THE IBERIAN PENINSULA

Our second big trip this year was to Spain and Portugal with Walt and Bronwyn Pedano. We flew into Barcelona on Catalan Day and spent five days seeing the Gaudi, walking the Ramblas, eating tapas and exploring Barcelona. We went to Camp Nou to see Barca play/beat Atletico Bilbao. From there we took a train up to San Sebastian set on its beautiful bay where we had a day at the beach and then drive over to Bilbao to see the Geary-designed Guggenheim Museum – fabulous! We took a train to Madrid and stayed there another five days. We spent time at the Prado and Reina Sofia Museums and soaked up the art and architecture of Madrid from the Palacio Real to the Puerto Del Sol, Retiro Park and other landmarks. And, of course, we went to another couple of soccer matches. Real Madrid wasn’t in town and I’m just as glad – Atletico Madrid, in their run-down old stadium in the heart of town stole our hearts with their enthusiasm and spirit. We also saw another La Liga team, Getafe out in the suburbs, but we were pretty spoiled by then.

After a side trip to Toledo with its old city and magnificent cathedral, we drove through the olive groves to Granada with the even more spectacular Alhambra. We had another day at the beach in Nerja on the Costa Del Sol before driving through the White Hill Towns with stops in Grazalema and Ronda. Last stop is Spain was probably the most Spanish place of all – Sevilla, home of Flamenco. The show we saw was spectacular – one male and one female dancer, a guitarist and a singer.

After a stop in Tavira, Portugal, we headed west as far as one can go to Cape Sagres at the southwest tip of Europe. We loved this windswept little town with its empty beach and the ancient sailor’s school where Columbus and Vasco De Gama learned to navigate. Last stop was Lisbon where you get lost in the Alfama while the Fado music pours out onto the narrow streets after dark