Winter Holiday in Spain & Portugal November 2013 to March 2014 Our trip started in earnest at Portsmouth to catch the ferry. Fifth Wheel caravans are fairly unusual, so we were pleasantly surprised to pull up behind one just like ours (their s was the latest model though). The ferry takes 24 hours, but it saves a very long drive down through France. The ferry is French (Brittany Ferries) so as you would expect the food is excellent. We had a lovely dinner and a huge breakfast! It was a bit overcast as the ferry approached Bilbao, on the northern coast of Spain, but it was warmer than England! The caravan site was at Sopelana, just outside Bilbao At the caravan site, the grass was too wet & muddy so we had to use a car parking area, but it was fine.
We went for a walk along the beach where the rock formations were interesting. The next day we caught the Metro into Bilbao and walked around the Old Town, Casco Viejo This is the rather old Plaza Nueva (New Square)
The next day we again caught the Metro into Bilbao to go and see the Gugenheim Museum Outside the Gugenheim Museum was very large piece of Topiary (actually I think it was a metal frame with plants on it) The best pieces of modern art were outside!
I guess we do not really appreciate Modern Art, and found the best things about the Gugenheim were:- 1. The excellent Bistro Restaurant for lunch (EXCELLENT!The photos show the little box of Petits Fours that came with the coffee.) 2. The bar/cafeteria for coffee & cake before tackling the museum. 3. The architecture of the building and the outside exhibits 4. The modern art inside was disappointing (I don t call an old wooden pallet with a cross scrawled on it in black paint a piece of art). The only impressive piece was a huge steel maze. on the groundfloor.
There are some nice buildings around the Gugenheim Museum
From Bilbao, we drove along the coast to Gijon. We rather liked this Christmas Tree of old green wine bottles., and some of the interesting architecture
Our friend, Roy, would really like this excellent railway museum in Gijon.
Just outside Gijon at Veranes there is a Roman Villa with underfloor heating and mosaic floors
We left Gijon for a 5 hour drive to Santiago de Compostela (Sant Iago de Campo Stella - Saint James field of stars). It is a beautiful old city with very old buildings everywhere. This is one of the entrances to the old town The cathedral is magnificent Just across the square from the cathedral is the Palacio de los Reyes Catolicos now a Parador Hotel. Over 25 years ago, I stayed there for a conference and I have been wanting to come back to Santiago ever since. We went in the Parador, looked at the menu prices and came out without even buying a coffee!
It is nice to wander around there is so much to see. We drove out to the coast to Finisterre, the most westerly point in Europe (Finis Terrae )
We were going to move on to a campsite south of Vigo, just north of Portugal. Our ACSI Guide said it was open in the winter. When we got there we found that it was open, BUT only at weekends! So we moved on to Portugal to a campsite inland at Covos. It was a lovely area but freezing cold. Both mornings there was a heavy frost on the ground and ice on the windscreen. So we moved further south to Oporto (Porto where Port wine comes from). The campsite was quite large with few people there. The beach was a few minutes walk down the road and was lovely at sunset. The good thing was that there was a bus from just outside the site to the historic centre of Oporto
If there s a tower, Paul has to climb it!, but Carol stays below in the sunshine!
It s not only old buildings, but old trams as well! And an old bridge that would not look out of place in Newcastle! The cathedral is nothing special, but the cloisters are a must to see
A cruise along the river tis the best way to see the bridges over the River Douro.
This is the traditional type of boat used to bring the barrels of wine down the river to Oporto. Ice cream!
We travelled down the coast to San Pedro de Moel (to see the shrine at Fatima) We went to the town of Fatima. First stop was Paullus Café!
In 1917, The Virgin Mary appeared several times to 3 shepherd children, and then when 70,000 people gathered the sun danced around the sky. The children were given a message in 3 parts. The last part was kept secret by the Vatican until recently. The shrine is a place of pilgrimage Pope John Paul came here 3 times.
Near Fatima are the Grutas demoeda. We were lucky to have a very good guide.
Our monasteries were destroyed by Henry VIII so it is interesting to see this intact one at Batalha. On the right of the photo above and in the photo below you can see the Unfinished Chapels the columns just end with flat tops where the work stopped.
Tomar has one of the most amazing buildings we have seen. Originally it was a castle and was the HQ of the Knights Templar and later became a monastery. There are so many different parts to see! Our photos can only hint at what there is to see.
Time to move further south to Guincho, near Cascais, Sintra and Lisbon. Sintra is a town surrounded by castles, palaces, monasteries and huge parks. We started at the Palacio de Pena. Originally it was a monastery (painted red), and then was extended to make it a palace (painted yellow). The park is huge we were there all day and ended up exhausted. We walked up to the High Cross and took these photos which show the palace and the town of Sintra below.
The Palace is in a variety of styles reflecting the styles at the time of each extension. At the far end of the Park is a Chalet built for the Countess of Edla, the second wife of King Fernando
These photos taken from the Palace show the Moorish Castle to be visited another day!
The car park is quite a lot lower than the Moorish Castle towering above. This is looking down from the highest point on the wall.
Convento dos Capuchos (Cork Monastery) is an unusual place. It was built in 1560 and the walls were lined inside with cork for insulation. It was inhabited until 1834 when Religious Orders were abolished and is practically unchanged since it was abandoned. The entrance under these huge boulders id different! The cloisters, with a small pond, were tranquil. The kitchen shows how basic life there must have been.
Cabo Da Roca was just up the coast, and the Poruguese claim this is the most westerly point in continental Europe (see the photos earlier of Cape Finisterre in Spain)
Up at Sintra again, the Palace of Monserrate was the next to go and see
This magnificent carved mahogany door led into the library with mahogany shelves.
The kitchen was well equipped with an impressive cooking range!
In the heart of the town is the National Palace of Sintra, The two distinctive towers are in fact chimneys to draw the hot air up and out of the kitchens. The front of the Palace looks over the town to the Moorish Castle on the peaks above.
The National Palace of Queluz is between Sintra and Lisbon.
Several times we walked past this lovely building in Cascais before we realised it was a FREE museum Needless to say, Paul had to climb the tower to take a photo of the view over Cascais.
Towering above Lisbon is the Castle of St George
Christmas Eve it was windy, raining and most things were closed.
The tower of Belem was closed just a very wet photo of the outside! The only place open was the very interesting Maritime Museum
Evora is a fortified town to the east of Lisbon.. Parts, like the Temple of Diana date back to Roman Times
The cathedral has an ornate interior and a lovely cloister
The Aqueduct brings fresh water into the walled town Inside the town, people have built under the arches
There is a nice little museum in Evora
Just outside Evora is the Almendres Cromlech stone age standing stones The sign said there was 100 stones, but it did not look that many. I counted 97 & probably missed some.
Just to the west of Evora is the walled village of Monsaraz
Back to the coast at Vila Nova de Milfontes. This is the beach by the campsite.
New Years Day on the beach at Vila Nova
We moved on to The Algarve, to Praia da Luz (Madeleine McCann)
The rock strata on the beach are interesting
We were getting the tail end of the storms that were hitting the UK. The waves were crashing against the cliff and going about 40 or 50 feet in the air.
This is the crowded beach at Lagos.
Yet another crowded beach! (On the west coast)
Time for another castle! This one is at Silves
There is also a nice cathedral at Silves
Vilamoura is a modern resort with a casinoand marina, and the remains of a Roman Villa
Inland from Faro is the city of Loule which has a castle. A bit further along at Estoi there is a Roman Villa with several mosaics of Dolphins
Yet another castle, this one is at Tavira
Just for a change from castles, cathedrals & roman villas, here is the Roman Bridge at Tavira. One of the gates in the town wall.
This is one of many reservoirs inland from the Algarve
A last walk along the beach at Manta Rota, before crossing the bridge into Spain