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This blog is about the adventure of traveling and especially the interesting people that you meet. We will share stories about people and places we have encountered from around the United States, Ireland, Scotland, England, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France, Canada, Spain, Mexico, The Vatican, The Netherlands, Belgium, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Liechtenstein, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and more. This is not a travelogue -- we leave that to Rick Steves -- this is a collection of fragments in the journey of life.


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Monday, October 31, 2016

Lunch on the beach at Monte Gordo

On our way from Gibraltar to Seville, we turned west along the Atlantic coast of  southern Portugal. We drove along the brightly sunlit cities that are sometimes called the Portuguese Riviera.  Taking our time through some of the smaller towns, we pulled into a parking lot at the beach. Long boardwalks went out the sand to the sea. We found several cafes right on the sand and chose one for lunch. There were fresh fish to pick out for lunch if you wanted one. People dined while sunbathing. As we were driving, there was no "porto" for me, just the ever present Coca-Cola. We could have stayed a week, but needed to get back on the road. 
I do not know how to say in Portuguese: "Plan to be back." 

Sunday, October 30, 2016

The African Pillar of Hercules

The African Pillar of Hercules as seen from Gibraltar   - the European Pillar of Hercules. The water is the Straights of Gibraltar. The distance is 14 miles. Taken with long lens.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Apes on Gibraltar

Marietta McLellan took this picture of a family of Apes on the Rock of Gibraltar. 
There are 250 apes in several groups on the Rock. Their population is controlled by
birth control. They are also immunized and kept healthy. While pests, they are
also tourist attractions. Please look at the upper left corner of the photo. 
That is the harbor of Gibraltar ------- and a long way down!

Friday, October 28, 2016

The Royal Palace, Madrid, Spain.

Looks a little like Buckingham, but it is not the official residence anymore. It is now more of a museum and a beautiful one, at that. This is a good visit, and when we were there, included in the entry fee was an important gallery showing. When we arrived to go in, the line was huge, but we discovered that the long line was for free admission for Spanish residents. There was a short line for non-Spanish who had to pay.

Monday, October 24, 2016

The Rock of Gibraltar

Don't look down... I like to look out the window when flying at 35,000 feet in a plane. I don't mind walking over the Golden Gate Bridge. But, it was a two Valium experience to drive up the Rock of Gibraltar. Our guide had a pretty new Mercedes van wider than the road (well that's an exaggeration) and you could look straight down at times (this is no exaggeration). The photo above is of the Mediterranean coast on the south side of The Rock. That is a senior citizens housing unit below. I did not have to lean out to take this picture and, at that, I used some telephoto. The fence below is to catch the falling rocks so they do not roll into the building. Dang.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Frogs in an Alhambra Pool

Walking through the gardens of the Alhambra in Granada, I saw a pool filled with lily-pads. After my first glance I realized that some of the pads were moving. I took this photo and I see five frogs for sure. If you have a larger screen than my laptop, you may see more.

Saturday, October 22, 2016

Friday, October 21, 2016

Spanish Market

In Barcelona, off The Rambla, there is a giant food market with stall after stall
of wonderful and mysterious foods.  A maze of fruits, vegetables, meats and cheeses,
if you were not hungry when you walked in, you soon will be.
I am not a major foodie, but I found it wonderful.
Do you know how many kinds of olives there are?

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Churches in Southern Spain

This is a photo of a large church near our hotel in Granada Spain. In Spain there seems to be a church in every block. They are pretty and subsidized by the government.  The general population does not go except on a few days a year. They tell the story of people as individuals and as a group. Time spent visiting them is an opportunity to encounter the best art of each age.