Our last week in Spain

We have been in Vigo for a week now. We were a little concerned thinking that switching 4 different homes in the same trip would be a lot of work. By work I mean, not the actual moving but having to tidy up every home we visit. To our surprise it was manageable! Last Friday we took a plane from Madrid to Vigo. Prior to our trip, we debated as to what was the most economical way to get here. Renting a car for one day meant driving 5 hours or flying which is the fastest but usually the most expensive for a family of four . In retrospect, driving would have been cheaper. We did not realize we had to take a taxi to and from the airport which adds to the cost. Normally, we take public transportation but it has to be available. That was not the case with this house as it sits on a maze of roads.
This is our first time in this region and it is quite a contrast from the South (which we still prefer). However, it is beautiful here...being so close to the Atlantic guarantees plenty of fresh fish. We have been to fish markets and the prices are reasonable. Of course there are so many varieties I would not even know how to prepare them so as usual I talk to people (something I do in the states as well) and ask them questions about what they are buying and how to prepare them.
We have visited many small towns with views of the Atlantic ocean. I have to admit it is very peaceful driving along the coast line. Or, walking around fortresses facing the Atlantic. Just breathtaking!!! We are partial to some Celtic ruins (at least 4000 year old) which look down at the town from a mountain above. The views of the River Mino Estuary are just spectular...words can not describe it!
It is hard to believe we have been here for almost a month now, so much more time is needed to learn about a region or a country for that matter. Having spent one a week in each region has its drawbacks as we have to rush to see as many things as possible. When we have a home base for a month, we become more intimate with a region.
We have loved our vacation this year and look forward for the next one!

Hotter than...

Southern Spain can be scorching hot during this time of the year. Rule #1 always, no, never travel to Spain in August. We look quite tanned despite our efforts to evade the powerful sun rays as much as possible. Long gone are the days of careless tanning in an effort to achieve the ¨desired¨ look. Now, I follow a philosophy of avoiding premature aging and cancer!!! In places like Arcos de la Frontera and Vejer de la Frontera the heat feels even more intense. We loved these small towns with their whitewashed facades, narrow streets, wrought iron windows displaying georgeous red geraniums. There were not many souvenir shops or stores of other kinds for that matter but we liked having it to ourselves (or so it felt as there were not many tourists in sight). By mere chance we found a restaurant which sat in the courtyard of one of the town hotels. The food was reasonably priced and they welcomed us with a complimentary glass of Sangria. I am not much of a sangria drinker as I prefer "Claras" or "Tinto de verano" but this sangria was actually good...I loved the mint flavor. It did the trick, after walking up hills for a while we immediately felt refreshed and rejuvenated. We have made it a point to always carry a big bottle of water as it helps when we go on these long walks. We learned this the hard way!

Dejavu in Sevilla

We were here 5 years ago and it is amazing how some things never change. Sevilla is as charming as ever. We walked through some of the same streets and remembered restaurants we had dined in. We decided to eat at the best "Freidura" in Sevilla, coincidentally, we celebrated David´s birthday in a restaurant across the street five years ago!!! They serve the best fried sea food and although we are not big on fried food...this a must have. We ordered a mixture of cod, shrimp, calamari and other seafood we do not recognize but are willing to try. One of their specialities is their adobo marinade which has a delicious and mouth watering lemony flavor. We washed it down with one of our favorite Spanish summer drinks a: "Clara" a mix of half beer and half fanta lemon. It may sound gross but it is quite refreshing in the summer and very popular in Spain.
We strolled the small narrow streets and marvel at some of the small stores which have been around since the mid 1800s! We stopped at a "papeleria" a kind of art supply store but much more interesting. I have been looking for a fountain pen and found just what I was looking for! One can't never have enough fountain pens.
James loves Sevilla so we spent two days sightseeing. On our last day, we went to one of our favorite tapas´ bar. The tapas were just amazing, the quality and the presentation just lovely. David has become more and more open to try different foods so I am not too surprised when he loves the octopus! The only thing that could have made our visit better would have been cooler weather. No wonder Sevillanos leave the city and find refuge in the nearby beaches.

Sleepless in Cadiz

We left Portugal after saying our goodbyes to our friends and people we have met during our short stay in Portugal. Lunch is packed so that we can stop in our way to Spain and save time and money. It took us about 4 hours driving from Lisbon to Cadiz. However, it takes almost 2 frustrating hours trying to find our next house. I am sure the directions we were given would have made sense to anyone familiar with the area... but it did not help us and we ended up driving through God forsaken roads with cows as our only company. Luckily, we had plenty of daylight left so getting lost was not as bad...in fact we passed through some beautiful mountains with plenty of windmills against the background. We found the house which is located right in front of a golf course. The house is the summer house of our friends Isabel and David (who happens to look like Clark Kent). It is a cute house in a small complex with a pool within walking distance. David has been loving the pool so we have been going every evening as the weather is extremely warm during this part of the year. Sleeping has been a challenge because of the hot weather. We realize how air conditioning is a luxury in some parts of the world. Nonetheless we love the area and have made it a point to become familiar with the main grocery stores. This is an important step for us as we depend on eating at home to make our travels affordable. Speaking the language does make it easier when I talk to the butcher or ask for a sample of the many varieties of food. I am sure charades will work as well but it is always a pleasure talking to the locals.

Breezy and Hilly Lisbon

Breezy and hilly Lisbon

As our time comes to an end, we realize how much more time is needed to explore this beautiful country...so as usual, we will assume on day we will return. We loved the quaint town of Sintra with its narrow streets and magnificent castle, a testament to its glorious past. Cascais was another beautiful city, right by the Atlantic ocean although not at as charming as Sintra.
Lisbon, ah, Lisbon...we definitively did not have enough time to explore this old and beautiful city. We walked through very steep roas in the Alfama neighborhood. I have never been to San Francisco but Lisbon is supposed to be hillier and much older of course. We visited the maritime museum, one of the best of its kind...James and David loved it. There were many model ships of different eras. The Monastery of St. Jerome was an impressive structure. We loved the food and the prices were more reasonable than in Spain.