Email from Sandra & Lyle received 22nd August 2010: Part 6 (final) : Spain & Portugal

Hi All,

Well it is hard to believe that this will be the last of the epistles from our three and a half months of tripping around the world. We have covered 21 countries, which sounds horrendous, but has been a breeze, well we think so anyway. However the comments we receive on each tour range from "Aren't you tired?" to "You New Zealanders must be crazy!" or "You have so much evergy, where do you get it from?"

We spent our free day in Madrid prior to the tour starting, going through the Prado Museum, which took us over five hours (and that was rushed) We were only able to see it sparingly, so bought the huge Prado Guide, to enable us to digest it more when we get back to NZ. We didnt find this one as stupid as the Queen Sophia Museum which had such modern stuff in it!!.

That night we met up with our new tour group for the trip round Spain and Portugal, who appeared to be quite a lot younger than some of our other groups, with a lot of Asian Indians from America.(Not Red Indians!) We were grieved to discover no New Zealanders and only one Aussie couple, (although that husband was actually from Germany, so not sure if that counted anyway!!

First day on tour, we left Madrid and headed for Granada, via Toledo, where we visited the ancient Castilian capital, (the one they had before Madrid)  It was made famous by El Grecos paintings of the town and river. (We saw one of his paintings there and thought "Oh how depressing!!)

We visited a foundry where they make swords, jewellery, and other related objects of steel etc, and were interested in how they do the inlaid gold work. L bought something and I bought a ring. We walked most of the Old town there, which is on top of a hill, and would you believe it, we didnt have to climb steps, but went up in an escalator, all very modern! It was a lovely walled city though and ancient. We got our first taste of Spanish architecture and loved some of the wrought iron balconies etc.

At lunch time, we stopped at a Olive Oil Open Air Museum, L bought 2 small bottles of Olive oil and I bought some soap. (Not sure if it has Olive oil in it though!!!

Next day we had a conducted tour around Granada, where we had stayed the night. We saw the Alhambra, which was the summer palace for the Moorish kings. Then it was taken over by the Kings of Spain (Isabella received Christopher Columbus here.) I think it was when he asked for money for his trip!! The arab architecture was wonderful as were the gardens with an European flavour. One of the men on the trip fell over here. He has multiple sclerosis! He was OK though.

About 2 hours later by bus, we arrived in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol. However on the way we stopped at Malaga where we only had time to see yet another cathedral. Don't think the others had the energy to bother, because it was only a 2 hour stop in Malaga. Once we got to Fuengirola, we went up into the mountain areas to Migas, where we saw the fantastic views over the sea until the mist rolled in. We had a delightful meal here sitting out on the lawn like royalty in a lovely garden restaurant. This town is all whitewashed houses, and there is a grotto in a rock where legends say that in 1531 Our Lady appeared to 2 young boys. (Don't ask me what happened then!!)

On our free day next day we returned to Malaga by Metro all alone, and had a good look round there. Sadly we were too early for the fair which wasnt going to start until midnight.( We could'nt wait that long!!) Down in the port area we came across a reconstructed Spanish Galleon, the Santisima Trinidad" which had been sunk by the British during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1803. We had a good look around and a free beer thrown in, which went down a treat in the heat wave that day. On our return to the train we were approached by Gypsies, offering us flowers, which we rejected, and heard them muttering something, which may or may not have been a curse on us!!

We spent the evening walking for several ks round the water front (I did) (L went back after a while) on the Cost de Sol on our return. The water was warm and the temperatures continued to be in the mid  30's here.

Next day we headed off to Seville via Gibraltar. We saw several golf courses built alongside large hotels along the coastline all to attract the British and other European tourists to this area. On arrival in Gibraltar, had to go through Customs at the border, but didnt get stamps in our passports!! Went through Spanish and British customs and it seems like a rather silly formallity. Some of the Indians were not allowed through and had to sit in "No mans land" until we returned 3 hours later. We were taken in mini vans (because thats all that fits on Gibraltars hilly winding roads) and had good views of Spain, but unfortunately the mist stopped L and I from seeing Morocco where we had been so recently. The Barbary Apes were a treat to see. (One even got inside one of the vans, not ours I am pleased to say). I touched one, but it was only a baby, not game to get close to its mother!! Enjoyed shopping in a duty free place, but didint really excell in that respect, only buying a bit of linen each.

On then, after picking up the Indians from "No Mans Land" because they didnt have visas, we continued on to Seville. We really enjoyed Seville. It is quite a pretty place, and we were shown round the Roman City where both famous Romans Hadrian and his uncle Trajan were born. It was facinating to see the huge outlines of the houses and sewerage systems, just as good as in this day and age. Mosaic floors still intact, and the Amphitheatre etc. They are still excavating and finding more and more stuff here. Some of the houses were 6 thousand square feet. They were huge!!!

We then went to the Palace, which was in the Santa Cruz area. We learned more here about the Moorish Kings and how they managed four wives here, than we had done in Morocco. (Four wives means four mothers- in- law!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow!!! They'd have to be keen. Each wife has to OK the next one and each wife has to have an equal share of everything!!! In the afternoon the Cathedral was open to the public. It had been closed in the morning for a religious feastday celebration which involved a procession around the streets. Guess what?? We discovered wax spilled on cobblestones to be very slippery, when walked in!!!!!!! It is here today that Lyle received the new name of "Doubting Thomas" from me. We climbed up the 37 ramps (not steps) to the top of the tower in this catedral and she asked a girl how many more ramps to go. The girls told her 37 and she said in not uncertain terms "I don't belive you!" Needless to say there WERE 37 ramps, plus some steps thrown in at the top for good measure!!! We finished off this day by attending a  dinner andFlamingo Show, which was wonderful. The dancers really got into the spirit of it all and so did we.

Off to Portugal next day, via Evora, passing through lots of Cork Oak forests. The cork on many trees had recently been removed. We saw pigs under the oak trees eating acorns. When we crossed over the border it was interesting to see the difference between Spain and Portugal. The farmers sons want to go to the cities, so the farms are being left in Portugal. Evora was only a coffee and toilet stop for the driver to have his rest, but everything was closed because of a fair which had been held the night before. We did however find one whole coffee shop cum bar with the toilets attached. Whew!! We saw the Temple to Diana (remains anyway) and it was here we got held up and had to walk out without getting our lunch. We visited a chapel here, where the walls are all made of skulls and bones of humans. There is a saying in here which goes something like " We bones are waiting for your bones". When taking photos of a certain area in here, a face appears underneath the murdered childs bones!!! The father had murdered the wife and child and they hung him. All very exciting!!!! and ghostly.

We entered Lisbon over the very long bridge 1.8ks, a bit like the San Francisco Bridge. spanning the river, whose name escapes us both!!! The morning was was spent being shown the city, and we saw a monument of Henry the Navigator, built in the 1960's and in the shape of a ship's bow, the Belem Tower, the Moorish Citadel, the impressive Black Horse Square, (the reason for the  name of this square escapes us also) The Palace from the outside, and the chapel attached, where we saw the burial place of Vasco de Gama. From here we visited the Portugese Riviera, and we stopped for a couple of hours at Cascais a small fishing port and resort. Another lovely old town with tiny cobbled streets and lovely wee houses with balconies again. We sat on a terrace with an icecream and watched the swimmers down below.

From here we went up into the hills, to visit a 15th century Royal Palace where the tiles were out of this world and one  of the best collections in Europe. Lyle and I had to buy a tile from here. (That night I had a dream!! It was all about having to mix some slurry and attach it to the stucco in the back yard, and then I ran out of matching paint, if you please!!!  Ron could you do it for me please!

This was also a nice town with narrow streets, and the highlight of the day was us trying the Ginjin Port wine in a chocolate case, which we had put in our mouth and scoff down in one go. We did it!!!!!  That night we got lost again  (We seem gto have managed to do this in each city on this tour!!! We took tram No 12 to the Castle from the town square. Quite simple really!! Saw the ruins and walked the walls, then got on Bus 28 to return. However Bus 28 took us for an hours journey in a completely unknown (to us) area!! There were 3 other couples on this tram (Spanish) and although we couldnt converse we all were in fits of laughter together as we recognised places we had seen on the first trip round. Finally we arrived back in the Square, and caught the Metro back to the hotel. Phew!! So much for the early night!!

Next stop on the trip was to Oporto, via Fatima. We only had an hour and  a half here, and rushed round looking at the various places of interest. I was intrigued to see people walking on their knees, not sure why that is necessary in this day and age but however!!! Lyle lit a candle for family and friends and said I could be included!! We wound up in the back of the Old Cathedral at Mass, but just passed through the back of the congregation and shot out the other door. I thought it was Religious commercialisation, especially when I saw a lady purchase candles of various parts of bodies!!! (I must say, however, I was tempted to look for a" tyre around the middle candle!!" which I may have been able to  burn to reduce" MY tyre around the middle!"

After Fatima, we did a wine tasting excursion in Oporto at the Sandeman Winery. I bought a decanter in the shape of "Mr Sandeman" We went on a river cruise that night, and almost got out to the Atlantic Ocean, but not quite. The gypsies were out in this area in force, and I bought a couple of teatowls. Lyle wasnt tempted here.

From here we travelled across Portugal towards the East and the countryside was mountainous for some time then as we neared Spain became flatter and we spent considerable time trying to take photos of Bulls, to no avail, until we came across painted metal ones at the side of the road, much easier to photograph still bulls!!!

We  crossed back into Spain and arrived in Salamanca. This is a University Town, and we had lunch in a Tapa Bar with the Aussies and Sam and Joe from the USA. We decided we were rather partial to Sangria also!! It is a nice drink, a mixture of Red wine, vodka or gin, cointreux? (spelling) lemon/lime and oranges and peaches we think!!

We looked through the Cathedral and then went looking for the frog on the doorway of the University. Heaps of people were there trying to find it and Sam finally did so by using her tele lens. It is on a skull, and the story is that it is supposed to bring students good luck in their exams if they see it. Not sure what good luck it will bring us old foggies!!  Once again we didnt feel we had long enough here, but we both managed to buy some jewellery. Not bad going for the short space of time!!! It was another lovely place, but we had to push on to Madrid via Avlia, where another St Theresa was from. Didnt go inside this Cathedral as they were charging and we didnt have time.

We got to Segovia for a visit of this Medieval town set on a rocky side of a hill. We saw the huge Roman Aquaduct.

I have never seen such a huge aquaduct in my life and so well preserved. We spent our lunch time here by visiting the Castle, and it was quite spectacular. (By the way we got in for reduced rates being Seniors!!!) We also managed to purchase some souvenirs here in the limited time available!! Getting quite good at this!! Once again another nice town with narrow streets and balconies on the houses.

We spent the next  night in Salamanca The first time the hotel was so close to the main square. It was lovely here, and we managed to see the Cathedral, this time which was, starting to look like the two we had just seen anyway!!! I posted box No 6 back home here, so Scott keep an eye out!!! I bought chocolates here, very nice to chew on the bus. We had a conducted tour and then were free for the afternoon, but had dinner in the hotel with the group. We received a list of email addresses here, and Lyle and I tried to match up the names to the faces. Having such a lot of Indian names (10) we were having some difficulties. We had nearly matched everyone but then Lyle came up with this perler!!! "Wev'e run out of Indians" to which I replied "Too many chiefs!"(I guess you had to be there!!!) but we certainly saw the funny side and had tears running down our faces!!!

We arrived in Madrid about 5.30 yesterday, and went off for a Tapa evening. for our final group meal.

It was very pleasant and the Sangria was almost as nice as the first lot. We saw Madrid by night on our way back to the hotel, and it is a very impressive city. Caught up with the washing before bed, as having two nights here before we leave. This morning we went on an included city tour and visited the Bull Ring and the Palace. L and I didnt stay until the end of the tour, as we wanted to go to the main shopping area before it shut for the day. Wandered up Grand Via until L got hot so we split up and she went back via the bus while I walked and walked to get a photo of the Cathedral which was built in the 1960's It was beautiful, just near the Palace which we had seen before the tour started.

I then walked down to find the hanging vertical garden to take a photo and it is huge!! Back to the Mayor Sq and caught the bus back to the hotel about 4.30. L had only arrived half an hour before, so we decided to do this final epistle, and this is the last of our docos for the trip. Lyle leaves at 7am in the morning for the leg to Bahrain, to stay with son Andrew, and I leave for Seoul, Korea, at 7pm to stay with daughter Katrina.

As I type this L is in the background ratting around and orgainising her suitcase and her cellphone (which is not going very well) she has worn it out texting!!!,and herself for breakfast

Well thats all folks, we have thoroughly enjoyed our trip from Istanbul to Madrid , being in 21 countries ,and about 60 different beds. and we are still laughing!!! even when we cant remember which hotel floor or even the room number we are in!!

Good night to you all.

Love from L & S.