Swimming the Seven Seas: June 2018

Thursday, June 28, 2018

June 28, 2018 - My Daily Walk to Playa San Miguel (go figure) on the Mediterranean Sea in Almeria, Spain

My daily walk from my Airbnb to Playa de San Miguel

This swim hole is one mile long!

With a one mile long beach to go with it!

And a one mile long walk way without cars!

June 28, 2018 Almeria, Spain

I'm in Almeria, on the Mediterranean coast. Portugal and Spain are different. Portugal, at least south of Lisbon, is manecured so to speak. Of course I was in somewhat touristy areas, vacation destinations. Here in Spain things are a bit more rugged. From what I saw from the windows of buses and trains reminded me of the southwest USA, but with the agriculture of more Northern states, like Wyoming. The mountains weren't as treed and purple as those back home, but brown without trees, but oddly high enough for snow, i spite of this being southern Spain.

 I did get a swim in today, thank goodness. It's a two mile walk round trip from the edge of downtown Almeria. It's pretty nice with plenty of plaza type streets (pedestrian/bicycle traffic only, bicycle paths separate) and shade trees and sea breezes to keep it cool. The walk takes me down to a port and a little further is a beach at least a mile long. The beaches and water fronts are well developed with wide lanes for pedestrians a bike path, but no cars. Very cool. The beaches have nice showers and bathrooms. The water isn't the cleanest but people are swimming in, so I do too.

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

June 27, 2018 - Train to Almeria and My Reflection in a Store Window

June 27, 2018 Train from Sevilla to Almeria, Spain

June 27, 2018 Seville, Spain

Preparing for my departure from Sevilla to Almería, Spain over on the Mediterranean. Since Seville is inland haven't done much swimming, but walk everyday and have been organizing. As you see I sent out an updated itinerary on Sunday. So all of my Airbnbs are booked through February 6th, 2019.
I have enjoyed my time here in Seville. It's very tranquilo and the barrio (neighborhood) is very laid back and socially busselling. What is very interesting, is people don't take coffee breaks here, they take beer breaks. I've yet to see an actual restaurant here. As it was explained by Diego, my host, there are very few restaurants in Seville, mostly bars where they serve small portions of food with your glass or 2 of beer. As you saw from my photo the other day I did find a Starbucks after walking a couple of miles to the tourist areas near the museums and cathedrals.
What's interesting is the remainder of my travel here in Spain will be by train. Today to Almeria and on July 7th to LA Linea de Concepción near the Rock of Gibraltar. After which I take a ferry to Tangier, Morocco on July 25th. 
Well I need to get out the door I sure miss you all.
Love,
Dad