A Spanish Adventure

[mickthemaverick]

Well here I sit, 2 hours and 5 mins before my flight and almost a pint of guinness downed here in the airside bar! So the story so far:

All went as mornings do in Maverick Manor so a cup of tea in bed and then up at 9 ready to pack my laptop bag for the trip. I am only taking the laptop bag becaise :
a) Easyjet offered me a special deal of £15 each way to Alicante as long as I used it in 15 days from the offer. So I couldn't miss out on that and booked my week's visit to my mate Ken, especially as I had previously abandoned the plan to go on economic grounds, after suffering two speeding fines in France on my last trip!!
b) when I checked in for my £15 flight they wanted an additional £5.99 to book a seat, £19.99 for my usual extended legroom seat, and £11.99 to take an overhead locker cabin bag
C) I already have a few sets of clothes and toiletries at Ken's place.

As the whole trip is to be done on a shoestring, with the exception of food and drink which I would have to pay for if I was still here, I looked around for a cheaper way of getting to and from the airport than taking the car and parking it there for a week. I didn't want to ask friends for lifts as that was too easy so I did my due diligence and came up with a fantastic plan from an economic point of view. Much cheaper than the car, train or even a motorbike I settled on my bus pass!!!

So in order to get here with time to spare for my 15.45 flight I left home at 10.15. SWMBO had to go to the hospital for a routine blood test at 10.00 so my only option was shanksy's down to Hertford bus station with plenty of time to get the 11.07 bus to Stevenage. I actually got to the bus station at 10.45 and due to building works had to stand around outside for 22 minutes until the bus arrived bang on time. Sadly it was a tramsit van with windows and seats for around 16 I think:

My first bus, from the back seat!

However it got me to the new Stevenage Bus Interchange:

Very smart but only a roof so wind whipping through!

Once the Airport bus arrived bang on time, a proper full sized one with comfy seats, I boarded and went to the back seat to watch the world go ny. Unfortunately a non English speaking chap got on with only a £20 note and the driver had no change, An entertaining exchange followed with the driver and two other passengers trying to explain that he needed to go to the shop and get change but he was steadfastly determined to stay on the bus now that he had found the right one!! We were now 5 minutes late so I walked down the bus amd asked the driver how much the fare he was trying to pay was £2.40 was the reply! I swiped my card wished the chap bon voyage and went back to my seat. It never ceases to amaze me how the public in general never seem to understand that a pound or two spent wisely can often save you a lot of time and money further down the line!!

So we finally left Stevenage 10 minutes late 7 of which he made up with a rather exciting run along the A505 gettinge here just 3 minutes late from my plan but still 57 minutes before I needed to be here to get through the departure process.

A proper bus from the back seat!

So part 1 of journey completed, total cost £2.40 amd that was by choice. Herr I am in a rather pleasant bar, with my third half of guinness awaiting consumption before my departure gate is announced at 14.55!

Nice and warm here too!

Cheers!!

[Dormouse]

Good for you. Smart thinking too, given no one seemed to grasp that the poor person was probably petrified they would miss the bus and didn't want to go through the same pantomime trying to get change. Enjoy yourself.

[Michel]

Nice one Mick! I look forward to meeting you next week to pick up the turntable. I shall follow this blog..

[Paul-R]

Will you be back before this lot go out on strike?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... w-over-pay

[mickthemaverick]

Yes all rhings being normal I'll be home next Wednesday, more to come on here but a bit later!

[mickthemaverick]

Picking up from where I left off in the airport bar the rest of the journey tells itself in pictures:

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As it was dark and I was driving from the airport there were no more pictures last night, but then not much to click as we spent the evening catching up and discussing the football fest we are approaching this weekend. By 1.30am this morning we had resolved everything and managed to relieve the fridge of a few beers so bed called.
I woke this morning and headed out onto the balcony to remind myself why I haven't moved to Spain:

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I can't work it out either!!

[Dormouse]

The first Spanish Adventure I ever did brought truly memorable events.
I met my wife!

[CitroJim]

Do enjoy a great time there Mick

[mickthemaverick]

I'm doing my best thanks Jim

Having got up and completed this morning's post we decided to go and try a new place Ken had discovered for breakfast. On arrival the place looked very nice indeed so we went in and ordered breakfast. As the other day, when it arrived I was so impressed with the presentation that I tucked in before remembering to have a click so I'm afraid you hjave to settle for a partially eaten brekkie picture:

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Having finished our meal we went for a tour of the place and by the time we had finished I was assuring the waitress that we would see her again soon, probably tomorrow!!

Take a visual tour with me from the room we ate in, down into the cellar room then up and outside around the place in general, hopefully you will see what I mean!!:

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[Dormouse]

You are waiting that long?
When I first went to Spain my family and friends had already been more than once. They had found a place in the middle of a building plot and had nicknamed it "El Coup". It served food and drink all day and all night just about and was superb. Way better than the fare served up in the hotel we were booked into.

[mickthemaverick]

After yesterday's breakfast we didn't need a meal last night so we stayed home and had a light snack for dinner and then an early night, a relative term, ready to have an early start this morning. Ken is a member of a league bowls club and is playing in a match as I type this. :

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The club is similar in facilities to yesterday's breakfast venue but not nearly as nice. The whole place is a bit tired, and furnished in dark wood and orange upholstery, doesn't exude the same type of atmosphere as yesterday. In fact I'd describe the outside pool and terrace as ok but nothing to write home about, not as I am right now , whereas the indoors is pretty dowdy!!

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However the bowling green, artificial though it may be, is pleasant enough to sit and spectate:

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The match will go on until around 2 and then it will be home for lunch, a dog walk and then the first quarter final game Croatia v Brazil I believe. After that we will have dinner before the second match with Argentina and then no doubt a heated discussion of the games over a few beers followed by bed and a good night's sleep. So further instalments today are unlikely!!

[CitroJim]

Mick, you're living the dream Far better there than in the frozen strike-bound UK!

Continue to enjoy

[mickthemaverick]

We had a very entertaining evening with the extended quarter final and subsequent discussions. As a result it was another very late night and hence a lie in this morning. I finally awoke around 9.30 to find that Ken has gone to the bowling club to show willing in the task of replacing the carpet on which they bowl. It is due to take 3 days and all members assistance was welcome so he decided to make a contribution. As a result I merely had to wash up and do some chores and now suffering this balcony in 20°C sunshine until he returns around 11.30 and we will be off to Thursday's venue for brunch!!:

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Ken's dog Bonny is taking life very easily these days:

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Although I'm afraid the camera shutter seems to have aroused her!!:

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That will probably cost me an unexpected walk round the block!!

Come on England!!!

[mickthemaverick]

The less said about last night the better!!!
So today a change of sport to catch up with the 2nd Test Match against Pakistan until we go out for lunch and then return to watch Watford, my home town club, take on Hull and then Chelsea Women v Reading Women this evening. So not much to show or relate to interest either of my readers other than an idea of my current surroundings!:

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[Dormouse]

Not at all. A pleasant change of scenery given the icy cold here.
As a Scot who normally avoids comment on football, I have to say there were some questionable refereeing decisions last night. I can't understand the reluctance to introduce VAR to the same level as Rugby.