11 JULY 2017

This was a mega surprise trip for me last year.  We went to Barcelona and took my dad and our daughter came with her boyfriend and we had a fabulous time.  We were then going back to the airport to go home and when we got there my wonderful, fabulous husband told me to say cheerio to everyone as we were going on somewhere else!!!!  It turned out that our daughter already knew and she hurriedly  threw some bits and pieces from her case into mine so that I would have enough clothes – luckily I had kind of overpacked any way lol as I had room left when I was packing and Paul just kept telling me to fill my case up so I had plenty of choice – might as well use the baggage allowance he said!  I really had no idea what he was planning!

So cheerio’s said and we went off to pick up our hire car.  I was so surprised by all this – I really couldn’t believe he’d arranged all this and I literally had no idea. I cried a bit lol.

SO FIRST WE TRAVELLED TO TORTOSA, WHERE WE STAYED IN A CASTLE!

The room was absolutely beautiful and the road trip so far has been amazing.  I loved my castle – and how lucky was I to have all this arranged for me as a surprise – I’m even letting other people stay at my castle!!

When we walked down into Tortosa it was really beautiful – Barcelona was fab but I loved this so much more – quieter, not commercialised – probably how Barcelona used to be before it got so touristy – don’t get me wrong – I did love Barcelona but it is very very crowded.

Then we travelled on to VALENCIA

Valencia is such a beautiful city – we visited the City of the Arts and Sciences which was amazing.

We walked everywhere but there were loads of bikes to hire.

Another amazing place to visit is the Central Market (Mercado Central) – fabulous experience.

And on our way back to the airport we went to Peniscula Castle.

This was such an amazing surprise and a brilliant road trip – and it was this trip that inspired our trip to Italy this year when we went to Venice then travelled by train to Naples and picked up a car to travel to the Cilento Coast – amazing trip including a visit to Pompeii and Herculaneum!

If you’re looking for a fabulous city break – go to Valencia – it’s brilliant!!!

xxxx