Text: Peter Johansson
Editing: Christer Lundstedt
Photos: Christer Lundstedt, Peter Johansson
Videos: Christer Lundstedt
Monday 27th of December
06.58 After a lovely Christmas weekend with my loved ones, it's time to travel again. If all goes well, it will be the first trip abroad in two years. Last night, both Christer and I had a hard time checking in on our flight and getting a health document for entry into Spain. One problem led to the other. We needed to specify the seats in the plane to fill out the health document. We didn't have that information when it didn't work to check in online. I managed to get it but Christer gave up but would try more. I myself went to bed. Now I am ready to travel south by train.
07.26 The train rushes through the surrounding winter darkness of Ångermanland. I don't think Christer's going anywhere this early. In addition, he is surrounded by a Södermanland darkness.
09.36 I have read a little bit in my book and dozed off a bit. Christer is said to have woken up at his father's home in Oxelösund where he spent the Christmas weekend. There is still time before I reach Arlanda airport. One thing strikes me, if you move around the letters in Arlanda you get Dalarna, a province we visited on the last two summer trips.
10.00 A small, happy and young Norwegian boy just asked his father if the train was near the town of Bergen. He was told that we were in Hudiksvall. It suits me just fine. Christer is now awake and has arranged the documents he needs for the Spain trip. It was resolved last night.
11.08 I and the others with face masks continue our journey south. I have been told that someone hacked my email. The person in question has sent several e-mails to my contacts that someone stolen my money and I am stuck in Donetsk, Ukraine and need money. Now I have changed the password. Christer received a phone call from our friend Magnus who just received such an e-mail. It is a little interesting that our acquaintances do not see it as completely impossible that we are actually in conflict filled eastern Ukraine during the Christmas holidays.
12.36 I have arrived to Arlanda. It is time for lunch at O'Leary's. Our classic restaurant Alfredos, where meals have been eaten before or after our trips since 2006, no longer exists. The Jalapeño burger sounded good but it was the vegetarian version.
13.01 The burger was more filling than good. The highlight was the beer, the Czech Krušovice. Now I'm waiting for Christer at our usual meeting place on SkyBridge. On another bench stands a lonely, gray-orange small backpack. It was left there by a man who just left.
14.02 The owner of the backpack appeared and disappeared with his backpack. Soon Christer also joined from his train. Now we are taking quick steps towards check-in in terminal 2. It's good to be out in time. From time to time there have been huge queues here at the airport when people come unprepared when they are going out and travel in times of pandemic.
SPAIN
20.13 We have landed at Barcelona El Prat Airport, passed the health check and are now waiting for our luggage to arrive. We were prepared that we would have to wear a face mask in shops, inside hotels and other public areas. Due to the spread of the infection, however, Spain has introduced requirements for this even outdoors from the Christmas holidays. It feels doubtful how effective it is to have this outdoors but it is only to accept and obey.
21.15 We have positioned ourselves where our bus should appear. We have already pre-purchased the tickets online. A bit away from us stands a minibus that takes passengers to the small country of Andorra in the Pyrenees. It was a similar vehicle that we travelled there with from the airport in Girona in January 2006.
Tuesday 28th of December
Christer is ready to leave Nyköping.
Peter is having lunch at O´Learys on Arlanda airport.
Christer is waiting for a new train in Södertälje.
It´s time for check-in at Terminal 2.
Christer at Go Natural on Aeroport de Barcelona-El Prat.
Peter is adapting to the Spanish Covid19 rules.
We are waiting for the bus.
A room waited for us in Tarragona.
08.01 It is getting brighter outside our room. It's morning in Tarragona. We have slept well and are getting ready for the upcoming breakfast. I think this is the twelfth Spanish city we have slept in over the years. We also make the fifth documented trip here in Spain.
09.13 We just finished our first Spanish Corona breakfast. First we had to wait for approval to enter the breakfast restaurant and the Covid passport needed to be shown. A face mask was then applied unless you were eating or drinking. Outside our window, we hear pigeons. 10.05 After checking out of the hotel and leaving the luggage, we are now along the street Rambla Nova. We want to see a little more of the city than the bus station and hotel. Something we have to keep in mind is that it is the face mask that applies outside the hotel room. 10.11 We are now at Monument als Castellers. It is a sculpture along the Rambla Nova that is a tribute to the tradition of building towers with people. They stand on each other's shoulders and try to reach as high as possible. The technique itself is called Castell and is common here in Catalonia and also in the Valencia region. 10.26 More pigeon sounds can be heard. We ourselves do not make a sound, but take a bench rest. It's time to see more precisely how we will go next. It is hard, tough to breathe through a face mask. We are on Via de l'Imperi Romà, the street of the Roman Empire. Soon we will enter and experience the oldest parts of Tarragona.
Lots of people in the bathroom.
A view from our hotel room.
The breakfast table.
Peter is looking at the hotel´s Christmas tree.
Hotel SB Ciutat de Tarragona.
10.33 We have now made our way into the oldest part of Tarragona. It is also called Part Alta (Upper Town). Here the streets are narrow and shady. Just as we noted in similar neighbourhoods, most recently in Bilbao, the streets are watered in the morning.
10.42 The city cathedral gets a quick visit from us. As so often, Catholic churches use long complicated name. This one is called Catedral Basílica Metropolitana in the Primada de Santa Tecla de Tarragona. We are content to see it from the outside. In the trees around the cathedral there are, as so often here in Spain, oranges. 11.00 After having realized and considered that we have seen enough of Part Alta, we now look out over the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. Right next to us is the Circ Romà. It is the ruins of a Roman facility where horse races and chariot races took place with capacity for 20,000 spectators. It was built during the reign of Emperor Domitian (81-96 e.Kr.) and was in operation until the 5th century AD. 11.17 In front of us is now the old amphitheatre, the Amphitheatre de Tarragona. It has lost stones in the course of history, stones that have been used for other purposes, such as a church building. It deserves a facelift and a more airy environment. The amphitheatre was built in the 2nd century. During its heyday, 15,000 people could watch gladiator games and other things here. 11.24 A singer entertains where the street Rambla Nova ends and turns into the viewpoint Balcó del Mediterrani. From here there is a fantastic view of the sea, the port and the railway below us. 11.36 We now sit on a bench along the Rambla Nova and plan the remaining time here in the city. 12.23 Today's lunch was simple. We sat down at Burger King along the Rambla Nova. We were there before 12.00, but they hadn't opened yet. We were among the first guests today.
Rambla Nova, Tarragona.
Monument als Castellers.
Via de l'Imperi Romà, the Roman Empire´s street.
Narrow streets in Part Alta.
Tarragona´s cathedral was built from 1154.
Oranges in the trees during wintertime.
12.55 We stroll along the long Rambla Nova. We will soon be back at our hotel. I hope the bags are waiting for us. Then they, we and the face masks will travel further south.
13.33 After picking up the luggage at the hotel, we will now take a bus from the company ALSA (https://www.alsa.es). I firmly believe that we went with them before. 14.08 With views of the Mediterranean Sea and conifers, our bus goes along the E15. We sit comfortably and are on our way into the travel mood. Regarding ALSA, we travelled with that company on the New Year's trip 2015/2016 when we visited Andalusia in southern Spain. 14.30 The bus has made a stop. Did the driver really say that the break is 30 minutes and that it continues at 15.30? It doesn't match, does it? 14.35 We are in L'Aldea and at Restaurant Exit L'Aldea near the country road. We bought some snacks at the restaurant. Those of us who were not going to eat at any table did not have to show our Covidpass. 14.56 Finally a bench became free so that we can sit down for a while. 15.03 We are close to the delta of the river Ebros and the bus has not yet left here. 15.12 Now we roll again. How long will it take before I get used to this face mask?
The amphitheatre in Tarragona.
Beautiful views of the Mediterranean.
A musician entertains at Monument a Roger de Llúria.
Christer on a bench along Rambla Nova.
Monument als herois de 1811, a monument remembering those
defending the city during the Napoleonic wars.
It´s time to leave nice Tarragona.
15.27 We just passed the river Ebro, the most water rich river in Spain. It is 91 miles long and reaches the sea in these areas.
16.26 A child babbles merrily. We are now in the city of Castelló de la Plana (in Spanish Castellón de la Plana). Here you are allowed to go out to finish the trip or to smoke. We have no crave for smoking and see no point in getting off. Instead, we chose to stay on the bus. The city has 180,204 inhabitants. There is also a Swedish Consulate here. In a suburb you will find the successful football team Villarreal with the nickname "The Yellow Submarine". The 2005/2006 season saw the team reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and the 2020/2021 season saw the club win the UEFA Europa League. 17.35 The bus has taken us to another Spanish city, Valencia. We have been dropped off at Estació d'autobusos, Valencia's bus station. Now it's time to once again find the booked home. 18.13 We have arrived in the city of Valencia and are now checked in at Hotel Kramer (https://www.hotelkramervalencia.com). This time we stay in room 306, again right next to the elevator. Tonight's strategy will be laid out. Valencia is Spain's third largest city and has a population of 789,744. 19.35 Now there are evening plans. It is time to wait for the right time for things to go well. 20.44 Steps one and two are completed. We have done a visual inspection of the local area and purchased beverages with accessories for the evening at the grocery store Consum. What the children in the city humming has melodies similar to those we have in Sweden. We have also heard these melodies in other countries.
Our bus has arrived to Valencia.
Hotel Kramer, Valencia.
We are looking out through our window just before sunset.
Dinner at Restaurante La Antonella.
21.00 After showing our Covid passports and also id documents in the form of our passports, we have been allowed to sit down at the Italian restaurant/pizzeria Da Antonella. They are meticulous here. I wonder who goes to the trouble of borrowing someone else's Covid passport just to eat pizza. We ordered our pizzas and beer. In fact, I think this will be our first pizzas on Spanish soil.
21.32 It feels somehow new and fresh to eat at a restaurant abroad again. Imagine if we also escaped the pandemic with all the regulations around it. 22.14 That's what we needed. We are full and happy. It's time to recharge for a full day here in the city tomorrow. There is a lot to see and discover. 23.58 This long and eventful day ends with an evening beer, La Mari IPA. It's from the city.
Wednesday 29th of December
08.14 The city, the day and we ourselves are about to wake up. This is going to be an interesting day. Today we will explore Spain's third largest city, Valencia.
09.08 There will be no buffet breakfast here at Hotel Kramer. Instead, we order at the table in the hotel's bar/restaurant Kram Bar. I don't know if I misheard or if the face mask made the waiter indistinct. I thought he said that it was offered sandwich with tomato and jam. Christer has ordered one as well as some other things. I chose another order. 09.38 Christer's sandwich came with tomato and ham. I guess I misheard. In Valencian, breakfast is called esmorzar. There are different opinions as to whether Valencian is just the local name for the language Catalan or whether it is a Catalan dialect. 10.32 The internet connection in the room is weak. I think we will be weak too if we don't go out soon. We have a city waiting for us. 10.42 Soon after leaving the hotel, we passed an interesting park area that surrounds the entire centre of Valencia. It is called the Túria Park and is actually the riverbed of the River Túria that flowed here before. The inhabitants of Valencia got tired of the floods of the river, and after a major flood in 1957; the decision was made to divert the waters of the river. This was carried out in the 1960s. When the river was no more, the area became a park surrounding the city centre. 10.56 On our way to sights and with a sun that sticks in our eyes and dazzles us, we take a bench rest. We are in the Plaza de San Sebastián and near the Jardí Botànic (Botanical Garden). 11.15 Shortly after we started walking again we came to Torres de Quart. It is one of the city gates of Valencia. It is built in the 15th century in the Gothic style. 11.30 It's time for a new and shady break. We are at the Jardins del Antiguo Hospital (Gardens of the old hospital). Also nearby are the city's library and some churches. 11.56 A branch of Starbucks Coffee on Carrer de Sant Vicent Màrtir was passed by us due to lack of space. Now we are instead on Plaça de l'ajuntament (Town Hall Square) and stand by the town hall and a skating rink. The ones I've seen can actually skate. This has not always been the case on our travels.
Breakfast at Hotel Kramer.
Out on the streets of Valencia.
Masked men on Plaza de San Sebastián.
Torres de Quart, a city gate from the 15th century.
Plaça de Sant Agustí, Valencia.
Plaça de l'Ajuntament, Valencia.
12.29 We went to a Starbucks Coffee. That's not what we saw before. This is located on a small street called Passeig de Ruzafa. In addition, our names on the mugs are correct. The toilet here offers both seating and standing space. On the way here we walked across the street at green woman.
13.31 The Plaça de la Reina is completely being rebuilt but we still manage to take some photos here. The square is also home to Valencia's cathedral, La Seu de València. The Gothic cathedral was consecrated in 1238, but construction continued for several centuries afterwards. 13.42 In Plaça de la Mare de Déu there is a hustle and bustle. Some gentlemen play saxophone, didgeridoo and something resembling an upside down wok pan, it sounds like a steeldrum. 13.54 We have been looking for a lunch restaurant but have not yet found anything suitable. It's time for a new bench break. We are in a park on the former riverbed. 14.21 We have entered through another city port, Porta de Serrans (Torres de Serranos), and are in the older parts again. What will we see now? 14.34 The search for a suitable restaurant continues and we see street after street, block after block of this amazing city. 14.56 We did not see much of the Church of Sant Nicolau de Bari in Sant Pere Màrtir. It was completely built into the surrounding buildings. More has been seen of the exterior of Valencia's large market hall, Mercat Central. Here there are over 1000 small stalls where various goods are sold. Near the market hall is the Llotja de la Seda (La Lonja de la Seda), a 15th-century Stock Exchange. We want to see a dining table.
L'Ajuntament, Valencia´s city hall.
Ice skating is popular, even in warm weather.
Christer is visiting Starbucks Coffee.
Valencia´s cathedral, La Seu de València.
Basílica de la Mare de Déu dels Desamparats.
Plaça de la Mare de Déu, Valencia.
15.13 We are back in the same place where we were four hours ago, at the city gate Torres de Quart. We have seen many dining tables but very few are vacant.
15.22 We have temporarily landed on the same bench that we sat on this morning. It is the Plaza de San Sebastián that has been visited by us again. We look for a free table at the restaurant in front of us but possibly we look further in the area. 15.33 A free table has finally been found. Christer has ordered two sandwiches and two beers. It is good with language-gifted friends. We are at Cafeteria Gran Vía 66. As you can hear from the name, this eatery is located along Gran Vía (de Ferran el Catòlic). The sandwiches ordered are supposed to be typically Valencian. 16.46 The sandwiches (Bocadillo Brascada) which were filled with very tasty beef were clearly worth the wait. It was very tasty at a good price. We had just finished eating before our cafe closed at 17.00. Many Spanish eateries have closed between the lunch and the late dinner. On the way home we went through the bus station to redeem tomorrow's bus tickets. Now we are at home at the Hotel Kramer for the well-deserved siesta. 17.57 When we were in Spain during this day six years ago we travelled to an overcast and rainy Gibraltar and later in the evening Christer got back his bag that had disappeared during the flight from Arlanda to Málaga with a change in Oslo. 20.04 Now there will be no more siesta. Now we have to get out. 20.35 A circumnavigation movement has taken us to and past a prospective football arena. It's Valencia CF's new "Nou Mestalla" I'm talking about. It was built between 2007 and 2009 before economic problems halted construction. Now there are new plans to have everything ready in 2024.
Porta de Serrans (Torres de Serranos).
Mercat Central, the big market hall in Valencia.
Llotja de la Seda (La Lonja de la Seda).
Christer is waiting for the food at Cafeteria Gran Vía 66.
Bocadillo Brascada was served at Gran Vía 66.
Tonight´s dinner table at Namaste Pais.
20.55 It was a long walk on the way to tonight's dinner. We have walked along Avenida del General Avilés and then along Avenida del Mestre Rodrigo but are now starting to approach our goal.
21.09 Here at Namaste Pais (http://namastepais.com), an Indian restaurant, I have ordered lamb skewers without sauce. Why did I do that? Christer is testing a mixed grill. On the way here we have passed several intersections with green women. We also had to show our Covidpass to be welcomed in. However, this is not necessary if you sit outdoors as at today's late lunch. 22.20 After the good food we were offered brandy, thank you! We paid with banknotes and left coins, as a tip. 23.14 We have just learned that World Junior Championship in ice hockey is cancelled. This decision was made because several teams were affected by Covid19 and thus lost the match. How smart was it to put the tournament in a Canadian province with very strict pandemic rules? 23.26 Tyris IPA and Cerveza Borinot Bori Tostada, a micro beer is the evening beer today. A rich day ends in our hotel room with these drinks. Once again we drink beer from here Valencia.
Thursday 30th of December
08.24 Our stay in Valencia is coming to an end. Today more will be written and memorised. There is certainly much more to see and experience in this city but new cities are waiting for us.
09.43 With delicious morning food in our stomachs we are soon ready to depart. This morning we knew about the breakfast offer and were able to order the best that was offered. 10.29 Abróchese el cinturón de seguridad, Fasten seatbelt, can be read on a small sign. Our bus will soon leave gate 27 at Estació d'autobusos (Valencia's bus station). We travel with ALSA (https://www.alsa.es) this trip too. It was a smaller bus this time. The journey is also shorter. 11.28 We are having another comfortable trip with ALSA. We sit well and there are beautiful views. 12.18 We have reached the popular tourist resort of Benidorm. The city's high-rise buildings are visible in the distance. So is the sea. We made a short stop here at the bus station. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to make an excursion here tomorrow. 12.28 On the way out of Benidorm we have seen Osborne again. It is the classic bull silhouette that we also saw in Andalusia. Sherry maker Osborne put up large images of bulls, in black and with the manufacturer's name, as advertising signs at locations near the major roads across Spain. In 1990, such advertising along the roads was banned, but the bulls without advertising have been allowed to stand in 88 places in Spain. 13.15 It is time for a bench break. We arrived in Alicante and are now in Parque Canalejas. The question is whether we head directly towards the accommodation or stop for lunch along the way. Alicante is located on the Costa Blanca, a part of the Spanish coast that attracts crowds of tourists. The city has a population of 337,482. This makes Alicante the eleventh largest city in Spain.
Morning in Valencia.
Estació d'autobusos d'Alacant.
We are walking towards central Alicante.
Parque Canalejas, Alicante.
Our lunch restaurant Terrat Rincon Gastronomico.
Peter is having lunch at Terrat.
13.40 We didn't find any good lunch options, just a few fast food restaurants. Instead, we decided to go straight to our hotel. Now we have been separated from our luggage for a while. We couldn't check in yet. It was not so surprising. We knew that the check-in time is 16.00 but you can always take a chance and hope. Outside the house, a woman was vaping.
14.07 The two of us are looking for beautiful views to immortalize as well as a suitable restaurant for a lunch. 14.27 After some searching from us Christer found the restaurant Terrat which seems to have some kind of lunch offer. The main thing that attracted us here was probably vacant tables outside. Outdoor means we don't have to worry about Covidpass. Here at Terrat we are going to order a simple three course lunch. 15.37 It was simple but above all delicious, just what we needed here and now. Now that we have located a department store, El Corte Inglés, we are heading towards the port. Next to me here in the park is a large fig tree. The park where we temporarily stopped is the same park we went through before, Parque Canalejas. 15.45 A cool wind blows from the sea. The sun is shining and our energy is replenished. We sit and look at all the expensive boats here in the Port of Alicante. Russian is spoken behind us. 16.15 We have left the water and walked along the wave decorated Promenade Passeig Esplanada d'Espanya. Here are three giant statues of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. Let's head for the hotel. It's time to check into our room.
Walking along Avenida Dr Gadea.
Christer is taking a face mask selfie in Alicante marina.
Lots of white boats in Alicante marina.
Esplanada d'Espanya.
Mary and Joseph are looking down on the Jesus child.
This is where we will stay. Estudiotel Alicante is the name of our highrise hotel.
16.57 Room 517 at the Estudiotel Alicante (https://www.estudiotelalicante.es) has let us in. Let's get some rest. Upon check-in, we were told that the hot water will come in two hours. I wonder where it is right now. Our hotel is the tallest building in Alicante. It is 117 meters high and has 35 floors. We live on the fifth floor.
18.30 The rest in the room has done the trick. Newly made plans are laid out. 18.43 The bathroom water is scarce at this time. Perhaps it is the lack of water. We were told that there were some problems with the hot water at check-in. Now the problems seem to be much more extensive. 19.28 It took some time to get a free lift. it easy happens in a building with so many floors. When one arrived, it went upstairs to pick up more guests. A man who took the lift has been staying at this hotel fifteen years in a row. Now we are ourselves at Starbucks Coffee at El Corte Inglés. We sit outside and drink evening coffee. 20.39 After a purchase at a small 24-hour shop we are back home. Now at least there is cold water in the pipes. However, no water fills the toilet cistern. Before we got home, we saw the shoe store with the Swedish-sounding name Sötkatt. Cute cat. Interesting name! 21.12 The toilet finally gets new water. To celebrate this and to ease our hunger, we are going out to dinner.
Estudiotel Alicante has 35 floors.
View from our balcony.
Christer at Starbucks Coffee, Alicante.
We have received drinks and the menu.
Christmas atmosphere at Pizzeria Da Nonna Nina.
Late evening on Avenida Maisonnave.
21.39 At the small cozy Pizzeria Da Nonna Nina on Carrer Alemania we have received the menu, sparkling red wine as a drink and a small pizza slice. We will soon order tonight's dinner.
21.56 There is an Italian theme on the restaurant's interior, pasta and pizzas. However, the interesting thing is that part of the menu that offers Georgian dishes. Some of the staff also speaks in a language we find difficult to identify. Most likely, there are Georgians among the staff here. 22.59 We are very happy with our orders at the restaurant, lasagne and pizza. However, we are unhappy with the lack of hot water in our room. We are planning our activities tomorrow as it is the last day of the year. We are also hoping for warmer water tomorrow morning. 23.52 If all goes well, we will take the tram tomorrow. there seems to be a line between Alicante and Benidorm. If this is the case, we do not need to buy a bus ticket. We are about to go out on our balcony for beer. We got some big bottles of beer in the little shop we visited earlier tonight.
You can see 14 photos from December 27 in this photoalbum.
You can see 94 photos from December 28 in this photoalbum.
You can see 104 photos from December 29 in this photoalbum.
You can see 90 photos from December 30 in this photoalbum.