Travel Map Update

So far, we have traveled to:

Paris

Madrid

Toledo

El Escorial

Segovia

Avila

Salamanca

Bilbao

We just checked into our hotel in Bilbao. Our basic M.O. seems to be this:

1) I research the crap out of how to get somewhere.

2) There are no road signs.

3) I navigate by instinct to get us to the next city (the hardest part is typically getting us OUT of the current city, and onto a highway going in roughly the correct direction).

4) We enter the new city, and depending on how large a city it is, we get various degrees of lost trying to find the hotel.

So, it's always a test of patience. I personally don't mind getting lost, but Deanna has no patience for this sort of thing.

Our hotel in Bilbao is pretty incredible. So far pretty much every place we've stayed has been really nice. I'll certainly post pictures of our hotel here shortly... the main attraction of Bilbao is Frank Gehry's architectural masterpiece - the Guggenheim Museum. Our hotel has large bay windows overlooking the structure... less than 200 feet from the Museum.

But I just wanted to put up a quick post to update how far we've traveled thus far. We basically checked in, then ate a late lunch (by American standards... 5pm - seems normal by Spanish standards). On a side note, I know it's a common complaint among Americans in Europe - but good lord. For any of you would be travelers to Europe out there: don't be in a hurry. If you order a cup of coffee, you're gonna be there a while. If you don't specifically go up to the dude standing over in the corner, it will be a battle of wills between his desire to go home at 8 the following morning, or his desire to actually bring you your check. They will never bring you a check w/o you asking them to.