Today was a bit more casual. A walk around the charming, sleepy village of Ubeda. A short ride to see the olive groves and a visit and lunch at an olive oil processing facility.
The weather was generally cooperative with an occasional shower here and there. Overall, considering the heavy rain the last several days, we have been very fortunate. We have avoided most of the worst downpours.
The plaza and view from our room. The church is a private chapel.The enclosed courtyard of our hotel.Our hotel from the plaza, Paradores Ubeda. Our room is the open window, second from the left on the top floor. The view from the tiny balcony includes the entire block.The town Cathedral is in the same block as our hotel.
Our lunch was hosted by the owner’s of the Oleicola San Francisco, producers of premium olive oils.
Jim teaming up with the owners son to prepare manchego cheese and an olive oil, honey, rosemary dressing for our lunch.The storage tanks for the latest pressing of olive oil from Oleicola San Francisco.Overlooking the Oleicola olive groves.
The morning light greets us as we depart from Ronda.
It was a long travel day today. We said goodbye to our hilltop town of Ronda early in the day and made our way to Córdoba and it’s UNESCO Mosque-Cathedral.
Another Bridge dating to Roman days is the gateway to Córdoba.A maze of narrow walkways (also local traffic) of the old town.The massive courtyard has greeted visitors since the 8th Century.The remains of the original minaret were used in the construction of the Bell Tower.Originally built as a mosque in 788 A.D. The total square footage of the entire building today is 250,000 square feet.Catholic chapels and elements were added from the 11th to 16th centuries.The Madonna.
Yesterday we traveled from Carmona to Ronda. We stopped for a coffee break near a small lake along the way.
Pristine lakes fed by mountain streams.Whitewashed hilltop town in the distance.
Next we visited a locally famous bull ranch followed by a lunch before traveling onward to the hill town of Ronda, our home for the next two nights.
A young bull in training with many years before the ring.Another candidate in waiting.Novice matador years away from the bull ring.Big bull in need of more training.Beautifully trained horses are essential to guiding the bulls from pasture to the ring.
After lunch we make our way to the hill town of Ronda. Our hotel is perched on the cliffs of the old town.
Our hotel is at the top of the bridge dating to 1454 AD.The gorge is 275 feet below the bridge and town center.
Today we explored the old town of Ronda. It’s mostly residential, quiet and secluded. Narrow lanes and alleys. We walked along the edges of the cliffs back to the City Center for lunch and some of us visited a crafts center. Tonight home hosted dinner.
We are off to Córdoba and Ubeda (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) tomorrow.
Day two of our stay in the hillside town of Carmona, we explored the epic city of Seville. The weather was slowly improving as we made our way to the city center.
Our first stop was the Plaza de Espana that first caught the world’s attention in 1929 as an exposition venue.
The massive plaza is still one of the most important plazas in Seville.Countries from the Americas were represented.
Next we walked through the Jewish Quarter to the Cathedral, the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world and the place where Christopher Columbus is entombed.
The Apex of the ceiling.The tomb of Christopher Columbus.The Altar.The first women Saints by Goya.
Departing Evora early yesterday and crossing the Portugal border into Spain we arrived in Merida for lunch and a visit.
Upon arrival we walked the old bridge dating back to Roman days to enter the city.We were greeted by another first century Roman Temple bigger and grander than the last.
Our goal was a visit to the early 1st Century Roman Theater and Amphitheater.
Ancient pathways and arches lead us to the Roman Theater.The theater was reconstructed from the ruins excavated from the site.Two Roman ruins on one sight as observed by two soon to be fossils! 😎Stone passageways lead to the Roman Forum.One can only imagine gladiators and similar events on the massive forum site immediately adjacent to the theater.
After a nice lunch to recharge our energy, we hit the road again for our next stop, Carmona, and our hilltop Parador for the next two nights.
The gates to the hilltop town or Carmona.The entrance to our hotel, Paradores Carmona.The view from our room.
Our hotel and hilltop village are a short drive outside Seville. Stay tuned for that next adventure!
Today we explored Evora more in depth. We began the day with a City walk including a talk at the local university, and a visit to the local cathedral and the small Franciscan Church of San Francisco, also know as the chapel of bones.
A visit to the local University.Our guest speakers after their talk.Street scene in the city center.The city center midday.The narrow streets of the city center.The altar at the Cathedral.The Chapel of (Human) bones.Hundreds and hundreds of human bones. Creepy!
We later spent midday at a local Portuguese Cooking school where we prepared lunch for each other, half preparing appetizers and first courses and the others preparing the main course and desert. The wine flowed, so did the laughter, it was a delightful meal.
John prepares baked apples for desert.Both of us with sharp knives!
Yesterday we traveled from Lisbon through the countryside to Evora. The weather was gloomy and rainy most of the day. Surprisingly our stops included a welcomed break in the rain.
We explored Arraiolos, a village with a quaint museum of ancient tapestries. Midday took us to Monte da Ravasqueira, a delightful complex with a great Carriage Museum, a winery including a delicious lunch and a gift shop where we purchased some excellent wines.
By mid afternoon we arrived at our hotel, Pousada Convento de Evora. Built in 1485, a hotel since 1965. All in all, a delightful day.
The winery and Carriage Museum.
The winery and its extensive grounds.The wine is aging.StartersLunch, risotto, salad and desert.The bedroom, Evora.View of a 1st Century Roman Temple outside our window, Evora.
The weather has cooperated over the last couple days. The showers have evaporated for the most part, except for the occasional squall. Our last two days have been unexpectedly nice.
Yesterday was the first day of our Portugal/Spain tour with an orientation walk. The evening was focused on the Bario Alto neighborhood and a tapas dinner. Our fellow travelers are a good group.
Today we went to Sintra. This was our second visit to the area but it felt as though we had never been before. After a nice lunch in Sintra, we drove to the Pena Palace, an expansive hilltop castle built on the ruins of an ancient monastery. It was built by Don Fernando II. It is also a World Heritage Site.
The Town Hall of Sintra.The castle from below.The entrance gate to the castle.The guardian of the castle.The clock tower.A view from the top.The altar in the chapel.View of the kitchen.
We arrived mid afternoon yesterday after a two hour flight from Paris Orly airport to Lisbon. We were pleased to be greeted by mild weather.
After settling in, we decided to explore our immediate neighborhood. The mix of old and new (or renovated) seems everywhere. Little shops and restaurants are only a block away from the stores featurering Global Brands.
After a great night’s sleep, we decided a walk was in order. We decided to explore the hilly Alfama District, one of the oldest parts of the city.
We refreshed ourselves on the subway system and four stops later we were at the waterfront facing a daunting climb/walk/hike up a formidable hill to the Se Cathedral, originally built in 1150 AD. It was damaged over the centuries by three earthquakes and finally rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake.
Outside the subway station looks like a Delacroix painting.The facade of the SE Cathedral.The Rose window and the tapestry are prized possessions of this Cathedral.
Next we continued our walk farther up the hill top of the Castelo fortress and the old neighborhoods nestled against the walls. It was a rewarding walk that made sure we knew we weren’t in Paris anymore.
Lisbon’s streetcars have been running since electricity was developed.Something in common with San Francisco, hills and the Bay.One charming view after another.
The rewards for scaling these hills is view after view.
Happy we made it to the Castelo Walls.The higher we explore, The narrower the path.This is one of the rewarding views from the top.Going down is almost as much effort as going up. (Well not really but it’s rewarding when you have accomplished the goal!)
The Conciergerie housed over 1400 prisoners after the revolution including Marie Antoinette. Most lost their lives to the guillotine. Behind is the Supreme Court and St. Chapelle.
It was a particularly cold but clear day with a bitterly cold breeze. We were determined to make the best of it and visit a couple of old favorite sites we have not seen in a very long time.
Our first stop was Sainte Chapelle, built in 1242 to 1248. Today it is considered to be the most beautiful church in Paris. What is remarkable is the enormous volume of glass and light. It is truly stunning.
The roof of St. Chapelle from the courtyard of the Supreme Court.Remarkable stained glass dating to the 13th century.The verses of the Bible can be read in the glass panels, left to right from the bottom to the top.The ceiling is filled with gold leaf stars.
Our next stop was Musee Jacquemart Andre. A private residence that became an art museum bequeathed by the owners. It holds an extraordinary collection including paintings by Rembrandt, Botticelli, Uccello, and several others.
Upon arrival we decided a bite to eat was in order and we took advantage of the museum’s wonderful cafe.
Brunch with a nice Rose from Provence.
Now the house and collection.
The entrance.The Salon.The Conservatory.Exceptional interiors.Incredible ceilings.An unknown court jester.
You cannot go to Paris without a visit to the Arc de Triomphe.
A fitting finish for a fun visit.
Today’s walk: 5.4 miles, 16 flights of stairs.
Tomorrow we fly to Lisbon for the next leg of our journey. Thank you Paris. Hello Portugal!
