Month: February 2016

León

Friday, February 19, 2016

Today we spent the whole day in León. We went to the Museo de León. It had artifacts from people who have lived in this area starting as far back as 300,000 years ago. A lot of the more recent stuff was found when they were digging foundations for buildings in the last hundred years. I love the idea that people here might find Roman artifacts in their back yard! It helped me enjoy the museum more that it had labels in English as well as Spanish!

 

 

 

We wandered the streets of León.

 

 

Stopped for chocolate.

 

Took a tour of our Parador Monastery

 

 

And had tapas for dinner.

 

 

 

 

Vigo to León

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Our train from Vigo to León left at 7:45am. We actually had to set an alarm to get up in time! The trip was about 6 hours long and went through quite a bit of snowy mountainous country. There was only one other person in our car.

 

In León we are staying at a big Parador in an old monastery. Our room overlooks the garden and the river. It is cold here but the sun is shining.

We went to see the gothic cathedral. It has colorful glowing stained glass everywhere. It was the most beautiful cathedral we have seen on this trip.

 

 

Dinner was in a local cafe, steak and potatoes and a shared crepe for desert.

 

 

 

 

 

Portugal to Spain

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

 

This morning we left our Pousada in Portugal and drove to Portugal’s second largest city, Porto. It was a bit of a challenge but we eventually found the rental car return place, dropped off the car and caught a taxi to the bus company office. We bought our bus tickets and left our bags in the office.

 

When Duke was planning our trip there is only one place in Portugal that I told him I really wanted to see. Livraria Lello & Irmão. I think I saw it on a list of most beautiful bookstores in the world. According to Wikipedia “The bookstore was frequented by JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, when she taught English in Porto and is reported to be an inspiration for her writing.”

 

In order to go into the store you have to buy a €3 voucher which you can take off the price of anything you buy.

 

 

 

I felt like I was in a bibliophile heaven. Of course I bought a book!

 

This church was across the street from the bookstore.

 

 

After Livraria Lello we retrieved our bags and caught our bus. From Porto we headed north to Vigo in Spain.

For dinner we decided to have something different and somewhat exotic.

 

They were really delicious and I can tell you mine hit the spot!

 

Bragança to Pousada Mosteiro de Amares

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

This will be our last night in Portugal. Today we drove west through the mountains to a Pousada in the mountains not far from Porto where we will turn in our car.

We stopped in the town of Chaves for a break. Chaves has been a key strategically important town for centuries. Their Roman-era bridge was completed in AD 104.

The mountain valleys that we drove through had several dams and hydroelectric plants.

Our hotel is in an old Monastary. The design to convert the building into a hotel was done by one of Portugal’s most famous architects, Eduardo Souto Moura between 1994 and 1997. There are only two rooms occupied in the hotel tonight. We met the other guests – a Canadian couple – in the restaurant at dinner. They were the first North Anericans we have seen in several days.
 
Before dinner we sat and read by the fire in the bar.

Lampreys are a delicacy that are only available in the spring here. Our appetizer was marinated lamprey.

The restaurant is in the former kitchen of the monastery.

For desert we had a sampling of many deserts.

 

 

Alijó to Bragança

Monday, February 15, 2016

The sun was shining today! Although it was cold it was wonderful to have sun and no rain. As we headed north east towards Bragança we looked for some brown signs pointing to road site sites. First we stopped to find a sacrificial altar. We headed down a dirt road, had to turn around and then get out but eventually we found it. The view from this spot was great too

 

 

Next we saw a sign for a Roman bridge. Initially we couldn’t find it and headed down the road but then further down the road we saw another sign and this time found the bridge.

 

 

 

 

In Bragança the castle was closed because it is Monday but it was still cool to walk around the outside.

 

 

Duke and I continue to marvel at the amazing meals we have had on this trip. Almost every night we say tonight is the best meal ever. Tonight really might be the best. We each ordered the €35 three course set menu but there were multiple extras.

First we received an artisanal fresh made bread stick with lemon butter.

Then we has pastry with tomatoe and ham on top served on a black rock.

Next they brought a box to the table.

Inside the box was a hot ball made of meat, chestnuts and almonds.

Then we had tuna and cucumber on a chestnut cracker served on a piece of slate.

 

Next was the river fish soup. They added the broth from a pitcher at the table.
Then the pork. See the “G” brand.
Before desert we received what looked like sausage but was really chocolate.
Desert was olive oil pudding and watermelon ice cream.
All the drinks were included with the dinner and were from local wineries.
A rose water soaked napkin.
And then chocolate and coffee.

It was a fantastic dinner with a view of the castle from the windows.