Florida, Portugal, Spain, UK 2018

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FLL Landing
FLL Landing

Landed at FLL, Fort Lauderdale, on our way to the Florida Keys with our nephews and their parents. Related

Emergency Splinterectomy
Emergency Splinterectomy

An emergency splinterectomy was performed. The patient is doing well but has been advised not to associate too closely with palm trees. Related

Presidential Comb-Over
Presidential Comb-Over

The pelican with the POTUS “comb-over” waited patiently while our nephews reeled in then released its lunch. Related

Exploring by Boat
Exploring by Boat

Explored the Keys around Islamorada by boat. Our nephews (and their dad, and Dwight) braved the chilly 73°F water to explore a reef. Related

Gone Fishing
Gone Fishing

A day of simple activities at the resort. Related

En Route to Miami MIA
En Route to Miami MIA

Rode a train above yellow cabs, en route to Miami MIA. Next up: Lisbon, Portugal, on a rather cheap fare. Meanwhile, our nephews and their parents are in flight to MSP. Related

Sintra, Portugal
Sintra, Portugal

After an overnight flight from Miami to Lisbon, we kept moving to stay awake. Took a train to nearby Sintra where pastiche architecture, including Quinta da Regaleira, kept us conscious. Related

In the Steps of Rick Steves
In the Steps of Rick Steves

Our explorations of Lisbon were enhanced by @RickSteves informative audio tour. Related

Off to the Algarve
Off to the Algarve

Two trains then a bus took us from Lisbon Oriente Station to Odeceixe, a village in the Algarve. For the next week we plan to hike sections of the Rota Vicentina. Related

At the Edge of Europe
At the Edge of Europe

Walked along the edge of Europe. Related

Road to a Trailhead
Road to a Trailhead

From our room on this street, we walked past the windmill, through the hill town, then alongside a river until we reached a cliff trail. Related

Bus + Hike
Bus + Hike

Took a bus, then hiked to the village of Carrapateira in the Algarve, our base for the next two days. The trail took us across rolling hills and past olive trees, cork oak trees, and abandoned farms. Related

Rain Day
Rain Day

Rain gave us the opportunity to enjoy books in our €35 per night room. Related

Cataplana
Cataplana

Walked a relaxed 22 Km south on a ridge trail, to a village with fab coffee, over rolling hills, to our final stop on the Rota Vicentina trail system: Vila do Bispo. Choosing fish for dinner was too difficult so we ordered Cataplana, a wonderful Algarve version of bouillabaisse. Related

Hiking the Rota Vicentina, Southwest Portugal
Hiking the Rota Vicentina, Southwest Portugal

Posted Snapshots: Hiking the Rota Vicentina, Southwest Portugal. Related

Seville Laundromat
Seville Laundromat

Transferred my clothes from my boots (where they were stuffed to minimize the size of my backpack for a flight from Lisbon to Seville) to a washing machine. Related

Traveling with Cultural Baggage
Traveling with Cultural Baggage

Posted Traveling with Cultural Baggage. Related

A Quiet City
A Quiet City

Took a train to Antequera, a quiet city, two hours from the hubbub of Seville. My home for the next two nights. Related

Stepping Through Time
Stepping Through Time

Today, my Antequera explorations started in a 5,000 year-old tomb inside a burial mound, and progressed through Roman and Medieval times. Towards the end of the afternoon, a rainbow appeared over the face-like Peña de los Enamorados, The Rock of the Lover Related

Madonna Writhed Here
Madonna Writhed Here

I’m staying in an idiosyncratic hotel in Ronda, Andalusia, Spain. My suite fills three floors in a tower: 1st: Entrance, bathroom2nd: Sitting room3rd: Bedroom I’m going to get a lot of exercise tonight. Posted about the hotel: Madonna Writhed Here. Related

Not a Model
Not a Model

Explored vertiginous Ronda. Related

Hike + Train
Hike + Train

Hiked to another town. Took a train back. Related

Researching a Future Trip
Researching a Future Trip

I’m now researching a trip we’ll take in 2019 with our Spanish-speaking nephews and their parents. We’ll fly into Malaga, and may stay at a hotel with this view of the Mediterranean. Related

I Walked, They Danced
I Walked, They Danced

While I walked, they danced. Malaga. Related

Another Hotel to Review
Another Hotel to Review

Took a bus to Nerja to research a family trip we’ll take in 2019. After reviewing this lovely/spendy hotel overlooking the Mediterranean, took a bus back to my dark,€60 room near Malaga’s main train station. Related

Am I in England?
Am I in England?

Completed my quest for the real Costa del Sol in Marbella, a pleasant resort town. Related

Mosque Then Cathedral
Mosque Then Cathedral

Mosque became cathedral, Córdoba. Related

Planning a Trip to Spain with Kids
Planning a Trip to Spain with Kids

Posted Planning a Trip to Spain with Kids. Related

Selfie Time
Selfie Time

I felt it was time for me to post a selfie. No, I don’t know any of these people. Related

A Place for Creativity
A Place for Creativity

Wandered through Matadero Madrid, a place where creative people learn, experiment collaborate, and show. The buildings were originally the slaughterhouse (“matadero”) for the whole of Madrid. Related

Madrid MAD–London LGW
Madrid MAD–London LGW

On board, Madrid MAD–London LGW. Related

Gin Distillery
Gin Distillery

Learned about botanicals used to flavor gin at Bombay Sapphire’s distillery, Hampshire, UK. Related

Platform 9¾
Platform 9¾

Walked past Platform 9¾ at London Kings Cross on my way to my train for Newcastle upon Tyne. I’m not taking the Hogwarts Express today. Related

60 Years of Reflections
60 Years of Reflections

Reflected with a friend after hiking part of Bede’s Way, South Tyneside. We could have taken a photo like this almost 60 years ago when we became best friends at school. Related

Daffodils
Daffodils

Daffodils strutted their stuff en masse. Related

The Toffee Factory
The Toffee Factory

Looked for places in my home town, Newcastle upon Tyne, that I hadn’t noticed when I was a child. This building, The Toffee Factory, houses offices for twenty digital and creative businesses. Until the 1950’s it was a Maynards candy factory. Related

Tomorrow I Start Walking Across England
Tomorrow I Start Walking Across England

My bedroom window in Bowness-on-Solway on the west side of England. Over the next week I’ll walk to Wallsend on the east side of England, following the remains of Hadrian’s (Roman) Wall. Related

The Road to Minneapolis
The Road to Minneapolis

Posted The Road to Minneapolis: Mile 1. Related

Undeterred by Topography
Undeterred by Topography

Marched along the Roman Military Way. The Romans liked straight lines, undeterred by topography. Related

Juxtapositions
Juxtapositions

Walked with a friend alongside a contiguous section of the remains of the Roman Wall for several miles. Sometimes more “modern” buildings provided interesting juxtapositions. Related

In the Footsteps of Roman Soldiers
In the Footsteps of Roman Soldiers

The Three Amigos, back together to march in the footsteps of Roman soldiers. The Roman Wall is behind us. Related

Milecastles and More
Milecastles and More

We pushed on east folowing the line of Hadrian’s (Roman) Wall. We passed the remains of many structures, including turrets, milecastles, a temple, and this bathhouse at a big fort (Housesteads). Related

Snapshots: Hadrian’s Wall Path
Snapshots: Hadrian’s Wall Path

Posted Snapshots: Hadrian’s Wall Path. Related

But There’s a Pub There…
But There’s a Pub There…

View from my Wylam room. After walking 18 miles today, I’m too tired to cross the road. Related

Wall’s End
Wall’s End

My brother walked with me for the last few miles to the end of the Hadrian’s (Roman) Wall Path at Wallsend. The signs in the Wallsend metro station are in English and Latin Related

Newcastle NCL
Newcastle NCL

Au revoir Hadrian’s Wall, airside at NCL, Newcastle upon Tyne. Today: NCL-AMS-MSP. Related