We went whale watching today. It’s a funny activity for sure. You spend 3 hours chasing around the ocean in the hopes of seeing something. And the trip is considered a success if you spot the white underside of a minky whales flukes. There’s quite a bit of spout chasing and “Is that a whale no it’s a bird is that a whale no its a boat is that a whale no it’s a, yes YES it’s a whale!” or Oh did you see it, what? there look! shit I missed the one god damn whale are you kidding me-ing.  Read more... (645 words, estimated 2:35 mins reading time)

We set out early today. Rising with the sun to make an early shuttle to the Golden Circle. We had tickets for a day trip that would take us all over the south west of the island, visiting the natural wonders of the Glacier waterfall, the North American / European Tectonic rift, the seat of the first Parliament in the world and finally the famous Geysir in Geysir. The spurt of water and gas known the world over is named after a place… who’d have known.  Read more... (952 words, estimated 3:48 mins reading time)

The oldest most beautiful city in central Europe. Sounds grand doesn’t it. In fact everything in Prague is the oldest, the smallest, the biggest, the tallest, the most and the least… in central Europe because Central Europe consists of one tiny country… the Czech Republic. I learned that today on our fabulously funny and informative tour of the city through Sandeman’s New Europe tour company. They are the young larakin upstarts of the touring world who stand on statue plinths and make fun of other tours and their silly hats. They coo at the sight of a blonde sweedish lass and wink as they speak of old legends. They make the history fun and charming and relatable, something I have been trying to do with and for my beautiful wife this entire trip and Shirin loved it. Well… as much as she can love “old stuff” and “memories”.

Last day in Valencia. We caught the bus back to Barcelona this afternoon and I watched our driver like a hawk, petrified he might nod off at any moment. The bus swerved many a time and nary was there a sight of anything swerve worthy. Thank God he decided to include a stop in our journey where we all took the necessary bathroom break and stocked up on the nibbles.  Read more... (206 words, estimated 49 secs reading time)

The day after. We woke late, wandered out to grab a coffee and a croissant at a smoky restaurant. We had an extra day in Valencia to explore so we decided to spend the sunny bits at the beach. We took books and towels from the hotel and trained it back to the Circuit from the day before. The walk along the beach in Valencia is reminiscent of Santa Monica’s boardwalk with restaurants crowding for the best position, each serving an approximation of the same menu. Paella and burgers. We settled for Paella in what seemed to be the “best” restaurant crowded with “locals”. Whether or not we picked well I’ll never know but the Paella was a little too rice heavy and seriously lacking in seafood., undoubtedly the tourist version.  Read more... (255 words, estimated 1:01 mins reading time)