Planned Itinerary

Here's the plan for our trip. I hope to add more news as we travel:
Sun Oct 23 Leave San Francisco
Mon Oct 24 arrive Zurich
Thurs Oct 27 Zurich to Barcelona
Mon Oct 31 Barcelona to Évora
Thurs Nov 3Leia mais
waiting to board our plane

Plenty of time to get some last minute work done!
Training in Zurich

Flight was fine, but neither of us slept much. Heading to our hotel now
first meal in Zurich

We both were too tired and not hungry enough to go out last night. We didn't sleep that well, so we weren't up and out till noon. Russell went in to work (they will feed him there) and so I wanderedLeia mais
Dinner at our favorite Zurich restaurant

All the staff remembered us and we had another great dinner with great wine.
All I have done so far on this trip is nap and eat. I'd call it a successful trip so far!
wandering around Zurich

Found an old warehouse that has been converted to a shopping mall. Very cool!
FYI: the one type of shop I have seen the most of, by FAR is hair salons - either unisex or for men only. I guess SwissLeia mais
smart asses the world around!

more eclectic shopping

This group of shops and bars is made of old shipping containers.
Dining al fresco

Even in cold weather, people want to eat outdoors so the cafes all put these sheepskins on the chairs.
double decker bike racks

They take their biking seriously. Not as seriously as the Dutch, but still it is impressive.
hot roasted chestnuts

It was so picturesque seeing these for sale I almost bought some. Fortunately I remembered I hate roasted chestnuts before I did.
never see this in California

Fountains with potable water continuously flowing. These are all over the city. Some are very old and large and elaborate and some are very simple but they are all "wasting" water and it freaks meLeia mais
touristing is thirsty work

a store that sells nothing but meusli

I.e., cold cereal (similar to granola).
What will they think of next???
Christmas creep is not just in America

It is late October and already a lot of stores are selling Christmas stuff.
and so we leave Zurich

welcome to Barcelona!

It has been a bit of a stressful adventure today but we now have beer and food so things can only get better.
we are all here and have beers

Life is greatl!
stopped at an open air market

Cherrymoya and padron peppers
wandering around the Gothic Quarter

Barcelona magic fountain show

We had a very slow day today. Slept the whole morning away and finally got up and went wandering around. Had a very late lunch/early dinner and now we are going to see a fountain show.
biking in barcelona

We rented bikes and biked down to the waterfront. Saw this odd floating statue with this mountain in the distance.
and more biking in Barcelona

We eventually made our way all the way up that mountain. Saw a great view of the harbor where we started.
don't park the wrong way in Barcelona

We biked by the Olympic stadium and found the parking enforcers were out today.
magic fountains by day

We biked by the magic fountains. Not nearly as exciting by day, but still pretty.