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)

It is 6am. I just banged my shin on the end of the bed searching for my socks and I’m cursing this decision to be spontaneous. Who travels 4 hours to Valencia to watch the Formula 1 without tickets on the biggest race day this side of Michael Schumacher’s lsat win? The Tate’s do.  Read more... (2533 words, estimated 10:08 mins reading time)