Europe 2013

What moves slowly but travels thousands of miles? The Luberts in retirement!

We are off again on another Lubert Adventure to Europe. This time, we are forgoing Greece for the first time in 4 years, and, another first – visiting Germany and Austria. In fact, our journey this time takes us from Spain, through France to Italy, then Switzerland, Austria, Germany and back to Spain where we get on a boat for a 15 day sail back to Miami, US of A.

An uneventful flight, a very pleasant arrival in Barcelona, Spain, where there was actually an immigration officer waiting for us. I mean, an open line with no one in it, and a immigration officer waiting for us to approach. Our bags came off the carousel within minutes. We walked straight through customs without speaking to anyone, not slowing down a bit.

Then we got to AVIS car rental. Lorraine does all the trip planning, and one thing we have learned (travellers - pay attention here – you will thank us later), is to ALWAYS reserve the cheapest car in the fleet. The fact is that the agencies only have one or two of those so they can advertise rates “starting from $X.xx”. We have yet to actually be given one. The dialogue goes something like this:

“Ah sir, I see you have reserved el cheapo, surely a man of your exquisite taste requires a more esteemed conveyance?”

“No”

“Surely your luggage will not fit and you will be cramped?”

“We'll be fine”

“and you require insurance?”

“No”

“GPS?”

“No”

“Perhaps windshield protection?”

and so it goes. We always get upgraded because they can't give us the car we ordered. So for $11.00 (not Euros – dollars) a day we got a diesel Peugeot with air, automatic windows, cruise, satellite radio – etc. BTW they charge $12.00/day to rent a GPS – bring your own.

Off to our hotel in Barcelona where we had a swim, a nap and a terrific dinner. Dinner was a set menu of fish, pork cheeks (sounds gross but was delicious), a fruit/vegetable salad, dessert and a bottle of wine (each! - I know, I know) for under E30. That's about $42.00.

A good night's sleep, then off to Lourmarin, France.

Barcelona at Night