So, where am I ??? Dark room, lumpy bed, small bathroom. Could be any of about 7 different countries. Open curtains and discover that it is a beautiful sunny day in San Sebastian or Donostia depending on your political views and ETA affiliation. We have had a great time in S. Sebastian. It is a beautiful city that is overrun in the summer time but offseason is great. We stay for a few days longer than intended as we are really enjoying the place.

We decide to move on after we have covered all of San S. and would come back to this city in a heartbeat. Salamanca is the next destination. It is a long day on the bike. We travel at about 120kmh when on the larger highways. This means that most other folks in their Mercedes and BMW's only pass us going about 80kmh faster than we are going...... We have not even seen a police car on the highway in Spain.

But I digress. Salamanca is a midsized university town that seems very popular with students from all over the place. Not to mention all the old stuff lying around!!! We do the usual entry into a new town, get lost, find tourist office, get map and become unlost. We find a likely hotel and try to use our guidebook Spanish to ask for a room. The usual pattern is that we ask if the person speaks english. They say no and look at us blankly. We then attempt the process in Spanish which ends with the hotel person laughing and saying that his english is better than our spanish. You get along easily.

Salamanca could have one of the best central squares in Euroland. Sitting at your table with a beer at the end of a long day on the bike and watching the world stroll by is a pleasure not known in Vancouver. The whole place is lit up at night and looks fantastic. Families,students,lovers, and tourists all looking relaxed and happy. I like Salamanca.

Once in a city we tend not to use the bike much. It just sits all locked up. I have started to worry about it less and less as the trip goes on. I now only get up and look at it once a night!!!

Salamanca is another good food city. We think it is the Basque influence. Lots of different stuff to try and lot of cheap wine to guzzle. Huge party town as well because of the student population. If any of you guys out there are thinking of getting married or are looking for a girl please come to Salamanca as the girls are fantastic in this town. Danette agrees and has not hit me. Chad ?? Are you listening???

We decide that after a few days we must move on. Portugal beckons. We have booked a place in the Algarve for 3 weeks as a vacation from the vacation. So it is back on the bike and off to Portugal, The land where everyone looks like Joe!!!

See ya !!