Barcelona here we come

Have no idea why yesterday's post had a repeat photo at the end of it but as the addition of photos has been such a constant battle I have abandoned the prospect of trying to remove it as the margins go silly and gaps start to appear in the middle of sentences. Technology really is wonderful, but it can be a pain in the posterior when it chooses to be. And speaking of posteriors...
Sadly we are clearly at the tail end of our tour as Denise has gotten us to confirm our flight departure times so that she can arrange airport transfers. Bugga... This smaller group has given us a much better opportunity of spending time together and I am very pleased to confirm that I haven't had to even come close to voting any one off the island. You'd have heard about it by now if that had been the case! I asked Ali who is a 13 year old Canadian girl travelling with her auntie, what her favourite part of the trip was so far (they were on the first part of the tour with us too) and she wasn't sure. I know how she feels. There have been so many lovely places that each have something unique about them. We haven't been overloaded with cathedrals or castles. And each one of them has been very different also. The countryside is full of contrasts and because the weather has been glorious we have seen it at its best. Would I come here again, probably not, because what I've seen has been great, just don't see the point of seeing it all a second time. Would I recommend the trip, then definitely yes.
We have gotten to know Richard and Donna from Pennsylvania (both retired teachers). Poor Richard has been sick with a chest infection from day 1 but has kept battling on. I told him not to be a sooky la la when I first met him and he thought that was a great name to be called so kept repeating it until he finally got the pronunciation right. Once we got back to the hotel this afternoon we opted not to go out again, so while Jo had a snooze I did the blog update and then read. About 6.30 we decided to go downstairs for a drink and Richard and Donna were already in the bar so we sat with them and had a drink and we all then decided to stay in the lobby bar for dinner as none of us liked the menu for the main restaurant. It was a case of chicken burgers all round. Then time for bed and a bit more reading before lights out.
Much better night's sleep once I finally got to sleep. Up and out at 8 to do the long hike to Barcelona. It is about 13 degrees but fine. We had been driving about an hour when Rui our driver made an unscheduled stop at a look at Mirador de Azpirotz in Navarra. Simply breathtaking view. Denise hadn't previously stopped there and I think she was as taken by its beauty as we were.
About two hours into our drive we get to Pamplona. It is now about 23 degrees and the sun is out so very pleasant. We are treated to churros and chocolate (this time with the really thick melted chocolate) at the cafe bar made famous by Ernest Hemingway. We then wander along the famous Estafeta Street where they do the running of the Bulls. Thankfully that was over and done with a couple of weeks ago as I would want no part of it. The main plaza is very large and there are only about two or three other people in it at this hour of a Sunday morning. The only other people we've seen in any number are the street cleaners and the local police!
Back on the coach and we have another couple of hours drive until our lunch break at a highway service station. I had a Caesar salad and amazed myself that I was able to explain to the cashier what dressing I wanted on it, plus order uno cafe con leche. I even asked for the milk to be caliente. I'm not quite ready to take on Denise's tour guide job just yet, but if she is struck down with laryngitis in the next 48 hours I am available to step in! It is now 23 degrees and still warming up. We have driven
through the Rioja wine producing region, but also vast farming areas that are very dry. Such continuing contrasts of landscapes. Mountains one minute and plains the next. Nothing but green, then dry pastures. About an hour out of Barcelona we stop for 15 minutes just to stretch our legs and then we are in the heart of the city. Denise has been fabulous at breaking up the long day in the coach for us. She has kept feeding us sweets out of her special lolly tin and we've even had chocolate truffles (another of one of her special 'flourishes' that she does nearly every day.) We even had a quiz about places we've been to on the tour. Jo and I only managed 6 out of ten but we got full marks for counting in Spanish and how to say thankyou in Basque. I couldn't  remember how many regions there are in Spain (14 if you really want to know) and when we had to guess how many kilometres Rui had driven on this tour we were way out from the correct 2,400. Mind you I reckon I should have gotten a mark for knowing where Queen Isabella was crowned. Surely the answer was "on her head" but Denise wasn't having any if it.  So at about 5 pm and  now 30 degrees we arrive in Barcelona. There are people everywhere. This really is a bustling vibrant place. We have decided not to do the optional tour later to Gaudi Park (can't remember how to say it in Spanish). I'm sure the others will enjoy it but the tour doesn't start until 6.30 and will go for about two hours. I hope to have had my dinner and be having a few glasses of wine by then. It is nice to finally have a hotel room with tea and coffe making facilities, even if there isn't a convenient power switch to plug the jug into!