More on this later (I've changed the corresponding list on the JSJ thread. We're not snooty, it's just that some of the Brighton Mafia [SIZE="1"]TM[/SIZE] haven't ventured outside that area of RC).
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
Ana Wrote:Dear all,
Of course that I will join you this year for the Almeria Half.
Moreover, I have decide to drive my car in order to have more logistic places.
Hola! Ana, this is great news!
It'll be nice to finally see you collect your reward from SP
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
Special guest can only be Paul Hogan
regarding +1, can only be MLCM
That will be great.
Regarding me, Almería is too far away for me just for one simple tomates-bag. SP, I hope that you still remember your debts. If you has forgotten my foot's size, just ask me.
I guess we need a cut-off date so why not end of this month?
That coincides with time to book flights.
Having said that we're probably pretty close on numbers for the hotel at least. By my reckoning 11 rooms taking the +1s as sharing. Should we unleash Antonio or simply make a direct approach El Gringo style?
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
Sweder Wrote:I guess we need a cut-off date so why not end of this month?
That coincides with time to book flights.
Having said that we're probably pretty close on numbers for the hotel at least. By my reckoning 11 rooms taking the +1s as sharing. Should we unleash Antonio or simply make a direct approach El Gringo style?
End of October sounds good to me.
Perhaps Antonio would oblige?
EasyJet have 25% off all Jan-March flights if booked by Tuesday, though their Saturday flight to Murcia is around noon, later than we wanted.
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
I really have been sorely tempted to make it happen next year but... fiscal and logistic reality says "no".
To compensate a little, this evening I visited a top Spanish restaurant (there are loads of Spanish eateries in Sydney) and toasted you all with fine Espana cuisine. We had quite a banquet, but my favourite dishes were:
Pulpo a la Gallega - octopus on a bed of potato, saffron mayonnaise and paprika.
Setas asado con Jerez - roasted garlic mushrooms in sherry vinegar.
Patatas arrugatos y mojo - "Blue" potatoes in parsley and cumin (yum!), and my bestest favourite:
Queso de cabra con miel - a scrumptious caramelised goat cheese in an onion compote... divine!
The gambas fritas con remolacha was also extremely popular, but the dish was empty by the time it reached me, so I can only guess that it was as good as my dining companions suggested.
And I was also rather taken by my first experience of Spanish beer... perhaps the occasion gave it bonus points, but I thought it a very acceptable heavy-ish but very palateable easy-drinking lager*.
Which only makes me all the more determined to make it to Almeria one of these years. It won't be '09 - even with the promised presence of Seafront Plodder - but I will get there one day!
Heavy sighs of deep satisfaction,
MLC Man.
*I note the Estrella Galicia is listed as a 4.8% beer on the Estrella website, but the one I had was 5.5%, perhaps an export bottling? Either way, it was pretty good.
OK, we should take advantage of the Tuesday deadline for flights then.
I'll try one more time this afternoon to see if anyone can tell me about possible insertion of a Saturday Gatwick flight - if nothing doing we'll go with the Murcia option. Noon departure gets us in there just after 15:00 local? With a two hour drive plus an hour pfaffing about that puts us at the hotel around 18:00 local time. A bit of a rush but still in time for the traditional number collection and meal at El Stadio.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
Sweder Wrote:OK, we should take advantage of the Tuesday deadline for flights then.
I'll try one more time this afternoon to see if anyone can tell me about possible insertion of a Saturday Gatwick flight - if nothing doing we'll go with the Murcia option. Noon departure gets us in there just after 15:00 local? With a two hour drive plus an hour pfaffing about that puts us at the hotel around 18:00 local time. A bit of a rush but still in time for the traditional number collection and meal at El Stadio.
Well, I wasn't vehemently arguing for EasyJet or that time slot -- I was just tossing the factoid onto the table, as it were.
Trouble is the Murcia EJ flight gets us into Murcia at 15:45. Lovely to have a 12:15 flight but I wonder if that's a little late to arrive. By the time we booger about with baggage and vehicle hire (this is Spain, remember? ) we'll be leaving Murcia at 16:45 at the earliest. Might be pushing it slightly? Cost, incidentally, is £26.
There are two alternatives:
We ignore the siren call of the 25% reduction, and go with Monarch, which leaves LGW at 07:45. (£36) A tenner more, and guaranteeing a weary Saturday, but at least we'll have time to meander to Almeria and find a good breakfast place en route. (Note: will Monarch still be in business in Feb?)
We stick with EJ but go to Malaga instead where the flight is at 10:05, though this is £36 too, so no cheaper than Murcia with Monarch.
I'm confused now. Maybe I should create a poll?
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
Well I didn't help much, melding airline schedules willy-nilly :o
I guess a straw poll would be a good idea. In a nutshell both options are out of Gatwick, both involve a 2 hour + drive at the other end. The real choice is:
a) early departure time, meander to Almeria via a breakfast stop, plenty of time to check in and mosey on down to El Stadio for numbers and grub
b) later departure time (more time in bed), mad dash for Almeria (no stopping) and straight to El Stadio for numbers and grub
If that's right let's have a show of hands for a) or b). I'll catch up with the Brighton Mafia tomorrow morning at Hove Park so can ask them and report back with some block voting
Obviously Steve + 2 from Stanstead are sorted, leaving EG, SP and Niguel (tbc) to choose an option.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
Sweder Wrote:a) early departure time, meander to Almeria via a breakfast stop, plenty of time to check in and mosey on down to El Stadio for numbers and grub
That's the option for me - atleast we won't miss the evening dinner if our plane is delayed!!
Um, ah, yes, well . . . logistics is my bag y'see :o
The 10:05 gets in about 13:30 local. Add dithering, knobbing about with cars, driving etc and without a stop ETA Almeria is 16:30 - 17:00. Still acceptable but again barring any airline delays. Much as I hate leaving the house when it's still dark the early option (07:35) gives us a lot more leeway plus a good chance to have a stop for food (mmm . . . fooood) along the way. Besides, you can kip on he plane so long as your legs are detachable/ easy-fold
I'm not helping much am I?
Let's talk this through over a cuppa tomorrow after BHTT and see if we can get a consensus amongst our crew. We can throw that into the mix.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
All the options have their pros and cons, but my preference is also for the LGW-Murcia flight at 07:45. It takes 2.5 hours so lands 11:15 local time. Away from the airport by 12:30 latest, and that gives us a nice easy laid-back drive to Almeria with one, perhaps even two stops en route if we see something interesting.
The downside is weary Saturday syndrome, which Almeria veterans will be familiar with. Just one of those things, I guess. At least we have an hour longer in bed than usual.
But I won't prejudge it. Let's see what the others think.
El Gordo
Great things are done when men and mountains meet.
I'm nipping off after the race to take Gary to the station as he has his marathon on Sunday, but I should be back by 10:30am so will come and track you down at the cafe.
It will probably be about time for refills when I get there.
Shouldn't Simon be on the list unless he has changed his mind?
. Nah.
