Sevilla and Portugal

Our departure from Malaga was delayed by Carmen's emergency root canal, so we only had one evening in Sevilla.  To make the most of it, we went out to a Flamenco show.  The walk to the show went past the massive gothic Sevilla cathedral, all lit up at night.

The Flamenco club was small with an audience of about 30 people on folding chairs.  We were front-row stage right (with glasses of wine purchased from the tavern across the street;-).  Carmen captured the intensity of Flamenco - guitar, vocals, and dance - in the club's low light (no flash allowed).

Early the next morning, we caught a bus (the only way to get there) to the Algarve, the south coast of Portugal.  We picked up a rental car in Faro so we could explore the coast over the next two days.  The Algarve is a big summer destination and all the locals we dealt with speak very good English.  Our lodgings at Quinta do Mar in Luz were wonderful: we sat on our balcony with a sea view snacking on the plate of cheese and meat they gave us (plus the bottle of vinho tinto de Portugal that we brought), basking in the warm sunshine.  Their breakfast buffet was complete, hot and cold, and included in the price (less than 50 euros/night - I am sure that is an off-season price).  When we go back to the Algarve, we will stay there again.

Algarve beaches are broad and sandy, set in coves between spectacular cliffs.  On our first full day, we set out exploring them.

We drove out to Cabo de Sao Vincente, to the lighthouse at the western tip of the Algarve, then turned north and explored the beaches on the windy west-facing coastline.  We had been told that  some locals like to fish by rod and reel from high on the cliffs because there are fish that are only caught that way.  When you see them actually doing it, however, you wonder why evolution has not eliminated anyone with a disposition for it.

We even found a surf spot.

After two full days in the Algarve, we took the high-speed train to Lisbon (a travelers' note:  Portuguese high-speed trains are much slower than those of other European countries).  We only spent a day in Lisbon, and went to the historic Baixa (lower town).  We were intrigued by how many buildings were decorated with tile facades.

King Joao I gets no respect from seagulls

Our last stop was Madrid.  Stay tuned for the next post!