1st Stop: Rota, Espana!

Our getting on the first flight was lucky – we talked to another couple that had arrived in Charleston last Sunday and had 3 Rota flights cancelled or delayed. Our plane flew with no incidents. But the plane was VERY noisy – they issued ear plugs, and everyone got some sleep during the flight. We arrived at 12:00 noon, about an hour ahead of time.

Our first glitch – no rental cars left. We had reserved for Tuesday thinking we were going to be delayed out of Charleston. And when we had called last Wed about cars, they said they had plenty. But today when we got here, they were all gone. So we have to wait.

We checked into the Navy Lodge – great room. Took a nap and then got up to go into town. Got our passports stamped at the police station, even though people had told us that we couldn’t due to it being Saturday. We walked into Rota. We ate at a local restaurant, and ordered fish, which they served whole (complete with fin and eyes) and split into two halves. Walked around town, and then walked back to the base in the heat of the day, and while stopping at a local Pizza Villa for a rest in the A/C, we ran into two of the Space-A travelers who flew with us and did get a car. They were in their mid-70’s and this was their 17th Space-A trip. They gave us a ride back to our room and we went to bed early to get some well-needed sleep.