Spain & Portugal

A long (nearly 2 months) trip to mainly Spain and a bit of Portugal Read more

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Trip start
October 6, 2024
Spain & Portugal
Abu Dhabi transfer to Madrid flight
October 6, 2024 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
TravelerYou’re on your way! Have a great trip.
10/5/24Reply
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Spain & Portugal
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Madrid day 1
October 6, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C
It's the end of a very long day. 14 hour flight to Abu Dhabi, 3.5 hour layover, the 7.5 hour to Madrid.
Forced ourselves to walk around and resolutely, NOT go back for a sleep.
Explored a bit of Madrid, and tried the Vegan food here.Read more
Traveler Looks interesting, a local dish?
10/6/24Reply
Traveler Joyce had the Paella and I had some kind of fusion Persian dish. Lovely little restaurant. But we are finding they love their oil over here. Everything is drenched in oil.
10/7/24Reply
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Madrid day 2
October 7, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Another day exploring the city. It was a pretty full day, so this is posted a day later.
We did a self-guided tour of the major sites of the city, with a few detours when we saw something interesting.
A big storm blew over in the afternoon. The rain didn't last long, but there was a terrific wind. The warm days disappeared after this.Read more
Traveler More food
10/8/24Reply
Traveler Churros! This was a random stop. We saw a cafe, established in 1904, that sold Churros, and decided to take a load off our feet for a little while.
10/8/24Reply
Traveler Our first real Tapas
10/8/24Reply
Traveler🥰
10/9/24Reply
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Spain & Portugal
Segovia additional
October 8, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Some additional photos from Joyce's phone as Wayne's was getting low on battery.
TravelerAmazing photos, what ancient building was this?
10/9/24Reply
TravelerThe two main buildings we visited were the Alcazar (the old castle - first photo) and the Cathedral (most of the rest) and, of course, the Aqueduct
10/9/24Reply
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Segovia
October 8, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
We took a bus to Segovia. Was a bit worried, as when we arrived at the bus station, we were told there weren't any busses until very late in the afternoon. While we were trying to sort out alternative transport methods, Joyce went back to the bus office to ask for ideas, and they said that they had a cancellation and could fit us on the midday bus!
Segovia is an amazing place, the best of our holiday so far. The tours of the Alcazar and the Torre (tower) of the Segovia Cathedral were amazing. Then we ran down to the Roman Aqueduct before we had to run and catch the 7pm bus back to Madrid.
I'm now out, being a real Spaniard and eating dinner at 10pm - estado comiendo tapas con una caña.Read more
Traveler Beautiful old castle.
10/8/24Reply
Thanks GOD for open door [VINCENT]
12/20/24Reply
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Spain & Portugal
Pamplona
October 9, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Took a high-speed train today to Pamplona.
Famous for it's Bull run (not that we're into that), Pamplona is a pretty and quaint town up near the Pyrenees.
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Road to Yésero
October 10, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Picked up the car today and immediately had to navigate a lot of roundabouts and pedestrian crossings while on the wrong side of the road.
Drove out to Yésero, stopping at Fox de Lumbier
Traveler Was worried I would have to drive on the Right hand side as well as working out gears on the wrong side on a manual car. BUT, they Upgraded us! Our little Audi A1, which still seems too large on these narrow Spanish roads.
10/11/24Reply
Traveler A short Via Ferrata
10/11/24Reply
Traveler Wingspan longer than Joyce is tall!
10/11/24Reply
3 more comments
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Spain & Portugal
Parc National Ordesa y Monte Perdido
October 11, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Today we took a big walk, 7.5 hours, the Circo de Soaso along the Cola de Caballo Valley. A magnificent walk.
We drove into Torla-Ordesa and took a bus into the park. Luckily it was a weekday during the shoulder season - yet there were still a lot of people on the trail.
At the end was a small via ferrata to add a bit of excitement.Read more
TravelerFantastic scenery, love the waterfalls.
10/12/24Reply
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Odesea y Monte Perdido
October 11, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Some additional photos
TravelerFantastic scenery!
10/12/24Reply
Nice scenery with good shot. 👍 [Vincent lee]
12/20/24Reply
TravelerYeah, my arms are long, but sometimes it's hard to do a good selfie.
12/21/24Reply
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Back to Odesa-Monte Perdido National Pa
October 13, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
We loved Ordesa National Park so much, we wanted to go back and do another walk. This one, to Tozal de Mallo, was completely different to the Circo de Caballo we did two days ago.
Then it was a long 3 hour drive through mountainous winding roads to get to our next accommodation in Sort. Arrived at 9:45pm, so it's been a long day.Read more
TravelerWow, scary path, but fantastic scenery,
10/14/24Reply
Beautiful scenery but no way i am walking on this path 😅 [Vincent lee]
12/20/24Reply
TravelerWalking back along this path, it wasn't as scary! I think it's because walking toward the huge exposure; walking back, we were looking at the gentle slope we originally came from.
12/21/24Reply
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Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici NP
October 14, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
A little bit of a lazy morning, walking around Sort, then driving to Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici
Traveler Both very pretty
10/16/24Reply
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Spain & Portugal
Sort-Pujalt Cami Natural
October 15, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Today was a bit of a wet day, and we're a bit lazy, so a slow morning, then a walk up the hill (and up, and up...) to Pujalt. From Sort at 718m to Pujalt 1,168m. Nice walk.
Back home to cook a good dinner and a relaxing night.Read more
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Arén
October 17, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
Walked up to a grove of old oak trees behind Arén, then collected fresh spring water from the font. Then a stroll around town.
Safe to drink ? How is the taste like ? [Vincent lee]
12/20/24Reply
TravelerYes. They use the water all through Arén. Very pure and clean water. Tastes better than the tap water in Madrid!
12/21/24Reply
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Spain & Portugal
Arén
October 17, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Arrived in Arén last night. It was raining yesterday and heavier today, so having a couple of slow days.
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Spain & Portugal
Congost de Mont Rebei
October 18, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Walking Spain's "most dangerous walk"! Not that we found it dangerous. I think it's called that for clickbait. Still a remarkable walk and we were happy we did it!
We also climbed the stairs to Montfalco (Joyce will put those photos up)Read more
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Spain & Portugal
The Pasarela de Montfalco
October 18, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
The stairs to Montfalco. Two sets of stairs, the first is 139 steps ascending 30m up the cliff. The second is 215 steps ascending 44m up thr cliff.
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Spain & Portugal
Castillo de Chiriveta
October 19, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Kayaking to the China Wall is cancelled. Vía Ferrata booked for tomorrow. We decided to do a walk to the China Wall today, then we found out that to get to the start of the walk required a 4x4. So that's out!
Then this afternoon, the Kayaking guy will run a special trip just for us tomorrow. Now we need to cancel the via Ferrata! Wow, the joys of planning your own holiday.
After all the back and forward and uncertainty we did a short walk up to the ancient tower we saw yesterday at the end of Congost de Mont Rebei. It was worth it.Read more
4 × 4 is front & back brakes ? [Vincent lee]
12/20/24Reply
TravelerFront and rear drive, so all the wheels have power.
12/21/24Reply
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Murella de Finestres
October 20, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
Wow this was worth it. Great day out with a fantastic guide (Javi, from Kayaking Montrebei, and his partner Paz).
The landscape is Limestone that has been thrust up through tectonic action (forming the Pyrenees), causing the strata to be almost vertical. Erosion has removed the softer strata, leaving these parallel "walls" in the landscape.
Of course, there's a castle between them too,Read more
Traveler Love it!
10/23/24Reply
Kayaking in the lake ? [Vincent lee]
12/20/24Reply
TravelerYes. It's a large dam. Very different from the kayaking we did in Sant Feliu de Guíxols!
12/21/24Reply
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Spain & Portugal
Drive to Barcelona
October 21, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Long, 3.5 hour, drive into Barcelona. Navigating the busy city streets after the quiet country freeways. We said goodbye to our hire car.
Explored a little of the nightlife when we went out for dinner at Flax&Kale, and then tapas at Velada off La Rambla.Read more
TravelerAre you enjoying the Tapas?
10/23/24Reply
TravelerNot really. There are only two or three tapas that are vegan - Patatas Bravas being the most common (getting a little sick of potatoes...) Spanish seem to like drenching their tapas with oil, so a bit over that too.
10/27/24Reply
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Spain & Portugal
Bus to Sant Feliu de Guixols
October 22, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Took a bus from Barcelona to Sant Feliu de Guixols in Costa Brave. And then we desperately tried to flag down the one taxi still operating in town. It's off season, so very few taxis are operating. There are no ride share companies operating here, and you can't book a taxi online. The only way to get a taxi (besides flagging one down) is to call. They don't have an operator, so you are hoping one of the drivers picks up the call. They didn't for us, so we waited about half an hour before Joyce eventually flagged down a taxi. (Everyone drives so no one except taxi drivers know how the system operates).Read more
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Spain & Portugal
Escape Room Kayaking around the coves
October 23, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Today we did one of the two activities we came all the way here for - an Escape Room by Kayak. We were given a story (4 people missing, what happened), a kayak and a guide to look after us. Then it was out into the increasingly rough sea to paddle around the coves of Sant Feliu de Guixols.
Great fun! Suffice to say we did solve the mystery, Joyce found the treasure, but unfortunately the four missing people are at the bottom of the sea.Read more
Traveler🤩 wow sounds like fun, unfortunately our internet is limited to text only so we can’t enjoy the photos until we find a free wifi hotspot on the next island stop. So how did you undo the padlocks from a kayak?
10/24/24Reply
TravelerIt was a bit of fun. The guide gave us lots of hints to start with, and we spent a bit of time looking around the last cove for the treasure (luckily Joyce has sharp eyes), we almost ran out of time.
10/25/24Reply
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Spain & Portugal
Via Ferrata Cali del Moli
October 24, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
This morning we went out early to do the second thing we came all the way here for - via ferrata on a coastal cliff. A great adventure and beautiful weather.
TravelerLooks like fun
10/27/24Reply
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Spain & Portugal
Travel to Valencia
October 25, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C
A bus back to Barcelona, then onto Valencia. Our accommodation bailed on us in Valencia, so a last minute find on Bookings.com (not cheap).
The rush down to Valencia was to meet up with a good friend of our caving friend, Arantxa.Read more
Traveler🤨 annoying but glad you found another one.
10/27/24Reply
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Spain & Portugal
Caving with new friends
October 27, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 13 °C
Went caving today with Arantxa's (our Spanish caving friend) good friends and her step-father, Lolo.
Vertical, gated cave, that only this group of people have access to. They've found rhino bones and extinct deer bones in the cave.Read more
TravelerWere the caves different to the usual ones you access in Victoria?
10/27/24Reply
TravelerNo, very similar to Buchan caves.
10/28/24Reply
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Walk around Valencia
October 27, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Moved from the expensive apartment in Marítimo to a place close to the city centre. Great place with a really artistic vibe and lots of little courtyards (one of the few places we've been where we can sit outside.
Then took a walk around the city. First stop, Horchata and Churros at the Horchateria da Santa Catalina. Then lunch at Restaurante Olso.
With the late night yesterday (got back to the apartment at 2am after caving, a bad dinner, and drinks with the caving friends) and an early morning, we had a little siesta this afternoon.Read more
Dessert ? [Vincent lee]
12/20/24Reply
TravelerNo, a Vegan dish of Plantain and avocado, with vegan "prawns".
12/21/24Reply
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