robnlz

To break up the long drive from Logrono to Pessac (just outside the city of Bordeaux) we stopped at San Sebastian. This place is an outstanding display of affluence with splashes of the rich at every turn. The long and beautiful beach was suitably well populated on this very warm Sunday. A number were out there catching waves on the not too challenging surf and having a great time of it. The drive through the valleys and mountains was gorgeous with roads sweeping across deep valleys and breathtaking views Then off to France. After negotiating the roads through San Sebastion to the border we stopped at a lovely wayside stop for lunch, where Liz was promptly locked into a toilet due to a fault door lock. Not a good start in a new country but Rob ... read more

Toledo is about a one hour drive from Madrid and a very worthwhile day trip it was despite the 39-40 degrees and some uphill footslogging. First settled by the Romans in 170 odd BC and then a place that eventually housed Muslims, Jews and Christians harmoniously together in the one relatively small but well fortified town for many centuries. A lot of the buildings are rebuilds from Roman dwellings completed some several hundred years ago and some effort has been expended in retaining the style and character from earlier times. A modern construction has been added housing a six level escalator system to convey the tens of thousands of visitors this city attracts up to the hilltop from the surrounding plain area. We were quite lucky to visit when we did as the next day was ... read more

Leaving lovely Porto behind we encountered some brilliant scenery heading out of Portugal. We crossed a bridge 353m above the valley floor and also the Marao Tunnel which is 5.6km long on a road that was only extended a year ago. It was later we learned this to be the most dangerous road in Portugal due to some really steep sections that many trucks had incidents on. Salamanca is a very pretty city. Along the lines of Oxford or Cambridge, it is a University town. Hence the population is fairly young (or are we getting old?). The buildings and streets are incredibly ornate and grand with the buildings having been constructed using cut stone so a much more recent technique. This gives a very attractive style and appearance that has been kept consistent throughout the city ... read more

Lisbon has trams like Melbourne had a half century ago and so we have trammed up and down the hills of this beautiful city seeing all the sights. They provide a great way to get around the city and are very popular with the tourists. The screeching of the wheels and rattling around brought back memories of the old w class trams I used to catch each day to school. Though these ones are a lot smaller and less comfortable​. But a lot of fun. Mentioning tourists though, Lisbon is a seething mass of tourists from all over Portugal, the rest of Europe and the world generally. They fill the cafes and restaurants, the trams, streets and bars. If the tourists were all to suddenly go away this place would grind to a halt and unemployment ... read more

Another city of small laneways but not so big that it becomes a problem. I.e. fairly easy to navigate around. Our apartment was comfortable if a little on the small side especially the bathroom. Strictly one at a time here. First up was a walk along the beach to get over a couple of hours in the car. Lovely sand and coolish water. Quite strange to find a public building built out over the sand at this relatively small patch of beach right near the old town area. What it did though was to provide a shade area for those looking to not go too hard on the suntan - i.e. the two of us! A walk around the Cadiz old town area you can see the history from Roman times right through Muslim invasions and ... read more