The first posts about Spain (at the bottom of this page) cover a holiday we took to Madrid and Andalucia in May 2009. Since September 2009 we have been living in Portugal and so usually pop across the border at least a couple of times a year, so the latter posts are much more recent. The map of Spain has most of the places we've visited.
The Rias Baixas
For us, September is holiday time and it usually means a road trip into Spain. We had an ulterior motive this time - we were also looking for a possible place to live.
Canyon del Sil
For us, September is holiday time and it usually means a road trip into Spain. This year we went to the Canyon del Sil in southern Galicia and then returned south to the Peneda Geres National Park in northern Portugal. The main objective was a bit of camping and walking but also to see a stage of La Vuelta de Espana bike race.
Dipping our toes in Cathar country
In May 2016 we had driven across Spain and over the Pyrenees into France to get in some hiking and enjoy pristine landscapes. This time we were going a bit further east. We hoped to see more of the Pyrenees but also to explore its medieval past, dip our toes in the Med and to forge on to the greatest medieval fortress city of the area, Carcassonne....(read on)
Walking in the French Pyrenees
Having followed the Tour de France on the TV for a number of years we had always wanted to visit the Pyrenees. This May our dream came true. As we don't like driving for too long we decided to split the journey and visit another of the great cathedral cities of Spain - Burgos. But before even Burgos and just across the border we stopped for lunch in the delightful and picture perfect medieval town of Ciudad Rodrigo...(read on)
Wild West of South East Spain
For us, September is holiday time and it usually means a road trip into Spain. This year was going to be a long one - 3000kms in 10 days. It was long because a friend of ours had kindly lent us his holiday apartment which happened to be located in the far South East of Spain in a little pueblo blanco called Mojacar.
Asturias and La Vuelta
We had been avid watchers of the Tour de France for a number of years. Afternoons in July are often unbearably hot, so what better than to relax on the sofa and watch the peloton streaming through the beautiful French countryside. However, we wanted to see it in the flesh. Well the next best thing - the Spanish tour or "La Vuelta" and it was going through Asturias when we were due to go for our annual holiday. Asturias was already near the top of our list of places to visit so it was a done deal. We would watch the Vuelta and explore Asturias at the same time.
On the road to Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is supposed to be the final resting place of St. James (Santiago in Spanish) and so is also the end of the Camino de Santiago, one of the most famous pilgrimage routes for Roman Catholics. You are supposed to walk there from your home and although there is a route marked out from Portugal we decided to take the car. Located in the far North West of Spain and about 400kms due north from our home in Portugal, it wasn't too far away.
Salamanca
Salamanca, a UNESCO world heritage site, is justifiably renowed as one of the top tourist destinations in Spain. We visited "The Golden City" in Sep 2011.
A short hop across the border
It's now 2011 and we are installed in our new house in Portugal. Time to go exploring across the border to the towns of Caceres and Trujillo.
A taste of Spain
Certainly one of the highlights of my first taste of Spain was the food. Just looking at these photos again has got my juices flowing!
Granada
In some ways the highlight of the trip - the incomparable Alhambra, but Granada also had so much more.
Cadiz
From Seville, it was off to Cadiz, a beautiful old fortified town and a little sojourn out to Cape Trafalgar
Seville
After Cordoba we took the train to Seville where we saw a huge cathedral, joined in a local fiesta and of course sampled more excellent tapas.
Madrid and Cordoba
My first ever taste of Spain was a trip to Madrid and Andalucia in May 2008. The welcome wasn't great - It was chucking it down in Madrid, but things just got better and better. First up Madrid and then Cordoba