11/07/2012 - 13/07/2012 – Hablas Ingles?

Enjoying the Roman ruins in Evora

A quick Spanish lesson on the
boat...

Some were travelling slightly more stylishly than us!

After enjoying a homemade brekkie (bread with Lotti’s special raspberry jam), it was a leisurely start to the day as we were spending the majority on the cruise ship. Time for us to start planning our European jaunt – as ever we were well prepared!

Salamanca by night

A bite to eat at the main square

Unfortunately, weren't
around at the right time
for the tournament...

Salamanca by day

Upon casting anchor at Santander, we were straight onto the motorway for a sizeable drive into the heart of Spain to Salamanca.





Excitement of the journey was spotting the large wooden bull in the countryside on the front of the lonely planet – first sight ticked off!

Salamanca streets - don't
travel here by car!

Inside the cathedral

Spot the astronaut

A couple of circuits round the cobbled one-way street systems in the car later, and we found some suitable accommodation. A walking tour was a calling the next morning, where it was lots of neck straining to appreciate the intricate stonework on the buildings.  Eagle eyes were also required to spot the stonemasons additions during restorative work, namely a spaceman, an ice cream and a frog!?! We got the first couple without outside assistance, but for anyone who has found the frog without any help we take our hats off to you!

Roman bridge at Merida - longest surviving bridge from 'ancient times'

Roman aqueduct ruins at Merida,
a stop-off en route to Evora 

Evora's streets

More roman ruins

A bit too boney for me...

Evora was our first look at a typical Portuguese town, i.e. perched atop a hill that looks out in all directions and is a nightmare to drive in (Annaliza commented “we’re somewhere in this spiderweb of roads” when navigating – helpful!). The cobbled streets were much more suited to walking, although flip flops perhaps weren’t the cleverest footwear! Evora’s highlights were the whitewashed buildings, roman ruins, hidden lanes, and the frankly disturbing crypt of skulls. Chilling to the bone…

Overview of Evora

Key Learnings:

The monoliths outside Evora -
not quite Stonehenge...

1. Careful not to panic, even when you’ve not booked anywhere to stay that evening and don’t know how to navigate your way round a “one way” city. Easier said than done…

2. Even when it is obvious that you know nothing of the language of the country you are in, and the person you are talking to knows no English, you both continue speaking! Strange...