Hacienda Montija Huelva

... everywhere we went there was a lot of land for sale. If we had the money and time, I think I would want to buy a vineyard around the Peneda Geres overlooking the lake or somewhere in the west Algarve region. Both areas were gorgeous. Thirdly, the Portuguese are the close-talkers of driving. Even if they're happy with the speed you're going, they're going to be about five inches from your bumper. Throughout both Spain and Portugal they have markings on the road to ...

... was never happier than when I was cycling amongst them. For myself I never doubted that I could complete the journey, but I confess there were a few times when I wondered just how well I would complete it. A disappointment was missing the Logroño to Burgos leg through an upset stomach, but at least I discovered that Spanish buses will carry a bicycle! (Surprisingly I was told the only trains that would carry the bike were those that run at night.) An ...

... shoulder and when the bad surface became endless road works things went from bad to worse. The satnav did not help when it directed me into a town where every street was cobbled - ever ridden a bike over cobbles? Not very nice. And for the first time on the trip I had been unable to resupply with juice. Shops hadn´t been open the day before (Sunday) and supermarkets do not open until 10 am, so I went over 30 km in ...

... the last major town in Spain before the Portuguese border. This is a port on the estuary of the Rio Tinto. Yes, it is that Rio Tinto and it really is red, well, a muck brown colour running through red sands. Many miles upstream is one of the largest opencast mines in Europe. The estuary is a mass of oil refineries, complete with the smoke and smell. However, across the river from Huelva is the little village and monastery ...

ARRIVED from Sevilla i was trying to get to lisbon, portugal but the train line stopped in Huelva. the bus from there to portugal didnt leave for 8 hours (it was a holiday, so everything was closed, i couldnt even find anything to eat except at the bus station and no cars and no map so i wasnt about to hitchhike) not much to do all day other than my usual- skateboard, nap, read, walk around... DEPARTED to somewhere in Portugal

... I have no idea. I feel llike its something I should know, but alas, its lost in translation. The next day we went to this amazing spa in the basement of a swanky hotel. I was expectng a pool, maybe a sauna. I was quite wrong. The whole area was built to look like a cave. There were hottubs, cold tubs, saunas, massage pool thingsy. My legs felt like they had died in the hour and a half I was there. That's how relaxed I was. It was a complete ...

... er van de rietpiepers die met prachtige geluiden zelfs het motor geronk overstemmen. In Alcoutim laten we opnieuw het anker zakken, ook hier liggen op deze ankerplaats veel schepen met uiteenlopende nationaliteiten. Aan de Spaanse kant ligt Sanlucar de Guadiana, beide plaatsen zijn rijk aan historie en hebben elk een fort. Opnieuw is het erg warm en 'smiddags gaat de wind weer blazen, maar komt nu van de zuidoostkant en is erg warm mogelijk is dat dan de ...

... up for the day. Javier Yolanda and I walked into town and ate Tortilla (a Spanish potato omelet) for lunch before hitting the local Corte Ingles (the Spanish version of Target) for some beauty products for Yolanada. Javier left us half way through the shopping trip to head to a catering job for the evening and Yolanda and I finished shopping and headed home. On the way, I remembered I wanted to buy a sim card so I could have a cell phone, now ...

... of Caballeros (Spanish Cowboys) on their decorated horses (these asses have shaved.....asses, Vanilla-Ice style, Radical dude!), pilgrims with walking sticks and bandanas making the trek on foot and hundreds horse drawn tissue-decorated wagons driven by men and boys in traditional spanish garb with women and girls dressed in traditional flamenco dresses seated out the back. All sing and play instruments as as the stop and start procession slowly makes its 2 day ...

... out the melee and usher groups to their tables. We were presented with the water list. We thought we'd misheard. But, no, the choice of waters runs to four columns. A bellini of cuvee, peach and strawberry puree and salmon caviar sorted out even the most belligerent of the chilled diners and an electric calm settled over the dining room. Dinner comprised twenty-seven courses. The first fifteen and the final nine required only a bite or two. The others were more ...