San Sebastian & Bordeaux

Sorry have been a bit busy and haven't updated for a few days...
Travelled fom Tolosa to San Sebastian on Easter Monday. Only a short trip for a change so had the afternoon to look around the old city. Late afternoon we caught a bus to a medieval town - Hondaribbia - some lovely old structures once again, but it was one cathedral too far for Dave, he didn't bother going through it. You can actually see France across the water which I found quite strange.  Went down to the fishermans street and had a wine and calamari then bussed back home. Only the one day here. Next day destination France.
Took train to just over the border - Hondaye, then caught train to Bordeaux. 2 days here. Lovely city with a nice feel to it (apart from lots of dog poo on the pavements), Dave had his strength back and we went through Bordeaux Cathedral and St Michel's, both amazing buildings. Unfortunately the stained glass windows don't seem to show up very well on our tablet photos. Just wandering around looking at the old apartment buildings as well was interesting.

Burgos & Tolosa

Raining in Burgos during our tourist period however we managed to walk 2k to the old town and took photos. Another amazing cathedral followed by black pudding and sangria for lunch. Good Friday and full of people on holiday and locals going to church.
In the evening we had a meal in a building built in 1506, now a bar, full of locals (simple but great authentic food) and plenty of wine. Shared a bottle with Barb and had a go at drinking out of a porron (like a small carafe with a spout on it). Quite an art not fully mastered first time around. Unfortunately didn't have the camera to capture the moment!

Bus to Tolosa the next day (Fine), started raining as we arrived.  Quiet walk around the town, siesta, dinner then bed.
This morning got our guide map and wandered around the local highlights. Another cathedral,  but on  a smaller scale. Only 20,000 people live here, lovely spot. Rowing crews out on the river and lots of people out walking in the sunshine (yes we had a sunny day). Local tourist office put us on to the local cider house for a meal and cider tasting/drinking, straight from the barrel. Made some Basque friends who adopted us. Great afternoon, no need for dinner.

Vigo and Ponferrada

Rain followed us to Vigo... The 300 metre walk from train to hotel turned out to be over a km, and the rain got heavier as we walked. Arrived at hotel saturated! Managed to dry clothes with a heater overnight. Only one night in Vigo so it was rainjackets on again the next morning to check out the castle(vandalised and unloved) and old Celtic settlement which was listed as 3 BC to 3 AD, a bit confused whether that was  years or centuries... Then onto the train to Ponferrada in the afternoon. 5 hour trip.
Ponferrada is on the Pilgrim trail. Also has an amazing old Templar castle (12th century) added on to in 13th, 14th, 15th centuries. Lots of preservation work has been done.  It's amazing wandering around these really old places and imaging how life must have been back then. 
Went out at 10.30pm to watch the El Silencio Easter procession. Crowds of people watching and joining in.
Off to Burgos tomorrow

Porto

The second largest city in Portugal, half the size of Lisbon, with a much nicer feel to the city.
Returned the rental intact, just, a couple of hairy moments as we got into the city,  but Dave managed to avoid disaster.
We played tourists today, looked through a cathredal that was built in the 1100's, lots of gold leaf decoration, then through the Porto Cathredal, lots of amazing wooden carvings, and the catacombs next door.  Then we took a boat trip on the river for an hour which gave us a different perspective on the cityscape. After that we wandered over the bridge and did a bit of port tasting at some of the old port wineries. Offley established in 1762 and a couple of others... Very pleasant. Just got back to the hotel after 9 hours or so of wandering around. Will have a less touristy day tomorrow.

Portugal on the Coast

What a difference a day can make..... We picked up a rental car from Lisbon airport and made our escape.  Dave drove his first left hand drive car, and on the other side of the road..... a little fraught at times trying to navigate out of town and adjust to driving on the right, all at the same time, but it was a lot easier going when we got out of the city. Not sorry to leave Lisbon.
Drove to Nazare on the coast. A town based around fishing. The older women wear traditional clothing of skirt, blouse, shoulder wrap and headscarf. I asked a couple if I could take their photo as they looked so cute.
Had a really nice hotel room for 2 nights, but still within budget due to off peak discounts. Booking.com is great for finding the deals.
We backtracked down the coast on our second day(it's great having the rental) and visited Obidos, a little medieval village still surrounded by old walls. Drank a hot chocolate in the partial remains of a prison built in the 1100's.
Wednesday morning hit the road and headed on further up the coast to Figueira da Foz.  A bit bigger than Nazare, we have a place up on the hill and it is freezing tonight. Head off again tomorrow to go inland a bit to Vale da Cambra.

Lisbon

Last of 3 nights here. Hotel was a cheap deal, but it still surprised me a bit. Took  several attempts and different passwords to get the wi-fi going,  got upstairs to find we had to finish making our beds, then discovered no remotes for the aircon (essential for drying the washing!), and the Tv and a sloping roof we have to keep ducking  down under. Also has to be the smallest shower box I have ever seen, you can't have both elbows out at once soaping yourself! 
Maybe all this clouded my first impressions of Lisbon, but I haven't felt that comfortable here. Felt better wandering the medinas at night in Morocco than I have felt here. When you look around there are some lovely old buildings and the differently painted houses, but  there is also rampant graffiti everywhere that makes the place look unloved.
We did wander through a pretty amazing 500 year old monastery today though.
Tomorrow we hope to grab a rental car   and head up the coast.  We are hoping the smaller coastal towns might be more to our liking.

Spain to Portugal

Finished off wandering in Seville, in the sunshine this time. Had a tour through a 250 year old bullring, don't think I could watch a fight but it was interesting and apparently it still sells out everytime.
Bussed up to Merida on Thursday, a World Heritage site due to all the preserved 1st century Roman sites and a few Visigoth ones too(6th century). See a few photos below. We took heaps.  Quite amazing walking over a 2000 yr old bridge!
Bussed to Lisbon yesterday (Fri), just ate and then hit the sack.