September 10 Madrid Spain

Officially this is the last day of the tour but nothing organized going on. Most people are leaving today. It was great to have a relaxing coffee and breakfast - no need to go anywhere! I did make the most of it. I did move to a cheaper hotel closer to the centre. I have gone from 4 stars to no stars! It is hostel like but have my own bathroom. It is in one of the old buildings so there is some character to the place. Except they are just having the painted and they are painting it PINK!

I spent the day just walking around. Some of the pedestrian streets, Gran Via and others. Many just lead back to Plaza de Sol which if very close to where I am. I also stopped several times for coffee!
Dinner was at plaza with big restaurant. Full of young people and very loud. I soon figured out why, 5 beer for 4 euro!


September 9 Madrid Spain

Another early start, good thing that is just about over! Today off to Toledo. Another ancient city with a past that includes Jewish, Christian, and Muslim people. The old city is on top of a hill with several bridges across the river. The bridges are Roman. The city dates back to early 1000s. Here is also an El Greco painting done for the church 500 years ago. Overall the city is not that busy, but there was a huge line up to see his painting.
Apparently it has never left the church since finished.

An hour ride back to the city and we got dropped off at the city centre. Walked a bit to the Retiro Park which is a huge park. Stopped for a coffee by the small lake and watched people in rowboats on the water, While sitting there talked to an Irish guy that had just finished the CPA exams and was taking a holiday. Another accountant! There are a few on the tour as well.

The farewell dinner at hotel tonight so we had the last happy hour to finish up the drinks and snacks. Dinner was very good, salmon. Interesting that it was served with potatoes. The only vegetable was the soup and the soup is still a mystery! But it tasted ok.

Saw a great sign in washroom...."Coffee keeps me going until it is acceptable to drink wine"
Off to bed after the farewells, as some have a very early start in morning.


September 8 Madrid Spain

Stop in Avila a small city with a fortress that is one of the best preserved in Europe. Very nice. Then onto Madrid. Arrived early enough that we walked to the Palace and then around Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Sol. Very nice, lots of people around. Mayor is under a lot of renovations so lots of scaffolding around. We had dinner and wine, of course, in Plaza Mayor. What a great place for dinner. Weather was perfect and the food was excellent. The paella was great and of course it was seafood!. It was only a 20 minute walk back to the hotel so not so bad bad but again a long day.


September 7 Salamanca, Spain

Very Early start!
A short drive and we stopped at Fatima. This is the town where the vision were seen in the early 1900. The complex is huge and can hold 1000s of people. Much of the cathedral is closed off, they seem to be getting ready for a festival of some sort. Then continued on to Salamanca. A small city that is known for its pure Spanish and medical university. It is a very nice city. We did a short walking tour around some of the major sights.

The Plaza Mayor and the shopping streets and the churches. The big thing on the church is frog on the skulls head .... It is good luck if you find it...I had to have it pointed out. After dinner at the hotel we went to the fireworks. Amazing show for about 25 minutes.




September 6 Lisbon Portugal

Stopped Cascais a small beach town. This seems to be an old fishing town as there are many lobster/crab traps on the piers. Nice place to stop for lunch.

Drive along the Atlantic coast, stopping briefly to look at the most easterly point of continental Europe. Then on to Sintra a small city with a large Palace. The state of the palace is amazing. Beautiful!

It was Sunday, many places closed and the hotel is in a residential area so not many places to eat. We ended up at a grill in the small shopping mall next door. It was the only place open other than the grocery store. There are many closed shops! The meal turned out to be very good.


September 5 Lisbon Portugal

Long drive to Lisbon.
Past many cork trees. This still seems to be plentiful as you can buy shoes, bags, bracelet and even postcards , all made of cork.

Short stop at hotel and then back on bus for a short visit to the main squares in the city centre. Then back on bus and off to the ferry terminal for a 15 minute ride across the Tagus River. Seafood feast tonight. A welcome with a cold beer, wine on table. Also a jug of wine on table. It is green wine. Very good.

Seafood soup, crab, clams, and then the main course of a fried fish. All very good.

Back at hotel we got into the port bought at the grocery store next door. 3 euro.