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Trip to Italy and Spain
  • PW and JKW's trips
  • Phil Woodford
  • PW and JKW's trips
  • Phil Woodford

Trip to Italy and Spain

Combined sightseeing, pilgrimage, and volunteer trip Read more
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  • Trip to Italy and Spain
    Spring tulips in bloom
    These are a kind of fennel in bloomSelfie with tulips behindCameliasPretty purple flowersA spring roseAnother kind of roseAnd yet another rosePink RhodedendronThis is labeled as a lime treeFinger limesA water gardenRed bloomsCala lilliesPurple irisThese iris are called "Pink Panther"Yellow irisNot sure what this is, but it looks neatBaby ducksOur orange cake with orange blossom and a sparkling waterBaby ducks darting aboutA big koi pond with the ducks

    Last full day in Europe

    April 22, 2025 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    Today, we got up, ate breakfast, and made our way into the Madrid downtown heart. We hit a lucky streak, and today we had a free entrance to the Botanical gardens, and part of our bus ride home was also free (not sure why)

    The gardens had some spring flowers, and you could see the workers planning for the next season, too. Afterward we went for cake and sparkling water at a nearby cafe. The weather was very nearly perfect with partly sunny skies all day.

    We are checked in for the flight tomorrow. We leave here at 11:15 am. and hope to be in Kansas City tomorrow night by around during 9 pm. I will make a final post to let everyone know we made it back ok.    Read more

  • Trip to Italy and Spain

    Back in the US

    April 24, 2025 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    I'll end here for this trip. Our flight back to the US and Kansas City went very smoothly. Our flights were on time.

    My brother, John, kindly picked us up from the airport in a terrible thunderstorm. We spent the night at their house and will finish some errands here in Kansas City today. We hope to be back in Gainesville tonight. Thanks for following along on this year's trip!Read more

  • Trip to Italy and Spain
    Caught the bus at 9 am
    Frog fountain by the bus station.Roman gate into Lugo.Some of the 77 towers in the wall.A protected pool, maybe an early babtistry in the cathedral plaza.The excavated Roman temple.The house predates the wall by 200 or 300 years.Part of the former house garden.View of the "dining room" later turned into a flour mill.Name of the houseOranges on this tree even in winter.A horse and chariot scupture.Phil walking the wall.Men suspended painting with repelling ropes.Its chilly, but a good day to walk the wall.Caesar is still ever-present.On top of the wall. You can still see the cathedral behind me.

    Daytrip to Lugo

    March 7 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    It's Saturday, and Phil and I got up and caught the first bus to Lugo. Lugo is on one of the Camino routes (Camino Primativo) and has a rich history. Its about a 2 hour ride going through many quaint farming towns.

    Lugo's documented history begins with Roman occupation. A Roman home with a temple to one of the God's was uncovered when excavating for a University building. We toured the site and got a Senior discount on our tickets. We also toured the Lugo museum which was free.

    At the Lugo Museum, they were having a really fun activity. Children with the local Children's Theatre were sitting in chairs all around the exhibit. Each was portraying a different person from history, such as writers, singers, princesses, etc. Each had a chair for you to sit and listen to a little presentation about their lives. I wish I spoke Gallego or even Spanish better as I would have loved to listen in on several of them.

    We had a nice lunch of roasted chicken (me) and roasted lamb (Phil) and then walked it off. The old town has a preserved Roman wall that is a Unesco World Heritage site that you can walk on top of around the whole old town. There are 77 towers preserved and it is about a mile and a half around.

    We're having a coffee now and waiting for our bus that leaves at 6:15. Tomorrow is a laundry and study day. Monday and Tuesday afternoons we have school activities again in the afternoon so we're keeping busy. Not sure where we will go next weekend.    Read more

    Trip end
    February 26, 2025
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