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Bothan Taistil - Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait

Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait "All those who wander are not lost". Maureen Kelly and Bob Tait comprise the crew of the Bothan Taistil. Bothan Taistil is Irish Gaelic meaning "cottage for travel" and this is the name of our RV. We are retired Pittsburghers and enjoy travel, outdoor activities, learning new things and meeting new people. This Blog is about our travels throughout the U.S./Canada/Mexico (for now). We have a mission to travel the scenic highways, climb the highest point in every state, hike in every National Park, canoe/kayak the countries national scenic rivers, and bike everywhere we can! We invite family and friends to follow us. From time to time we post pictures and a brief account of our adventures. Thanks for following us.




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Joined on: December 21st 2004
Last Login: May 15th 2008

Blog Entries: 241
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Blogs & Travel Journals

by Bothan-Taistil, order by Date newest first.

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El Brillante Camping The drive from Seville to Cordoba was 2 hours +, thank goodness for the GPS. The Brillant campground has a bus stop in front, but we choose to walk to the city Centro, about 2 miles each way. We considered going to the Mesquita Mosque, but the line was very long, maybe tomorrow. So we headed to the Alcazar. To the west of its towering wall, the Alcazar dos Reyes Cristanos is in the old Jewish quarter, a 14th century palace/fortress built by Alfonso XI. The Catholic Monarchs stayed here during the campaign to gain Granada from Moorish [View Full Entry]

Bothan Taistil - Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 10 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 269 words | [diary=276636] | 2008-05-15 18:20:19

2 A Moorish portico
 3 A design of Moorish art
4  A close-up of the same design

This campground is complete with its very own rooster. However, the poor creature doesn't seem to understand at what hour he is to do his "thing". So "cock-a doodle-do" went on and off during the night! With our bus schedule in hand we are off to Seville, for a full day in Seville. It is a bit of a walk to the bus stop. It is always a challenge to attack a new city, especially one with so many places to visit. Our first stop was the Visitor's Center. Then on to Seville's Cathedral and La Giralda. This is one [View Full Entry]

Bothan Taistil - Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 11 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 210 words | [diary=276631] | 2008-05-15 17:50:13

2  At the plaza, every providence is remembered for it contributions to Spain
3  Quite an impressive plaza in Seville
4  The Plaza of Spain in Seville

Lisboa to Ponta de Sagres 5/8 Today was a long drive from Lisboa to Ponta de Sagres and after several hours on the highway, we made the mistake of taking the scenic route. The road followed along farmlands but eventually turned into a goat path. By American standards this RV is small, however, by European standards it is quite large. We finally made our way to Sagres; please note its location on the map, we are about as far southwest in Portugal as one can go... before falling into the Atlantic. Well after a light meal we set out walking [View Full Entry]

Bothan Taistil - Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 10 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 432 words | [diary=276622] | 2008-05-15 17:37:43

2   Selama Beach, one side tourist the other fishermen
3   What is that big RV doing in this little town?
4 The fisherman

A walking tour was our first adventure this morning, www.lisbonwalker.com No need to book, just turn up at the meeting point. What a great way to get familiar with a new city. Jose was our guide and he gave us an in-depth view of--- the old Roman and Arabic city of Alfama . Alfama area was the site of a messy history with the Visigoths, the Romans, the Moors, the Jews, the Christians, the Portuguese Royalty, and of course the slaves. The persecution of the Jewish in this community was a terrible atrocity. Alfama was a fishing town and it [View Full Entry]

Bothan Taistil - Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 13 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 337 words | [diary=276617] | 2008-05-15 17:18:31

2 View from inside the castle
3 Castelo de Sao Jorge
4 View of Lisbon with its "San Francisco" bridge.

Cascais to Lisbon Lisboa Camping Parc Monsanto Lisboa, the capital of Portugal, is a rare combination of history and bittersweet memories, and occupies a hilly site on the estuary of the Tagus. The Lisboa Camping located in the Parc Monsanto, is close to public transportation and has many facilities. After settling the Bothan here, we headed by foot, for the public transportation, a bus into Belem, a section of Lisbon. Belem, an area of Lisbon, was the port that famous navigators and explorers headed out from on uncharted waters to find new lands. Often the last night before the voyage, explorers [View Full Entry]

Bothan Taistil - Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 15 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 320 words | [diary=276235] | 2008-05-14 17:49:16

The monument has two sides, the king, and the navigators/explorers are all here, looking out to the sea
The "pastel de Belem"
The Monastery of Jeronimos in Belem

Nazare to Alcobaca to Cascais World Heritage Site and a Seaside town in Portugal We visited Alcobaca after we left Nazare. The Monastery of Alcobaca is an impressive monument classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1989. Its construction started in 1153 and was home of the Cistercian monks. This 220 meter long monument is Portugal's largest church. Among those buried here are the tragic lovers King Pedro and his murdered mistress Ines de Castro, whose tombs face each other across the transept of the abbey church. Ines' death was ordered by Pedro's father. Touring the monastery was quite [View Full Entry]

Bothan Taistil - Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 15 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 192 words | [diary=276231] | 2008-05-14 17:28:16

Gardens of the Alcobaca
The use of ceramic is amazing
he ceramic oven

Nazare, Portugal Castelo de Vide to Nazare--- Portugal Campismo Paradiso May 3 Nazare is a coastal town just north of Lisbon (Lisboa). During the second half of the 17th Century, the sea level fell... uncovering an extensive area of sand where today stands the centre of the town. Until then the population lived in the highlands, up on the cliffs. This campground has Wifi, so Bob is happy. The gal tells me Nazare Beach is about two kilometers away. So I start off on my walk. Believe me it is not two kilometers, (maybe 2 kilometers to the start of Nazare) [View Full Entry]

Bothan Taistil - Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 8 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 478 words | [diary=276222] | 2008-05-14 17:15:22

Take your choice of Fish
Funicular
Fish on a rack

Espana to Portugal Toledo to Castelo de Vide It was a long drive, 300 kilometers or so, not all on highways, some farm roads and ancient narrow cobblestone streets. Castelo de Vide is in the middle of...... nowhere. This is our first town in Portugal. The town was conquered from the Moors in 1138. The Portuguese language is a source of pride, but extremely difficult to grab hold of. Something like: "Oh bree gah dah" meaning "thank you" can be very useful. So when all else fails say "Oh bree gah dah" ...and people smile. They know you are trying... even [View Full Entry]

Bothan Taistil - Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 1 Comment(s) | 9 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 237 words | [diary=274781] | 2008-05-11 08:31:05

Most laundry dries outdoors, life is simple but difficult.
Portal to the walled city
Part of the city wall

Location: Toledo, Spain Toledo picturesquely sited on a hill above the River Tagus is the historic center of Toledo. Behind the old walls lies evidence of the city's rich history. Toledo was a melting pot of Christians, Muslins, and Jewish cultures, and during this period the most outstanding monument - its cathedral - was built. This is one big cathedral!! In the 16th century the painter, El Greco came to live in Toledo, and today the cathedral is home of many of his paintings. We decided to walk from the campground to the downtown center, about 3 kilometer, up and down [View Full Entry]

Bothan Taistil - Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 0 Comment(s) | 14 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 279 words | [diary=274776] | 2008-05-10 16:08:10

Bob was not allowed to take photos, he doesn
This is one huge cathedral
Technology has come to candle lighting.

By Bothan Taistil
April 30th 2008

Prado Museo, etc

 Europe » Spain
Madrid, Espana We managed to get back to downtown Madrid and used the computer internet store. Then we headed for the train station to get tickets to Toledo, however, our ticket number was 385 and the number called was 157, it was going to be a wait. So I took off to get tickets for Museo del Prado while Bob waited. When I returned, 40 minutes later, he had only moved up the line 20 to so numbers, well we have other options, so we decided to drive to Toledo, tomorrow. The walk along the Paseo del Prado is a [View Full Entry]

Bothan Taistil - Maureen Kelly/Robert Tait | Read The Full Entry | Subscribe | 1 Comment(s) | 9 Photo(s) | 0 Video(s) | 190 words | [diary=274545] | 2008-05-09 20:25:38

Train Station
Outside the Prado
A statue of Goya



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