Hermosos países

The clouds cleared as we climbed on the winding highway heading north into south central Spain. It had been overcast since our arrival three days earlier on the shores of the Alboran Sea in picturesque Marbella. Linda and I were not complaining since the temperature was getting to the high teens each day, a far cry from what we would have experienced in January if we were at home. I was excited to leave clouds behind and witness a clear deep blue sky ahead as we reached the higher altitudes. 

The road was in great condition with a well maintained one-lane paved highway and proper signage. I was very thankful for the generous roadside barriers which protected vehicles from the very steep cliffs and rock formations. It reminded me of the drive along California State Route 1. Most surprising was the immensity of the mountains and view for miles, which I did not know existed in the south of Spain (there are a lot of things I would learn in the next days about Spain and Portugal!). Although we had the GPS on the little screen of the car working from time to time, at one point I asked Linda to do a little verification to confirm when we would actually reach the top of the mountains… “No cell service. Sorry, keep going!”, she replied. Ok, now we are talking, a real adventure! 

There is really too much I want to write about our adventure to Spain and Portugal for a simple blog, but regardless I could not resist sharing some pictures. As my sage friend Bruno suggested a few days ago, maybe I will write a book or longer piece about it one day.

So for now, I hope you enjoy this ‘Photo Blog’!

For some context, here are some facts about Spain and Portugal:

Spain: 

1. The population is just under 48 Million. Bigger than Canada.
2. It has a total area of 506,000 square km. It fits inside the province of Manitoba!
3. Spain has been a constitutional monarchy since the late 1970s, and is now considered a democracy with a King (Felipe VI).
4. The official language is Spanish.
5. The Capital is Madrid. The third largest city in Europe. Who knew!
6. A massive olive producing country, with tourism driving the economy.
7. Known for great wines and food… Tapas please!
8. Beaches, sand, sun, heat, leisure.
9. Real Madrid FC is BIG, with Rafael Nadel a national icon.
10. Eat late and dance all night.

Portugal:

1. The population is 10 Million. Smaller than I thought.
2. It has a total area of 92,000 square km. It fits inside Newfoundland Island.
3. Portugal had a monarchy until 1910, then an authoritarian government until 1974, followed by a democratic republic.
4. Portuguese is the official language.
5. The capital is Lisbon, with a metropolitan area population of close to 3 million.
6. The world’s largest cork producing country, with tourism driving the economy.
7. Known for numerous Michelin rated restaurants… Sardines anyone? 
8. The amazing Algarve region, Fado music, Azulejo tiles, beaches.
9. Football (soccer) is big, and Cristiano Ronaldo even bigger.
10. Don’t look at your watch and chill out.
    
    
    
    All photos by Daniel J Demers and Linda Demers.
    
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The Puente Nuevo Bridge in Ronda, Spain, is a thing of beauty. We drove through the valley below to take this picture. Amazingly, the bridge is only one of the wonders of this city. It was the site of an ancient Iberian settlement and known in Roman times as Acinipo. The Moors were present from the 5th to 15th century, until Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella reconquered in 1485.

The ‘Catedral de Sevilla’ is as impressive as St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is one of the largest churches in the world and the largest Gothic church. Along with the adjoining Giralda bell tower it is a Unesco World Heritage Site. When Linda and I visited the immense church we arrived at the main chapel and said “This is really big, and beautiful”. Later, I would research that the altarpiece is the largest in the world. I never knew Seville had such beauty and history - the benefit of travel!

The Tomb of Christopher Columbus has been located in the Seville Cathedral since 1899. There are quite a bit of stories and speculation about the movement of his body since his death in 1506. Interestingly, he was born in Italy but he became legendary as leader of four Spanish transatlantic expeditions of discovery to the Americas.

The urban beach of Playa Santa María del Mar in Cádiz, Spain. Cádiz is located on the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe. We were lucky to spend an afternoon walking the streets and beachside paths of this port town. There is even an ancient Roman theatre which was discovered only in 1980… Crazy! ​

Food is a very big part of the experience in both countries, and luckily available at reasonable prices. The traditional Portuguese cod dishes are at Delfina in Lisbon (Linda said as she finished her first bite: “This is the best codfish dish ever”. The burrata 'pesto' was at Restaurante El Botánico in Madrid on our last day before heading home. We pretty much always had local cerveza with our meals.

The Algarve region is at the southern end of Portugal and breathtaking. We stayed there for three nights in the quiet season and can only imagine how ‘happening’ the region gets in the peak season. Super laid back and slow is the culture.

The Tram passing in front of the Sé de Lisboa. Linda took many shots of this scene as we kept saying: “This city is like San Francisco!”. The hills, the bridge, the tram, the bay, the fog, and the nearby beaches culminate to make the resemblance very real. Unlike Madrid, this city feels older, steeped in tradition, with incredible architecture and unique cuisine.  

The Lisbon City Hall. Linda utilized a style of photography that we dubbed “The Reflections Series” during our adventure. Like we feel when we are in Quebec City, Lisbon is equally beautiful at night. This was taken minutes before going into Delfina for that awesome cod dish.   

This is Fado singer Tina Santos at the Bohemia LX Sé in Lisbon. A little restaurant tucked away in the shadow of the Sé, serving traditional dishes. Linda and I were lucky to run into this place and attend an evening of Fado. She was joined by two guitarists and additional singers. It was truly a unique musical and cultural experience that we both will remember forever. 

This is the Ler Devagar (meaning ‘Read Slowly’) Bookstore. It was named one of the top ten most beautiful in the world, and published in the New York Times and other outlets all over the globe. I posted a few more pictures during our visit. It is a must-see for any book lover or author!

We stumbled upon these two musicians at the end of a Friday afternoon in Lisbon. Casually entertaining locals and tourists, they depict the strong culture of music in Portugal. In the background you see the Tagus River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

From Linda’s ‘Reflections Series’, the Royal Palace of Madrid at night. Apologies to my UK friends and fans of London, but the size and architecture surpases Buckingham Palace (in my humble opinion). Madrid surprised us with its rich history, majestic buildings, and modern feel. Walking the city you definitely have the sense that you are enjoying one of the grand cities of the world.  

Flamenco performance at the Las Tablas in Madrid. Like the Fado evening in Lisbon, this was a wonderful cultural experience. The energy which was displayed by Paco Hidalgo (sitting left side) and Lucia Ruibal (center stage) was impressive. Another must-see in Spain. ​

Sunset in Luz, Portugal.