to do and kept pushing me to go to "other" carriers. Thank goodness for the GMAIL with Wifi at my hotel along with a local SIMed phone to keep talking for 3hrs.
I hate codeshare arrangement in time of strike!
I hate codeshare arrangement in time of strike!
Apr 14th, 2012, 05:16 AM
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Sorry that your trip got off to such a bad start, Peg. I hope that you decide to finish the report; you write so well and seem to be able to overcome adventure. Please don't get sick of the thing so soon after whetting our appetites.
Apr 14th, 2012, 07:01 AM
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So far I'm intrigued by this report. In the midst of much misfortune, there are sudden bright moments arising from a borrowed/gifted telephone charger cord, which itself only came your way from your possible raised voice that resulted from frustration.
I hope that the rest of your report has these interconnected high and low moments without being too personally negative.
Otherwise, it's interesting reading. Looking forward to the next bit.
M
I hope that the rest of your report has these interconnected high and low moments without being too personally negative.
Otherwise, it's interesting reading. Looking forward to the next bit.
M
Apr 14th, 2012, 08:09 AM
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Peg - I love your sightseeing list and have entered it into my Spain file for future reference.
So sorry you had those problems with United and Lufthansa. I have United miles and also have traveled with Lufthansa. I don't even take my phone charger when I travel - just my phone but I'll be re-thinking this in the future.
So sorry you had those problems with United and Lufthansa. I have United miles and also have traveled with Lufthansa. I don't even take my phone charger when I travel - just my phone but I'll be re-thinking this in the future.
Apr 14th, 2012, 09:12 AM
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Oh, lordy, I can just imagine my chubby little Scientologist friend hiking up those steep and never-ending streets in Cuenca. She would have been a sport, but it would have been an ordeal for her.
That darned jet lag woke me at 4:30 a.m. this morning and convinced me that it was time to get up. I tried to explain that it was way too early, but my body was having none of that. I've fooled around since then trying to get the proverbial house in order. I have to stay awake until 10:00 a.m., when my nephew is going to install a new battery in my car, so I may as well take another kick at the cat.
From Atocha I took the train to Cuenca, whose station is way out in the dingleberries somewhere, in contrast to the usual Spanish stations, which are generally in town. The building itself is very new and strikingly modern but is situated in a barren, almost desert-like area a 20 euro taxi ride from town. My hotel, the Posada de San Jose, is in the old town, pretty much at the top of the city. It was pleasant, filled with antique-looking pictures and furniture. My room was comfortable, with a little sort of porch sitting area with a view to the parador across the gorge from the old town.
By the time I arrived at the hotel, I was exhausted, so I didn't last long before I went to bed. I read a little first and had a light dinner in the dining room. I had a salad of tomatoes with minced garlic and scrambled eggs with asparagus and mushrooms. It was very good, especially since I'm not an adventurous eater, and it was simple food.
The next day was my big exploring day. The first thing I saw was the beautiful cathedral, which was quite different from others I've seen, much lighter inside than most Spanish churches, probably because of its gothic style. The exterior was unique, too, since it was sort of squarish, with no steeple.
Then I set off to locate the bridge crossing the gorge between the old town and the parador so that I could get a good look at the hanging houses, of which my hotel was one. I walked down the street--down down down down, completely forgetting that when one goes down down down down, one will eventually have to go up up up up. After a long walk down down down, I realized that I'd overshot my goal, the pedestrian bridge leading to the road on the other side of the gorge, so of course I began the up up up part of the walk. For a chunky girl such as myself, this was not an easy walk, but I persevered.
I eventually found and crossed the bridge, where I was able to view and to photograph some of the houses situated so perilously on the edges of the cliffs. One building had closed balconies projecting over the abyss, which I found especially scary-looking. My remark to little digital recorder was "Wow! Las casas colgadas son fabulosas". I saw lots of kids on field trips, some of them French.
As I trudged back up the streets to the Cathedral, I saw signs saying that this was the Semana Santa route. I was stunned at the idea of these men, no matter how many, carrying the huge pasos (floats) up these streets.
My nephew's here to change my battery.
That darned jet lag woke me at 4:30 a.m. this morning and convinced me that it was time to get up. I tried to explain that it was way too early, but my body was having none of that. I've fooled around since then trying to get the proverbial house in order. I have to stay awake until 10:00 a.m., when my nephew is going to install a new battery in my car, so I may as well take another kick at the cat.
From Atocha I took the train to Cuenca, whose station is way out in the dingleberries somewhere, in contrast to the usual Spanish stations, which are generally in town. The building itself is very new and strikingly modern but is situated in a barren, almost desert-like area a 20 euro taxi ride from town. My hotel, the Posada de San Jose, is in the old town, pretty much at the top of the city. It was pleasant, filled with antique-looking pictures and furniture. My room was comfortable, with a little sort of porch sitting area with a view to the parador across the gorge from the old town.
By the time I arrived at the hotel, I was exhausted, so I didn't last long before I went to bed. I read a little first and had a light dinner in the dining room. I had a salad of tomatoes with minced garlic and scrambled eggs with asparagus and mushrooms. It was very good, especially since I'm not an adventurous eater, and it was simple food.
The next day was my big exploring day. The first thing I saw was the beautiful cathedral, which was quite different from others I've seen, much lighter inside than most Spanish churches, probably because of its gothic style. The exterior was unique, too, since it was sort of squarish, with no steeple.
Then I set off to locate the bridge crossing the gorge between the old town and the parador so that I could get a good look at the hanging houses, of which my hotel was one. I walked down the street--down down down down, completely forgetting that when one goes down down down down, one will eventually have to go up up up up. After a long walk down down down, I realized that I'd overshot my goal, the pedestrian bridge leading to the road on the other side of the gorge, so of course I began the up up up part of the walk. For a chunky girl such as myself, this was not an easy walk, but I persevered.
I eventually found and crossed the bridge, where I was able to view and to photograph some of the houses situated so perilously on the edges of the cliffs. One building had closed balconies projecting over the abyss, which I found especially scary-looking. My remark to little digital recorder was "Wow! Las casas colgadas son fabulosas". I saw lots of kids on field trips, some of them French.
As I trudged back up the streets to the Cathedral, I saw signs saying that this was the Semana Santa route. I was stunned at the idea of these men, no matter how many, carrying the huge pasos (floats) up these streets.
My nephew's here to change my battery.
Apr 14th, 2012, 01:11 PM
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I've had a few trips that have started off like that. We started to think we were jinxed, but once we actually got to where we were going, the trips were great. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of your report.
Apr 15th, 2012, 06:02 AM
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Hi Peg,
Reading your report with interest.
Your nightmare with the Lufthansa strike could have been worse:If it had happened once you arrived to Frankfurt. IMO, the most frustrating airport in the galaxy!
Reading your report with interest.
Your nightmare with the Lufthansa strike could have been worse:If it had happened once you arrived to Frankfurt. IMO, the most frustrating airport in the galaxy!
Apr 15th, 2012, 07:15 AM
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Peg, we had a similar flight problem on our trip to Ireland and we lost our first day. But when we finally did arrive it turned out to be a fabulous trip. And the icing on the cake--we had 10 straight days of sunshine, in IRELAND!! That almost never happens.
On another trip the engine caught fire on take-off and the plane filled with smoke. We made an emergency landing and I just wanted to turn around and go home, thinking my trip was doomed. But I took the next flight (with a free upgrade) and the trip was glorious. They gave me an upgade on the return flight too, as well as some free bottles of wine.
Sometimes it's good to get all of the bad luck out of the way early in the trip.
On another trip the engine caught fire on take-off and the plane filled with smoke. We made an emergency landing and I just wanted to turn around and go home, thinking my trip was doomed. But I took the next flight (with a free upgrade) and the trip was glorious. They gave me an upgade on the return flight too, as well as some free bottles of wine.
Sometimes it's good to get all of the bad luck out of the way early in the trip.
Apr 15th, 2012, 08:30 AM
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I just checked my little digital recorder to remind myself of what I was thinking and doing at various times. The first thing I heard was a comment I made as I was going down the road to the bridge: "I just passed a group of kids up some steep stairs, talking at the top of their voices and not even breathing hard. I hate those kids!" The truth is, of course, that I love teenagers. I couldn't have taught high school for 35 years if I hadn't enjoyed them.
Later, as I wandered around I found a little restaurant for lunch. I don't recall the name, but it had the word "Secret" in it. I am a picky eater, so I ordered a green salad. I didn't think that would be enough, so I added an order of spaghetti.The salad turned out to consist of some kind of leafy things with warm blobs of what I assume was goat cheese on top and warm bits of ham mixed in. It was very good but too much, so I tried to cancel the spaghetti. Too late. I managed just a few bites of spaghetti, but had to give up; however, I wasn't too full for a little ice cream.
I had not been feeling well until that time. I assume it was a lingering case of jet lag. I live in the northwest, so traveling to Europe is a tiring ordeal, confusing to my "elderly" (I hate that word!) body. After that meal, I felt much better. I rested a bit, and later at the Posada, I had the same thing I'd had the night before, the sliced tomatoes with bits of minced garlic and olive oil, plus the ever-satisfying ice cream.
The next day I left Cuenca. My digital recorder reminded me of how nice so many of the Spanish people were to me. I'm glad I recorded these comments because I might not otherwise have remembered the kindness of individuals in Cuenca. The taxi driver who took me to the train station, a young woman who was very chatty, asked me how I liked the people. I said I liked them very much, which was true. In my hotel, the receptionist was very friendly and helpful, though the server in the dining room wouldn't have won the Miss Congeniality trophy.
When I arrived at the train station, I went into a RENFE office and asked the young man there if I could take an earlier train without having to pay an arm and a leg extra. The man took me from his office and sent me down to his "colleague," and his "colleague" passed me on to another guy, an older man, who was very concerned that I was going to miss the train, so he raced down, with my luggage, and pointed out the car in which I should sit.
I had arranged to spend a night in Madrid because I didn't want to take the train to Madrid and then do a longer leg to Málaga. I stayed at the Hotel Europa, which I liked a lot. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the hotel is modern and attractive without costing a fortune. It was around $100 per night. I especially liked the shower in the bathroom, which in my experience, can be tricky in a many hotels in Europe.
I went to find a locutorio so that I could update family on my travels. I found a place with easy-to-use computers. This may seem nit-picking, but the keyboards on many computers in locutorios can be tricky, with elements like the apostrophe in odd places. No big deal, but it does slow you down a bit. I was once again hungry as well as impatient, so I went to a Burger King and ordered a cheeseburger, fries and a coke.
In the interests of simplicity, I ate at a Burger King. I don't eat fast food in the States, so I'm really not sure what it tastes like, but the burger and fries I ate in Madrid were quite bad, especially the burger. Tasteless and not really warm. I really don't understand why these places are so jammed with customers (even though I are one!)
Once again hungry for ice cream, I saw pictures of something called a "sandy." Hmm. The sandy looked like ice cream with strawberry, chocolate or caramel sauce. Finally I got it! The "sandy" is actually a "sundae" in American English. I ordered one, of course. How can you go wrong with a sundae? Sure enough, it was very tasty.
Time to get ready for Mass. More later.
Later, as I wandered around I found a little restaurant for lunch. I don't recall the name, but it had the word "Secret" in it. I am a picky eater, so I ordered a green salad. I didn't think that would be enough, so I added an order of spaghetti.The salad turned out to consist of some kind of leafy things with warm blobs of what I assume was goat cheese on top and warm bits of ham mixed in. It was very good but too much, so I tried to cancel the spaghetti. Too late. I managed just a few bites of spaghetti, but had to give up; however, I wasn't too full for a little ice cream.
I had not been feeling well until that time. I assume it was a lingering case of jet lag. I live in the northwest, so traveling to Europe is a tiring ordeal, confusing to my "elderly" (I hate that word!) body. After that meal, I felt much better. I rested a bit, and later at the Posada, I had the same thing I'd had the night before, the sliced tomatoes with bits of minced garlic and olive oil, plus the ever-satisfying ice cream.
The next day I left Cuenca. My digital recorder reminded me of how nice so many of the Spanish people were to me. I'm glad I recorded these comments because I might not otherwise have remembered the kindness of individuals in Cuenca. The taxi driver who took me to the train station, a young woman who was very chatty, asked me how I liked the people. I said I liked them very much, which was true. In my hotel, the receptionist was very friendly and helpful, though the server in the dining room wouldn't have won the Miss Congeniality trophy.
When I arrived at the train station, I went into a RENFE office and asked the young man there if I could take an earlier train without having to pay an arm and a leg extra. The man took me from his office and sent me down to his "colleague," and his "colleague" passed me on to another guy, an older man, who was very concerned that I was going to miss the train, so he raced down, with my luggage, and pointed out the car in which I should sit.
I had arranged to spend a night in Madrid because I didn't want to take the train to Madrid and then do a longer leg to Málaga. I stayed at the Hotel Europa, which I liked a lot. The staff was friendly and helpful, and the hotel is modern and attractive without costing a fortune. It was around $100 per night. I especially liked the shower in the bathroom, which in my experience, can be tricky in a many hotels in Europe.
I went to find a locutorio so that I could update family on my travels. I found a place with easy-to-use computers. This may seem nit-picking, but the keyboards on many computers in locutorios can be tricky, with elements like the apostrophe in odd places. No big deal, but it does slow you down a bit. I was once again hungry as well as impatient, so I went to a Burger King and ordered a cheeseburger, fries and a coke.
In the interests of simplicity, I ate at a Burger King. I don't eat fast food in the States, so I'm really not sure what it tastes like, but the burger and fries I ate in Madrid were quite bad, especially the burger. Tasteless and not really warm. I really don't understand why these places are so jammed with customers (even though I are one!)
Once again hungry for ice cream, I saw pictures of something called a "sandy." Hmm. The sandy looked like ice cream with strawberry, chocolate or caramel sauce. Finally I got it! The "sandy" is actually a "sundae" in American English. I ordered one, of course. How can you go wrong with a sundae? Sure enough, it was very tasty.
Time to get ready for Mass. More later.
Apr 15th, 2012, 08:40 AM
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It's reassuring to hear of other people's horror stories. A good thing about my experience was that it was frustrating, but at least it wasn't scary. The positive thing about missing that first day in Madrid was that at least it didn't cost me the expense of the reservation in Madrid, since Lufthansa gave me a voucher for dinner and a hotel for the night.
It seems like the airport at Frankfurt is so spread out that it just goes on forever.
It seems like the airport at Frankfurt is so spread out that it just goes on forever.
