Spain and Portugal

Josh and I had the time for one last European trip before moving back to America.  We decided to do a tour of Spain and Portugal.  We started out in Madrid, then took a train to Sevilla where we met up with my brother and sister-in-law for a day, then a bus to Albufeira and finally another train to Lisbon and Sintra. The weather was sunny and warm for the most part and our trip was mostly fantastic (more on that later)!

Josh at the Temple De Debod near our hotel in Madrid

A view of Santa Maria de la Alameda

Josh and I enjoying the view

The Royal Palace of Madrid

Josh being awesome.

Me in front of Santa Maria de la Alameda

Inside Santa Maria

It was so pretty and colorful!

Josh enjoying a beer break

Seafood paella for dinner...divine!

Josh volunteering to be Charles II during our Madrid walking tour.

The crypt of Santa Maria

We had a break here for some delicious pastries!

Plaza Mayor in Madrid...our tour guide told us a funny story about the horse statue in the background.  The horses mouth used to be hollow and birds kept flying into it and getting stuck in the horses belly.  Eventually a huge stink started coming out of the horse and people began avoiding the square saying it was cursed.  Eventually, when restoring the statue they discovered the source of the smell!  The horses mouth is now closed up.

A selfie after our tour.  We were on our way to a convent to buy biscuits, but sadly they were having siesta when we got there :(

Sunday morning flea market, El Rasto

Josh and I at the Madrid Botanical Gardens

So, this is where things went south on our visit to Madrid.  We booked bullfighting tickets a while back and I was excited to see this bit of Spanish history come to life in front of me.  The whole experience was awful. The poor bulls were taunted, injured and teased and then brutally killed.  I could barely watch, Josh took a few pictures, and I've chosen to show a few.  I am by no means a animal activist, I have no problem killing an animal for food, but it needs to be done in a quick, humane way.  This was just disgusting and I'm sorry we ever bought the tickets.

The bullfighting ring in Madrid.

Poor bull :(

 After being in Madrid for three days we hopped on a train and headed to Sevilla, Spain.  Sevilla was a beautiful city with fabulous weather.  Josh and I wandered around the first day we were there, just taking in the sites and eating delicious food.  The following day, Sam and Amanda met up with us at a walking tour. Afterwards we ate lunch in the Triana district, shopped for tiles, visited the Real Alcazar palace, Sevilla Cathedral, had dinner and they watched a Flamenco show.

These little guys who look like KKK members are actually capirotes tunics and headdresses used to conceal the identity of the wearer during Holy week.  The different colors represent different brotherhoods or fraternities.  The men carry large floats of religious images and saints throughout the streets during Holy week.  I'm glad I didn't see anyone walking around in one of these outfits...they kind of freak me out!

Looking into the courtyard of Sevilla Cathedral

Giralda Tower

Sevilla Cathedral

Josh taking a break

Loving the weather!  85* and sunny

Relaxing on the canal

Carrie and Mary together again!

Sam and Josh at our lunch stop in Triana

Love my SIL! 

On the Puente de Isabelle bridge.

Inside the Sevilla Cathedral

Statue of Mary in Sevilla

Josh is creeping

The Bairdbrook's reunited in Spain!

Amanda in the Gardens of the Real Alcazar

Josh and I overlooking the gardens at the Real Alcazar

Ceiling in one of the rooms at the Alcazar

The tile and detail were amazing!

I had our personal photographer (AKA Amanda) take a lot of pictures of us.  We create terrible selfies!

Josh in the maze at the Real Alcazar...notice how he can see over the bushes?

I, on the other hand, cannot.  This is me on my tip-toes!

We went to see a Flamenco dance at Casa de la Memoria, it was pretty interesting.  I would describe it as interpretive spider killing combined with spastic arm movements.  

Saying goodbye to my brother :(  We will hopefully see him in America in a few months!

The next day, Josh and I took a bus from Sevilla to Albufeira.  It was really the only option available for us because there is not train service available and renting a car in Spain and returning it in Portugal is a nightmare and expensive.  I thought the bus ride was suppose to be about 3 - 3 1/2 hours, but it ended up being closer to 5...with no bathroom on the bus.  Luckily I barely drank anything that morning in anticipation of the ride, so I did okay.  That kind of stuff stresses me out!  We finally arrived in Albufeira in the early afternoon and checked into our hotel.  The view from our balcony was amazing!  Albufeira has great beaches, restaurants and nightlife.  It is a bit 'British-ized' though, with jacket potatoes, fish and chips and beans on toast on many menus we passed.  But it was good too because everyone spoke very good English, the only Portuguese word we knew was obrigada(o), for thank you.

The view from our deck

The beach near our hotel

Not warm enough for a dip, but great for a stroll!

So pretty!  I need to live near water...

Josh and I enjoying the beach!

Cool rocks on the beach

These pretty pink flowers were all along the cliffs, Carpobrotus Aequilaterus

Peaceful and lovely.

We only had about 24 hours in Albufeira before we headed to Lisbon.  Our train ride took about 3 hours, it seemed to stop in every little town along the way.  I enjoyed looking at all the lemon and orange trees along the way.  Lisbon is the largest city in Portugal and while it is one of the oldest cities in Europe, it doesn't necessarily look like it until you get into the old town.  I felt like we spent most of our time on public transport in Lisbon, the sight-seeing spots are very spread out.  We finally made it to see St. George's castle and were rewarded by some spectacular views of the Lisbon harbor area.  The castle was fun to walk around although a bit scary for a girl who is afraid of heights.  There are literally zero guardrails keeping people from falling up to 6 stories...scary!

Lisbon from St. George Castle

We try...we really do...

Such a pretty day!

St. George Castle

My sister told me that my mom thinks I'm wearing "the grunge look'...am I wrong to be confused?  Do I look grungy?

Josh resting on a window with a sheer drop down the other side...heart attack!

 The following day was the last of our holiday, so we hopped on yet another train for a short journey to Sintra, an adorable little city about 40 minutes from Lisbon.  We toured the palace, roamed the winding streets and ate a lot of delicious food!  It was the perfect ending to our trip.

A ceiling in the Palace

A 'cool room' off of a courtyard.  

Josh at the palace

I've become obsessed with tiles...I think I want a room like this!

Does anyone else think this picture is weird?  Is that Jesus?  Is he wearing a nightie?  What is that animal?

One of the gardens at the palace

Another amazing ceiling inside of the palace

Sintra

The chapel within the palace

Lunch with a view!

Well, that's it for now folks!  In a few short days my sister and mom cross the pond for a visit.  And in only 18 days we will be moving back to America.  Living in Europe has been amazing and I thank God that we've had the opportunity and the means to see as much as we have.

Rachel x