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Published: June 29th 2017
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We really enjoyed our lovely although short stay in Portugal and would certainly recommend it. We then crossed into northern Spain, stopping at Leon, a very old city with a monastery and huge cathedral before heading to the coast to explore a couple of villages and cities there. San Sebastián would have to be our favourite city so far with its stunning sandy bay, old castle and venicular railway to a spot on a hill with amazing views. It is the way of life in Southern Europe to commence work late, close shop for a couple of hours, re-open for a few more and then drink and eat late. Europe is also experiencing exceptionally hot weather at the moment so it is impossible to sleep until quite late and only before a cold shower, so, very much like Darwin at present.We are now back in France, having explored a couple of popular historical seaside towns on the west coast
being Arcachon and La Rochelle where we finally go to experience a delicious meal of Paella as somehow we missed sampling it in Spain. The seafood, chIcken and rice were amazing! The heatwave weather continues to be in the high 30s and it sure is hard work sightseeing in such hot weather! We headed inland to explore the Loire region with its famous Chateaux and are now camped by the river there near the beautiful city of Tours. We opted to visit two of the many many chateaux and were not disappointed with our choices both being absolutely huge. The first one, Chateau de Chenonceau had an enormous moat around it and it was actually built for the first king’s very pretty mIstress but was unfortunately taken off her by his quite sour looking wife upon his death! The second one, Chateau de Chambord was even bigger with literally hundreds and hundreds of rooms, apparently built just to impress visiting foreign royalty and is the largest wall-enclosed park in Europe with 13,450
acres. So typical of the French!We are now in beautiful Brittany and thankfully having slightly colder weather here. Still warm but we are not drinking half as much water! Vanne and Quimpier are very old towns with half stone and half wooden houses everywhere and cobbled streets. How could we not stop at one of the many side walk cafes and have a drink and simply people watch! On to the French north coast to the lovely beaches there and then on to the wonderful town of Dinard where there are so many amazing walks around the coastline with incredible views. The sea there goes out for miles leaving literally hundreds of boats and yachts high and dry until the next incoming tide. We are now at St Malo, another old town with a high stone wall around it which we naturally just had to walk around with an island close by that at low tide has a castle on it too that can be explored! Tomorrow we have booked to sail
to the island of Jersey on the super fast catamaran so really looking forward to that! Only two weeks remaining now but still so much to see and do!Sent from my iPad
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Ola
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Still enjoying your travels
Sandra and Graeme somewhere in Arctic Circle