The return Journey

Much planning went into the return journey , I set off from Marbella , very sad at leaving I might add because it had been the most amazing 6 weeks which I will talk about again . Jackie introduced me to a travel writer called Alistair Sawdays and I ordered his books on amazon on interesting and quirky places to stay in France and Spain so I headed off for my first nightstop which was Toledo , I had booked a 700 year old mansion that had been built for Cardinal Lorenzana which was built into the city walls , courtyards and pathways fountains , trees vines and a restaurant with seating under the stars , excellent waiting staff and a really interesting bedroom , a must for would be Toledo travellers . Tour of the city which sits high on a hill , exactly as you would expect from an old spanish city steeped in history , extremely narrow cobbled streets and magnificent buildings , photo s to follow . I had decided that Segovia was a lunch stop so I drove about 160 k to the most spectacularly sited city in Spain , it sits high on a rocky spur and the Aqueduct which was built at the end of the first century AD   by the romans and believe it or not was still in use until the late 19th century is just staggering , built without mortar , blocks upon blocks upon blocks .. google it . A very pleasant lunch walking tour of the city , winding cobbled streets and shady squares . worth a visit . From there I decided to take on 500 k and head straight for San Sebastian again , I booked a hotel on one of the 3 city beaches with a great view over the bay . Much walking later the gastronomic capital of northern Spain allowed me to sample their excellent tapas in one of the many bars , such fun I might add . Tour of the city , the harbour , parked myself at a table on a beautiful square and watched the world go by . Off to the Irish bar Kitty O sheas ( I think ) couple of drinks lots of chat , I was a happy girlie whirlie ! 2 nights here and off to France . The Aquitaine  region is an area that I adore in France and it was a must visit yet again  , so found a superb hotel , believe it or not on a golf course , in the coastal area known as Biscarosse . Much sleep and I drove through the endless forests of the Lande region . Next stop was La Rochelle , actually the island off La Rochelle known as Ile de re , a 3 km toll bridge joins it to the mainland , I dont think I have ever seen more authentic french  villages , I hired  a bike and cycled along the coast from one village to the next , stopping along the way to have prawns in a fish yard and a glass of champagne , (dont do the oysters unforunately )with the fishermen ! Beautiful hotel on the beach again dinner in the cute little port , how happy was I ?!!!

Next day was the last leg , to Cherbourg which was tough enough as it never stopped raining , ferry on time suite booked .

 I had done it for the third time , this amazing journey and was just so sad it was over for another year ! Roll on next year !!!!Photos to follow 

the last leg

So Madrid was done , tour , as in big red bus , little stop for drinkies and very nice restaurant for dinner . We set off at a very early hour and decided it was non stop to Marbella , approx 500 k . Lizzie was there to meet us as were all my kids plus all of Sj s friends . It was just great to get there again , the sun was shining 30 deg ... bliss . Now at this point I have to get Jackie and Emer to add a post each to the blog so watch this space !

So off we went , two nights rest ,  Jackie was definitely a great addition to the girlies on tour , number one ,she, believe it or not ,is soooo disciplined in her eating habits , so it was goodbye to the lu biscuits , the icecream , the chocolate covered oreo s and all is that verrrrry bad and hello to food ?? whats that . She has been a very bad influence on the other hand in the " is it time for champagne ?" Jeannie and Emer as you know need little persuasion !

We left France , the drive was pretty horrendous to the border , I have never seen so many juggernauts in a row in my life , road works , small outer lane and one my car not exactly being a cinqicento , all of that was rather daunting , and no one was as happy as I when we eventually arrived in San Sebastian .  To those of you who have never been ,  put it on the wish list , I ll definitely be taking it in again on the return journey , its probably the most beautiful city I ve been to in Spain, breathtakingly beautiful , the most gorgeous beaches yes a must for you readers for a weekend !

Anyway , spoilt for choice restaurant wise , we settled on a seafood one at the marina , girlies had a bottle of Albarino , prawns sardinas salad , happy little teddies left San Seb and headed westwards towards Bilbao, the drive and play for my ipods is the way to go but "spanish with michel thomas "is not !! whatever it is about his voice makes me want to curl up and sleep so on that leg all I can think of is I have no chance of getting to the Guggenheim let alone Segovia or Madrid , which was on the cards for that night . much diet coke later Jeannie got the girls to Bilbao , Ricky took us to the Gugg and in we went . I have to admit the ouside was a million times more interesting than the inside , the surreal floor was disappointing, I ll write more about that later . My eyes started closing so goodbye to the girlies and off to my bed , no my car , seat in recline , paul mc kenna in my ears jeannie slept for 30 mins !! the gin and tonic queens were doing what they do best but I they knocked them back  and off we went . Would we hit Segovia or Madrid ?? Decisions . We drove southwards and at 12.30 a.m we hit Madrid , Emer had en route sourced a hotel and ricky got us there of course ! a well earned glass of bubbly and bed for the girlies !

AND THEY'RE OFF AGAIN

Three girls and a range rover , and they re off , third year in a row driving in rain from Dublin to Rosslare . The manic week that was for Jeannie prior to this went as follows .... My dear friend Rosemary arrived from San Francisco to Dublin for the first time and Jeannie being Jeannie showed her Dublin in a very grand way of course , starting off with dinner in Howth a visit to the Summit of course !! Next day into town to DO Dublin of course the tourist way , boarding the big red bus at TCD with Fifi and Ashley christ church, dublinia the viking adventure , dublin castle kilmainham , phoenix park , temple bar st patrick cathedral and of course the grand tour of Guinnesses brewery and the in A pint of the black stuff in the panoramic gravity bar where Fifi entertained the tourists with her dancing !! A night out with Nora, Maria, Ruthie, Emer in Aqua , excellent food cupla buideals of Albarino and an Irish coffee of two !!

Much planning to do the next day for the BBQ I was throwing in honour of my guest . A trip to Dublin would not quite be the same without sampling Dublin theatre so Rosemary and I took ourselves off to the Gate theatre to see the wonderful production of The Weir by conor mc pherson . Off to the Shelbourne with the girlies to sample their Mojito s ! Taxi ride then out to Findlaters to sample their Mojitos and to meet Michele her Aussie friend who had flown in for the BBQ. As can sometimes happen ,the girls forgot that they actually DO have a home to go to and left their rather early indeed !!

Saturday came and along with it came torrential rain temperatures under 14 and gale force winds , so needless to say the BBQ turned into an indoor affair , but what a party !!! Many thanks to Dave and Eamonn for the sound system , to Dave for staying up all night downloading THE best dance music from the eighties !!! Rosemary departed for Farranfore the next day a happy little girlie whirlie me thinks !

Sunday was ....well Sunday and where I got the stamina to stay up and entertain at home I will never know . Lorraine Bunbury , you are a riot !!! Another great night .

Shit its Monday already , I m leaving for Rosslare at 11 am , jackie is arriving at 10.30 , jeannie is hoovering the cat at 10.00 and she has not even thought about packing !!!! Jackie was highly entertained at the speed I filled my suitcase for 6 weeks in the space of approximately 5 minutes !! Stopped by 404 howth rd to collect Emers suitcase and of course Emers picnic for the girls !! three girls and a range rover left Dublin !!! YES , we were finally on our way .

Irish Ferries are not known for their luxury but guess what ?? a new ferry had been bought and a 5 star deluxe suite with flat screen tv had been booked by Jeannie , yes you have read that correctly and it very much lived up to that description . Three very happy little bunnies !!

The calmest sea the clearest sky , no need for Emer to do iceberg watch !! great picnic in luxurious cabin and much wine . Just driving onto that ferry I could feel my eyes getting heavy , what is it about ferries and me ?? I slept for 12 hours !! Last time I slept for that long was the previous year on the ferry . note to self ... either go live on a boat or invest in a water bed !

22 degrees in Cherbourg , blue skies , ipod blaring we were off !!

750 km later we arrived in Arcahon , thank you Eoin for booking that for us BTW. 

32 degrees next day , sunny , lunch of foie gras mussels , langostines and salmon , oh and of course a kir royale for Jeannie and a buideal of Sancerre for the non drivers !! We drove through that magnificent area of France known as the Landes region , through 200 km of forest, and the prettiest of french country houses avoiding the motorways , and arrived at Soustons where Jackies son David was ata rugby/watersports  summer camp . A totally exhausted 13 year old climbed into the range rover and was whisked off to a 5 star relais and chateau hotel that Emer had sourced put on his fluffy robe and got room service with his Mom !! Oh I have forgotten to tell you the drama that was Rick !! Rick if you remember from last year is my Mio sat nav that sucessfully took us through France and Spain last year , but decided in Cherbourg that he was all done with directing this bloody range rover and just died there and then ! Shock , fright , horror , map reading , the whole way ?? in the dark by she who wears reading glasses ? Oh no . Pull into a "one large store that sells abolutely everything ". Will we buy the TomTom or the familiar Mio ?? Decisions . Phone the expert on all tekky things , awaited his call back with user reviews and advice of course !!Thank you Eamonn for all of that ! Rick mark 2 was up and running !!! Jackie has since renamed him Ricky Martin . 

Not in a million years would we have found Davids rugby camp or our beautiful hotel without Rick !! Hotel Les Hortensias du Lac , with its beautiful view of the lagoon , crispy bed linen and excellent friendly service ,not to mention wonderful champagne and food , bicycles ouside , cycle trails through miles and miles of forest , a beach with 20 foot breakres and many surfers , naked men , yes you read that correctly , naked old men mind you , not quite so attractive !1 , the girlies have decided to stay a second night !!! So as I write this , at 4.30 this Thursday afternoon a bottle of Champagne has been ordered and I am being extremely unsociable as I type away , so its goodbye from me . I will load a couple of photos just now. So ..... cheers