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

Sintra

Sintra

Sintra

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