Barcelona, Spain

Mercat de la Boqueria

Toledo, Spain

Toledo, Spain. Yet another UNESCO World Heritage Site, though I have to say this little medieval town is badly crippled with many tourist shops.

There is no other place in Spain you can get lost so easily. It is just like many other Jews quarters. Take a stroll in these places, it is amasing to see, feel and get a chance to appreciate how Jews thrive and survive for centuries of oppresion, through and through.

Museums in Madrid

Without english translation, walking in museums in Madrid aimlessly isn't what I really like to do. I believe their Ministry of culture still have a lot more to do. It is the same for all other museums I had visited in the past two weeks or so. To know english alone isn't enough to make your day in Europe, seriously.

But when I stumble into one Robert Capa's work at the Museum of National Library today, I do realise sometime things like photo carry message that transcend barrier of languge. It really does.

Anyway, that still doesn't solve the problem. You don't get your head around about anything after paying for museum entrance since virtually nothing is in english I think it's pretty bad thing.

Seville, Spain

The Cathedral

Update my itinerary and some bits and bobs

Porto, Portugal
Lisbon, Portugal
Faro, Portugal
Seville, Spain
Madrid, Spain

This is my third night in Madrid.

Folks, if you wish to stay in Madrid, look no other place than Pop hostel. I got a 2-bed room for the price of 6-bed mixed dorm, with individual bathroom, hot shower, WiFi. With 14 Euro is the by far the best hostel I ever live in.

Madrid is famous for, well, it depends. For one thing, for me it's still small enough to cover the city by foot. You can actually save your metro (10 trips cost ?6.4 euro) for flamenco. La Carboneria in Seville is free and I guess must be well recommended in travel book (yes it's in my lonely planet book), it's packed with travellers. You hardly see any locals. Still it's worthy to spend an hour there.

Madrid's metro is clean and quite easy to navigate, as compared to London's tube. Hmm, I like to see our's is as good as those.

Having only live two days in Madrid, I think Spanish really like monuments, like British lah... ... You got 88 monuments in Madrid city centre alone, that's what I will call obsession. No offence, my spanish friends. He said monument helps strengthen the community, that's all.

Will try to upload some photos asap.

Faro, Portugal

I must be crazy. I left Lisbon in a hurry, and make it right down to Faro. Situated in Algarve, Faro perhaps is not the most beautiful city but still spending four-hour on train is worthy. Since I want to chase the sun so Faro is perfect. I must say the result is good. Arriving at the end of peak season is just pure luck, I didn't work on it. The beach is well, not empty but much less tourist than I expected.

Too much sun and you get sun-burnt.

Met Zulu the Zimbabwean and Robert from Switzerland in train station as soon as I reach Faro. We catch the same train anyway. One great fun about backpacking is that you meet nice people now and then. We had some wonderful time together.

Left Faro on the 25th of September. Photo to follow and I am now posting this piece in Seville, Spain.

I made up my mind. I am not going for any bullfighting. Seeing the Muzeum and Bullring is good enough.