Pure Portugal with a Silce of Spain

Since April, we have been planning this trip to the Western part of the Iberian peninsula. We will spend most of our time in Portugal, our first visit there, but we have also included five days in Spain to see some areas that we did not fit in last time.

We learned a few things from our trip two years ago that should make this vacation even better than Our Spanish September in 2011. (If you have not seen it, there is a blog for that trip too: http://spanishseptember.blogspot.ca/) We will SLOW DOWN (famous last words) and try to travel at a more leisurely pace. To this end, we have planned shorter legs on our journey, and more two night stopovers. The actual distance travelled this time will definitely be less. Thank goodness Portugal is such a small country!

We will be experiencing lots of variety as we travel. As you follow this blog, you will see cityscapes, seascapes and landscapes. We have a variety of places booked as well, from a modest apartment in Lisbon, to the old world charm of Pousadas (Portugal) and Paradors (Spain), the government owned hotels in historical buildings such as palaces or convents. Our planned route is not exactly the one you see below since, as always, we will take many back roads and few expressways, but it provides you with the general idea.

We expect to enjoy a lot of fish and seafood along the way since we will often be close to salt water. Of course, we will be in the home of madeira and port wine, so these will be part of our daily regimen too. And most days, Bob will be sampling a custard tart or two. I may join him.

As always, we will take many, many photos. I will upload the very best ones every day so that you can see a little of what we will see. From all reports, we are headed to a beautiful country.

Can't wait!!