Porto, Portugal- October

At the mouth of the Rio Duoro, this hilly city is both modern and decaying; a brand-spanking new metro system travels right past crumbling townhouses that haven't been renovated since they were built hundreds of years ago.  But it still holds a certain amount of charm, even for being the second largest city in Portugal (behind, you guessed it, Lisbon).  There are medieval and windy alleyways, never-ending staircases, baroque churches, cute plazas and some amazing views.  Porto's historic center is a Unesco World Heritage zone that you could spend days getting lost in.  Cross the famed Dona Maria Bridge, built by none other than Gustave Eiffel, and you enter the world of port wine (where it was originated and the only place it is produced).  Some wine is still brought by wooden barrel on adorable boats into the city- see pictures below. 

Scattered across the hillside are various port houses offering tours and tastings, with restaurants and bars lining the riverwalk.  Oporto, as it's referred to across Europe, is the birthplace of Prince Henry the Navigator and, some people say, the birthplace of Harry Potter (author J. K. Rowling was living in Porto as an English teacher when she started writing her first book).  A visit in spring or summer would be much more lively than fall but it was a weekend well spent (and so close I just might have to go back again soon!)

City of Oporto with boats carrying port

What the city is known for!

Port tasting with Dana and Allie

Their metro system is about 1/4 as large as Madrid's

Church by night

Rio Duoro and Dona Maria Bridge

Dona Maria Bridge

City Hall

Sunset on the Duoro

Who does this?  (I hope you can see what I'm talking about...)

Port Hill

Another day... more port.

Até a vista, Linds

Magical Segovia

What other word could you use to describe the birthplace of Sleeping Beauty’s castle? Legend has it that the Alcazar in Segovia was the inspiration behind many of Walt Disney’s storybook castles. And it’s no wonder why. With Rapunzel towers, turrets with witches’ hats and a very deep moat, this fairy-tale castle leaves you feeling like you’re in a movie. The current structure is actually a reconstruction, though, because the original was burnt down in 1862.

Side View

Front Entrance

That little speck is me!

Guarding the castle!

Stained glass inside

Her knight in shining armor!

What's under there?!

The views from the Torre de Juan II are amazing and put the town’s hilltop location in perspective.

The cathedral in the distance

As if the Alcazar wasn’t enough, Segovia’s most recognizable symbol is an extraordinary feat of engineering, made even more remarkable by the fact that is was first raised here by the Romans in the 1st century AD. To top it off, not a speck of mortar was used to the hold the whole thing together.

View down the aqueduct with people below

Other side

Up close view

The 728m granite block aqueduct is made up of 163 arches and is part of a complex system of aqueducts and underground canals which once brought water from the mountains to the town. At its highest point it is 28m high!

As if this wasn’t enough, the cathedral in town is quite impressive as well. Started in 1525, this cathedral is the final expression of Gothic architecture in Spain that took almost 200 years to complete.

Cathedral

Plaza Mayor

From a distance...

Another view

I would highly recommend a day trip to this intriguing and fascinating city full of the sights and sounds that Spain is famous for.

Ciao!  ~Linds

Toledo

Toledo is known as "La Ciudad Imperial" or Imperial City for a reason; it has mosques, synagogues, churches and museums that could keep you occupied for days and narrow streets, plazas and inner patios that will keep you lost for weeks.  Toledo is perched on a rocky ridge above the Rio Tajo, about a half hour south of Madrid, giving you a view of nearby villages and the surrounding countryside.  The Gothic cathedral is the centerpiece of any trip to this town and the former inhabitants of Roman, Jewish and Muslim descent leave you intrigued by their architectural and cultural viewpoints.  The charm of this medieval town is that it seems to still be stuck back in time.

On the train, bright and early!

Representing!

Gorgeous alleys and buildings

Doorway to a hidden street

City walls

Facade of the cathedral

The details are amazing

The Alcazar

The translations always make me laugh!

One of the town's many statues

(making me feel right at home!)

Ciao for now, Linds

First visitor-- Mom!

Even before I had booked my ticket to Madrid, my Mom had found an amazing deal-- flight out of Phoenix for $200.  Many people asked her, "Are you sure it's roundtrip?" and in fact it was.  We had a wonderful time exploring Madrid and the surrounding areas, eating good food, drinking good wine and chatting up a storm -- like mother, like daughter...  She even came to school one day and met all my wonderful students  (makes you miss teaching, doesn't it Mom?)  It was a relief to see a familiar face and exciting to show someone around my new "home."  Being a tourist in your own city gives you the chance to do all the things you typically wouldn't do:  visit the museums and attractions, eat at the "tourist" restaurants, take the silly pictures, etc. 

Parque Retiro on a gorgeous day!

Statue in Parque Retiro

Cathedral

Palacial Fountain

Temple de Debod

Sol (my neighborhood)-- Km. 0:  The point at which all roads in Spain are measured from

No trip to Spain would be complete without churros and chocolate!

Although I was ecstatic to see my Mom, I was also excited to see all the rest of my things (i.e. my clothes and shoes!) that didn't make it in the initial move.  Even more so, seeing all my beloved American essentials that they don't have here made it feel like Christmas in October!  Doesn't the old saying go, "You don't realize what you have until it's taken away from you..."  I didn't realize how much I'd miss peanut butter, Orbit gum and the standard ice cube tray.  Yes, you read correctly.  Ice cube trays.  You have no idea...

The motherload... and to think there was twice that plus my clothes not in the picture!

Coincidentally, at the same time my Mom was here, my college roommate was also passing through.  It had been a few years since we had seen each other so we had lots to catch up on... the gossip continues even 5 years after we've graduated!  Although we didn't find a crescent moon to take a picture with (Go, Go Gamma Phi) we did take the classic Arches photo... be on the lookout, Loggers!

I can't wait to welcome even more visitors into my home and my new city.  Please, come and stay a day or two or even a week (as long as you bring some candy along...), I'd love to see you all.

Plaza Mayor

Living the good life...

Abrazos de Madrid,  Linds