The past 24 hour stretch has taken us from Avignon to Montpellier, Barcelona and Madrid.

If it sounds like a lot, it is, and I reflect frequently on whether this itinerary was a good idea. Looking at it from a larger perspective though reminds me that of all the options we had for getting to Portugal, this one made the most sense. We're tired, but we are enjoying ourselves, and now we have a couple full days, three nights, in Madrid.

In today's episode there is everything from trains through Provence to brunch in Montpellier, InOuis and Ouigos, floodlit towers and surprisngly affordable taxis.

Also, if you loaded up yesterday's clip expecting the ambient sounds of the day, as it turned out I uploaded the file from the day before by mistake. It's fixed now, so I highly recommend listening to Jan. 14 audio interlude, it's only 3:44 long and it will really set a nice tone for today's summary.

Jan. 15: Mediterranean scenes and Spanish plateaus

Travel Podcast producer Ted Cragg steps out from his home studio in Canada to embark on his own great adventure, spending 3 months, primarily in Portugal, slow travelling with his wife Emilie and their two young kids, 5 and 7 years old.

It's been 11 years since the end of their last great trip (pre-kids, of course!), a 'round-the-world odyssey over 15 months. Since then, travel for them has been limited, and slow travel nonexistent.

However, 2023 suddenly represented an opportunity to reconnect with that life. They decided to seize the moment and pick up where they left off, 11 years later.

This podcast documents the daily experience of travel as a family in 2023. Practical info for parents, travel tips for Portugal and beyond, and observations and reflections on travel, and how it has changed and evolved.

Ted produces travel podcasts, such as Destination Morocco, and hosts his own regular show, Travel Podcast the World, which profiles other travel podcasters, sharing advice and insight on the craft.

Now, he puts that advice into practice, in a bold new audio adventure.