We have just returned from a 23 day holiday in which we visited the Algarve, (Portugal), and Andalucia, (southern Spain).
During this time we stayed in 8 hotels, 2 of them for 1 week each and the others for either 1 or 2 nights.
After setting off, our first 1 night stop was Santa Elena, still in Spain but half-way to the Algarve.
On the Algarve we stayed for 1 week at Carvoeiro, a delightful fishing village which had embraced tourism.
The coastline is really interesting with small coves dotted along the coast. That's the Atlantic ocean out there.
And the town has it's own beach. Wonderful!
The hotel we stayed in was modern...
...with many interesting features.
For 2 nights we met up with our friends Fiona and Justin from England who were staying at a resort closeby.
There were plenty places to visit. One day we traveled to the inland town of Silves...
...with it's very Portuguese tiling,...
...impressive statues,...
...a well preserved castle,...
...lovely plants,...
...well tended gardens,...
...very detailed monuments...
...and, of course, nesting storks.
A beautiful sunset ended another perfect day.
Another day we visited Portimão just 12 km away.
Portimão is a much larger town with high rise hotels for the tourists and large sandy beaches.
We love the mosaic tiling on the walkways...
...as well as the bridge over the Rio Arade.
One topic that we became interested in during our stay on the Algarve was that of the house chimneys.
In fact, we have published 151 photos of different chimneys. To see them, click HERE.
We never thought we would become "chimney snobs" but after studying so many of them, only special ones, either very old, double ones or highly decorated, become worth a second look!
After 1 week in Carvoiero we stayed in Portugal for another night at the town of Tavira which is only 37 km from the Spanish border...
...and has a very large cobbled plaza.
to see all the photos of the Algarve, click HERE.
We crossed into Spain by ferry across the Rio Guadiana to Ayamonte - I didn't intend to, just the GPS took us that route!
In Ayamonte we stayed 2 nights at the Parador there. We could see the road bridge from Spain to Portugal from our room.
The next day we visited the town of Lepe. Lepe is the place that people in Spain make jokes about similar to the jokes in the UK made about people who live in Essex or Ireland. For example: Why do the people of Lepe drink their 4th coffee of the day from a glass? Because the doctor told them to drink only 3 cups per day! Lepe is a very nice place.
After that, a visit to the city of Huelva for a look around.
After our 2 night stay at Ayamonte we headed to Sevilla for the next 2 nights...
...to stay in the rather grand Silken Al-Andalus Palace hotel.
We spent the next day exploring Sevilla...
...first, on the tourist bus...
...and then by foot to see the 16th century Catedral de Santa María de la Sede which is the largest Gothic cathedral as well as the largest cathedral in the world.
Everything about this building is impressive. The tourist entrance is around the side, not through the main door.
The ceilings are awesome...
...as are the altars.
We had to climb the bell tower, the Giralda, 105 metres high, which is a former minaret for the mosque which once stood on this site.
All around this central part of the city are the horses with their carriages.
Quite close by, and certainly worth a visit, is the Iglesia del Salvador which was once a Roman temple, then a mosque and now a brilliant example of Spanish Baroque worthy of the title of one of Sevilla's most beautiful churches.
To see all the photos of Sevilla, click HERE.
After our stay in Sevilla, we had 1 night at a lovely hotel in Carmona.
One of the nice things about Carmona is that is doesn't suffer from being swamped by tourists as Sevilla is...
...yet it still has many interesting features...
...and buildings.
To see more photos of Carmona, click HERE.
And then the relatively short journey to the Costa del Sol where we stayed for a week...
...at our apartment in the resort of Doña Lola and this is the view from our window.
During the week we went on the excursion to the market at Fuengirola, the largest in the region, after which we walk down to the front for a coffee and ice cream with our shopping.
We also went on the excursion to one of our favourite villages, Mijas, which is a typical Andaluz white-washed village some 450 metres above sea level.
While we were there we visited La Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña which had been excavated from the rock around 1548.
Just outside the ermita is a very peaceful. shaded area with great views.
Mijas is well known for it's donkey taxis as well as the horse drawn carriages. The donkey above which I am riding was rather frisky...
...whereas these 3 were very friendly.
Further up the side of the mountain in what is known as the Sierra de Mijas is the Ermita Del Calvario built in 1710. We may get up to see it at closer quarters next year!
So many of the streets are typical "picture postcard" views with their white buildings complete with balconies and geraniums.
Elsewhere, they are lined with shops selling everything the tourist could possibly want...
...even though a certain artist, Pablo, may not be that responsive!
One reason for visiting Mijas on a Wednesday is so we could see the weekly flamenco dance show. To see my video of some of the performance, click HERE.
A very beautiful village!
To see all the photos of Mijas, click HERE.
Another activity we partake in every year when we visit Doña Lola is the garden tour with loads of information about the plants from Curro who is in charge of entertainment for both the adults as well as the children.
And here is Curro, this time assuming the alias of Don Pepperoni as he is giving the children a class in pizza making.
The traditional photo of "Margaret in the window"...
...and the fish being fed!
A typical view for a relaxing afternoon!
And a delicious chateaubriand at the on-site restaurant, La Plaza Beach.
To see more photos of Doña Lola, click HERE.
The week at Doña Lola always goes by too quickly and we only had one more overnight stay in the small village of Peñolite...
...at a delightful Casa Rural which was more like a museum than a hotel.
To see all the photos of the amazing El Jaraiz de Peñolite, click HERE.
A terrific end to a wonderful holiday even though it was over a distance of 2,882 kilometres!
