Driving from Glasgow to PP

[gpm]

Well that's us arrived, taken a nice easy drive and there was the good ,the bad and the very ugly! Left Glagow on Wed the 4th June to head down to Thame to stay overnight. As I said before it wasn't easy getting a dog into some of the hotels but the Peacock inn turned out to be a gem of a place, ate in the bar with Lola and had a lovely walk down the country lanes. Up early on the 5th and head for the tunnel, no bother, we arrived early and put the credit card I booked it with in the machine and was given a choice of trains. I picked an earlier train and after having a short nap for 35 mins we're in France. We now headed for Normandy as I wanted to pay our respects for the 70 th anniversary of the DDay landings so picked a town called Deauville which again turned out to be a beautiful town with a long boardwalk and huge casino ( which I never went near) and plenty of bars and lovely restaurants. The place was full of Canadians as it was near the beach they landed on D Day, and we spoke to a lady who had brought her 95 year old father over for the celebrations and seen so many old timers it was amazing. June the 6th and we head for the Normandy beaches, I just followed the other cars and ended up at a place called Pegasus Bridge, which was where the British landed Gliders on the early hours of D Day to take the bridge and it was renamed after the emblem on their uniforms. When the ceremony ended they played the last post, the Mayor of the town shook every ex serviceman by the hand and they marched over the bridge, some in wheelchairs, others bolt upright with shoulders back, a band led the way and the whole ( very large crowd) all clapped and cheered them over. I was glad I had on my sunglasses as I was greetin like a wean behind them! Back in the car and on to our next stop, a town called Bourges which I had never heard of but turned out again to be beautiful with a medieval part to the town, the hotel was right in the centre and no problems here with the dog, she came in to the restaurant and numerous bars we visited. That was the good part of the trip and now the long drive to Barcelona and the bad. As we arrived 9 hours later shattered in Barcelona, I just wanted to get to the hotel but the car was asking a funny noise and when I looked over a spaniard in a taxi was pointing to my back wheel ( I know, I've even watched this been done on the telly at home) anyway, I stopped and another one, who I thought was a traffic warden came over on a scooter and said in broken English that we could get it repaired round the corner. I told him it was fine and to move away from the car and then my wife came out with the dog to see what was going on. That's when the 3rd B..... Must have sneaked round the side and stole her 2 handbags and the case in the back seat. I was raging, when the police came I told them it was shocking in a main street with people about that somebody can open your car and walk down the road with all this stuff. They shrugged their shoulders and said it happens all the time and we were insured, this seemed to be the attitude of everybody in this cesspit of a place.When we got to the hotel they were helpful enough until I asked for the key of my room, sorry señor, your credit card has been declined ( my wife had cancelled it by this time) I know, I said, I have another one. Ah, but you have to use the card you booked the hotel with, he said. One look at my face and he handed over the key and took the other card. This happens so much in Barcelona they have a 24 hour tyre changing station, obviously run by the crooks brother or something as they wanted 387 euros for a new tyre. I put on the spare and after 2 hours with the local police went to bed for 4 hours trying to work out how to get to PP without passports, money or even a hair brush. Waking up in the morning we came to the ugly part, they had stolen all my wife's makeup and i was alerted to this by the dog growling at her, wondering who the hell was this lying in the bed.The plan had been for me to take the ferry with the car and Lola and mum fly, as she can go in the cabin in Vueling airlines. We decided to go for it, so I set off for the port and Lola and her mum set off to the airport with the police report in our hand.I looked like Wurzel Gummage as they had also stolen the hairbrush, but women being women Lola lent her mum her wire brush and with sunglasses on hiding the baldy eyes they managed to sweet talk their way on to the plane, I meanwhile got on the Alcudia cattle boat for 7 hours of looking at water, and listening to drunk Germans singing Oasis songs. As We had no phone chargers we actually didn't know if either one of us had it on our plane or boat, so like a scene from a romantic movie we eventually ran into each others arms outside the hotel Daina, my wife wasn't particularly happy as Lola and I kissed and cuddled one another. So there it is, the good, the bad and the ugly, but as Lola runs down the sand straight into the sea in the early morning, I look and think, it was all worth it. I will be ready for Barcelona on my return.

 

[El Gordo]

Well that's us arrived, taken a nice easy drive and there was the good ,the bad and the very ugly!

Left Glagow on Wed the 4th June to head down to Thame to stay overnight. As I said before it wasn't easy getting a dog into some of the hotels but the Peacock inn turned out to be a gem of a place, ate in the bar with Lola and had a lovely walk down the country lanes.

Up early on the 5th and head for the tunnel, no bother, we arrived early and put the credit card I booked it with in the machine and was given a choice of trains. I picked an earlier train and after having a short nap for 35 mins we're in France.

We now headed for Normandy as I wanted to pay our respects for the 70 th anniversary of the DDay landings so picked a town called Deauville which again turned out to be a beautiful town with a long boardwalk and huge casino ( which I never went near) and plenty of bars and lovely restaurants.
The place was full of Canadians as it was near the beach they landed on D Day, and we spoke to a lady who had brought her 95 year old father over for the celebrations and seen so many old timers it was amazing.
June the 6th and we head for the Normandy beaches, I just followed the other cars and ended up at a place called Pegasus Bridge, which was where the British landed Gliders on the early hours of D Day to take the bridge and it was renamed after the emblem on their uniforms.
When the ceremony ended they played the last post, the Mayor of the town shook every ex serviceman by the hand and they marched over the bridge, some in wheelchairs, others bolt upright with shoulders back, a band led the way and the whole ( very large crowd) all clapped and cheered them over. I was glad I had on my sunglasses as I was greetin like a wean behind them!

Back in the car and on to our next stop, a town called Bourges which I had never heard of but turned out again to be beautiful with a medieval part to the town, the hotel was right in the centre and no problems here with the dog, she came in to the restaurant and numerous bars we visited.
That was the good part of the trip and now the long drive to Barcelona and the bad.
As we arrived 9 hours later shattered in Barcelona, I just wanted to get to the hotel but the car was asking a funny noise and when I looked over a spaniard in a taxi was pointing to my back wheel ( I know, I've even watched this been done on the telly at home) anyway, I stopped and another one, who I thought was a traffic warden came over on a scooter and said in broken English that we could get it repaired round the corner.

I told him it was fine and to move away from the car and then my wife came out with the dog to see what was going on. That's when the 3rd B..... Must have sneaked round the side and stole her 2 handbags and the case in the back seat.
I was raging, when the police came I told them it was shocking in a main street with people about that somebody can open your car and walk down the road with all this stuff. They shrugged their shoulders and said it happens all the time and we were insured, this seemed to be the attitude of everybody in this cesspit of a place.

When we got to the hotel they were helpful enough until I asked for the key of my room, sorry señor, your credit card has been declined ( my wife had cancelled it by this time) I know, I said, I have another one. Ah, but you have to use the card you booked the hotel with, he said. One look at my face and he handed over the key and took the other card.

This happens so much in Barcelona they have a 24 hour tyre changing station, obviously run by the crooks brother or something as they wanted 387 euros for a new tyre.
I put on the spare and after 2 hours with the local police went to bed for 4 hours trying to work out how to get to PP without passports, money or even a hair brush.

Waking up in the morning we came to the ugly part, they had stolen all my wife's makeup and i was alerted to this by the dog growling at her, wondering who the hell was this lying in the bed.

The plan had been for me to take the ferry with the car and Lola and mum fly, as she can go in the cabin in Vueling airlines.
We decided to go for it, so I set off for the port and Lola and her mum set off to the airport with the police report in our hand.

I looked like Wurzel Gummage as they had also stolen the hairbrush, but women being women Lola lent her mum her wire brush and with sunglasses on hiding the baldy eyes they managed to sweet talk their way on to the plane, I meanwhile got on the Alcudia cattle boat for 7 hours of looking at water, and listening to drunk Germans singing Oasis songs.

As We had no phone chargers we actually didn't know if either one of us had it on our plane or boat, so like a scene from a romantic movie we eventually ran into each others arms outside the hotel Daina, my wife wasn't particularly happy as Lola and I kissed and cuddled one another.

So there it is, the good, the bad and the ugly, but as Lola runs down the sand straight into the sea in the early morning, I look and think, it was all worth it. I will be ready for Barcelona on my return.

Fantastic account gpm. So sorry you had such problems.

We have all seen these things on the TV and think it will never happen to you.... a warning to us all.

Hope you can still have a good holiday, I admire your optimism.

PS.....sorry for putting some paragraphs in your posting.....its the teacher in me I'm afraid...but it makes it easier to read.

 

[gpm]

Thanks El Gordo, I was in full rant mode when I was writing it, it does look better.

 

[Sparky]

GPM thanks for taking the time to post, i could picture the two of you watching the D Day ceremony, it must have been very emotional.

I am so sorry about your terrible experience in Barcelona, the city really does have some very nasty criminals. We had a very narrow escape in the ferry port when we came over here to live. Hubby was sat in the car while i went to pay for our overnight crossing and a guy tried to steal a laptop that was wedged behind my seat, i had left my window down about 4 inches and he almost had it but hubby turned and he dropped it on the seat before running off. Hopefully it won't take too long to get your passports replaced.

 

[scotslizzy]

So sorry

But I have to admit it was a really good account of what happened and a lesson for us all .

I hope we can meet up next week at the ? bar so you can fill us all in.


Take Care

Scotslizzy

 

[debz1]

gpm really enjoyed reading the about your trip...had me giggling then gasping! So sorry to read about your awful experience in Barcelona.

I know the Peacock Inn very well, a lovely place and so glad they welcomed Lola

We have done the drive down twice now...the first time to Calais after which we took a few days discovering France before arriving in Barcelona. This year we got the 24 hour ferry from Portsmouth to Santander ( lovely little mini cruise) and then had another overnight stop in Saragoza..both places were beautiful (chelseadons is writing a more detailed account of the trip)

After reading horror stories on the forum about Barcelona we decided not to stay overnight and both times have left it till the last minute before driving to the ticket office and then going straight to the ferry compound, where you are safely locked in!!!

Last year I sat in the car outside while chels went to the ticket office. I have never spent such a scary 20 minutes in my life We had just bought a new car and I couldn't find the door lock, then I managed to set the alarm off so I felt like a sitting duck. Every passer by looked to me like a mugger!! As the car was full with every appliance known to man including a Dyson Animal, a steam cleaner, iPod, iPads, cameras to name but a few things, it was like I'd been left in charge of the Crown Jewels ...and I couldn't lock the flipping car door!!!! This year we left the car in a secure car park next door to the ticket office and both dashed in to get the tickets.

The 7 hour overnight ferry crossing to Palma is always a challenge! We were impressed with the new seats which were very comfy and fully reclined. We even remembered to bring pillows as the year before the seats weren't as comfy. However the room was so cold with a/c units blasting freezing air, and so brightly the lit only way we could sleep was by putting the pillows on top of our faces

Enjoy your PP hols and when you get to Barcelona put your foot down, don't look back and just keep driving

 

[Chelseadons]

Horrific story for which you have my sympathy but beautifully and amusingly told !! We have travelled down for the last 2 years but Debz warned me about Barcelona and wouldn't let us go in until it was time to pick up the Ferry. I thought she was being excessively paranoid. Don 't you just hate it when they are always right !!

Last year on the return trip we got out of Barca ASAP and stopped up the coast at Sant Marti d'Empuries. Lovely spot for a late evening meal and early morning stroll the next day.

We got the ferry to Santander from Portsmouth this year. I strongly recommend it as you get a 24 hour mini cruise and can take a leisurely drive across Northern Spain. Santander itself has an interesting seafront with lots to see and we had a very authentic Tapas on our first night. The drive along the northern coast provides a number of opportunities to stop off at small seaside resorts. We had a coffee and stroll at Castro Urdiales which was a delightful and pretty little port with a beautiful church overlooking the harbour. We then visited San Sebastián which is on the Spanish/French border where the coastline heads north. Another pretty resort with a statue of Jesus like the one in Rio overlooking the town. We headed inland from here to Zaragoza, the early part of the journey taking us close to the Pyrenees with lovely scenery. The chalet style casas clearly influenced by the close proximity of the mountains. Dropping down into the plains approaching Zaragozza was a shock however as they are covered by hundreds of Wind Turbines!! Anyone who thinks these things are attractive should visit this area , they make the landscape industrial and are so dominating you see nothing else. There has to be another solution to saving the planet than these monstrosities !! Zaragozza is large but the centre is beautiful and we had a wonderful stroll around the shopping area and cathedral and a visit is strongly recommended. With time on our hands we stopped at Sitges to ensure we didn't get into Barcelona early. Beautiful seaside resort with a reputation as the Gay capital of this part of Spain which proved to be accurate ! Whilst there we saw the static beach massage set up that is proposed for Pollensa and must say it looks much more preferable than the current ' massagee!' set up. Balearia loading and journey went like clock work and we arrived safe and sound in Palma after another great journey.

 

[Sparky]

I know exactly what you mean about the wind turbines Chelseadons, they really are ugly . But the crossing from the UK to Santander is lovely although we did it from Plymouth and in December so not quite smooth sailing.

 

[Gommar Goffer]

Great posts - I hope to do this trip in the near future but given the problems in Barcelona are there any other options for a ferry crossing? Is the one from the south of France (can't rember which port it is) still operating?

 

[Sparky]

I think i read somewhere that the French connection had finished.

There are ferries from Valencia which take 8 hours.

 

[gers1873]

brilliant post gpm an wot a laff too!

nice touch on the auld yins in Normandy, lest we forget them we'd all be speaking with Bavarian accents, true heroes and never asked for a penny in return for their services to queen, country and commonwealth