Cultura Nueva

With a week left before our return we found summer heat and dusty camping on the central plain. Decided to find a small city to rest up and reflect on our travel before leaving. After a nice afternoon exploration of Avila we worked our way to Aranjuez about 50 km south of Madrid. It is one of the Royal Estates of the Crown of Spain since Philip II of Spain named it so in 1560. 

We stayed in a small hostal in a room opening onto a beautiful courtyard cooled by potted plants and hanging vines. Many walks gave us the chance to observe and be a part of the present-day culture of Spain. Families in the plazas every evening, odd mealtimes and a general sense that people were happy, well connected and for the most part content in a tough economic time.

The walled city of Avila. Quite a bit more like St. Augustine
 than its industrial sister city Aviles. At least in my opinion.

Our hostal courtyard in Aranjuez

Fountain of Apollo in the Prince's Garden

Walking to the Palacio

Palace of the Spanish monarchs, Aranjuez

An afternoon social

Into the bullring

Evening refreshment in the plaza

The old Strawberry Line to Madrid

Continuum

River Camping

We returned to Almaa for a night and started our eastern return to Madrid. With no particular place to go as usual we headed for the Spanish border. Found a camping (campismo) at Penacova on the Mondego River east of Coimbra. Hiked along the river and into the village where we enjoyed a comida of fish and potatoes.

Campismo Penacova

Fertile river plain

Peixe e batatas

Crossing the border we continued toward Salamanca. We camped for several nights at Camping Don Quixote along the River Tormes. It was a fun place with a lively bar and restaurant. Spain had beat Portugal in the Euro Cup while we were in Lisbon and we were in the bar at Don Quixote when they beat Italy for the title. Quite a crazy scene. 

We ventured into Salamanca but quickly returned to our camp on the river...

Downtown Salamanca... cities are always a driving test

Celebrating the Spanish win... with game time snacks....

Late evening river walk

Lisboa

We arrived in NYC July 10 after 10 weeks on the Iberian peninsula. The car was in one piece... over 4500 kilometers later. And we are fit and full of memories. Let's get back to the story-

We left the car parked on the street in Sintra against a rock wall, hoped for the best and caught a train for Lisbon for a few days. Our friend Kamala gave us a hostel she liked and we checked in before heading out to Belem on the west side. We visited the maritime museum and the river front. 

For the next four days we enjoyed the fado houses, late night street parties and exotic neighborhoods named Chiado, Bairro Alto and Alfama. We met our friend Manuela who took us wonderful places we would never have found. Lisbon is a wild, funky and culturally rich city. Maybe our new favorite....

We could always find our hostel, the door to the right of the peep show...

Vasco de Gama leads the Portuguese heroes 

Oceanario

We ate our breakfast looking out our hostel window 

Fado singer in Lisboa.

Funicular to the Bairro Alto

Off to school

St. George

The Botanical Gardens are full of exotic plants.

The monestery at Placa di Carmo

A sculpture show at the Archaeology Museum

Impromptu gathering overlooking the River Tagus

Alfama Flea Market

The Alfama

Lots of choices... all good