Spain! Day 6

Today we crossed the border from Portugal to Spain and drove directly to the bustling city of Seville. We were treated to a Spanish traditional dinner of paella, usually eaten on the weekends because it takes so long to prepare well and is cooked in specialized large iron skillets. One of the main spices in the hearty rice dish is saffron, an expensive flavoring contributing to the dish’s distinctive yellow hue.

Two local guides led us through the cathedral, an awe-inspiring experience. Students gazed upward at the vaulted Gothic ceilings, stained glass masterpieces, and intricately carved figurines. Many climbed the 34 ramps to the top of the bell tower, including Coach Legate who continues to power through each day with a broken toe and walking boot. We also saw the ornate tomb of Christopher Columbus.

Our local guides use microphones and students wear “Whisper” headsets so we can all listen while spread out and taking pictures. It also prevents various tour guides, leading groups of many languages, from trying to speak over one another. However, it also causes some humorous misunderstandings when students only half-hear what is said or not everyone is looking in the same direction when they are speaking. For example, “Brazilian Pappillon” sounds a lot like Brazilian Papa John...

We arrived late in Costa del Sol near Malaga for a buffet dinner. This will be our launching point for Gibraltar  tomorrow—our third country in three days!

Portugal Day 5

The villas were much easier to navigate in the morning daylight and breakfast included fresh orange juice from nearby groves. We bussed to Sagres, the site of a fortress and school for navigators founded by King Henry. Students took dramatic photos and video of the deep blue waters and waves crashing against the steep and jagged coastline. 

Lunch was in Lagos, the regional capital, and about half of the group took a boat tour of the cliffs and coastal caves. We skirted in and out of grottos and admired the staircases built to access the secluded beaches. Most of the students HAD to have gelato before returning to the villas, so we made it back to the hotel for dinner and rest after sunset!

Portugal Day 4

On our way south to Algarve, we stopped and spent a few hours at the once-Roman colony Evora.  The city of 60,000 hasn’t changed its name since Roman times and still boasts the remains of a Roman temple at its very peak. The region is famous for cork trees—they sell purses, shoes, hats, and every other souvenir you can think of in cork. It is water-proof and pliable but slightly less durable than leather.

Our first stop within the city was to the Chapel of Bones-a sanctuary for the remains of over 5,000 unnamed Portuguese. The entry sign reads, “The Bones Within Wait For You” or something to that chilling effect. We all think we can translate Portuguese because it is so similar to Spanish and we recognize many of the words, but I’m fairly certain I don’t know what flavor of gelato I had for lunch. #translationfail 

Lunch was leisurely. They eat between 2-3 PM and then enjoy dinner after 9 PM. Our Sunday lunch was during their busiest time but we should be eating again sooner than the rest of the country. (They say the children eat on an earlier schedule. Our eating habits are like little children to them!)

Our final resting place tonight is at a hotel composed of multiple bungalows...a very unique and European experience.

Eu amo Portugal!

Portugal to Spain Day 3

Our morning began with a short drive to the quaint, cobblestoned village of Sintra where a royal palace was built for a queen who missed growing up in England. The bonds between the two superpowers extend to the tradition of afternoon tea, which here is called “cha,” short for chai. Our guide, Rafa, set us loose for lunch in the seaside getaway Cascais. Tarts and seafood are delicious here, treats for those seeking savory or sweet. Men played paddle board on the beach or competed in “volleyball” using a soccer ball and no hands. The weather has been astounding and is predicted to show us favor for the next several days. 

Portugal’s capital is the resting place of Vasco de Gama (we saw the tomb) and suffered a large earthquake in the 18th century. Today, it is a very clean metropolis of over 2 million inhabitants, 20% of the country’s total population. Our day ended downtown Lisbon, old town, where International Women’s Day was being celebrated with marches and our dinner awaited. We squeezed into a place off the beaten path for several courses of Portuguese fare served in a close-knit (literally) environment. 

P.S. Pastiere Belem serves amazing tarts. Thanks for the treat, EF!

Portugal Travel Day 1-2

95 people landed in Lisbon today as part of Galveston’s attempted takeover of the country of Portugal.  We have a few things to learn first. #1: In order for the lights to work in your hotel room the room key must be placed in the door socket. #2: You only get 80 euros for every $100, so that $8 McDonald’s Happy Meal in the airport really cost $10, and #3: There are two places to sit in the bathroom which for us is one too many.
We were well fed tonight with soup, chicken, and pasta. They fed us so many times on the flights over even the teenage boys stopped eating. So we are tired but not hungry. There is a large casino near our hotel and a beautiful beach the students visited just blocks away from our hotel in Estoril. Tomorrow will be a full day of exploring Sinatra, Cascais, and Lisbon. A small our tour guide says in her Galician Spanish, “Hasta la vista, baby!”

EF Travel Grows Students

Spring Break Japan Video unveiled!

Click Here to Watch: Japan Highlights! Here is the week in review via video footage...