A record of our Road Scholar trip, "Tales of Portugal and Spain", taken April 3 to April 20, 2026.
Day minus 1: Saturday April 3. Then one day lost on ride to make it April 4.
We flew out on American Airlines, from Appleton to Chicago, to Philadelphia, to Lisbon.
Plenty of time to get to next plane on this ride. I ate light after experiencing some sickness last year.
This ride went well. 7 hour flight across the Atlantic.
Day 1: Sunday, April 5. Easter Sunday. Landed in Lisbon, a mid-larger airport. Road Scholar man with sign waiting near airport exit. We walked into line with many other landing airplanes this midmorning day. Very experienced crew shuffling us into next available cab, a large SUV. About 45 min ride to hotel near the sea, some miles west of Lisbon. "Vilia Gale' Collection Palacio dos Orcas, for 2 nights. We arrived 9:30 am. Check in time was 3 pm.
An older hotel along a busy beach highway, with newer extension and outdoor pool added lately. We stayed in newer rooms. Hotel stored our suitcases. We walked the narrow hilly streets. Found a church ready for Mass and joined in. Left at Communion time. Church was more utilitarian style looking. A 30 some family choir on front right side with instruments was easy listening. 2 songs carried American pop melodies but changed wording to Christian worship. Not a word in English of course. Priest tlaked long about something, planting his repeating phrases to audience.
Walked to seashore but did not go to beach. Walkway by busy 50 mph highway was high above the beach. Some street walking. Too hilly and narrow to enjoy much.
We ate bag apples and bars, etc for lunch.
Got into our room by 2 pm. Outdoor pool directly in front of our step-up and out glass door.
We found an outside hotel area of mature trees and stone paths. The highway again was down below a few stories, with sea bay beyond that.
6 pm sign in. Meet and greet. 7:30 pm dinner. 21 will be in group. Tour guide will be Natalia, 20 years removed from Puru she said. Now residing in Spain. Wine, a white asparagus with smoked salmon soup, veal strips in mushroom sauce, whipped wild berry cheesecake mound. Wine very agreeable.
Day 2. Monday April 6. Breakfast at hotel. After 1st overnight.
A smaller 2 rooms with food selections of scramble eggs, mini pancakes, custom omelettes, twizzle sweet sticks, thin sausages smoked light and heavy. wiener bits, ham-bacon slices, sliced apples, oranges, muskmelon, cukes, pineapples, bread croissants, hard split mini rolls, adequate coffee; espresso or regular blend (not called Americano), baked seasoned on top tomato slices, various cheeses, many sweet offerings.
9 am: Lecture, "History of Portugal". 2nd or most oldest set border country in Europe. Settle by Celtics, Germanic tribes, Christian expansion, Islamic conquest-Moors, Galicia Germanic yin yang, Christian retaking southern lands, military sea prowess, earthquake in 1755, population loss leaving for Brazil, dictatorship until 1970's. Still very Christian in worship. Language unique though some words same as Spain.
11:15 am. 1st motorcoach trip. Cintra via Cascais, north of Lisbon. Bus driver is Carlos, a handsome 45-50 year old man from Portugal. Carlos will be with us all but last day of trip.
Seashore ride north to destination.
Cintra is a small town set against steep terrain with many small shops hanging on this hillside. A fort sits on top of cliff area. Rough cobblestone streets. Will be this way most of Portugal and Spain. Free time here after short street courtyard lecture. I dined on a burger meal taken from open door restaurant. Busy place. Busy peopled streets. The steepest street inclines of whole trip.
Drove to "Palace of Queluz", a summer castle for royalty built here because temps are a bit cooler than in Lisbon. Used 3 months of year. Royalty hunted the area for enjoyment. 2nd guide accompanied us.
Drove back to hotel in the rain, arriving 5:15, pm. I experienced jet leg in Cintra.
7:30 pm: Dinner at hotel. Veggie soup, sea bass in green asparagus risott,o. Lemon Merengue pie, wine, juice and coffee options.
Day 3: Tuesday, April 7. After 2nd hotel night.
7 am. Hotel breakfast buffet. Coffee from machine that uses flatter disc pouches. I pick the strength.
Luggage out by 7:30 am.
8:40 am. Motorcoach to Bele'm quarter, downtown Lisbon. Rainy day. Visited National Coach Museum. Rarest of old decorative horse drawn coaches in existence. One coach was inspiration for Disney Cinderella coach. 2nd guide was along.
Walked to sea where large stone pillar erected in the 1980's I believe, depicting Portugese important people from the past. Human figures climbing as steps on both sides of structure. A large flat map covered stone pavement in this square by the sea, showing Portuguese ship travels around the world.
2:30 pm. Walked thru Chiado district of 2 squares and boulevard. Historic district with tall buildings and shops. Natalia guided a street tour to oldest continuous running bookstore, "Livraria & Cafe'". Purchased poem book and had it store stamped. Lunched on our own in a 3 story shop building. I had "Mr. Pizza" pizza. Large slices of little substance. Heavier rains as Rosie and I leisure walked to a large waterfront courtyard and back.
We rejoined our group at Lisbon's famous sweet shop, "Fabrica da Nata". Natalia treated. Rains ended.
4 pm. Back on the motorcoach. Left Lisbon, traveling north to Coimbriga.
Passed by Fatima entrance road. Much storm damage south and north of Fatima. Trees downed from a sea storm of severe winds a month earlier. Land on this ride was mostly treed and hilly.
6 pm check in at "Conimbriga Hotel do Paco for 2 nights. Quiet area overlooking grassy yard and drop off to lower town area, and rolling hills beyond looking west. Balcony room on 3rd floor I believe.
7:30 pm dinner downstairs overlooking back lawn yard. A pea green soup. Chicken breast stuffed with sausage and spinach. Saffro rice, nuts. Dessert was Sico curd cake with wild berries. Wine and beer unlimited on whold trip. Setting sun to view as we dined.
Day 4: Wednesday, April 8th. After 1st hotel night.
7:30 am breakfast buffet in same room as dinner held. Similar wide menu as first hotel. Numerous drinks to be had. Same with desserts.
9: 40 am. Motorcoach to Roman ruins in Condexia-a-Nova. Special guide was along. The first Conimbriga settlement area built by Romans from a village already there. One circular bath was of Christian origin. Outlines of Roman baths used by full population for a fee. Romans let religions stay in practice where they took over. One large wall remained along with some in distance showing about a 3/4 mile long rectangle protected area. Lower citizens were not protected but could enter if war started.
1:45 pm. Motorcoach to Coimbra City, site of large old university town with river running thru. University sitting on sharp hill with storefronts along a series of winding steps. After short acclamation tour, we lunched on our own. I chose bakery panini sandwich shop and open air street walking seating at store front.
We re-grouped and motorcoached to university hill top along narrow parked car streets. Walked thru university grounds. The old jail rooms. The grand old library of rare books from 1,500's, under high ceiling of wall filled shelves, side moveable wood ladders. Stories of how limited the books could be read in dim light from few windows. A look down into major hall where students read thesis to professors. All still in use by students. Students have the option to were black uniforms with cloaks. (the inspiration for Harry Potter movie uniforms). Then a walk out and down the numerous winding street sidwalk stairs back to town center near river.
4 pm. Attended a small theater Fado show of 3 players. Of more importance years ago during 60's-70's protest movement.
5 pm. Motorcoach back to hotel. Freshened up and light rest.
7 pm. Champagne type free drink at downstairs bar.
7:30 pm. Dinner in hotel. Large bowl of pumpkin and ginger soup with offers to have more. Salmon fillet with mustard sauce, leek puree' and glazed carrots. Caramelized custard for dessert.
Note: Aside from some Lisbon main artery streets, Portugal surfaces are covered with smaller cobble stone cemented in stones, slanted for rains, and to taper in with hills and buildings.
Day 5: Wednesday April 8th.
7:30 am breakfast at hotel. After 2nd hotel night.
Luggage outside rooms by 8 am.
8:30 am field trip on motorcoach to Bathalha village with large unfinished cathedral, with 2nd guide. A very large, long stone walled church with still an open top never finished section. Some work slowly being done. Did not get into the closed part of church. A storm loossened stones inside and was not safe.
Then short ride into town to walk inside walled courtyards, (was this "Monastery of Mariada Vitoria"?.
12:45 pm. Motorcoach to cork farm " Companhia das Lezirias' with special gal guide. Saw a horse stable yard with horses looking out Dutch door tops. Bussed out to cork trees with discussion. Cork harvested for 7 or 9 years and each tree labeled number of year it is on. Harvested up to lowest branches. Different cattle breeds roamed among cork tree prairie. 1:45 pm. Back to main buildings for lunch. Busy peopled cramped restaurant chairs with buffet menu of many hot items. Octopus, acorn fed (I think) soft pork. The squid...I did not partake. Wine all you can drink as usual.
2 pm. Motorcoach ride to north of Evora and next hotel. Convento do Espinheiro for 2 nights. A farmed outer field area. Large walk around perimeters. Old 6 ft tall stone walled fencing for cattle. Inside building of furnished walk thru rooms with antiques. Long walk from hotel rooms to dining room. Switch back walking over ramp floors and some stairs at times. We had an initial guided tour.
Note: Convent = more social gatherings for prayer. Monastery = more silent, solitude for prayer. Does not mean nun or monk occupied.
7:30 pm dinner on grounds in hotel "Divinus Restaraunt", a long narrow multiple white arched walkway to tables over old stone tile floor. So elegant. We were given our own tables. French garlic cream with toasted almonds.Grilled seabream, creamed potatoes and sauteed turnip tops with citric olive oil. Hot chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert. 2 glassed of beer or wine.
Day 6: Friday April 10th.
7 am breakfast buffet at hotel. After 1st hotel night.
Enormous amount of foods. Breads, muffins, sausages, cheeses, honeycomb hanging for scraping off slices, coffee in table pouring canisters with waiters. oven tomatoes, salmon, nuts, oatmeal, yogurts, seeds, nuts, sweets galore.
9 am. Motorcoach to cork factory with a local guide gal. Cork is squared into 2 ft or so square pieces, then dipped in steaming water to soften. Then air dried. Cork will stay soft for days, to allow cutting. Different qualities of cork from a tree. Cork at this farm is sold for making items. Bottle corks use best quality grain cork. Portugal uses only cork in wine bottles as cork is a major industry. Retail room let us buy cork items.
10:30 am. Motorcoach 1/2 hr to old town Evora, world heritage city with big celebration plans for 2027.
Walk with city expert. Rough strewn cobblestone sidewalks and streets, ancient stone walled old city center. One tall post Greek column building outline remains on city center hill.
Natalia mentioned a lunch place up narrow street where I ate there along with a few other Road Scholars. A beer and sandwich roll.
More walking to old churches. History stories changed here a one inquest would move out another.
2:30 pm. Motorcoach back to hotel. We both walked the grounds on a sunny, warm afternoon. Cattle just over stone fencing. Large tiki bar and outdoor pool found. Gardens still using a gravity flow narrow stone channel watering system, now automated from hand pumping days.
5:15 pm. Motorcoach to a make our own dinner at a family dining business house with veggie garden to tour just outside doors. Our group split into 2 long tables, making different parts of our soon to be eaten meal. Plate of goat and sheep cheeses, a hard bologna sausage quick flamed and knive cut. Bean salad with tuna fish, local bread, Vinaigrette carrot salad, Main meal of Cod a' Bra's, Carne do Alguidar (pork), Sauteed golden potatoes with rosemary, tomato and fresh veggie salad, Evora jam and fresh fruits. Dessert: Roasted apple with cinnamon and Port wine (could have been cooked longer). Drinks: wines, sangria, water.
7:45 pm. Motorcoach back to hotel.
Day 7: Saturday April 11th. ....where was Olivensa...the cheese country place,,,,??
7:00 am. Buffet breakfast at hotel. After 2nd hotel night.
7:30 am. Luggage out in hallway.
8:30 am. Checkout. 9:00 am. Motorcoach to Monsaraz.
We traveled south to just each to Lisbon, turned and traveled thru low agriculture wide river area of black ground. Then rising land. Many planted row very green leaf almond tree area. And olives, grape plants.
One flat land farm had tall post of mirrors we were told, to harvest sun energy. A cylinder on top covered in mirrors to harvest sun energy. My estimate was pole stood higher than a windmill, with mirror cylinder top being 12 ft round by 30 ft high. Very bright glowing object.
10:30 am, arrival. Local guide joined in. The hill top town, a walled fortress with arched path openings, coblle stone rising streets, white painted stone retail type looking buidings that also held residences. Now with just 50 people living here. Even the guide drove over. Town overlooking farms and to east, the lake river area border of Spain. Knights Templar once came to town and fought battle, winning it, and protecting the area.
12 noon, free time. We lunched with some others from group at outside picnic tables, after having purchased hot sandwiches in small shop and cook bringing to table. I found a beer also.
1:30 pm. We joined full group near an exit wall, purchased goodies in shops, then walked downward to parking lot and motor coached out traveling over river into Spain.
***End of our Portugal trip***
While we left Portugal 1:30 pm, it became 2:30 pm at river crossing. into forested pastures of pigs (used for their special flavor sliced pork sandwiches) joining cork trees, olive trees. Pigs were lean and deep gray. No rooting pig areas noticed....they were grazing the grass around trees.
***Beginning of Spain trip***
6:00 pm. Check in at hotel Inglaterra for 3 nights.
Busy downtown street corner hotel. Watch your one long step down out of hotel unto side walk!
Hotel 6 storied high. Top floor with open air restaurant and bar. Great views at night of cathedral and old mosque/cathedral. Both lit up. A city wide block (Park Nevue) fenced off for updating, just across the street. We could walk to main attractions. Follow that street car rail to keep bearings.
8:00 pm. Dinner at hotel. Starter of salad with tender lamb's lettuce, apple and goat cheese. Main course sirloin steak with whiskey sauce (me), or mushroom and asparagus risotto (Rosie).
Dessert: homemade cake or fruit salad. Red/white wine as usual, or beer, water.
Day 8: Sunday April 12th.
8:00 am. Buffet breakfast at hotel. After1st hotel night. Dining doors would open promptly at the hour and not before. Abundant food again. New split open roasted sausage links, coffee tha added water for Americano.
9:00 am. Lecture: "Spain Today", plus a walk with expert. 1600's to present. Politics, wealth, important products made. Special attention to Spain born individuals now working or having worked on large scale projects in the States....or was this Portugal...haha..........
10:30 am Free time and lunch on our own. We walked out from hotel a few blocks into the busy site seeing part of town. Large "Sevillia Cathedral". A Mass procession in progress outside, circling the square. Rose type flowers being tossed in air from boxed container. Church incense spouting up from these flower walkers. Dignitaries marching. Followed by horn instruments playing. Then re-entering the church. We would visit church later as a group.
More walking thru the wide streets and squares. I purchased a ........pork sandwich on the fresh poppyseed bread with onions, etc.. This meat sandwich seen all over Portugal, and even more in Spain. I found it a tad stringy to chew.
We sat on stairs to a main street statue and people watches. Horse drawn carriages were feathering visitors around a some of the nearby blocks.
Walked back to hotel. Beautiful day mid 70's with some breeze.
1:30 pm. Group walk to Real Alcazar and barrio Santa Cruz. Alcazar is Jewish section of narrow walking streets and small retail shops, restaurants. It was right next to our wide walking streets done earlier.
2:00 pm. Group walk to Sevilla Cathedral.
7:45 pm. Longer walk to our dinner at "Casa Puerta" restaurant. Tomato salad, gratinated leeks with truffled parmenter. Choice of sea bass, and salad, or Iberian pork shoulder with vegetable wok. Dessert was Coulant or homemade cake. Wines, beer, soft drinks selections as usual.
We walked back to hotel in darkness with shops still busy.
Note: Portugal gas price was appx 2.25 Euros. Spain 1.90 Euros. Both countries use Euros. With exchange rate, liter to gallons figured in, Portugal was appx $10 per gallon US. Spain $8+ per gallon US.
Day 9: Monday April 13th. (Violet's Birthday today)
7:30 am breakfast at hotel. After 2nd night at hotel.
8:15 am. Motorcoach ride to Cordoba. Long ride with one 15 min rest stop near La Luisiana town.
Variety of drinks and foods available.
Entrance to the Mezquita with a local guide. Walked to old city center. Narrow stone walled streets with 2-3 story lined white buildings and many blossoming flowers in pots.
Visited a few courtyards, famous for their flower pot display hanging from walls. A contest held yearly to pick best looking courtyard.
Tour of Alca'zares Cathedral-Mosque. Very large building ordained in more Mosque looking than church. Large church adorned alter. Modest number of pews. Some work being done at one side of inner building. Famed arched orange/red patterned archways, shown on most photos of Cordoba.
History: Visigoths ruled area first. They were a Germanic tribe, eventually taking a catholic form religion, then becoming full Christian about 500+AD. The Moors-Muslims invaded by 700 AD. The Christians had kept northern Portugal and Spain. They drove the Moors out again by 1500-1600. Some pillars were designed by Visigoths, some Christians, some Muslim. All three ruling groups show up on one of the pillars we were shown.
1:30 pm lunch on 2nd floor in narrow long table hall with wide open breeze window near where we sat. "Posada del Caballo Andaluz Restaurant. Starter portions of fried eggplants, cany honey artichokes a la Montillana. Main course Oxtail Stew or Cod "a la Cordobesa" with vegetables as a garnish dessert. Bottle of red and white wine per 4 people servings. Bread and coffee. I had the fish.
2:30 pm. Motorcoach return to Seville with no rest stop needed per group decision (many were sleeping).
4:30 pm. Walk to 1930's built "Plaza Espana". A large open air courtyard with channel water and rented small boats paddling around. Inner stone courtyard used by rented horse drawn carriages. Outer surrounded by 3 story brick lined buildings with upper story balconies for viewing.
6:30 pm. Walked on our own back to hotel. I stopped along the way for ice cream. Some of our group then passed by as we meandered more slowly with my delicious find. This town had a rail line that we could walk along to find our way back to hotel each time.
Day 10: Tuesday, April 14th. After 3rd night at hotel.
7:30 am. Breakfast buffet at hotel. Luggage out in hallway.
8:30 am. Check out. Walked to bus for pick up. Bus waited on a main street artery. We walked a few blocks along narrow streets with tight sidewalks.
9:00 am. Motorcoach to Arcos.
Bus ride southerly out of town. We passed by a replica of Magellan's only ship to return to port, completing it's first ever journey around the world. We did not fully stop....should have for 15 minutes, and I noted this to Road Scholar.
We continued out of town to Arcos. See photos of large city sign and view of cliff dwelling town with river runner before it. A 45 minute look-see and group photo.
Quick pit stop in country south of Seville motoring farther into farm land. Open acerage farms. Some farmers were straightening newly planted trees. Might have been from a recent windstorm. Not sure what type trees. 3 ft tall narrow plants with pipe type protective cover over stems.
Motorcoach to a country cheese shop (El Bosque cheese goat and sheep shop) with outdoor cheese and wine tasting, indoor video of the cheese making history and animal types they used. A limited breed of goat produced the "good cheese". Hard to increase its population due to a desire to also eat this breed.
Cool, sunny weather today. Enjoyable 60 plus degree day. Winding roads here. A bridge out from past storm detoured us 20 minutes to next stop. We were told of a month of long rains in this region.
2:30 pm. Made it to lunch in hilled village of Zahara de la Sierra, at Los Tados Restaurant. Famous town for its steep hill site. We walked narrow steep streets to other edge of town. Restaurant gave panoramic view from courtyard of rolling hills below, some sheep be herded thru trees by a barking dog. Mostly white buildings. Did not see industry. Town set on this very high hill that bus journeyed up to. A reservoir we crossed to get there and back.
3 course meal, quemones soup (their name for this soup), a peasant style bread, parsley, onion, garlic, olive oil mixture, then roast wild boar and chunk potatoes for main dish, and a dessert, Wine, beer as usual.
5:00 pm. Arrived in Ronda, another famous town set on hill with sharp cliffs, and a major geographical land split requiring age old bridge to connect both side of city. Busy with other tourists on sunny day and we manage fine. Our hotel. Catalonia Reina Vistoria for 2 nights was on main thoroughfare with easy straight walk along to find shopping, tourist area. Our room on 2nd floor looked directly over driveway to main street. We saw our group people walking out and back again to hotel these 2 days. Back of hotel sat on the high cliff for major viewing of countryside looking southerly.
6:15 pm. We were given a short walk to get acquainted.
Then free time evening. Rosie and I walked back into the shopping area. We found the old bridge. I dined on McD tonight. Menu much more varied in Europe. Ate in wide court side along with other shops. Walked back to hotel before dark. Watched sundown from cliff near hotel. Long valley stretched out from cliff. Then higher mountain hills miles away where sun set occured.
Day 11. Wednesday, April 15th. After 1st night in hotel.
7 am breakfast buffet at hotel. We had private room to eat just off of buffet area.
I took a morning stroll to see some side streets ending near cliffs. Another beautiful morning.
10 am. Walking field trip with group. We walked down the main street, detoured into tree lined park butting up against town cliff to south, then continued on again to bridge. the main road bridge was built 250 years ago. There we descended stairs continuing down to a cement courtyard looking back up at this bridge main street bridge of large stone one each at either side square columns built into sides of gorge, and looking down into gorge and river flowing thru. We descended more. Then looked to east to see the original first bridge built by the Moors 500 years ago. Descended more again to see the old Moorish baths ruins. We climber numerous stairs and uphill grades to get back on top again. We ended up in another quiet city courtyard of old trees and a church or two. On return trip to hotel, we entered the old bull fighting arena. Now just 2 events held per year due to the cost of preparing and running the events we were told. Hemingway watched the bull fighting here.
Stories told about bull fighters. They are very pale when entering the ring. A prayer room is near the arena entrance gate. The matadors move very little, letting the bull pass by, as they need to be sure where their feet are planted. 2 statues out front, a caped father and his not caped son. Son was the more famous bull fighter.
Our group split up for noon and free time. Rosie and I found the guide recommended tapa restaurant along a narrow side street of shops. Think this place was called "Tapas.......". Tuna tapa and chicken tapa shared with beer and wine.
Walked back to hotel for a rest. Found a double espresso along the way. (We were given two and Rosie did not partake).
6 pm. A professional woman flamenco guitar player entertained us at the hotel.n Very strong rhythms.
8 pm, Dinner at hotel. Roasted vegetable mosaic with poached egg, Serrano ham, red pesto and parmesan powder seasoning blend. Main dish, Iberian Pork with salted biscuit, vanilla flavored panna cotta and salted caramel sauce. Red and white wines.
Day 12. Thursday, April 16th.
7 am. Buffet breakfast at hotel. After 2nd night in hotel.
8:30 am. Checkout.
9:00 am. Motorcoach to olive oil region.
Short wayside stop part way to region.
11:15 am. After winding up steep mountain type land and rounding curves with just guard rail and steep drop offs, we stopped at a small farm handling the olive oil processing for farmers close by.
Small operation with well-worn equipment. No processing done this time of year. Owner brought out a folding table, and place bread pieces plus his olive oil to dip. Also sold pecans, oil, to us.
Then we traveled to nearby village, a name I did not keep in photos. Small stone houses on a few streets, all very clean. Our group split into 2, both groups sitting down for lunch in 2 separate small houses for lunch. The farmer's mother lived in our house. She prepared 4-5 course lunch. We could hear her wash dishes as we ate. Wine, salad with light vinegar mix, lentil type soup, sauteed potatoes, pork chunks, dessert cake, and taste of 2 deep, dark syrup sweet drinks from dark jug bottle that they make here.
We walked a few streets the narrow streets lower to motorcoach pick up site. Motorcoach continued on to Granada for 1-1/2 hours, winding down the mountain hill to lower lands. All cultivated farming as we approached the city. Mostly young olive tree plantings. We drove into town past a newer tall hotel complex. It was away from downtown and glad we were not heading there.
5 pm. Arrived near a busy intersecting street corner, the site of our last hotel "NH Collection Granada" for 2 nights. Our last hotel with Road Scholar group. Last time we would see Carlos, our driver the whole trip. I maneuvered over to him and place a nice euro tip in his hand. He stepped back to express facial gratitude. Very moving for me.
6:30 pm. Orientation walk. Large catholic church nearby. We did not enter. We did walk many blocks on a cobble stone sidewalk-street of shops and private apartment buildings. The grade continued at about 20 degree, sometimes making a 90 degree turn to go higher. About 1/2 hour walk to a top courtyard. Views of the Muslim walled city "Alhambra across the valley. Alahmbra is a city within the city.
A walk back nearer to hotel. About 6 of us stayed with guide and ate tapas, drank beer, in one of her recommended places to eat actually near our hotel. We shared 4 tapas of fish, pork, steak, chicken.
We walked back to hotel for the evening in the dark. Just a few blocks.
This hotel had one step at the main door entrance. I forgot about it next day. I walked out looking at the busy sidewalk of people. Had to catch my balance before falling by touching up against a surprised young female adult. I did apologize politely.
Day 13. Friday, April 17th. After 1st night in hotel.
Our room on 3rd floor, facing a busy T-corner, great for people watching. A hall building stood across the street. Some protest group gathered at 6 am. Shouted slogans, then left.
7 am. Breakfast at hotel. Rosie and I walked the morning streets, close to where we were the night before.
10 am. Bus trip with new driver to Alhmabra. About a 20 minute circuitous trip to entrance. Then a meandering tree filled walk.
Alahambra is famous for its Muslim style architecture. Rooms that required 90 turns in narrow hallways, done on purpose for privacy we were told.
2 pm. Farewell lunch at "Rutas del Azafrarin" many blocks to walk from hotel. Very warm sunny day. Mixed green salad with tuna fish, hake fish with white wine sauce for main meal, with tiramisu, wine, beer.
3:30 pm. Free time.
6:30 pm. Wrap up farewell discussion with champagne type drinks in lower level of hotel. We shook hands and some of us hugged, some not. All in all another courdial farewell by all of us.
7:30 pm. Dinner on our own......where did we go??????
Day 14, April 18th.
Departure day from Road Scholar tour.
Breakfast buffet at hotel.
8:30 am appx. Left hotel room with out luggage, entering hotel desk area. Our driver was already waiting to take us to Granada airport. So we walked out, not seeing Natalia. Driver was parked around side of building. Just as we readied to leave, Natalia ran to our car. We shook hands thru window and nodded thanks for a wonderful tour with her being our guide.
About 45 minutes to airport. This was not an international flight. We headed to Madrid. 5 Road Scholar people joined us at airport. We all took same flight to Madrid. One couple would stay in Madrid like us, but with different plans.
The flight (200 miles) was an hour or so long. We traveled over countless hills filled with olives, grapes and such. Leaving Granada, most were newer plantings.
Madrid airport was large, and we set down at busiest flight in time of day, mid afternoon.
We found our luggage and walked into a long continually moving line with 2 rows of taxis nearby. Attendants matched vehicles to our number and luggage. Some quick waves and we jumped in for a 45 minute ride to downtown Madrid.
Our hotel, a Holiday Inn group, was 1-2 stores off a main shopping drag and right downtown. Room was open for us. We went to hotel top balcony for a drink. Then walked to "Madrid Center", but when about 2 blocks away we stopped due to a loud large people event at this plaza. Political or was it from a major kilometer run planned that weekend.
Where did we eat??
Back to hotel for the evening.
Day 15, April 19th.
Breakfast previously purchased with hotel room, and we dined about 7:30 am opening. A third of a size buffet from other hotels. Still enough on menu.
We had 10:30 entrance tickets to art museum Prada, about 20 minute walk away. Dallied on over, stopping into a nearby church to pass time. Then walked into museum 10:20. We stayed about 3 hours.
3 floors, many large size paintings. Spanish......was plentiful....Got to see my...... painting.
Out again on the streets. We ate Tapas in a walking area of shops, sitting at tables not far from restaurant. No seating inside. Another sunny warm, not hot day. More walking and then back to hotel room.
Rosie stayed in hotel, and I strolled for a good evening walk with sun slowly setting. The streets full of families and well-dressed night couples. Then returned to hotel.
Day 16, April 20th.
Breakfast again at hotel, purchased with hotel room in advance.
Hotel called in appointment for our taxi earlier, and it arrived mid-morning. Drove us back to Madrid airport. Good working family man we talked to. This was to our international flight back to states. Luggage checked for overseas flight. Passports checked.
We flew again with American Airlines, from Madrid to Dallas, to Appleton. About 8 hours to Dallas. Became a long flight when reaching shore and needing 2 more hours for Dallas landing. And made longer by young man in seat ahead who reclined all the way over full flight,with fidgeting the whole while. A good kid, just too nervous. Next time I shall look into seats with more room. We ate at a Friday's in Dallas. Apparently, the flight nauseated me, Nasal congestion starting, and the meal was very bland and not finished.
Finally on the plane to Appleton, which turned out to be less than 2 hour flight. We took Uber taxi to house. In the house about 12:30 AM.
Trip comments: Portugal and Spain were must-sees for us. Glad we visited both capitals. Another rewarding, relaxing ride over land in a 30 passenger, 2 side door motorcoach. All well planned, save for the olive oil small farm tour and taste in Spain. Nothing happening at the site. Portugal is a little sister to Spain, yet very independent minded with their beautiful long history equal to Spain's.
Perfect time to visit. Early April. Everything spring green, Warm temps. Fewer tourists.
-End-
