Americans React to $4 A Gallon Gasoline

In Today's New York Times:

Americans have started trading their gas guzzlers for smaller cars, making fewer
trips to the mall and, wherever possible, riding public transportation to
work.

Duh. You don't say?

Jim

PHOTO: The interior of the Parador at Santiago de Compostela - quite fancy!

The Impending Energy Crisis

Oil at $150.00 a barrel, gasoline at $6.00 a gallon or more...this will be a "full blown energy crisis," according to one NBC News analyst. As I wrote to Dan this morning the way it looks we may have taken our last airline flight for a long time. American Airlines in now going to charge for checked bags and oil keeps going up and up. The airlines will have to raise fares drastically to keep up with rising fuel costs. Last night on the NBC evening news analysts predicted gasoline will be $6.00 a gallon by the end of the summer and may even go to $12.00 a gallon in the near future! Small cars are now (finally) becoming in demand. Some analysts think that the rising cost of oil will filter down into everything we buy and cause an economic crisis. WOW...where does it all end?

Jim

PHOTO: Dan booked us into two beautiful Paradors during our recent trip to Spain. Paradors are Spain's official chain of luxury hotels usually situated in historic structures. This one in Santiago de Compostela is a large former dormatory for pilgrims that has four beautiful interior courtyards.

On The Road To Oviedo

We have arrived in Oviedo. The four hour drive from Santiago de Compostela was pleasant with much interesting scenery especially along the Atlantic coast of Spain. We will be attending a performance of Zarzuela tomorrow evening. Today we picked up the tickets after we checked into the hotel. It's warmer and sunny here. I'll post some pictures soon.

Jim

Authentic Galician Sights And Sounds

One of the traditional musical insturments of the Galician section of Spain is the "gaita," which is a kind of bagpipe. Yesterday we happened upon a wedding celebration outside the town hall in Santiago de Compostela. There were a few musicians playing instruments including the gaita and a man playing a drum. Here is a short video that I shot of the wedding party. Listen to the sounds of the authentic instruments of Northwest Spain.

Beautiful Tourist Friendly Santiago de Compostela!

What a difference a day of travel makes! We're now in NW Spain in Santiago de Compostela. This remarkably beautiful town is as welcoming to tourists as Granada was difficult and frustrating. The town is alive with beautiful architecture, strolling musicians, marriages and other celebrations, and wonderful shops and restaurants. It's also cooler here in the North, so we're wearing our sweaters. We'll have a full day of visiting the many attractions here before we depart for Oviedo tomorrow morning.

Here are photos of the wonderous high Baroque facade of the cathedral and a typical view of the town.

Jim