Spain

Lleida Spain

We took one day and decide to go to the city of Lleida located in Catalonia. Like many places in Spain, it has a long and interesting history.

One of the highlights for us was exploring the historic centre and making our way up to the impressive  “La Seu Vella” known as The Castle of the King. The castle is located on the highest point and is referred to as the Sovereign Rock.

One of the arched entrances into the castle

The castle was large and impressive with views of the entire region. Built between the 12th and 14th century it was home to the visiting King and used as his fortress and palace when in Lleida.

View from inside the castle walls of Lleida

There was also a Gothic 12th century Cathedral located inside the castle walls.

Cathedral inside the castle walls

It dominated the centre of the castle along with the large bell tower. The inner courtyard of the Cathedral was impressive and open.

We explored the castle enjoying the views and just experiencing this historic site. We made our way to the bell tower and it did not disappoint.

The tower was so high that we had to angle of picture. (LOL)

Ray and Shelley at the Bell tower in Lleida

There’s something we love about visiting places that aren’t always on the tourist travel itinerary. You get to explore the pure Spanish culture and enjoy a city without feeling as though you’re following a crowd. We had a great day, enjoyed exploring the city and had a tasty authentic Spanish meal. Overall a great day in this unique city.

“Dondequiera que vayas, de alguna manera se convierte en parte de ti.” – Anita Desai

France

A Few Days in the South of France

We took a little break and headed across the border into the south of France for a few days.  We spent a few relaxing days exploring and spending time with friends.

We visited Elne, a charming historic town with its beautiful cathedral and cobblestone streets.

Cathedral in Elne France

We stayed there for a few days and explored the narrow streets and views of the town.

View of the Rue Principal of Elne France
The Elne Arch which dates back to 1569
View of the Pyrenees from the top of the hill where the Cathedral is located

Shelley stopped and took a moment to smell the roses.

Shelley checking out the wild rose

We then made our way to Perpignan for a day.  We wandered around the city centre, We stoped to admire the fortress and then went exploring inside the fortified walls of the former fortress.

Former fortress entrance in Perpignan

Now a bustling centre with shops and restaurants it was an enjoyable way to spend the day.

We took in the sights, enjoyed some good food and, of course, found time for a coffee or two along the way.

But the real highlight of the trip wasn’t sightseeing, it was simply  spending time with friends. There was plenty of talking, laughing, eating and enjoying the occasional glass of wine. Which, is a pretty good way to spend a few days in France!

” à la prochaine fois”

Spain

A Day in Peñíscola Spain

We decided to spend a day in Peñíscola, a beautiful coastal town on the Mediterranean coast.

It was easy to see why this place has become such a popular destination. Sitting on a rocky peninsula and surrounded by the sea, the Castle and old town seems to rise right out of the water.

View of the Peñíscola Castle and old town

We walked along the beach towards the old town. Along the way we came across a large dragoon made out of small tiles. At first it seemed odd but then we learned that parts of the Game of Thrones series was filmed right here in Peñíscola, including parts of the castle and the old town. So, the dragoon makes perfect sense.

Shelley with the dragoon that repsresents part of the Game of Thrones series.

Our first stop was the castle, It is perched high above the town and dates back to the Middle Ages. It was built by the Knights Templar in the 13th century. The castle has had quite a history and is famous for being the home of Pope Benedict XIII.

Statue of Pope Benedict XIII at the walls of the castle.

Walking through the old stone walls, courtyards, and passageways of the castle, it was easy to imagine the centuries of history that took place here.

Bronze statues and canons helped to imagine life at the castle.

One of the best parts of visiting the castle were the amazing views.

From the top, we had spectacular views across the Mediterranean.

Looking down over the town, we could see the long sandy beach, the promenade, and the modern part of Peñíscola spreading along the coast.

View from the castle looking towards Peñíscola

After exploring the castle we walked along the narrow streets of the old town. There were shops and artisan stores on every street.

After walking for quite a while we decided to take a break and enjoy the view from the castle wall with a refreshment.

Afterwards we made our way down toward the waterfront. We took a relaxing walk along the promenade. We spent some time simply walking, taking a few pictures, and enjoying the day.  We then stopped at a shoreside restaurant and enjoyed a meal along with a great view.

For us the Peñíscola was a great spot to stop and explore. The history of the castle, the connection to The Game of Thrones and the beautiful Mediterranean views made it a memorable day.

“La vida es un viaje. Aprovéchalo al máximo” – Anónimo

Portugal

A Day Trip to Santa Maria da Feira and Aveiro Portugal

We decided to take a little road trip from Porto and spend the day exploring somewhere new. Our destination was Aveiro, but as usual, we couldn’t resist making a little detour along the way. We stopped in the town of Santa Maria da Feira.

We took a walk along a trail that was leading up to the Castle on the top of the hill. Along the way we could see a unique cave system in the distance, so we decided to check it out.

Caves we could see in the distance.

We made our way and found the path leading into the caves. When we got to the entrance we could see that it was a small artificial cave, carefully molded into the landscape and blended with natural rock.

Scott walking down into the caves

Inside, real caves and man-made sections come together, creating a unique little underground space that feels both natural and mysterious.

Inside the caves

After exploring the cave we headed up to the impressive Santa Maria da Feira Castle.

The castle dates back to medieval times and is one of Portugal’s best-preserved examples of medieval military architecture.

Janice and scott entering into the castle

We wandered around the castle and explored some of the old stone walls.  What we found was that this castle has a very long history.

Janice within some of the castle walls

This castle served as an important military and administrative centre during the Christian Reconquest and played a role in the political events that eventually led to the formation and independence of Portugal.

After exploring the castle we headed off toward Aveiro which is often called the “Venice of Portugal”. There are canals through the city and are part of the Ria de Aveiro, a coastal lagoon.

One of the Aveiro Canals

Once we arrived, we parked the car and set off on foot.

Shelley, Janice, Scott and Ray along the canal in Aveiro

We spent the rest of the day simply wandering through the streets and along the canals.

There was plenty to see, from the colourful buildings and tiled facades to the little bridges and boats moving through the waterways.

And, of course, exploring Aveiro wouldn’t be complete without trying some of the local food and drinks.

Janice enjoying a Pineapple drink in Aveiro

The best part of travelling through Portugal wasn’t the castles, the canals, the food or even the beautiful scenery. It was being able to share it all with Janice and Scott. Having them along for the adventure made every stop, every meal and every little discovery that much more special.

The places we visit may become memories, but the moments we share with family are the ones we carry with us long after the journey is over.

“Onde quer que vás, torna-se parte de ti de alguma forma.” – Anita Desai

Portugal

A day along the duero river in Porto

Today our plan was to walk throughout the city exploring along the Duero River area.  We spent the first part of our day wandering through the streets near the river. We came to many interesting buildings and sites.  At lunch we decided to stop at a cute outdoor spot.

Janice, Shelley, Scott and Ray enjoying a refreshment before the meal.

The service there was awesome our waiter was supper attentive and he was so happy to meet 4 Canadians.

Our waiter with Scott and us

We decided to follow the river and just enjoy the scenery. The riverfront was alive with lots of people, restaurants and cafés.

We came to an outdoor market area selling every type of souvenir or Porto products.

We spent some time walking through the market and of course, we couldn’t walk past Porto without sampling some of the local Port wine.

We found a beautiful spot along the river, sat back with a glass, and decided that sightseeing was definitely better with wine!

As the afternoon started turning into evening, we made our way to the gondola.

We were told the best place to watch the sunset was on the bridge and the Gondola brought us almost to that very spot.

Janice and Scott on the Gondola ride to the top.

So we climbed aboard and slowly rose above the city.

Looking down at the river and across toward the famous bridges, we could really appreciate just how beautiful this city is. When we reached the top we found a spot near the bridge and settled in to watch the sun go down.

on the bridge waiting to see the sunset.

The light began to change, the buildings started glowing, and the river reflected the colours of the evening.

Our day had started with no particular plan and ended with a glass of Port, a gondola ride and a beautiful sunset over Porto. Not a bad way to spend a day!

“A vida é uma viagem, não um destino.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Life is too short to wait for adventure!