Spain in 18days -finalizing itinerary and a special bday celebration!
Apr 3rd, 2014, 05:03 PM
#61
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yes most likely we wont go to Montserrat!!..but thought i would get the info in case we want to do a short hike there..no interest in the church really just the scenery..
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any advise re the Gaudi tkts anyone - should we book in advance..or wait for just the day before to book online.
.
any advise re the Gaudi tkts anyone - should we book in advance..or wait for just the day before to book online.
May 2nd, 2014, 05:39 AM
#64
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Just back from the trip.. places visited and the hotel locations were great.
The only exception was the handbag with a 2500+ euro camera and lense being stolen last night at plaza Santa Ana around 11.30pm when the plaza was quite empty..
I guess we could try to get some coverage from the insurance but feel so very dissapointed as in our travels in the last 10 years (most of it in asia) we've never lost anything..!! so this was a bit of a shock especially losing most of the photos of the trip..!!
The police were not bothered at all as it seems it is a daily occurrence and nothing seems to be done to reduce the thefts although its so..common!
other than this incident..the people of spain are friendly, food was great, beautiful country!!
will provide feedback later on..
The only exception was the handbag with a 2500+ euro camera and lense being stolen last night at plaza Santa Ana around 11.30pm when the plaza was quite empty..
I guess we could try to get some coverage from the insurance but feel so very dissapointed as in our travels in the last 10 years (most of it in asia) we've never lost anything..!! so this was a bit of a shock especially losing most of the photos of the trip..!! The police were not bothered at all as it seems it is a daily occurrence and nothing seems to be done to reduce the thefts although its so..common!
other than this incident..the people of spain are friendly, food was great, beautiful country!!
will provide feedback later on..
May 3rd, 2014, 07:42 AM
#65
Oh, what an awful way to end the trip! It sounds like you had a great trip, though, and hopefully, the wonderful memories will be the ones you hold on to.
Looking forward to reading about your trip. I'm planning a trip for next year in April/May and am especially interested in your thoughts about the hotels you stayed in.
Paule
Looking forward to reading about your trip. I'm planning a trip for next year in April/May and am especially interested in your thoughts about the hotels you stayed in.
Paule
May 3rd, 2014, 09:07 AM
#66
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I just wanted send my sympathies as well. From the price of your equipment,it sounds like you are pretty serious photographers. But I am glad you still sound like you liked the country and the trip. I hope you had a marvelous birthday celebration-I will be excited to hear more details when you get a chance. 
May 4th, 2014, 04:11 PM
#67
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thnx guys! ..well I'm more an enthusiastic amateur than a professional..and looks like i've lost photos only of the first 4 days (although of our favourite location, barcelona)and the last day of the trip..So I guess it could have been worse!..
Yes will definitely provide some feedback as was really happy with our hotel choices and destination decisions.. It was a great trip
Yes will definitely provide some feedback as was really happy with our hotel choices and destination decisions.. It was a great trip
May 5th, 2014, 02:59 AM
#69
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It was just bad luck!!
We had decided to walk over to walk over Plaza Mayor for some Paella.We left the hotel around 10 pm..., but the restaurant right next door to the hotel had grilled chicken listed on the menu which hubby spotted for our older fussy eater..and so we stopped there for dinner. right next door to the hotel.
After dinner , around 11pm we wanted to find icecream but as we hadn't spotted any in Plaza Ana , decided go back to the hotel..but younger daughter wanted to go to the plaground in plaza santa Ana..just a minute away. I decided to head to the hotel and older daughter joined me.(very unlike me to be the first to head home!) requested hubby to go to the playground the next morning..but he wanted to take her in the night saying it will be too hot in the morning!!! (this is why its important to listen to your wife!!
)..he had been at the park for 5 minutes and came back. he had left the stroller to pick daughter off the climbing grid at the park which was when the bag was taken ..the bag was hidden under the jackets in the stroller...he said there were not too many people at the plaza..
unfortunately i just headed out of the room after my shower..without asking for my bag..so he had decided to put it in the stroller incase i wanted to take a photo..which I would have, if we headed out to plaza mayor, but didnt really bother to in the restaurant next door..!
I guess it was plain unlucky!! and also after 17 days I guess he got a bit relaxed about being vigilant about the bag..(wish the hotel staff would remind when we head out as they said it happens almost daily to their guests)...just so unfortunate for it to happen when we only walked for 2-3 mins from our hotel for dinner, where else all was fine during our long crowded walks on other days..
I feel really really bad about loosing the photos of the kids enjoying themselves at the barcelona market, barcelonetta area, the gaudi monuments!! maybe a reason for a return visit to barcelona!
what was disappointing is that everyone treats it as an ordinary daily occurrence..the police made it clear to us that no effort will be made to locate the bag..such a contrast to the attitude of police in HK, where we currently live and they have civil officers patrolling the crowded tourist areas to deter petty crimes..wish spain would address this issue more seriously as most of the culprits are known to the guides/restaurants staff...
So hopefully this will be a warning for all in the forum to be extra careful at any time of the day ...even when it is not a crowded place!!
We had decided to walk over to walk over Plaza Mayor for some Paella.We left the hotel around 10 pm..., but the restaurant right next door to the hotel had grilled chicken listed on the menu which hubby spotted for our older fussy eater..and so we stopped there for dinner. right next door to the hotel.
After dinner , around 11pm we wanted to find icecream but as we hadn't spotted any in Plaza Ana , decided go back to the hotel..but younger daughter wanted to go to the plaground in plaza santa Ana..just a minute away. I decided to head to the hotel and older daughter joined me.(very unlike me to be the first to head home!) requested hubby to go to the playground the next morning..but he wanted to take her in the night saying it will be too hot in the morning!!! (this is why its important to listen to your wife!!
)..he had been at the park for 5 minutes and came back. he had left the stroller to pick daughter off the climbing grid at the park which was when the bag was taken ..the bag was hidden under the jackets in the stroller...he said there were not too many people at the plaza..unfortunately i just headed out of the room after my shower..without asking for my bag..so he had decided to put it in the stroller incase i wanted to take a photo..which I would have, if we headed out to plaza mayor, but didnt really bother to in the restaurant next door..!
I guess it was plain unlucky!! and also after 17 days I guess he got a bit relaxed about being vigilant about the bag..(wish the hotel staff would remind when we head out as they said it happens almost daily to their guests)...just so unfortunate for it to happen when we only walked for 2-3 mins from our hotel for dinner, where else all was fine during our long crowded walks on other days..
I feel really really bad about loosing the photos of the kids enjoying themselves at the barcelona market, barcelonetta area, the gaudi monuments!! maybe a reason for a return visit to barcelona!
what was disappointing is that everyone treats it as an ordinary daily occurrence..the police made it clear to us that no effort will be made to locate the bag..such a contrast to the attitude of police in HK, where we currently live and they have civil officers patrolling the crowded tourist areas to deter petty crimes..wish spain would address this issue more seriously as most of the culprits are known to the guides/restaurants staff...
So hopefully this will be a warning for all in the forum to be extra careful at any time of the day ...even when it is not a crowded place!!
May 13th, 2014, 05:32 AM
#70
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I bookmarked this thread for information as it was so great and look forward to your trip report. I am so sorry to hear that it ended on that bad note. Happy it wasn't all the photos. I'm amazed that your kids seemed to have adjusted to Spanish time! Not sure if mine would.
Feb 2nd, 2015, 07:55 PM
#71
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finally getting my act together, i have started writing our trip report. hope it will be of some use to others who are planning on visiting Spain.
Will be writing it in installments when time permits.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...n-loved-it.cfm
Again, thnx everyone for the great advice received on this thread!!
Will be writing it in installments when time permits.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...n-loved-it.cfm
Again, thnx everyone for the great advice received on this thread!!
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