Our return trip to Madrid took us through Toledo (as in "Holy Toledo Batman!"). This was the capital of Visigoth Spain back in the day. We had two hours to wend our way through medieval streets, past the Alcazar and massive cathedral, before it was back on the bus and continuing to Madrid. Madrid was hot. After checking into our grossly overpriced hostel (Equity Point Madrid - never stay there), changing rooms to one where the toilet actually flushed, and hidi...

A town called Ronda was our lunch stop on the way to Granada. We walked past the still functioning bullring, over the stone bridge spanning an enormous gorge, and we picnicked in the cool green park which overlooks the countryside far below this hilltop town. I had never before heard of Ronda, but the old wrinkly set sure had. The town was oddly full of grey-haired, walking stick-carrying, tourists. Not a pimply, greasy, teenage backpacker in sight! Granada....

On the southernmost tip of Europe is the wee town of Tarifa. From here you can stand in view of both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, or if you look over the Straits of Gibraltar the coast of Africa is clearly visible (it's only a 35 minute ferry ride away). Maybe it is something to do with all those ocean currents meeting, but it is pretty windy here and large numbers of kite surfers zip about on the choppy water. We had the option of catching the ferry t...

Our journey to the frying pan of Europe began with awkward introductions aboard our new tour bus - thankfully a lot larger and more comfortable than our Morrocan one. We are spending the next week with 26 new travelling companions. Most are Australian, but there are a handful of Canadians and a Californian. We are the only Kiwis, other than our vivacious tour guide who originates from Te Kuiti! The only other nationality on board is our Welsh bus driver. When...

Dale's birthday began with presents and ended with alcohol, as any good birthday should! In between we travelled from Valencia to Madrid, which maybe was not the most fun way to spend the day. But at least we were well provisioned with chocolate croissants, filled rolls, chips and pistachio nuts! Our hotel in Madrid is very comfortable and a short walk from the Prado Art Gallery. On the way to the gallery we passed several street performers of the "statue" ki...