A train, a train, a car, and another train

A quick update for you all on the happenings of the Hardleys. We have 16 minutes on the clock, so away we go!

The last couble of days have beena bit of a blur, with lots of running around to do. On our last day in Seville we took a free walking tour of the city that one of our new hostel friends helps to lead, and it was a great refresher on the history of the city. We talked to the guide a bit about how our experience with tapas has been so so, and he offered to take us to his favorite place. Let me say, we were bummed to have found it so late, but excited because these were the best tapas at the most reasonable prices. During our time in Seville we tried to branch out of the comfort zone where tapas were concerned, and this place was one that did not dissapoint. It was wonderful.

And, in grand Michelle fashion, as we were leaving she left her water bottle at the restaurant, only to remember it 20 minutes later when we were half way across town. And unless you start thinking that this is Tim writing this post, you would be wrong. My penchant for loosing things, keys, sunglasses, water bottles, is somewhat of a legend in my hometown. In fact, during the 07 trip, I left the original pink water bottle on a train to Pisa. Yup, just plain walked off the train without it. My friend Tiffany bought me a new one as a welcome home gift, and almost lost it too! So after shopping on the other end of town and picking up some great pottery, we tried to find the restaurant again. Not so easy when someone took you there the first time, so you were not exactly focusing on the details of how to get there. But Tim is an amazing navagator, and he found it easily.

That little excursion set us back about 20 minutes in the plan to get to the train station on time to catch a train back to Lisbon, and we had to hustle to get there. Our friend at the desk of the hostle strongly suggested that we did not try to run the mile or so to get there, but instead take the bus. We grudgingly agreed and set out for the stop. When we arrived, our bus was there and we were able to easily hop on. Talk about timing!

The train ride to Madrid was uneventful, the movie they showed was >Burn After Reading, which to us is the single worst movie in the history of bad movies. Feel free to disagree, but the only saving grace is that Brad Pitt is pretty funny, other than that, I cant get behind where the movie is going. Anyways, we got there in time to catch the next night train out to Lisbon, except that it was leaving from a different station about 4 miles away. We were asking a gentleman how to get there, and with his directions we were off. A few minutes later guy about our age came up to us and offered a ride, since his house was right near the station. We agreed, and were treated to a great ride on the freeways of Madrid without us risking life and limb. :)

The train to Lisbon was fun, we had never had a private coach before, and we explored ever nook and cranny, seeing how they made things pull double duty so that they could have so many ammenities in such a small space. I love trains that way, so industrious. The train made frequent stops, and if it hit the breaks hard, it filled the interior with a burned break smell, but overall it was fine. I donºt know if I would want to do it every night, but for one night, it worked well.

Well, time is running out and we have not even gotten to the things we did today. I believe the hotel in Barcelona has free internet, so we will have to catch you up there. Tomorrow is our last day in Lisbon, then a night train to Madrid and a morning train to Barcelona. We should be there around 1:30, which will let us catch up on sleep and our journals. Until then!