Samaria Gorge - Crete

The updates have definetely been lacking as of lately. The past two weeks have flown by. We went to four cities in Swizterland, Santorini, and Crete. More details on these previous stops will be coming.
Anyways Ashlee and I went hiking in the Samaria Gorge Yesterday (http://www.west-crete.com/samaria-gorge.htm). The hike is about 17KM and took about four hours or so complete.
During the hike there are countless signs advising you to be aware of falling rocks. We thought nothing of it and just continued on the hike. In front of us by about 50 yards was a German couple. All of the sudden the German lady collaspes to the ground and starts a horrible sound scream. I thought she had fallen and broken her ankle or something. As it turns out a rock had come off the side of the cliff and hit her in the upper back area. It hit her so hard it completely knocked her to the ground.

We stopped to see if she was alright, which she was, but not very happy about the incident. Later on during the hike we saw the couple agian and she had a massive welt and cuts on her back.

The second most exciting part of the hike was seeing the Cretian endangered goats called Kri-Kri. The little guys are up along the cliff walls and make some crazy noises.

The hike ends at a tiny beach town that is only accesible by hiking down or taking a ferry too.

We are going to be leaving Crete tonight to catch a flight in Athens which will take us to Slovakia.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Madrid - Bull Fight

Just a quick post as we have a New York Life dinner (Dad's company) in a few minutes.

But yeah, we (Ashlee, myself, and Adam) decided that we would go to a bull fight in Madrid as there was going to be one the day we got in from San Sebastian. We found out that it was not a normal bull fight but it was one for beginning matadors, the bulls weighed less etc. It ended up being absolutely nuts.
We showed up at the ring and got to our seats, which are nothing more than a tiny concrete bench, that doesn’t fit American men very well. We were about five rows back from the ground. The competition started with the three different teams parading around the ring. Then it was go time as the first bull came out. The chaos seemed to start right off the bat as one guy got slammed into the wall by the bull. The process then goes through a series of stages in which they slowly, basically, kill the bull. It was very gruesome and going once was definitely more than enough. We were ready to leave after the first bull was killed.
We decided to stick around for the second bull and that is when things began to go haywire. Within the first minute the second bull was in the ring, one guy got some serious hang time when he was thrown by the bull. The bull then turned on the matador and he had a nice flight too, and then he proceeded to get trampled by the bull. He managed to get out of the way and staggered to the side of the ring where he proceeded to attempt to stand out but instead passed out. He was rushed out of the ring and straight to the hospital. This bull was crazy; he was stomping at the ground just like in the cartoons. The bull then proceeded to then knock over a horse and send a few more people flying before he was finally taken out.

It was after this second bull that we called it a day and decided we didn’t want to stay for the final fight. It was an interesting experience but something that I wouldn’t want to experience again.

San Sebastian, Spain

I guess we had to leave our lovely, wacky hotel eventually... I was just hoping it was like two, maybe three weeks from now. Even being that there was no ´disco´around, an assortment of restaurants, or much else to do besides swim, read and ride bikes, I was beyond content. The location, tranquility and natural beauty of the city was more than I could have imagined.

And so after yet, another satisfactory breakfast of cereal with soy milk (who´d a thought they´d have that in Spain!) and some great pasteries (that I probably shouldn´t have indulged in so much)- we departed Elciego and made our way towards San Sebastian...

San Sebastian rests along the northern coast. It is a city that is struggling to gain it´s independence from Spain. They speak Basque here(which Chad and I both think looks Nordic) instead of Spanish (althought Spanish is still understood). Several years back, when Chad was visiting, riots were a daily activity in the streets. Nevertheless, it has always been a safe city. It is actually a big surfing city- After two + hours of driving (lost time included) and reversing from the wrong toll booth along the highway, we found our hotel: Hotel Maria Cristina. Again, very beautiful.

It was strange to actually have to pay attention to where we walked so we didn´t run into people. We hadn´t encountered large amounts of people in four, five days. Chad, Adam and I walked around the city and the old part of town, grabbed some lunch and watched the waves for a little while before returning to the hotel for a little siesta.

Dinner was great- Many restaurants in Spain do a three course meal (dessert included! from an assortment of selections) for a certain low price- this was the way we dined for the night... and the pounds keep packin on... too good to resist though! Afterall, ´When in Rome´...



I miss you Mom, Grandma, and Grandpa.. my days don´t really feel complete when I don´t see you...You are in my thoughts.

El Ciego, Spain

We arrived in Elciego, a tiny city that more often than not, can be found on a map, yesterday, August 2, 2008 in the area of La Rioja.

Elciego, the city of wine, is a town of one restaurant but of many wineries and of a hotel that surpassses all. When I say this, I mean, really... exceeds all expectations. Please refer for yourself: http://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxury/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1539

After a three, maybe four hour car ride from our Monestery hotel in Rastafria (just outside Madrid), we grabbed a bite to eat in Laguardia (only 2 km from Elciego, since that town only consisted of a church and residences). Laguardia to say the least, was quite small from what we were used to but it was even better. I have always loved the smaller towns anyways. They provide much more flavor to a country. The real essence can be found in these cities.

We saw the hotel from a far but it didn't do any justice. We all must have stood in front of the hotel for a few moments before collecting ourselves to enter the lobby. The hotel was designed by the same architect, Frank Gehry, who designed the Guggenheim Museum in Bilboa, Spain: Truly magnificant, more than one could ever imagine.

From the moment we walked into the lobby, we were severed tea and grapes and catered to for any need necessary. Everyone was so kind and friendly- something the south of Spain doesn't have a good reputation for- it's not bad, it's just not part of their culture.

We explored their lap pool, spa and walked around admiring it's unique design and art. The hotel, just two years old, is the most recent contribution to the city. All rooms provide a backdrop to the city of Elciego with the towering church as the focalpoint. We had wine, truffles and chocolate covered fruit awaiting in our room (only every girls dream!).

The hotel is so magnificant, you don't even want to leave your room. Truth be told, there's no need. The view is all you could want and the comfort is all you could need.

With two restaurants inside the hotel- they were booked for the night- not surprising as we casulally watched from the library on the top floor as porches and ferraris were parked outside the hotel. We made our way to the wine bar to taste their special wine they are reknowned for and then to dinner at 10:30PM in Laguardia.

The following day, we were treated to a complimentary breakfast and they had cereal!!! with soy milk! Now that is a treat! They also hasd many other artesian specialities but I was mainly focused on cereal since Spain normally doesn't believe in breakfast and usually has pasteries, donuts or toast.

At noon, we went on a complimentary tour of the winery. At the conclusion, we sampled their reserve red and white.

Chad, Nora, Mark and I also ventured out on a bike ride through the vineyards but unfortunately due to a malfunction, Mark's bike broke and had to walk his bike back to the hotel. Nora, Chad and I did a loop and caught some of the best views in the city. It was a great contrast to see the city which was older than our country and the hotel which was just two years in its prime.

The rest of the day was spent wandering throughout the hotel and relaxing, reading and eating. We had dinner at the one of the restaurants in the hotel and experienced some fantastic food. It's only been one week since we've been to Spain and already I'm sure 7 extra lbs have found their way to stay along for the ride.

It will be so sad to leave this city. Sincerely, this hotel and experience here, has rendered me to be the most speechless. Besides, it's brillant design and luxurious foundation, a balance can be found, and that's simply from Spain itself. Beyond, the luxury and magnifiance, it's a place that makes you take notice of your breath.