This summers vacation took me to Spain and Portugal. I had the pleasure and privilege of traveling with my Niece, Valerie.
She just graduated from high school in Arizona and this was my chance to share with her my love of travel. About 3 years ago when planning a similar trip for my Nephew I asked her where she wanted to go. Her choice was Spain then and she stuck with it. She flew from Phoenix to Atlanta and we headed together to Madrid. The weather was perfect and even a bit warm/hot for early June. We traveled a lot of miles, but it was worth it to see so many awesome places. With a visit to Gibraltar and day trip to Morocco we managed to visit 2 continents and 4 countries/territories.
This was a group tour and I felt kind of bad at the beginning. Valerie was the youngest and I was the second youngest. Yikes…my poor Niece is spending two weeks in a traveling old folks home! She survived and our traveling companions just loved her. We shared fish and chips with a retired couple in Gibraltar and joined them again in Torremolinos, Spain for paella and steaks at a beach-side restaurant. Val loves fish and seafood and got her fill throughout. It was a awesome trip, though Val was ready to head home by the end.
Dates: May 28 – Jun 10, 2014
Tour Operator: Gate 1 Travel
Our Itinerary
And away we go.
Plaza de Toros de las Ventes, Madrid
Plaza de Toros de las Ventes
Parque del Retiro, Madrid
Parque del Retiro
Parque del Retiro
Parque del Retiro
Parque del Retiro
Crystal Palace, Parque del Retiro
Crystal Palace, Parque del Retiro
Royal Palace, Madrid
Tiled Dome, Madrid
San Jerónimo el Real Church, Madrid
El Escorial Palace and Monastery
El Escorial Palace and Monastery
El Escorial Palace and Monastery
Perfect car for Valarie. One seater.
Madrid Train Station
Aqueduct of Segovia, 2nd Century
Segovia
Segovia Cathedral
Segovia
Iglesia Vera Cruz, Segovia. Built by the Knights Templar, 1208
Alcazar of Segovia
Valerie and I in Segovia
Alcazar of Segovia
Alcazar of Segovia
Love the Bakeries, Segovia
Alcazar of Segovia
City Walls, Ávila
Ávila
Ávila Cathedral
Tapas for Lunch, Ávila
Iglesia de Santo Tome el Viejo, Ávila
Plaza Mayor, Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca
Fatima, Portugal
Fatima Cathedral
Lisbon Portugal
Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon
St. George’s Castle, Lisbon, from the rooftop bar at the hotel.
Blelem Tower, Lisbon
Blelem Tower, Lisbon
Blelem Tower, Lisbon
Monument of Discoveries, Lisbon
Sintra, Portugal
Lunch stop on the way to Sevilla.
Church near the hotel in Seville
Plaza de España, Seville
Plaza de España, Seville
Plaza de España, Seville
Seville
Seville
Seville Cathedral
Tomb of Christopher Columbus, Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Seville Cathedral
Royal Alcazar, Seville
Royal Alcazar, Seville
Royal Alcazar, Seville
Royal Alcazar, Seville
Segway tour of Seville
At the Rock, Gibraltar
St Michael’s Cave, Gibraltar. The mood lighting made the place amazing.
View from Gibraltar
One of the Barbary Apes (actually monkeys) at Gibraltar.
Valerie visiting with one of the monkeys.
View from our hotel on the Costa del Sol.
Malaga Cathedral
Malaga
Malaga
View from the old town of Torremolinos
Our ferry to Morocco
Snake Charmer, Tangier, Morocco
Tangier, Morocco
Tangier, Morocco
Tangier, Morocco
Tangier, Morocco
Tangier, Morocco
Olives and Olive Oil, Tangier, Morocco
Thread Store, Tangier, Morocco
Granada
Granada Cathedral
Best Gelato Store Ever, Granada
Granada
People-powered Carousel, Granada
The Bubble Guys, Anything to make a buck, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
Cute Ambulance?? Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Alhambra, Granada
The Colors of Granada
The Plains of La Mancha
Valerie at Toledo
Toledo
Flags to celebrate Feast of Corpus Christi, Toledo
Toledo Cathedral
Toledo Cathedral
Puente de San Martín Bridge, Toledo
Toledo
This summers vacation took me to Spain and Portugal. I had the pleasure and privilege of traveling with my Niece, Valerie.
The Adventures of Dave 