We have spent the past week and a half in Salou and are heading back to Barcelona in the morning. To say this has been relaxing would be truthful and yet somewhat disingenuous

Having time to relax on the beach and contemplate the end of our travels has been nice and relaxing, but the thoughts and planning for our return home has actually become a bit stressful. We are realizing that as many details as we had to take care of when we left, now need to be dealt with as we return. We arrive back in the US in a little over 6 weeks and then we need to get back to Portland from Florida and we don't have any real plans for this just yet. Lots of ideas, but we'll have to wait and see.

Salou has turned out to be both a fun beach town, but also a bit of a strange place to spend time. During the day it is a beach resort town with lots of families on vacation and retire folks enjoying a classic Mediterranean climate. At night things change dramatically. After midnight, people sort of let it all hang down. Our room is on a major street and the noise level from 3:00 to 5:30 am is louder than any time during the day. Mostly very drunk people shouting to their friends that are standing right next to them and sharing their most intimate secrets. Not exactly what you need, or want, to hear in the middle of the night.

We have discovered a few bright spots here. A cafe/bar called Kalua that has a fine selection of Belgian beers has become our favorite watering hole. We have been sitting and people watching each night for an hour or so over a classic Belgian beer with a few noshes and chatting about the trip and what it has meant to each of us.

We are heading north to Barcelona tomorrow for a day of laundry, Picasso Museum, and a few other last minute details before we say good by to Spain and head off to Budapest to meet up with friends from home and begin the beer tour part of the trip.

We will be adding a guest writer during that time. Our good friend Ken Kane will be adding his commentary on the tour, so please take a minute and read his take on things. Ken used to be a professional writer, so his entries should be a little more polished than mine. I expect you'll enjoy them just the same:)

That's it for now.

Eric & Val