2013 - Iceland (Aug.) - - Spain, Portugal (May)

SPAIN and PORTUGAL

 

It has been a while since I took these pics. They are not in any particular order. I will try my best to explain each of them 

 

A street musician in Toledo.

 

On the road to Toledo.

A walking tour of Malaga.

 

Looking over the port of Malaga.

 

A evening in Torremolinos.

 

Morocco.

 

A visit with a few of the "locals" on the way to Morocco.

 

The bull ring in Malaga.

 

A local fish market in Malaga.

 

Well you can see who needs the bigger leaf....

 

Wine from a goatskin in the fish market in Malaga.

 

Our "home hosted" lunch. The hostess wears the apron in the middle.

 

 

The city of Ronda.

 

Dinner in Cordoba.

 

Our hotel in Cordoba. The colors floated from left to right continually.

 

On to Seville.

 

Torramelinos.

 

Eileen enjoyed a dinner of sardines roasted on an open fire.

 

More flaminco from Seville.

(Said the pics were out of order)

 

Dinner at the flaminco show.

 

A visit to El Escorial. 16th centuary residence of the King of Spain.

 

Note the snow in the mountains. Rare for May in Spain.

 

Tomb of Franco and monument to the fallen in Spanish Civil War.

 

There is a large moorish influence in southern Spain. Many churches were mosques and/or synagogues in the earlier years.

 

 

 

 

Visiting the Alhambra in Granada. Started in the 13th century and continuing construction for 100's of years it contains a mix of moorish and christian designs.

 

Our tour guide Ramon. He lives in Malaga and knows everything about Spain and its cultures. Really enjoyed his expertise and friendliness.

 

Ham, ham everywhere in Spain....

 

More ham (US Grade A)

 

The Rock of Gibralter.

(On the far right silly... that's me in the middle)

 

A few more pics from Ronda.

The city of Lisbon Portugal.

 

Can you pick the person among all the other flowers ?

 

Portugal is world reknowned for the production of corks. This is what a cork tree looks like. The cork comes from the bark.

 

Musicians in Lisbon.

 

A walking tour in Lisbon.

 

The entire group (minus the photographer)

 

Back to Ronda for a few pics in the bullring.

Along the port of Lisbon.

 

Another pic with Ramon.

 

With our good friends from CA, Sandy and Jerry

 

Public transportation in Lisbon.

Along the coast of Portugal going to Sintra and Cascais.

 

The port city of Cascais.

 

A great optical illusion in Cascais.

(it is really a flat sidewalk)

 

 

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ICELAND

 

Our hotel in Reykjavik.

A day trip to the Blue Lagoon. The water is thermal from underground. Air temp 52 water temp 95....

A lifeguard dressed for duty. Water is only 5 feet at the deepest...

That is a thermal power station in the background. Not sure how it works but it uses the hot water from underground.

This is the finest gourmet seafood restaurant that we have ever eaten in. It is called the Seafood Grill in English.

A Lutheran Church accross from our hotel on the top of the highest point in Reyjkavik.

 

Stone pyramins built by locals and tourists at various spots around the country. Reminds me of the energy vortex areas around Sedona AZ.

 

 

A fly fisherman on a crystal clear lake. Watched him catch about a 3 lb. rainbow trout. Boy was I jealous.

 

A lake created from a dormant volcano.

 

A natural geyser and hot springs. Similar to Old Faithful in that it goes off about every 10 minutes.

 

Just a beautiful natural strem feeding one of the lakes.

 

If you want to see MANY glaciers this is the country.

 

A very large waterfall. I want to the bottom of the gourge and took the pic back up of the folks.

 

You can see how close you can walk to the falls. No barriers or guards. Just how much risk you want to take.

 

Our second night of dining. The food at all of our stops (even for lunch) was excellent.

 

There were many waterfalls like this one along the roads we traveled.

 

A view from behind the falls. That's Eileen in the yellow jacket in the next picture.

 

Like I said many different falls to see....

 

A mueseum with original living quarters and a church.

 

Another glacier....

 

 

The black volcanic sand beaches along the south coast.

 

Hundreds of Puffins roosting on the cliffs along the shore.

 

Another glacier....

 

Another waterfall....

 

This is a huge lake with a glacier at the end. Large chunks of ice break off (calving) and flow out to sea.

 

That is the North Atlantic that the ice flows into.

 

Some local fishing boats in the town of Hofn.

 

This was another fabulous dinner. Langostina lobster tails. About 4 inches in length, split and broiled. About 18 per person. You all think that Ruth has a small appetite but she had no trouble finishing this meal.

 

This is another glacier but unlike the others you can drive close enough to walk right up to it.

 

Not sure who is the oldest here.....

 

All accross the flat countryside was piles of lava from many years ago. Covered with a green plant of some kind.

 

Another day... another bowl of lobster tails.....

 

This was the last town we stopped in before returning to Reykjavik. A local church and graveyard. The main street, an old fire truck, and an old church.

Our last day back in Reykjavik  was a Saturday that happend to be Gay Pride Day. It was celebrated by most of the folks in the city regardless of their persuasion. A giant party for all...