“7 High”

Recollections of a Combat Defense Squadron “Ramp Rat”

Chapter 9.2

“North to Barcelona”

A general idea of our route.

8 August 1965, the guidebook claimed it could be done for a dollar a day, but no one really expected to get by that cheap.   We had about half the Quiniela winnings, a little over $400 to last the month.  We felt like we were pretty well off.  We packed the VW with our water jug, cooler, sterno stove, the tent from recreation services and a suitcase.  We were ready to go and timed our departure with “B Flight’s” three day break.  The Tiger came out to the base with me.  While I was at work, she bought groceries and took in a flick.  As the day shift was relieved, we departed on our European adventure.

 

Leaving from Morón de la Frontera, we drove through the mountains to Grenada.

 

Near Granada, España

 

 A1C Marston 35mm Kodachromes.

All rights reserved 2011.

 

We reached the Mediterranean coast near Motril.  We turned north, following the coastline, on the narrow, twisting James Bond, auto chase, type road.

 

 

 

 

The road looking south near Almería, España

 

Almería, España

 

Rock climbing photo.  It was easier to get up there than it was coming back down.

 

From Almeria, our route turned away from the coast briefly, as we continued toward Valencia.

Near Tabernas, the bleak countryside reminds me of California, the area around Taft.

 

“Three Smokies on a Pony”.  It was unusual to see Guardia Civil with wheels.

 

 

Monteagudo, Murcia, España

The Monteagudo castle was built by the Moors.  After the crusades, it was “christianized” with the statue of Christ.  Here is a link that has more info and a current photo, quite different.

http://www.spain.info/en/conoce/monumentos/murcia/castillo_de_monteagudo.html

As we got closer to Valencia, the roads were lined with flowers.

 

 

City traffic entering Valencia.  Cobblestone streets patched with asphalt.  Lots of BIG trucks and small cars.

 

Oropesa, España

We found a great place to camp in Oropesa.  No close neighbors, and our own thatch roof to keep the sun off.  This was to be one of the nicer campgrounds we found.

 

I even had a chance to do a little train jocking.  I heard the steam engine whistles and grabbed the camera.  The tracks went right along side the campground. 

 

The firebox of the second locomotive is visible.

 

 

It was a double header no less.  And pulling a well loaded passenger consist.

Windows that open, you don’t see that every day.

 

It was a big change from Oropesa to Sitges.  We had heard good things about Sitges on the grapevine at Zaragoza.

Not in our $1 a day itinerary.

We had been thinking that Sitges would be similar to Torremolinos, but she turned out to be more upscale, “mas’ rico”.  Sitges had fancy hotels, and a grand beach esplanade, complete with fortifications.

 

 

Gun emplacement on beach at Sitges.

 

Beaches in the central part of town were not free.  Shade was even more expensive.

 

 

 

 

As a Priest Lake kid, I had never seen beaches so crowded.  We never even considered going swimming.

Baby carriages line the seawall in the little strip of shade.

 

 

 

Palm shadows decorate the broad paseo, side streets more like Torremolinos.

Sidewalk artist, Sitges, España, September 1965.

 

Leaving Sitges, we followed the coast north to Barcelona. Splurging on a hotel again.

Hotel Victoria

We headed straight to the Ramblas, for food, drink and a paseo.

 

We never saw any of the other sites in Barcelona.  The Ramblas had it all, why bother look around when you have it all?

 

 

 

 

 

You need to imagine how good it smelled, with all those flower shops.

 

Barcelona taxi cabs were black with yellow doors.  There were busses and tramvias on both sides of the paseo.

Tramvia cruising down las Ramblas.

 

We would have liked to spend more time in Barcelona, but adventure called, we only had 30 days, plus a little cushion.  I was to report back on first swing, taking advantage of the three day break on both ends.

 

Our plan was to cross the frontier into France and follow the coast all the way to Monaco and then Italy.

 

Tune in for the next exciting chapter, “Bienvenue en France“.