A Day on the Cies Islands in Galicia, Spain

Mar 22, 2017 By Patty Moss

More heaven on earth…

The beaches of Galicia are regarded as sone of the best in Spain…and there are a lot of them. This area really is a beach mecca and we will discover the most notable ones in the area. Famous for their fine white sand and crystal clear water, most Spainards flock to this area of Spain themselves for vacation.

On our tour, PORTUGAL NORTHWARD TO SPAIN, June 13 – 25, 2017, we will spend a day on the Cies Islands. There are no hotels or roads on the islands, just a camping site and a few beach bars. The Cies islands are also a natural bird preserve. Aside from the seagulls, there are pairs of Iberian Guillemots, a bird species that is almost extinct, larger birds of prey and busy woodpeckers.

The destination will be Rodas Beach, voted by The Guardian as the ‘most beautiful beach in the world’. Spend a day on Rodas Beach. Relax, walk, discover its coves and enjoy a meal at one of the local hang-outs.

Galicia brings in more fish, shellfish and crustaceans than any other region in Spain (or Eurpoe, for that matter) and the Galicians regard it as their staple diet. Typical Galician dishes include: Pulpo a la Feira (octopus), Empanadas (stuffed with fish, scallops, tuna or octopus) and Salpicon de Mariscos (seafood salad). The area is known for its clams, cockles, razor clams, spider crab, shrimp, lobster, and ‘percebes’ or goose-neck barnacles. If you can’t decide on just one, we can always order a mariscada or a huge seafood platter.

For those that don’t like or can’t eat seafood, there is a range of other meat or vegetarian options in Glaicia. Try the Lacon Con Grelos (pork shoulder with greens, Churrasco (barbecued meat) or Caldo Gallego (Galician stew).

This will be a great beach day…and who couldn’t use that ??

Portugal Northward To Spain Itinerary At-A-Glance (June 13-25, 2017)

Mar 15, 2017 By Patty Moss

Lisbon & Sintra, Portugal

Join us as we discover the Baixa and Alfalma districts in Lisbon. Take in the views of the Tagus River from the Elevador de Santa Justa and St. George’s Castle. Visit the Monument to the Discoveries, Belem Tower and Jeronimos Monastery. Learn about Manueline architecture unique to Portugal. Enjoy a day in Sintra to visit Pena Palace, the opulent home of a Portugese king. Dine on grilled local seafood while gazing over the Atlantic. Also not to be missed: Lisbon’s famous custard pastries!

Porto, Portugal

Visit this beautiful city on the banks of the Duoro River, fast becoming one of Europe’s hottest destinations. Home of port wine, taste with us at some of Porto’s famous port tasting houses along the banks of the river. Enjoy a walking tour through this city taking in the riverside district, the Se Cathedral, the Lello Bookstore (one of the top ten in the world), the Majestic Cafe (home to writers, artists and thinkers of the 1920’s). Did we mention wonderful restaurants and shopping? Porto has some of the best in Euope !

The Douro River Valley, Portugal

Spend a one day cruise in The Douro River Valley where port wine has been made since the 17th century and shipped down the Douro River to Porto. The Douro River runs across the Iberian Peninsula through Spain and Portugal into the Atlantic ending in Porto. Fall in love with the picturesque terraced vineyards and ‘quintas’ (port-making houses). Taste and learn about port winemaking as it was done 100 years ago. No fancy technology here. Enjoy the scenery – it’s out of this world!

Cies Islands, Spain

The Galicians call this string of islands “The Galician Seychelles”. Rodas Beach on the Cies Islands was voted the ‘Most Beautiful Beach in the World’ by The Guardian. Backed by forest and fine white sand dunes leading down to a curved sliver of beach, the calm lagoon of turquoise crystal-clear water is breathtaking. It’s easy to see why this is one of the top beaches in the world. There are several walking trails to help explore the island. There also are no hotels, cars or bikes. We will arrive by boat. A perfect day relaxing on this beautiful beach!

Galicia, Spain (think Seafood)

Galicia, the green, rainy region in Spain’s northwest corner, is famous for (arguably) the best seafood in the country. With almost 1500 kilometers of coastline, the choices of local catch are plentiful: octopus, scallops,
‘mariscos’ or shellfish such as lobster, prawns, crab, shrimp, clams, cockles, razor clams and mussels are just some of the choices. Pair that with Galicia’s Albarino wine and you have heaven!

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

A UNESCO World Heritage site and the capital of Galicia, this city is most known as the final destination of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes (there are three) at the Cathedral de Santiago de Compestola. Consecrated in 1271, the cathedral is the burial place of the apostle St. James. With it’s elaborate towers and carved stone facades covered with bells, stars, crosses and weathercocks, it opens onto a grand plaza. The old streets of Santiago that run up to the cathedral are some of its pleasures to be discovered. A medieval charm like no other city.

The Camino de Santiago

Walk 3-4 miles on a rural section of the French Camino and experience its culture and traditions. Meet pilgrims who have been walking for days and miles. Stop at a typical family-owned restaurant visited by pilgrims on their journey and enjoy the local fare. Our guides will tell you about their experience walking the full Camino with their children. Learn about the history of this pilgrimage dating back to the 9th century.

Rocks, The Blue Sea & Salvadore Dali On Spain’s Cap De Creus

Aug 9, 2016 By Patty Moss

Spain’s Cap de Creus is a rocky peninsula on the northern-most coast of Spain. Home to Cap de Creus National Park, this area is characterized by jagged volcanic rock formations, the azure sea, crashing waves, hidden sandy beaches and the home of Salvadore Dali, it is a check mark for anyone’s bucket list.

Our fall tour, BARCELONA & THE COSTA BRAVA: A CULTURAL & CULINARY ADVENTURE will take us to Cap de Creus for four nights. We will stay in the park where our hotel is a stone’s throw from the water. We’ll be able to walk to the beach, hike along the trails and find hidden beaches. This is a place where life slows waaay….down. The scenery is other-worldly.

This was Salvadore Dali’s home base where he lived, played and worked. He spent hours walking along the rugged shore observing the light, shadow and rock formations. This landscape immediately causes the mind to race trying to figure out what the rock formations look like… camels, birds, rabbits? Standing high on one of the many peaks in the Cap de Creus National Park, it’s hard not to imagine yourself an adventurer, looking toward the horizon and wondering what could lie beyond. Just like it was for Dali, this is inspiring landscape beckoning you to create in order to capture the moment of the intense beauty of this primitive coastline.

The town of Cadaques, a picturesque fishing village nearby, is filled with cafes,boutiques and local artisan shops. It is a picture postcard of fishing boats bobbing on the water set against whitewashed buildings covered in bouganvillas. It is an enchanting place and will be our hub while on the Costa Brava. Get your paella, your menu of the day or the fresh catch just off the boat. Tapas abound…

You can see Dali’s influence in Cadaques. We will visit his home at Port Lligatt on Cap de Creus and well as his restaurant in town. It was Cadaques where he found peace and energy to create.

We will take to the hiking trails of Cap de Crus National Park which cover the peninsula. Our guides will pack a picnic lunch of local foods and we’ll spend the day exploring the coastline and the hidden beaches. We’ll hike to the light house and walk down the cliffs to the ocean.

We can’t think of a more lovely place to visit! So, we’ll stay….for awhile.

Camaraderie, discovery, learning… what our tours are about!

Registration Deadline is August 19, book your trip here!

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