Guide Map


View Around the World in 80 (+7) Days! in a larger map

The Yellow Pin is where we currently are, with some delay. Points of interest will also be added as we visit them and lodging ones are already there. Click on blue flight segment lines for flight info and real time tracking (lighter segments are completed). Red Segments have train info and green are for car segments.

History


It all started with the winning of 2 first class Continental RTW tickets from the American Express Wishlist way back in 2007 equivalently delivered with 560K miles. 6 years later with the merger of United and Continental, topping off the account to 700K miles with credit card offers, and a planned Leave of Absence from work, this trip is actually taking place starting 4/3/2013 and ending 6/28/2013.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Madrid

Well our time in Madrid and Spain is almost over. We have had such a good time here and really enjoy this country. Madrid is very different from Barcelona and definitely takes on a much more dense city feel. The public places here are very well kept and manicured and there are many beautiful parks and buildings to see. The weather for us has been super hot and its been fun to spend early evenings after dinner in the plaza having drinks and just watching everyone. Again as with Barcelona everyone is very friendly and out enjoying life.

We move on to Paris tomorrow and are hoping we actually can get there with the scheduled flight we have as the Air Traffic controllers in France have been on strike.  If not, we will need to take a 9.5 hour train ride.

Getting to Madrid from Barcelona via the AVE train. This was the best we've taken so far


Madrid Atocha Train Station as we walked to our hotel

The Westin Palace Madrid lobby bar / restaurant


Parque del Retiro

Fountain and lake in the park

Palacio de Cristal



Royal Palace of Madrid



Sunday, June 9, 2013

Barcelona es muy bonito y divertido

We have had a great time in Barcelona and wish we had more time to spend here. This is a gorgeous city with much to offer. The architecture here presents you with beautiful views on almost any street, and we seen some of the most amazing interiors for churches and palaces thus far on our trip. The food is as you would expect, amazing; and, we don't seem to be getting tired of delicious tapas.  This is a very friendly city, both people wise and navigation wise. We'd encourage anyone to visit here. We made a point to go to very local restaurants and we've thus had some bizarre but super tasty food experiences here. This is a city to explore food wise and try whatever place you find while walking that interests you. A very unique aspect here is the proximity of a major beach to the city center. It is part of the culture and a very cool scene. Please enjoy our pictures.





Exterior of the "La Sagrada Familia" church, unfortunately under reconstruction now so we didn't see much



Beach by the city


Most amazing public fountain ever in the main city park


Inside the Gothic Church of "Santa Maria Del Mar"



The Barcelona Cathedral



La Boqueria - The biggest fresh food market we've encountered so far



Guell Palace - A Marvel of perfection - must visit here










Expiatory Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus






All the way up at top, best city views of Barcelona