Italy

It's been two weeks since I came back from Europe. May I go back please. The trip was so relaxing. My gout went away muscle and nerve issues started to subside. 

Italy was nice. We visited Rome. Stayed in the Hotel Panama in the suburbs. Beautiful old school hotel. The staff was wonderful. Although hot and humid we enjoyed  the downtown area. Saw Vatican City, the coliseum, the Roman forum and other sites. 

The highlight of the trip for me was Spain. Old Madrid and especially Sevilla impressed me. I've fallen in love with Sevilla and may use it and Càdiz in a book. The central city of Sevilla is to die for. Narrow streets amongst tall buildings make for a cool environment. The Moors really knew how to build cities in hot climates. My favourite bar was the Bar Campanaria. Excellent drinks and very tasty food. I highly recommend this bar on the Calle Mateos Gago near the cathedral. We stayed across the street at a hostel run by nuns. Beautiful place and the sisters were accommodating of Americans who spoke only a little Spanish. 

The beach at Càdiz, all white sand, was expansive. Topless beach. Many Americans would have been aghast. It was refreshing to see how easy going everyone was. The Atlantic there is very cold. Had lunch at a Cervesaria on the beach and dinner in the old city. 

The trains and metro in Spain are easy to navigate. The ride by train from Sevilla to Càdiz and back was relaxing.