After leaving beautiful Leon, I headed back to Portugal. I stopped for 2 nights in Braga. I stayed in the very comfortable LP Heritage Apartments, on Largo do Praca. Braga, known as Bracara Augusta under the Romans, was founded in 16 BC. It is the oldest city in Portugal. Recommendations: Garden of Santa Barbara Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro Bom Jesus do Monte Praca de Republica Igreja de Santa Cruz Museum of Archaeology Dom Diogo de Sousa Terrmas Romanas…
I stayed in FC Infantas de Leon. I really liked this hotel. It even had easy and free parking on the street. Refrigerator in the room is always a plus. They had a cafe attached plus offered a breakfast buffet. The hotel was just a short walk outside the city walls, close to the large gate Muralla Bajoimperial de León, the 1st c walls. Recommendations: Leon Cathedral Diocesan Cathedral Museum of Leon Plaza de Regla Palacio Episcopal Palacio de Los…
I stayed in another Ibis, the Ibis Budget Bilbao. I had booked Hotel Bilbi. Despite paying in advance, about a week or so prior to leaving I got a WhatsApp from them to “verify” my CC. I tried their link. Tried on my phone, iPad, and computer. I tried with 2 different CCs. They all failed. They said if I couldn’t/wouldn’t verify they would have to cancel. I told them of my problems, got no help whatsoever, so cancelled and…
I left San Sebastián-Donostia early morning to drive to the National Museum & Research Center of Altamira. I read about these caves in my 1000 Places to See Before You Die. The museum is to the west of Bilboa and I was originally thinking I would see it on my way to Leon. Unfortunately, the museum is closed on Mondays when I would be leaving Bilboa. I decided to see it Saturday morning. It was a lot of extra driving,…
I stayed at Atotxa Rooms, close to the bus station where they offered discount parking. It was just off the historic Puente de Maria Kristina for easy access to Old Town. I stayed 3 nights here because of the long drive from Andorra and arrived around dinner time. They had a shared refrigerator and coffee/tea station outside the rooms that I appreciated. Recommendations Old Town Plaza de la Constitution Iglesia de San Vicente Cathedral Buen Pastor de San Sebastián Basilica…
I stayed at the Hotel de l’isard. It was a really nice room, very comfortable, and it had a refrigerator! I had my cold morning Pepsi. It was a convenient location in Andorra la Vella. I started with a visit to the tourist center for a map. The very helpful person also told me about the Rec de Sola trail; I wouldn’t have heard of this without her. I spent about 3 hours doing this hike the next morning. There…
After leaving my car in underground parking by the cathedral, I dropped off my backpack at Hotel Sauce in Old Town. There is an attached cafe/coffee shop that has good breakfast and delicious bakery items. I started my sightseeing with the Puente de Piedra and Los Leones. I walked across the bridge for great views of Old Town on the opposite side. You can get excellent photos of the Basilica of Our Lady and the Cathedral of Salvador. I went…
I stayed in the lovely Hotel Palacio de Valderrábanos Ávila, a gorgeous 14th c palace. This was inside the city walls so I parked outside at their recommended lot. The hotel is on the Plaza de Catedral. I started my city visit with the magnificent 12th c gothic Cathedral. It included an audio guide. At the end of the tour they had VR headsets in 4 languages showing Avila, the cathedral, and the city walls when the cathedral was first…
I only spent one night in Salamanca. I stayed at the Ibis Salamanca. It was better than the Ibis in Brussels, you could actually move around the room and bath without turning sideways. They had a good breakfast buffet, also. I arrived mid-morning and headed right out to explore old town after getting a good map from the concierge. I started in Plaza Mayor. A big beautiful busy place, there are many restaurants, pastry shops, stores. I picked up a few…
I’ve been wanted to see the Basque region of Spain plus make a visit to Andorra. So I pulled out my maps and my 1000 Places to See Before You Die book and read up on other sites in Spain. I was going to visit Caceres, Salamanca, Avila, Zaragoza, then Andorra. Back into Spain I was going to see San Sebastian-Donostia, Bilbao, and Leon before stopping at Braga, Portugal on my way back to Lagos. It was a lot of…