TDY Gouge - Spain

Moron AB, Spain -If you're coming to Moron, you're either going to war or supporting some contingency (ie some AEF swap out or in and out of a stage) or you won't be here for very long. Regardless, life's going to suck while you're on base. There is no such thing as staying off base (since there's nowhere to stay). If you know you're going to be here 30 days or more, call in EARLY to the Hotel Frontera (DSN: 314-722-8098, Commercial: 011-34-95-584-8098) and reserve a room. The reservations clerk is in from 0830 to 1630 Local time (it's Z+2 here) Mon - Fri best I can figure. Call then, it seems only he has any clue what's going on. If you're here less than 30 days and if you're less than a Colonel, you'll be staying in the contingency dorms. And boy do they suck. You could be piled up as much as 5 to a room if it's really busy, the bathrooms are communal down the hall, and if you're very lucky you'll have a phone in your room. There's a lounge on each floor with a TV and VCR. Bring some reading material.

This base is supported by Rota, so there's an NEX as opposed to a BX. The hours are 1000 to 1800 Local. They have some of the same stuff you'd find in a regular (but tiny) BX or shopette. There's a tiny gift shop with not a whole lot in it, and a couple of ATM's next door (one for real money and one for potatoes). They're hardly ever working so don't count on them. Go to the Hotel Frontera (across the street past the club) and ask the front desk to change your money for Pisetas. Sometimes they run out so good luck to you. If the base is busy, then the club will be busy with a thousand jet lagged aircrews. Wednesday is karaoke night...drink up. If you have the burning desire to break free of the chain gang for a while, you have some good options. 1)Make friends with someone who has a car, find a designated driver (BAC limit is .05 in Spain) and drive carefully. 2)Rent a car of your own. Go to the Hotel Frontera and you'll find a bunch of flyers for rental cars. Get a big Volkwagen van and a designated driver and drive carefully. 3)Go on one of the many trips offered by MWR. They have everything from Bullfights in Sevilla to dinners at different castles to misc. shopping trips to different little towns around southern spain. With a car of your own, you can of course do that yourself. So here's where to go. You've got to go to Sevilla. It's a large and very old city. There are some really beautiful sights. And then there's the Spanish women. Wow (all apologies to the female crew members out there but I speak the truth). I've heard the men were good too if that means anything to you...my attentions were elsewhere. There are tons of little shops, and some really tremendous restaurants. Look for La Isla. It's 5 star all the way around -- everything is delicious. Better yet get a guide from the Hotel Frontera called "The Tourist" or something like that and find your own rockin' joint. If you need someone who speaks english find the Irish Pub by the Cathedral and have a Guiness (just as long as you're not driving). Catch a bullfight if you can. Or at least take the tour of the bull ring. It's like $2.50 for a 25 minute tour in Spanish and English. The bull ring is on the river by everywhere you need to go. Be careful, a large group of people recently (Jun 01) got held up at gunpoint and robbed. Stay in well lit, well populated areas and you should be allright. But to be on the safe side, carry a little bit of cash in your front pocket, throw it one way and run another.

If you just want a quick dinner off base, go to La Rameria (known as Pepe's to us). It'll cost 2000 Piseta's or so ($10) and it'll be laden with pork and fried etc. But it's very good. Make sure you tell Pepe to cook your food more if it needs it... undercooked pork = bad. Or go to El Arahal (out the gate to the left and make the first left - bear in mind that you need to make a left turn like you would in New Jersey ie turn right then hang a hard left). If you're really out for an adventure, go to Ronda. You'll find thousands of shops and restraunts and on the edge of town will be a sheer rock cliff dropping off probably a thousand feet. It's very senic, and very old, and not cheap so bring money (credit cards are taken most everywhere). If you want to go the safe, sane way, go through El Corinil (sp?). If you want damn near an hour of hair pin turns, car-wide roads, insane opposite direction traffic, and thousand foot drops (without guard rails), go towards Moron and hang a right at the chicken (it'll all make sense when you see it), and stay to the left at the fork in the road. Oh, and hang on for dear life and for god's sake don't do it at night.

Other points of interest, Rota is about 3 hours away, Gibralter is about 3.5 hours, Caliz is 2.5?, Portugal is 2.5, Granada isn't too far, and neither is Malaga. They all have thier own sights and attractions. Go see do because the base itself sucks. One thing, bring your ID and a copy of your orders if you want to be let back on to the base or find a comfy spot in a sunflower field (sunflower field, contingency dorms... hmmm tough choice).

~Try to stay in the Hotel Frontera, but if you're just passing through you'll likely be put into the contingency dorms at 3 or 4 to a room. Free movies at the base theater, usually Wed, Fri and Sat. For grocery shopping, go into Moron, exit at the 9 o'clock position from the second circle. Champion is a large store on the left. For a great meal, go out the gate, take the first left (towards Arahal). Go 4 or 5 miles to Arahal, turn left at the gas station and the restaurant will be immediately on the right. It's called El Rincon de Antonio, and has excellent Shrimp and Calamari, and anything else seafood. Also find a restaurant called La Pela in Utrera if you can!

~One "must try" restaurant about 15 minutes from base--Pappillons. Basque chef whips up exquisite treats. Try the sauted mushroom appetizer before moving on to the terragon filet mingon. Finish meal with fine selection of deserts. Let your hostess with the mostest (she speaks great english) recommend some truly wonderful spanish wines (most of 'em cheap). A+ food and cozy atmosphere. Go w/group of 6-8 max and be sure to call ahead for reservation. Any of the stage managers will have the phone number or check with the front desk at the Hotel Fronterra. Also, for a quick bite before stepping to the jet go to the Spanish Cantina next door to the ops building. Great cafe con leche. Excellent hot chicken or pork sandwiches with cheese pack well for the flight too. Pick up a couple bottles of their exclusive label house wine (something like $6 for two of them). Good stuff.

~The Hotel Occidental Sevilla was a Palace! (Phone: 900 200 529). If off base, the stay in Sevilla was great. However, if you plan to walk down town (towards the Cathedral) than take a buddy. There were plenty of 13-18 yr olds on mopeds getting rowdy, and they like to throw objects at visitors. Also, the schedule (ie. eating, shopping, avoiding extreme heat) in Sevilla is a little awkward and I recommend living during the hours of 1400-0600L, plus this schedule will keep you on track if heading back to the states (UTC+4, or 5). As for Moron AB, all I can say is FOLLOW UP multiple times. The Euro Net flight plan system will fail you here, so get your clearance early. Moreover, the base has a lot of turnover in its personnel, so expect some delays and unanswered questions. It seems like a constant state of learning for everyone, so be prepared for glitches that could put you behind.

MAY 2008 Update - Just got back from Moron AB and the contingency dorms have been renovated. It might be a building by building basis, but the rooms we had were mostly singles (standard hotel bed), while some had bunks (you still had the room to yourself, but there weren't many people at the base). We had our own bathroom, TV with built in DVD, and mini-fridge. While the NEX still has the same limited hours you can still buy beer in the hotel lobby up the street. Also, Spain is now on the Euro system (which kinda sucks with the current exchange rate!) but dollars still work on base.

Palma Mallorca, Spain - Hotel Gran Melia Victoria (32)971732542 / (32)971450824 was a great hotel located across from the marina and halfway on the hotel, bar, and shopping strip. Disco next to the hotel. Nice pool and under perdiem rates including breakfast. Usual Spanish late night dining and partying all around. British and German tourist spot.

Rota Spain - El Duque hotel - Brand new and right on the water in downtown Rota. Playa de la Luz PH(956) 810500 FAX(956) 810606 [email: hpl@cdz.servicom.es ] is also a sweet resort, right on the beach - with a beach-bar just a block away on the water, but not really within walking distance to downtown rota. For both of these, the hotel pays your cab fare from Navy Rota (about 500-600pts = two free beers!) La Consuela, Eds and El Pesebre are good places to eat. There's a tobacco shop around the corner from the Irish pub in the downtown square that sells rather fresh Cubans (most of the shops get a little stale). The Montecristo number 4s are good. Restaurante Los Argentinos has outstanding food, fantastic service, and very reasonable prices. It's just a 5 minute drive from the main gate. The address is Avenida Principe de Espana, 74. For dinner try the sangria, solomillo de ternera, and Montecillo wine. For dessert go with the tiramisu and cafe con leche. Parillia Baileys is the BEST steak in town hands down.

~Hotel Duque de Najera 34 956 846 020 was sucky. A few updates for Rota as of 1 Feb 05. The Duque is loud and not very aircrew friendly. Good for overnights and short stays. Front desk personel are very unhelpful and somewhat rude. The rest of the staff is excellent! If you are coming here to be a stage manager I would suggest the Espadana apart-hotel or the Playa de la luz. If you are working the night shift you will not get any sleep in the Duque! The Espandana has kitchenonettes, separate bedrooms and a jacuzzi. Much quieter! If you are coming here to enter the (C-5) stage, plan on staying on base (billiting, Navy lodge) for the most part except during busy times. Billeting is firm on putting crews on base.

Seville, Spain - Alphonso XIII (9540917000) was fantastic! They will give govt rates if you ask. Falls within hotel allowance. 45minutes from Moron and 1.5 hrs from Rota. Part of Westin Hotel Group. For great steaks go to the Parilla Argentina Atahualpa. The address is Salado 9 in Sevilla. They have great food and great service. The solomillo al pimiente is fantastic.

Zaragosa, Spain - La Goya is a 4 star hotel that is very nice. Under per diem rate as of 1998. Right in the center of Zaragosa, lip crawling distance from the downtown nightlife. Multiple bars, pubs, clubs, restaurants all around the hotel. Only 4 blocks from the historic Pillar (pee-lar) Church. Taxi from Zaragosa AB is about $30. Reccomend "La Fuentes" restaurant, incredible Spanish food at great price $10-14. Then hit all the bars on your way back to the hotel making sure to hit the "La Cucca Racha" flaming cockroach. Hotel Boston is not as close to the Tubes, but the best hotel in town with a great breakfast. Staff can guide you to some great restaraunts and make reservations for you.

Stayed at the Hotel Boston in downtown Zaragosa. Nice room with King-sized bed and A/C! Apparently they have Free in-room ADSL Internet service now (sure wish my LM told us that while we were there instead of on the plane flying home!). Great FREE breakfast (coldcuts, cheese, fresh fruit, breads, scrambled eggs, sausage, chorizo, freshly squeezed juices, coffee, etc.)! 10-15 minute walk to the Cathedral of Pilar ( Online Map ). Unfortunately, Google doesn't have a good map online but the folks at the Hotel Boston's front desk are GREAT and will give you a map with your destination circled. FOOD - Great Greek food, Döner Kebaps, and an Irish Pub (serving Guinness) just NW of the Avenue de Independencia (main road just SW of Cathedral with the big round-abount). Small "LIDL" grocery store across street from hotel - snacks, drinks, etc. to keep your room stocked. Remember that the main restaurants don't open for the dinner hour until 2000-2100L. $$$ - Perdiem is currently (July 2005) about $80. You could easily spend this if you go out clubbin' every night. Otherwise, food and sightseeing is inexpensive here and you could walk away with some jingle in your pocket. ATMs abound in the old part of the city (just SW of cathedral).