I’d might as well lead with the conclusion. February is a wonderful time to visit the Iberian Peninsula!  The weather is spring-like.  It’s the off season for tourists, so prices are discounted, crowds are manageable and it’s easy to get around.  No that we have that out of the way I’ll tell you about my trip.

Spain

Barcelona – My sense of direction is usually very good. But the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona left me turned around time and time again.  I loved walking the narrow, serpentine streets.  I arrived late Sunday afternoon and all of the storefronts were closed up with metal security doors covered with grafitti.  I initially didn’t get that warm and fuzzy feeling.   However, as I learned more, I found Barcelona to be a vibrant, welcoming city.  The next morning I found that the security doors had disappeared and what had emerged in their place were many small specialty shops.  I loved that small butcher shops, leather shops, grocery stores, barber shops, paper shops, bakery’s art co-ops, etc. were able to stay open.  Not a Wal-Mart in sight.  

The Gothic Quarter in Barcelona – Street Art

On my first full day I rented a bike and explored the city. Barcelona is a good city to rent a bike. As I rode, I found many dedicated bike paths and lanes. I rode to the Olympic Stadium, Camp Nou (neighborhood and the stadium of FC Barcelona) and through many other vibrant neighborhoods.  I put my limited spanish to the test when I rode through an open gate at the FC Barcelona academy and practice fields. After a few minutes I turned around to exit and found a very unhappy guard who had closed the gate and come out of his guard house to give me an earful.  After a few minutes of a one sided conversation I said “lo siento” and he reluctantly opened the gate and let me go.  I promptly went around the corner to have a delightful lunch at the more friendly confines of the Barcelona Tennis Club.  

Here are some photos from my time in Barcelona.

The Cathedral in Barcelona

The Olympic Stadium in Barcelona

Boxers in front of the Art Museum in Barcelona

La Sagrada Familia

Visiting La Sagrada Familia ruined all of the other cathedrals I will ever visit.

Hanging Gardens Office Building – Barcelona

Andulusia – I then headed south via train to Seville. I really liked Seville and spent an extra night at the wonderful small hotel I had stumbled into.  Since it was off-season the rate was reasonable for a lovely, converted home.  Actually this property has been in the same family since the 1700’s and the owners still live in a different portion of the home.  They are used the extra room in their family’s mansion to carve out an eight room hotel named Palacio Bucarelli.  The breakfast in a picnic basket each morning included a carafe of fresh squeezed orange juice which was lovely.

Seville Spain

I didn’t know much about Seville before I arrived.  I soon found out that this city has been a hub of activity for nearly 2,000 years.  This river port city (50 miles from the Atlantic Ocean) was the hub of the Spanish conquests of the Americas.  All of the spoils of those expeditions came back through Seville and even now the air of old money can be felt in the old quarter.

The Alacazar in Seville Spain

Seville Spain

Bridge over the Guadalquivir River in Seville

After Seville I rented a car and headed to the countryside.  I took the long way to Cordoba and spent a few hours getting a sense of this ancient hill town.  I had booked a room is Espejo at the Casa Almara. I didn’t know that this was the only place to stay in this small town and even though I felt like a bit of a spectacle, it was refreshing to be among the locals. From that base I took a great hike that originated in the beautiful white village of Zuheros.  

On the back road between Seville and Cordoba

Sleeping on the job

Rural castle in Andalusia

Espejo Spain

Zuhero Spain – Hiking trail in the foreground

Zuhero Spain

Portugal

Douro Valley – I flew from Malaga, Spain to Porto, Portugal.  I rented a motorcycle in Porto and headed up the Douro Valley.  The Douro River is a navigable river flanked by steep hills that are terraced with vineyards.  It’s quite beautiful even though every bit of the valley seems to be shaped by human effort over centuries.  It was an amazing place to be riding a motorcycle!

I stayed at Quinta do Tedo.  It is a winery and boutique hotel that produces port and wine and is situated where the Tedo and Douro Rivers converge.  As you can see the property is beautiful!  There is a marked hiking trail throughout the property and the rooms are comfortable and super relaxing.  I was the only guest during my visit and I was treated like a king. I had the biggest, best and most beautiful breakfast in my whole life!  This was a memorable stay and a beautiful place to be.  Thank you to the Bouchard’s for their hospitality.  I can’t wait to go back again sometime.

Quinta do Tedo

Breakfast for one!

Terraced Vineyards in the Douro Valley

Small town square in rural Portugal

Quinta do Tedo from across the valley

Lisbon – After returning the motorcycle to Northroad.PT (because of me doing things in the wrong order it took me 20 minutes to fill up with gas!) I took the metro to the train station and bought a ticket to Lisbon. I spent my last few days exploring the streets of the beautiful city that reminded me of San Francisco.  I found the city busy with tourists, street musicians and street cars,

Sunset in Lisbon

Tram coming up the hill

Park de Eduardo VII in Lisbon

This being my first trip after the passing of my wife, it was an introspective time for me.  Watching people – how they live, how they work, how they interact with their neighbors were all of specific interest to me.  I was impressed by the sense of community I witnessed. People meeting their friends and neighbors in squares and restaurants.  It’s something I’d like to create more of for myself.