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Landed at FLL, Fort Lauderdale, on our way to the Florida Keys with our nephews and their parents.
An emergency splinterectomy was performed. The patient is doing well but has been advised not to associate too closely with palm trees.
The pelican with the POTUS “comb-over” waited patiently while our nephews reeled in then released its lunch.
Explored the Keys around Islamorada by boat. Our nephews (and their dad, and Dwight) braved the chilly 73°F water to explore a reef.
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.
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.
Our explorations of Lisbon were enhanced by @RickSteves informative audio tour.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Posted Snapshots: Hiking the Rota Vicentina, Southwest Portugal.
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.
Took a train to Antequera, a quiet city, two hours from the hubbub of Seville. My home for the next two nights.
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
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.
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.
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.
Completed my quest for the real Costa del Sol in Marbella, a pleasant resort town.
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.
Learned about botanicals used to flavor gin at Bombay Sapphire’s distillery, Hampshire, UK.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Marched along the Roman Military Way. The Romans liked straight lines, undeterred by topography.
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.
The Three Amigos, back together to march in the footsteps of Roman soldiers. The Roman Wall is behind us.
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).
View from my Wylam room. After walking 18 miles today, I’m too tired to cross the road.
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
Au revoir Hadrian’s Wall, airside at NCL, Newcastle upon Tyne. Today: NCL-AMS-MSP.
