Spain and Portugal sparkle and SHINE

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/06/2022 (1560 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A trip to Spain was in the works for about six months but would it really happen? Luckily restrictions were lifted just in time and my wife and I were able to head overseas in early May. We joined my cousin Peter Lamont and his wife Anne for a three week adventure through southern Spain and Portugal.

The trip has had many twists and turns. Air Canada had not restored its direct flight to Madrid from Toronto when we left May 7. That meant a short turnaround through Munich that was down to mere minutes. We made it though and Pete and Anne were waiting for us at the Madrid airport. They had flown the week before to Lisbon and had the rental car waiting. Off we went south to our first Parador in Chinchon, which is an hour south.

On this trip my cousin booked a number of these historic hotels owned by the Spanish government. These are used as a training ground for young people in the tourism industry but they also happen to be in some of the nicest properties in the world.

The Parador in Chinchon was no exception with gorgeous gardens and an incredible swimming pool.

Located in a former Augustinian monastery the rooms were large and roomy and beautifully decorated.

Chinchón is a happening place with the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), featuring 230 wooden balconies on the surrounding houses along with a myriad of restaurants. We had a great meal of calamari at the El Sol establishment at the south end of the square.

On Day Two we headed south to the Parador in Alarcon, a Moorish Castle dating back to the 1300s. It is perched on a hill over the Jucar River. Over the centuries the Moors would control trade on the river with a series of watch towers. Nowadays it attracts visitors from all over the world, anxious to enjoy one of the most unique destinations in the world. Peter had booked the two rooms of the eight, a year in advance. It is extremely popular so getting a room is a bit of an adventure.

From there we headed southwest through olive country staying in Granada and Seville for two nights each. Of all the attractions we saw in our three-week visit, the Alhambra was the most impressive. We were staying in a hotel only a short walk from the magnificent Moorish castle on the hill over top of the city.

Peter had organized an English-speaking guide through the hotel and we met Anna at the entrance the morning of our second day in Granada. She did a wonderful job of bringing alive the castle and its history, the highlight of the trip for sure.

One thing I must mention, there is a fair amount of walking if you want to visit the old sections of any of the cities and towns in Spain. On this day we logged 22,000 steps, our most on the trip. Parking is at a premium in all of the old cities, so your best option is find the public parking and walk from there.

The magnificent trees in Seville really stood out for me and the Santa Maria de la Sede, the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world.

It is a hectic pace in this busy tourist destination, so it was nice to head to the southeast tip of Portugal for a couple days of relaxation in Lagos. This vibrant beach community is situated right on the ocean and every morning we woke up to the beautiful blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Right below our rental apartment was a huge swimming pool. It was over 30 C when there so the afternoons were spent down by the water. It was also fun cooking our own meal for one of the evenings.

We then headed back up the centre of Portugal to stop for a night in the Pousada Castelo Alvito. Located on the Alentejo plains, the castle was home to Kings and Barons. This building has been classified, since 1910, as a National Monument and an example of the best of Portuguese architecture. The fortress and palatial residence are a mix of Islamic, Gothic and Manueline influences. We somehow lucked into a room in the old tower and had a beautiful view of the town and the cork trees beyond.

As we entered the last week, we headed back to Spain, finishing up in Madrid for our trip home. Not before we stopped in Segovia to stay at one of the newer Paradores, situated on a hill overlooking the old town. Here we visited a 2000 old Roman aqueduct that was in impressive condition.

There is some paperwork required for your trip to Spain. If flying, you must fill in a Spanish Health Form proving you have been vaccinated to show upon arrival. It was a quick and seamless process. As for the wearing of masks, it is recommended but not required. On our trip, the travellers seemed to have returned and hotels and restaurants were busy. We had a rental car, and the highways were excellent and travel was easy. It was a great trip, my second time in this scenic country that relies on agriculture and tourism to a large degree. There are very few pieces of land that don’t have some form of crop on them. They could be olive or cork trees plus grain, fruit and almond trees, plus a wide assortment of everything else. One must not forget about the wine. In Portugal we went to the Pingo Doce, the local supermarket. Here we were able to buy some great wine for less than four Euros a bottle.

It was my first time in Portugal and hopefully not my last.

There were plenty of cattle and sheep along with goats. The Iberian pigs were not to be seen. Once acorn season comes around, they roam the abundant oak forests that exist. These extremely valuable animals are well looked after. In Madrid we saw a leg of this creature going for $500 Euros!

Early May is a great time of year to go with temperatures in the mid-twenties on average. Near the coast we did get some 30 C days. My cousin Peter and Anne also like to visit in late September. We stayed in 12 different Paradores during our stay. Peter and I each had Amigo cards which qualified us for welcome drinks and a discount on food. You also then collect points which can be used for free accommodation.

It was great to be out again!

dlamont46@gmail.com