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Big Five Oh Trip
  • Tasha Goddard
  • Tasha Goddard

Big Five Oh Trip

5 weeks interrailing round Europe as my big treat to myself for the year I turn 50. And hopefully as a taster for many adventures to come. Leggi altro
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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Madrid to Badajoz

    22 marzo 2023, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Very pleasant train journey, especially as I took it into my own hands to change seats from my reserved one (next to someone snuffling and talking to his family on video phone) and in the aisle to an empty table and window seat. The conductor confirmed the seat was free, so yay.

    Much if the journey was going alongside some mountains/hills (have I mentioned how I really can't tell the difference) which looked a lot more impressive than they do in my photos. Of course, all the photos are full of reflections and mostly not particularly interesting reflection effects.

    I did some homework for an editorial illustration challenge I'm taking part in (thought I would have LOADS of free time while travelling, but turns out not so much and as soon as I do I want to sleep) and then sorted out plans for the rest of my trip. (3 nights Badajoz, 3 nights Lisbon, 1 night Puertollano, 2 nights Barcelona - yes, I'm going back! - and 3 nights Paris. Fast train to Paris booked. Paris accommodation cancellable till last minute in case French strikes mess with the train and emergency backup will be flight from Spain.) And mostly just sat back felling relaxed. Actually, first time I haven't napped on the train. Not sure why.    Leggi altro

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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Arriving in Badajoz

    22 marzo 2023, Spagna ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    And now I'm in Badajoz, which looks lovely. And have a nice little AirBnB. Going to go out and get some supplies, and explore a bit. I have two full days here, so will get lots of exploring done.

    Then I will come back and COOK for myself (yes, I am excited about that) and do some bits of work and life admin. I feel like I won't go out in the evening, but I'm not against it, depends how tired I feel. Spain is so nice in the evening!

    I had thought I'd be able to spend quite a lot of time in Portugal, but it's fine that it's worked out the way it has, and I can save other parts of Portugal for another dedicated trip some time.    Leggi altro

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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Badjoz Day 1

    22 marzo 2023, Spagna ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    More exploring in Badajoz while buying groceries. Cooked a lovely meal with loads and loads of vegetables! If/when I do this again, will definitely go with longer stays and mostly in places like this where I can cook and do a bit of work.

    Art gallery tomorrow. Plus some work. And maybe some history if some kind.    Leggi altro

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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Badajoz Day 2: Midday

    23 marzo 2023, Spagna ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    I had a big lie in. Very comfortable bed and my shoulder's almost fully better and allowing me to sleep in my side.

    Had two (tiny - why do holiday homes of any kind NEVER have big mugs?) cups of tea. Had a shower (good shower). Did some work. Ate a bocadillo (with cheese, cucumber and tomato).

    Then wandered out. Realised I should check the opening times of the art museum I was planning to go to and found that it's on traditional Spanish hours - closed between 2 and 5 pm. So I walked over to the train station to get my reservations for next week. And this time took a much better route than the one Google Maps sent me down when I arrived, walking across the lovely pedestrian bridge and seeing the nice stuff on the riverside. And TURTLES (in the water) - zoom in to see. Oh and I bought a dress!!! I have been living in a long red skirt and vest through the whole of the hot weather and been looking for dress so I can have a tiny bit of variety.

    Now back at the flat for some lunch (leftover pasta and vegetables from last night) and to do a bit of work. Then I will head out to the art museum. And tomorrow I will go out earlier and keep the work for the hot part of the day.    Leggi altro

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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Badajoz Day 2: afternoon wander

    23 marzo 2023, Spagna ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Or is it evening? Left the house around 5.45 to wander up to the contemporary art museum. Happily got a little lost and 'collected' a whole bunch of street art (see other footprints) but found the art museum and enjoyed that (again, see another footprint or possibly two) and then made my way back to the flat, stopping to grab some bread, crisps and beer. (I am cooking tonight too, promise.)Leggi altro

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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Alcazaba de Badajoz 1

    24 marzo 2023, Spagna ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Went pretty much straight out this morning (yesterday I made the mistake of working in the cool morning hours and walking out into the midday sun!) and walked up to the Alcazaba (it's not far from where I'm staying - probably less than ten minutes walk). Really lovely place for a morning walk and so much of the walls that you can walk along. Plus amazing views.Leggi altro

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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Badajoz to Lisbon

    25 marzo 2023, Portogallo

    Very hot train journey, but lovely scenery, and loved how almost every tiny station had beautiful tiles decorating it.

    I had looked up how to get to the AirBnB and knew the bus number. But could I find the actual stop? No. Walked round and round, asked a number of different people, each of whole pointed to a different stop, none of which said 728. If it had been daytime, I would have almost certainly stopped and thought for a bit and looked up the next stop and walked to there. But it was almost dark and I was tired. So I got a taxi. I went and got some extra cash out, as I didn't have a clue how much it would cost. And it was right the other side of town. Thankfully didn't need the extra money and got into the flat which is lovely!

    I have no Lisbon photos yet, though because I was just wandering around trying to find the bus stop.

    I managed to nip round the corner to a little shop and get some bits and pieces so I could make dinner and it looks lovely, but very hilly!    Leggi altro

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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Boa dia Lisboa

    26 marzo 2023, Portogallo ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Morning wandering in the area local to the flat (tomorrow I will get a tram and go further afield).

    Lots of lovely colourful houses. Lots of hills and steps. Lots and lots of tiles (see separate post). Nice wander round a museum (also see separate post) and a coffee and a Pastel de Nata (way too strong for me; yum yum yum).Leggi altro

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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Riding the iconic 28 tram

    27 marzo 2023, Portogallo

    Spent the morning doing some work (probably won't get any done tomorrow, as travelling for over 12 hours) and then joined all the other Englishmen and mad dogs (and, actually tourists from a wide variety of countries) in the midday sun.

    Walked up some hills and then caught the 28 tram over to Alfama where I found some little windy streets and ate some ice cream and saw some crowds and then caught it back the other way all to the end where I stopped and had a beer and did some homework.

    Then back on the tram for a few stops and walked down the hill back to the flat.

    (I'll share some more tiles on a separate footprint.)

    Early start tomorrow and back to Spain. Just when my brain is starting to get used to Portuguese!    Leggi altro

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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Lisbon to Badajoz

    28 marzo 2023, Portogallo ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    It's like déjà vu, except backwards, and without a taxi ride. Pleasant enough journey, though almost missed the Entroncamento to Badajoz train because it said platform 6 and I was standing by platform 6S wondering how my train was going to replace the very sleepy looking parked train. Walked back and forth multiple times not spotting platform 6, but di literally just in time. Two minutes before it left. Phew! That would have needed some complicated rearranging to sort that out.

    Now sitting waiting for next train at Badajoz station, having gone and topped up my supplies (not with especially healthy food, sadly), as it's a 4.5-hour journey and I don't think there will be a buffet (I think it's only the reservation-obligatory trains that have them in Spain, but will be happy to find I'm wrong).

    Puertollano is purely for sleeping, no plans to explore, though kind of hoping there might be somewhere I can grab some proper food, at least. Then off to Barcelona tomorrow.    Leggi altro

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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Badajoz to Puertollano

    28 marzo 2023, Spagna ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Long train journey. Was told I should have a reservation, even though interrail app said I don't and the guy in Badajoz station said it was optional. Thankfully the guard didn't throw me off or charge me, just said to remember next time. And since the remaining journeys I am taking in or from Spain *do* all require reservations, which I have purchased already, that's fine.

    I loved the scenery. Only showing some of the photos here, because they all look very similar as photos, but I did spend a lot of time staring out the window, marveling at the geography and the nature.

    I also finished the book I was reading (last one in English, so have moved onto the French book, which made me get my languages even more muddled and I said 'merci' instead of 'gracias' a few times!

    And dozed a lot, too.    Leggi altro

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  • Tasha GoddardBig Five Oh TripViaggiatore

    Puertollano

    28 marzo 2023, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    And now in Puertollano. Nice view if a mountain (or big rock?) from my hotel window. Walked into town to get some food. Nowhere was opening till 9. Wonder if they forgot the clocks went forward.

    I went to a very nice little bar/restaurant which I had looked up earlier and decided om because they had a vegetarian section to their menu. Though actually it was mostly different versions of the same thing (mushrooms, spinach, onion and goats cheese on a pizza, in a burrito, in a quesadilla....). I really should have gone for the quesadilla! Way too much pizza for me. I ate half of it and that was a bit too much. It was nice. The dough was weird (so far, I am pretty sure I have not had good pizza dough in Spain) and also heavier than normal pizza dough (which isn't exactly light). But it was healthier than the crisps and spongey little cake things that kept me going the rest of the day.

    I was considering asking for a second beer and sewing if I could eat some more, but think it was definitely the right call.to get up and pay instead. Oh, except they didn't take cards at all and I was down to a few coins. So I had to go round the corner to an ATM and get some cash out to pay. Yeesh.itbwas a lovely bar, though. Played good music. The sort of place I'd enjoy hanging out in with other people.

    Going to be asleep pretty soon, I think. And going to get up earlyish to get some work done before the train. My ideal is to be all done before the train and then I can probably fit in some Barcelona exploration in the afternoon. But we'll see.

    This is a weird kind of limbo place. I like the overnights where I get there in the afternoon and have some good wandering time. I do like their green walls though.

    OK. ¡Hasta mañana!    Leggi altro

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