Can't Stop Traveling

It was my plan not to take any major trips this summer.  My garden was in need of attention (that's now almost under control), and my friend Alejandro is coming up from Mexico later this month for a two week visit.

However, the travel bug got the best of me.  I kept thinking that this would be the perfect year for another trip to Europe.  The exchange rate is the best that it has been in ages.  Also all my travel last year has earned me premier status on United Airlines.  That means that I could possibly be upgraded to first class (fingers crossed) or at least get an upgrade to a roomier "economy plus" seat. 

Last week I made my flight reservations to travel to Spain the first half of September.  That is my favorite time of year to go to Spain.  The weather is still usually dry and summery, but it is not as fiercely hot as in July or August.  I will fly in and out of Madrid and spend a couple days on each end of the trip there.  Hopefully I will have a chance to see my cousin Werner who lives in Madrid.  However, he is constantly traveling all over Europe due to his work as a translator, so that may or may not work out. 

I wanted to visit some places in Spain that I have not yet seen.  I was considering several possible itineraries.  I decided upon a triangular route that would take me to three cities to the north of Madrid...  Burgos, León and Valladolid.  Burgos and León are beautiful medieval cities.  Valladolid is a large industrial city, but it also has an historic past and a number of places of interest.  Last night I booked my hotels, and I could definitely see the effect of the euro's decline.  In all three cities I was able to find very nice hotels for well under $100 per night.  Soon I will purchase my train tickets to travel between the cities... those are not available until two months before the travel dates.

So, before long, it will be time to pack my bags again!!!

Burgos, Spain
(image taken from the web)