Images of Portugal

We have spent just over two weeks in Portugal from just over the Spanish border at Castro Marim, down to the Algarve coast from Villa Real and almost as far West as Portimão, the weather getting warmer all the time.

Castro Marim

There was lots of birdlife to see on the Marim and salt marshes - Flamingos, spoonbills, black winged stilts with their brilliant red legs and storks nesting or soaring above us.

The wonderful and varied coloured cliffs made for interesting walking until we actually made it into the sea just before the tide came in at Praia de Marinha making it inaccessible. Only paddling of course.

We happened upon an Orange festival once turning northward to Silves - the Orange capital of Portugal - and the best oranges you will ever taste. .....and the tangerine gin? I'm  not so sure.

Tangerine Gin!

Travelling east on our homeward journey we just had to call in at lovely Paderne. In the middle of olive groves, almond trees and with a handy spring water font......just right for a spot of washing in the tepid spring water. Who needs electricity when nature provides.

The sports club in the village has a great cafe serving dish of the day or grilled fish and you eat with the locals, no menu as such so it's a bit pot luck. So we walked over the hill past an ancient windmill and ate facing the football pitch.

So now it's back to Castro Marin for our homeward journey back through Spain.

(A more detailed diary can be found on the desktop version of " Mortons Abroad " at the right hand menu)

Seville

Two days in Seville taking time to see the sights and enjoy the tapas. We are parked a short bus ride away in a marina so have a good view of the river and it means Les gets a rest from driving for a while.

The Cathedral was our first stop. A beautiful building which certainly lived up to it's claim to be the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world and has wonderful works to be admired both inside and out. It was built on the site of the former Mosque. Included in the ticket, and accessed from inside the cathedral, is the Giralda bell tower, which was the original mosque's minaret and we managed to ascend the 17 floors by way of a slope which somehow turned out to have 34 levels, all numbered ..... We thought we had reached the top only half way up! The view was great and luckily, we were there when the bells were silent.

Our reward for this exertion was lunch at the Old Tabacco Factory a short stroll away and now part of the University. It was built in 1750 and retains it's position as Spain's largest building, bar one - but now, among other things has a great canteen! Funny how we always seem to eat among students while abroad.

Yes, it's the factory!

Lunch consumed, and very nice too, we set off to the Plaza de España. What a sight.....lovely fountains and boating crescent in the sunshine and everyone having a relaxing time. Each region in Spain is depicted by tiled niches forming a semi-circle and set in pleasant but vast gardens and quite a walk back to the bus.

Next day the Alcazar was our first stop and joining the queue early turned out to be one of our better ideas. The building was in both Moorish and Christian hands but extended at one time to house a harem of 800 women!  Most of the present structure was rebuilt by Pedro the Cruel in 1350 (or Pedro the Just, depending on your fortunes!) but he retained the Mudéjar central rooms, it's completely stunning and well worth the wait. Lovely gardens and pools to wander around too. The photo's don't do it justice - you will have too see for yourselves!

Another tapas lunch (with local sherry) in a typical bar, complete with hams hanging from the ceiling, rounded off the day. ......Or so we thought, until we turned the corner upon hearing what can only be described as a very loud murmering......a small plaza packed with locals enjoying drinks and snacks at high tables and stools, or just standing about. Quite a sight.

We were so lucky with the weather, today, it's overcast and a bit damp.

Just one more of the Alcazar!

Via Verde de la Sierra - Olvera

We've headed out to what is known as "the best cycleway in Spain" at Olvera. The weather however has other ideas and it's very windy with quite dark clouds around. The cycleway has been constructed on the old trainline so we are assuming it will be flat and we have our batteries for our bikes incase it's not.

As we drive along we see a town and castle perched up on a very steep hillside and are both secretly hoping that it's not the place we are making for.  A few miles on and, yes it's our destination and it becomes obvious that the old station is through the town and down a steep hill on the other side. As we approach..... there are also roadworks, which means we have to negotiate an even narrower steep road until at last we arrive. Are we surprised we are the only ones here?

However as you can see from the photo's the area is certainly picturesque and even with the wind and clouds we decided to give it a go only to find that we were at the highest point on the track....... very beautiful anyway and even the lights in the tunnels came on as we approached.

 

We are here for the night and by late afternoon two more vans have arrived, not so lonely after all tonight.

Cadiz

We were hoping to go over to Cadiz on the Catamaran but because of expected high winds a coach transfer has been arranged instead. We set off early with our new found friends Stewart and Jenny arriving in Cadiz at 10.30.  All was quiet and as still rather chilly we opted for a warming hot chocolate and churros in the main square before heading into the numourous narrow streets containing very tall balcony fronted buildings.  It's a lovely town with lots of history going back to the Romans but most had to be rebuilt after our (the Earl of Essex 's) assault on Cadiz in 1596.....oh dear!

Flower market

Fried fish is the thing to eat here so of course we thought we should, visiting the fish market first, where standing only bars are in abundance, we eventually opted for a nice seated café with wine included. Oh, and before that Les had bought a cone of little shrimps..... They were lovely too but I couldn't help thinking I could have been eating insects as you eat the whole thing.... rather spoilt the experience for a bit.

The sun is still out but there is an unseasonal cold northerly wind so the coats are definitely on again for the next few days. 

Cathedral