Marc's Public Blog - Trips to other locations


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This is a collection of my blog entries related to short or long trips I went on.
I have some master pages for some specific locations/trips:

paris over many years | UK over many years | Belgium over many years | Holland over many years | Vegas over many years | Australia over many years | Canada over many years | Japan over multiple trips | Italy in 2011 | France in 2013 | Indonesia in 2013 | Japan in 2013 | Japan in 2014 | Taiwan in 2014 | Indonesia in 2014 | New Zealand in 2015 | Japan in 2015 | Costa Rica in 2015 | Singapore in 2016 | South Korea in 2016 | Japan in 2016 | Germany in 2016 | Tasmania 2017 | Japan in winter 2017 | Great Britain in 2017 | Australia Flying Safari 2017 | Philippines 2018 | Spain in 2018 | Alaska in 2019 | England in 2021 | UAE in 2021 | Poland in 2023 | Portugal in 2023 | Thailand in 2023 | Japan Snow 2024 |

Table of Content for trips:

More pages: December 2023 June 2023 April 2023 December 2022 December 2021 February 2021 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 June 2018 May 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 June 2012 April 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 June 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 September 2010 August 2010 May 2010 January 2010 September 2009 August 2009 June 2009 January 2009 December 2008 August 2008 February 2008 January 2008 October 2007 July 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 August 2006 July 2006 April 2006 March 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 April 2005 December 2004 October 2004 July 2004 June 2004 January 2004 January 2003 January 2001 August 1997



2018/10/18 Just Over 48H in Denver
π 2018-10-18 01:01 in Ntrips, Trips



I arrived Thursday afternoon with a bit of time to see the nearby History Museum which was actually quite good and needed 2 visits to finish it up (3.5-4H):





lots of mining history in CO
lots of mining history in CO




Mesa Verde is a cool old city under the rocks.
Mesa Verde is a cool old city under the rocks.

Next, I took a city bike (using the uber app, interesting) to the Denver Aquariuum




Then, I got lucky and the Botanical Gardens had a halloween themed night visit:














Friday morning, I started with a 2H guided walk through town. Denver spends a set amount of money on art, so there is a lot of it:














AFter the tour, I went to the Wings Over The Rockies Air and Space, which was interesting but probably worth only 2 to 3H at most:



Friday evening, I went to the Clyfford art museum during evening hours. Worth 30-45mn as I was not a fan:



Next door was the Denver Art Museum:




some guy took Japanese snow monkeys and took them to Texas to see if they would adapt. They did, but kind of questionable
some guy took Japanese snow monkeys and took them to Texas to see if they would adapt. They did, but kind of questionable






The buildings were nicely lit at night:


Saturday, I thought I'd start with the Denver Museum Nature and Science, which opened at 09:00. I was there from opening time and ended up spending all day until they closed. They're located in a nice park:



Then, giving that the museum took all day, it was time to go back to the airport.

See more images for Just Over 48H in Denver
2018/10/16 A few days in Boulder, CO
π 2018-10-16 01:01 in Ntrips, Trips

While it was just mid October, Boulder had already gotten some snowfall just before I arrived. One morning, I took a bike to the University of Colorado at Boulder to tour the campus. It's nothing too special, but still worth a quick visit:









While in Boulder, I also went to visit the [Google office buildings there|perso/google/post_2018-10-16_Boulder-and-Thornton-Office-5-Years-Later.html]

See more images for A few days in Boulder, CO
2018/10/14 A Short Day in Paris
π 2018-10-14 01:01 in France, Ntrips, Paris, Trips
Coming back from Spain, we spent the afternoon in Paris before flying home the next morning.
In hindsight, I made the mistake of lining up a couple of museums when in fact we should have just spent the entire day out to enjoy the summer in Paris, which we otherwise never get to do.

We started with Musée des Arts et Métiers (on its own page):


And then we went to Centre Pompidou (on its own page):


Not often that we're in Paris during the summer, so we went around 1st Arrondissement:






We then went to Centre Pompidou, which included fairly good views:




Notre Dame before it burnt
Notre Dame before it burnt

Tour St Jacques
Tour St Jacques





la défense
la défense



Then it was time to go home. Nice lighting in CDG airport



See more images for A Short Day in Paris
2018/10/13 Spain 2018 Wrapup
π 2018-10-13 00:00 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips
Spain is definitely amongst the top countries in Europe to go visit. While I might still rank it behind Italy and France, it's a tough call between it and Germany, and I would put it in front of the UK (not counting London which is well worth seeing a week on its own).
It had lots of nice things to see, even if most were church related as Spain is indeed still a very religious (catholic) country. This doesn't count the few mosques that are left (most have been well destroyed and got a church built on top for good measure).

Late september/early oct seemed like a good time to go, not terribly busy or hot, although the main cities were still busy for sure: Séville very busy while Cordoba not at all for instance. Getting tickets for the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona was essential still while some other attractions would have had manageable enough waits, even if it was fine to skip them anyway where possible with advance tickets. Weather was still quite varied between sweating in Barcelona and quite cool in Madrid (down to 13C one day).
And yet, despite the temps that were more than ok, some cities still had stupid and pointless siesta hours that closed most everything from 14:00 to 16:30, really fucking up sightseeing (Hello Zaragoza, get a clue if you want more tourists, especially as a day trip from madrid with quite expensive fast train tickets). On the plus side, this is mostly going away in many cities, or wasn't relevant in October which wasn't considered summer anymore.

History wise, it would take me a while to go through it all, and I wouldn't do a good job anyway, but long story short the muslims invaded part of Spain and stayed a few hundred years until Christian crusades took them all out and destroyed all their mosques except for a select few (and the one in cordoba got an unsightly church built in a very middle, seemingly as a "fuck you"). The Jews also picked the wrong religion apparently and were invited to convert (eh, they only had to accept Jesus, and a few extra books), or were cordially invited to leave. A few remained underground and kept their faith while pretending to be christian and eating pork in front of witnesses.

I can't stay I really support bull fighting, but it was interesting to learn about the history and culture around it, as well as seeing the bull rings, and even a bull raising farm.

Food was good overall. My sampling palate enjoyed the tapas that most restaurants offered, sangria as well, and the many different ways you can eat pig :) (including milk fed pigglets).

The trip, thanks to Rick Steves suggestions (and I'll say that Rick Steves book seem frozen in time and lack really needed updates, as well as in the case of Spain providing a very questionable suggested routing, so we had to work hard to make our own that made more sense, thanks Arturo for the help there), we did go to see UK's Gibraltar which is worth the trip (and unlike what the book said, will happily use your euros if you don't have british pounds), and the day trip from Tarifa to Tangier, while not strictly necessary, was educational, especially with our private guide.
Not unlike France, most of the south is hard to visit with a car, but once you get to Madrid, public transport works fine. Going through smaller towns like Ronda was worth the car, though.

So, that was that for Spain, nice trip, most everything went according to plan. Here is the route:

See more images for Spain 2018 Wrapup
2018/10/12 Spain Day 19: Zaragoza
π 2018-10-12 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

Zaragoza was the farthest city we saw from Madrid as a day trip. 2H fast (expensive) train:



We randomly picked a day that was a huge Christian festival, festival of Pilar. It was fun but also a huge mess, millions of people everywhere:









Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar was beautiful, but it was a total mess with all the crowds:





it's big, but it was packed
it's big, but it was packed














We took the elevator to the top, decent views:












Lots of Roman ruins and museums:

they had a nice amphitheatre
they had a nice amphitheatre






lead pipes, yum
lead pipes, yum


Sadly, some things were closed due to the massive festival, which was clusterf a times, not counting all the things that were closed from 14:00 to 16:00 for siesta:



we were forced to stop for a 15:00 lunch
we were forced to stop for a 15:00 lunch


Thankfully a few things were still open:












One of the open things was the very cool Origami Museum (click for its own page):


Eventually we went to the other part of town to visit, we went to Aljafería Palace:










And then it was finally time to take a late 300kph train back to Madrid:


See more images for Spain Day 19: Zaragoza
2018/10/11 Spain Day 18: Salamanca
π 2018-10-11 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

Salamanca was the farthest yet. Only a single fast train per day at non ideal times, leading for a shorter day in Salamanca. Jennifer used the time to rest in train:

We started with a surprising good car museum worth 2H (follow the link for more):


After the car musuem, we stopped by Casa Lis, a nice art deco museum, and yet another "no pictures" place:






Next was the great Leronimus Cathedral:







oh my, I hope it's not load bearing
oh my, I hope it's not load bearing
















La Clerecía, University of Salamanca, Museo de San Esteban and Convent,























Nice Views:



Walk through town:



yum
yum




The visit was not super long due to the 2H train ride each way, and only one direct fast train per day, so we had to head back not too late.

See more images for Spain Day 18: Salamanca
2018/10/10 Spain Day 17 part 3: Avila
π 2018-10-10 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

Our last excursion from Madrid for the day was Avila. We took a train from El Escorial and arrived mid afternoon. A bit late, but just enough time to visit:


we asked our cab from the train station to take us to a viewpoint
we asked our cab from the train station to take us to a viewpoint



Avila has the best city walls in Spain
Avila has the best city walls in Spain

By the city entrance, we have San Vicente de Ávila:









We then got a tour in a Tuck-tuck:





Next, we went to visit the main Cathedral:
















We then went to walk the beautiful city walls:







We then had a very rushed visit of Convent of Santa Teresa de Jesus and then caught a bus back to the train station for a train home:



See more images for Spain Day 17 part 3: Avila
2018/10/10 Spain Day 17 part 1: El Escorial
π 2018-10-10 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

Our next excursion from Madrid was El Escorial - Valley of the Fallen - Avila. We started with Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial:


good thing the entire train didn't crash
good thing the entire train didn't crash

Quick cab ride from train station, sadly yet another place that doesn't allow pictures. This was getting old by then:


























The outside was nice too:




Next, we took a cab to Valley of the Fallen.

See more images for Spain Day 17 part 1: El Escorial
2018/10/10 Spain Day 17 part 2: Valley of the Fallen
π 2018-10-10 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

After El Escorial, we took a cab to Valley of the Fallen that waited for us there as there is no usable transport.

It's a Francoist regime monument, Catholic basilica and a monumental memorial which is very controversial as it's equivalent to being a monument to hitler.

It's yet yet yet another place that doesn't allow pictures.







Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco






we then hurried back to our cab to catch a train to Avila, our 3rd location for the day.

2018/10/09 Spain Day 16: Aranjuez
π 2018-10-09 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

Per recommendation from Arturo, we tried to go see the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. Sadly, when we arrived, it was closed without notice, so we only got to see the gardens. Sigh, mostly wasted time (2H going there and back, and 2H onsite...)

We took a morning local train:



It was a 10mn walk from the train station, and we only got to see the gardens, which thankfully were still ok:













See more images for Spain Day 16: Aranjuez
2018/10/07 Spain Day 14: Toledo
π 2018-10-07 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

Todelo was the next city we went to by train as a day trip from Madrid:






We then went to Museo del Greco:






Toledo has other jewish museums and buildings:







Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes:









More walking through town:


Museo de los Concilios y la Cultura Visigoda








Santuario Sagrados Corazones:



nice views from the top
nice views from the top

Alcázar de Toledo/military museum
Alcázar de Toledo/military museum




More random things:






We then went to visit the Alcázar de Toledo:



















The Alcázar has a nice church inside:





















After a long day in Toledo, time to go home:


See more images for Spain Day 14: Toledo
2018/10/06 Spain Day 13: Segovia - La Granja
π 2018-10-06 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

After arriving in Madrid, we used it as a base to go visit a bunch of neighboring towns as day trips by train. Our first one was Segovia and La Granja:

with a fast train, we got there in around 1H
with a fast train, we got there in around 1H

Segovia is known for its Roman Aqueduct
Segovia is known for its Roman Aqueduct





we followed the aqueduct to its destination where you could get water
we followed the aqueduct to its destination where you could get water

Quaint spanish towns have good food :)



We went through the Catedral de Segovia and its viewing tower:












Nice views around town:











The town also had a jewish quarter and some more museums:










After being done with Segovia, we took a cab to La Granja for its Royal Glass Factory:















After about 1H in the museum (which was worth a bit more), we had to leave to go to the Royal Palace of La Granja of San Ildefonso:



















I hope they're not about to have sex, this looks questionable
I hope they're not about to have sex, this looks questionable


very big gardens
very big gardens

sadly, they sucked and turned off all fountains for the season despite it being Oct 6th
sadly, they sucked and turned off all fountains for the season despite it being Oct 6th


and that was that, very nice palace and gardens. After getting kicked out of the gardens, we had just enough time to get a taxi back to the train station.

See more images for Spain Day 13: Segovia - La Granja
2018/10/05 Spain Day 12-15-16-20: Madrid
π 2018-10-05 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

Madrid was the last city went to for our trip, but we used it as a base to hit a lot of nearby, or not so nearby cities (Segovia & La Granja, Toledo, Aranjuez, El Escorial Valley of the Fallen Avila, Salamanca, and Zaragoza).

Getting around was a mix of walking, subway and taxis, but they also had other options:

you can start from the center
you can start from the center





Madrid had lots to see too, so after arriving from Cordoba the night before, we went to visit the west side of the city starting with the royal palace and the Cathedral de Amuldena. It was yet another place were pictures were forbidden, which means I ended up with fewer pictures:




















Next, we went towards the navy museum, which sadly was mostly closed for renovation. The paying part of the expo was conveniently open though:





We then went to a building nearby that had terrace views:





And then we walked to the archeological museum and had a good vidist (which ended up having to be done in 2 days as it was much bigger than planned). See the page on Madrid archeological museum


The next morning, we started with the Prado Museum which was another museum without photos (again!), so I have fewer:













you can't take pictures, but you can make your own slow copy :)
you can't take pictures, but you can make your own slow copy :)

After Prado, we went to see the excellent Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (on its own page, which thankfully allowed pictures.



Then we finished Prado (we had to juggle with opening hours) and finished the long day with Reina Sofia (Modern art, not that great outside of Picasso's Guernica, which they have plenty of people to stop you from taking pictures):







don't ask
don't ask


And that was it for a very long day. After our mostly wasted trip to Aranjuez, we went to Google for late lunch, and got a few pictures from the buildings:



We also went to see Sorolla Museum nearby:





We also had a few nice dinners, including milk fed piglets :)


It was good enough that we went back for more another night:


Some evening/night pictures from various days:





The last day, I started with the Air Museum outside of town (on its own page):


Next, I went to the Basilica of San Francisco:






From there, I had a quick look at Museum Cerralbo:








We then went to Caixa Forum for its interesting architecture:




And last, but not least, was a good walk through the botanical gardens:








Then, it was time to leave and catch a flight home

See more images for Spain Day 12-15-16-20: Madrid
2018/10/04 Spain Day 11: Cordoba
π 2018-10-04 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

Cordoba was a good stop between Seville and Madrid, we went to Cordoba for its Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba, but it has more:










This is what the Mosque-Cathedral of Córdoba looks like



the mosque was modified and a church built in its middle, quite weird
the mosque was modified and a church built in its middle, quite weird

nice walled garden outside
nice walled garden outside


pretty light patterns from the windows
pretty light patterns from the windows




a chapel in the middle, kind of awkward
a chapel in the middle, kind of awkward


Next was the Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs:




We then had a look at Casa de Sefarad to learn about jewish heritage (which was also mostly wiped):






Last but not least was the archeological museum:




And it was eventually time to take a train to Madrid, our last area to visit for the trip:


See more images for Spain Day 11: Cordoba
2018/10/03 Spain Day 10: Sevilla
π 2018-10-03 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips
After tarifa, we drove to Sevilla, wher ewe spent 1.5 days


we started with the Alcazar at opening time for our timed tour. Very nice palace:
























Next, we took a cab to the Archeological Museum:





After the museum it was then a beautiful walk in the park and towards Plaza de Espana:










From there, I had a quick look at the Military Museum before it closed:









The Catedral de Sevilla and El Divino Salvador were next:
















From there, we went to the flamenco museum. Never really loved flamenco, but it was fun to see a bit of it:





we watched enough to get a feel, but without being stuck for the whole performance
we watched enough to get a feel, but without being stuck for the whole performance

Still had more time to walk through town (long days):






So we went to the local bullring, which was less interesting than the one at Ronda:




Next was a cab to the north of town to the Basílica de la Macarena, they host a Shrine of the Virgin that get paraded through town at the right time of the year:




feels like the ku klux klan was there :)
feels like the ku klux klan was there :)


shrine
shrine

A few views:





The next morning, we took a cab to the Conjunto Arqueológico de Itálica, some half preserved roman ruins, which incidently I recognized in an episode of gmae fo thrones later:

I had the cab drive us by the bridge
I had the cab drive us by the bridge









Later on game of thrones, I recognized it:



After the visit we took another cab to the station for a train to cordoba and a day visit

See more images for Spain Day 10: Sevilla
2018/10/02 Spain Day 09: Tarifa to Tangier
π 2018-10-02 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

sunrise over Tarifa from our patio
sunrise over Tarifa from our patio



we then took one of the fast 1H ferries to Tangier
we then took one of the fast 1H ferries to Tangier

Our private guide met us at the ferry and took us around:


We then went for a camel ride by the sea:


Next we went to Hercules Caves:







From there we went back to the old town (Kasba) and its markets:




lots of cats
lots of cats



our knowledgeable and multilingual guide
our knowledgeable and multilingual guide











nice views:




Then, we took the ferry back to Tarifa and walked around the old city a bit:



sadly the city walls were closed
sadly the city walls were closed


See more images for Spain Day 09: Tarifa to Tangier
2018/10/01 Spain Day 08: Gibraltar
π 2018-10-01 01:01 in Ntrips, Spain2018, Trips

We arrived the previous evening in time for sunset:





The next morning, great breakfast, and we then walked to the Gilbraltar border across the border:





Once the border was crossed, we took the bus to the botanical garden and wildlife park under the cable car:

the bus drives across the airport runway
the bus drives across the airport runway








Speaking of runway, it's probably the only major international airport with a stoplight to allow people and cars to cross the runway in between plane landings. Spooky...






cars released right after the plane landing
cars released right after the plane landing

fun to walk it and see the runway like this
fun to walk it and see the runway like this

We then took the cable car up:


great views from the top
great views from the top






Gibraltar has many monkeys running around:






There are several military installations you can visit, including: O'Hara's Battery






lots of tunnels
lots of tunnels



We then did a lot of walking down to the different attractions:






Next was the suspension bridge, world war II tunnels and city under siege:



the british dug out a lot of tunnels, impressive
the british dug out a lot of tunnels, impressive






great view of the airport (and where the enemies would attack from)
great view of the airport (and where the enemies would attack from)








long walk down and back up
long walk down and back up

We then walked down to walk around town:


much lower taxes, so people buy cigarettes and alcohol and take them back across the border
much lower taxes, so people buy cigarettes and alcohol and take them back across the border

view of the windows in the rock
view of the windows in the rock

See more images for Spain Day 08: Gibraltar

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