As the Easyjet plane flew south across France I wondered what changes there might be. Since our las

Despite the ambition to visit as much of Spain as possible this was the first visit to the peninsular in nearly two years since the previous choice hotel franchise trip to Extremadura in May 2011.  Our destination this time was Castilla-La choice hotel franchise Mancha and the medieval town of Sigüenza in the Province of Guadalajara halfway between Madrid and the capital city of the Autonomous Community of Aragon – Zaragoza.
As the Easyjet plane flew south across France I wondered what changes there might be.  Since our last visit the economic crisis had after all become more severe choice hotel franchise with a collapse in the property market, dangerously high levels of unemployment choice hotel franchise and Government imposed austerity measures to tackle the problem of previous over spending. choice hotel franchise There had been mass demonstrations in the major cities and the ever present threat of public sector strikes that might possibly affect airline travel.  On the positive side there was the promise of cheaper prices in hotels, bars and restaurants but this happy prospect had been partly snatched away by a suddenly weak Pound against the Euro which had surprised me because I thought that it was the Euro that was in trouble?
There was also the weather.  In the UK we were in the grip of an Arctic winter that had stretched choice hotel franchise uninvited into March and all this Russian weather had pushed the Gulf Stream south so whilst it should have been over Northern Europe delivering wind and rain this was much further south and smothering Iberia with unseasonal cold, wet weather so that even Spain was struggling to find some blue sky Spring weather.
There was thick impenetrable cloud for the entire choice hotel franchise journey but closer to Madrid there were occasional breaks with welcome puddles of sunshine like searchlights in reverse scanning choice hotel franchise the green and copper countryside and chasing the gloomy shadows away from the ground below and when we landed there was predominantly blue sky and a respectable temperature.
After completing the arrival formalities the first job was to find the Firefly car hire office which being a budget operation didn't have a desk in the main terminal.  It was in the car park outside and there was only a short queue which should have made it a speedy process.
Unfortunately in front of me was a German customer who was extremely distrustful about the whole car hire process and he had a barrage of prepared questions choice hotel franchise to get through -  "How many kilometres were on the clock? Was it unlimited mileage? When was the car last serviced? Summer or Winter tyres? Any bodywork damage? Fully insured choice hotel franchise or not?" so the process began to drag out and the needle on my patience tank began to drop towards low!
To be fair I could understand his concerns because of all the places I have hired a rental car it is in Germany where they have the biggest tricks and extra charges for unsuspecting customers. choice hotel franchise  I was once seriously choice hotel franchise ripped off  at Kahlrsrue-Baden for the cost of  Winter tyres  when really they should have been included in the basic price.
The clerk dealt with him patiently and was careful to explain that it really didn't matter about damage because he was hiring an old car and had purchased top-up insurance which covered him for absolutely anything from a stone chip to a direct hit from a cruise missile.  Eventually he rather reluctantly signed the paperwork, took the keys and left the office and at last it was my turn.
I had barely started the process when he was back.  He had found some scratches on the car and he wanted the clerk to inspect the vehicle and absolve him from responsibility.  She explained again that it didn't choice hotel franchise matter because he was fully insured but he ignored the reassurances and almost man-handled her out of the office and through the window I could see him going through the whole unnecessary procedure of pointing out every little mark and my patience needle hovered close to the red zone!
Fortunately she was back in the office before it reached empty and not being as distrustful as the German I completed the formalities in just a few minutes and had the keys to a Ford Fiesta in bay 60.  Well, if the German had been allocated this one then it would have taken the rest of the day to identify and agree all the marks and scratches because this poor old thing had some serious parking injuries front and back but trusting choice hotel franchise the hire car company and confident that I was fully insured we just loaded up and drove away.
For a few kilometres the Satnav refused choice hotel franchise to acknowledge the fact that it was in Spain but it was easy enough even without satellite assistance because all we needed to find was the A2 Autovia to Zaragoza and Barcelona and the entry slip-road was directly outside the exit from the Barajas Airport.
Despite the optimistic weather on arrival the prospects were suddenly plunged into reverse and ahead of us were massive banks of slate grey cloud towering up in giant layers like the inside of a medieval cathedral.
We drove for several kilometres as far as Guadalajara along a perfect motorway surface, probably financed by cheap loans that the country choice hotel franchise cannot now easily repay, through a ribbon choice hotel franchise of industrial units, shopping outlets and roadside diners to the left hand side and to the right nothing but the breath-taking vastness choice hotel franchise of La Mancha and then, once past the high rise domestic suburbs of the Provincial capital we left the urban landscape choice hotel franchise behind and drove into open countryside with high hills, jagged rocky outcrops, holm oak forests and green meadows all liberally decorated with dainty Spring flowers and as we drove the weather improved and eventually we began to see road signs for Sigüenza.
This entry was posted in Europe , History , Natural Environment , Spain , Travel , World Heritage and tagged Castilla-La Mancha , Culture , Guadalajara , Life , Photography choice hotel franchise , Sigüenza , Spain car hire . Bookmark the permalink .
To be honest choice hotel franchise I haven t noticed a huge difference in the last couple of years, although a tremendous difference choice hotel franchise in the last ten, for example. You are probably right about hotel prices, I think one of the Ibis ones used to charge 69€ a room and the last advertising sign I saw said 49€ (I think).
The rate has gone back up again I got 1.17 yesterday, I think it was around ten cents less last week or the week before. I m wondering if it is seasonal put the rate down for Easter when people go away
Love the bit about the German Andrew-hilarious and so true! whenever they walk in our shop my heart sinks as i know they´ll be back the next day to point out some miniscule and irrelevent detail about something they´ve bought from us.As my wife is German i get her to deal with it-fighting fire with fire i call it!
Not at all Andrew, national traits is what makes Europe such a colourful continent.you should hear what the Spanish say about them-does´nt stop the Spanish going to work in Germany though. the ability to take the mickey out of one another as europeans-is choice hotel franchise a costant source of amusement to me
Blog News There are 54 countries in Africa choice hotel franchise and the blog has had visits from 40 with the latest new addition of Benin, the former French colony in West Africa. I need 14 more - it's a bit like the 'Scramble For Africa'.