We're Staying at the Stafford. Where?

We've taken the train from Stansted into London's Liverpool station. Being the adventure travellers we are, we decide during this 45 minute ride we're gonna take the Underground from the station to the hotel. It can't be that difficult, right?

For the first time since the "morning suitcase ritual" on the train, I lose it. After asking 3 people at the Liverpool Train Station the best way to arrive at our hotel, The Stafford, we still have no idea. (I'm tired, and I'm hungry.)

First, we're in London: We are all speaking ENGLISH. Second, The Stafford is the most luxurious hotel in London (if not all of Europe), and Third, Kate's family just stayed there for the Royal Wedding. How can you not know The Stafford?!

I announce, "we're taking a taxi!" And off to the taxi stand we go. The driver knows exactly where the Stafford is (although he does look a bit curious as to why the two of us are staying there...)

Difficult Jet

Bilbao is a great base city in which to explore other European cities. There are inexpensive flights on EasyJet out of BIO. But a word of caution if you've never flown DifficultJet: We may have only paid $50USD for our flight to London (which lands at Stansted--an hour outside of London) but since we were each checking a bag--we added about $40USD/each. Plus, since we'd been in Europe for awhile (and I'm a female!) said pieces of luggage were over 20kg/each and we paid 12 Euros for every kilo we were over. (Yes, I about dropped over when the agent said, "You are 8 kilos over. That will be 96 Euros.") Our $50 USD flights from BIO to STN ended up costing nearly $300 USD (yes, that is EACH!) My advice, take British Airways.

Berets (pronounced like ferets)

It's our last day on the train! We toured the famous La Encartada Beret Factory Museum and bought matching chocolate-colored berets. These will be part of our official Nut Brown Hare Club uniform. Berets (Vanessa the tour guide pronounces it like "ferets") are originally from Northern Spain (not France!) We were fed the bean soup they used to make for the workers over a hundred years ago. We have quite arrived!

Tonight, we can sleep in a proper bed...and together! Yeah!

Disclaimer: We have survived three nights and four days in a 6x6 room. What a testament!

Chupito!

The Basque equivalent to grappa (or port) is called Orujo. It’s a spirit distilled from wine and flavoured with special herbs or coffee.

It's served in a "chupito"--a small shot-like glass and is referred to simply as a "chupito." The "blanco" smelled and tasted like paint thinner, the "cafe" was similar to a kahula-flavor, and the "herbal" reminded me of Anisette.

Teamwork

Our large suitcases barely fit under the bottom bunk, and to access them, we have to fanangle them about...which means this morning he had to lay in his bottom bunk with his suitcase on top of him, while holding the lid of my suitcase open on the floor as I rooted through for my outfit of the day.

As I was showering the train rounded a bend and I went flying out of the shower and across the bathroom--the whole 6 feet--and landed in the toilet. As he lay in the bottom bunk with no where else to go--witnesses the entire thing. (I think this is how I may have sprained my finger.)

Compartamento #41

After the initial shock of boarding the train, realizing we were the only Americans, and the only people under 70, we were lead to our living quarters. For the next three nights and four days, Compartamento #41 would be our home. (Note: photo does not do justice.)

Enter shock part two: The living quarters on the train are 6x6, (John is 6'4"). The two single bunk beds were going to allow for no intimacy--heck, we weren't even sure if John could fit on the bunk to sleep!

This calls for alcohol. Where is the bar on this train?!

Our LUXURY (ummm) awaits!

We were so excited for our "main event" part of the trip as we named it. Around 3pm we boarded the El Espresso de la Robla: an "Orient-Express-like" sleeping train operated by the local FEVE that was going to take us on a four day/three night journey into the true heart of Basque country.

Well....things aren't always what they appear. Being under 70, we found ourselves as the only "dark hairs" on the train. An observation we made straight away. We had no idea we'd be "realizing" caves, churches, aqueducts--all in cities that we've never heard of, our friends have never heard of, that are not in any guide books, and not even noted on maps. This was the real, local deep-dive, folks.