tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25714907966772040832023-11-15T17:52:26.570+00:00Iberactive - Quality Active Vacationsa mirror from visit www.iberactive.com David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-71719512249095945052017-02-13T11:29:00.001+00:002017-02-13T11:46:58.650+00:00July 2017 - Trekking tour in the Pyrenees, Aigüestortes National Park, Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaXj_4nipPg/WKGXXgfjv6I/AAAAAAAAVSs/5hKYB9dSczk4wc9iQ_IA0-yUHv_xzOl_gCLcB/s1600/Aiguestortes-001---Espana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GaXj_4nipPg/WKGXXgfjv6I/AAAAAAAAVSs/5hKYB9dSczk4wc9iQ_IA0-yUHv_xzOl_gCLcB/s640/Aiguestortes-001---Espana.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Trekking tour in the Pyrenees, Aigüestortes National Park, Spain - July 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPkqQJFNnmQ/WKGXLe7Oe3I/AAAAAAAAVSo/2hyLDK62vlctqSH62s1v7PcnfBfyT2KGgCLcB/s1600/David%2BMonteiro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPkqQJFNnmQ/WKGXLe7Oe3I/AAAAAAAAVSo/2hyLDK62vlctqSH62s1v7PcnfBfyT2KGgCLcB/s200/David%2BMonteiro.jpg" width="157" /></a></div>
</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Moderate/Challenging Level - level 3 in 5 max<br />
7 days of moderate hiking, 6 nights in mountain huts + 2 optional nights in Barcelona (hotels)<br />
<strong>Tours in 2017:</strong> 1st Jul 2017 - Reservation Deadline: 15th May 2017<br />
<strong>or gather your group and select your own schedule</strong></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2017/02/july-2017-trekking-tour-in-the-pyrenees-aiguestortes-national-park-spain/" target="_blank">Check our photo gallery from previous tours</a><br />
<br />
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Aigüestortes National Park (Spanish Pyrenees)</h2>
Aiguestortes National Park is located in the central area of the Spanish Pyrenees and is the only national park in Catalonia.<br />
Its territory is divided between the municipalities of Vall d’Aran, Pallars Sobirá, Alta Ribagorça and Pallars Jussà, about 200 km’s West of Andorra.<br />
Was created in 1955 and today covers an area of approximately 40,000 hectares also considering the peripheral protected areas.<br />
Is a natural space of great beauty where both water and granite appears in their maximum splendor in surprising combinations.<br />
With a high concentration of ridges often around 3,000 m high, as is the Punta Alta (3,015 m) and the Contraix (2,960 m), you will find a high contrast with the deep green valleys where streams flow with crystal clear waters.</div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; text-align: left;">
<strong>The trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1pRVUN9JcE/WKGXmo3MVnI/AAAAAAAAVSw/K9uXvEwmdUEdqEH2Ch8V4HqakE3VZhaqACLcB/s1600/Carros%2Bde%2BFoc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b1pRVUN9JcE/WKGXmo3MVnI/AAAAAAAAVSw/K9uXvEwmdUEdqEH2Ch8V4HqakE3VZhaqACLcB/s200/Carros%2Bde%2BFoc.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
</strong></h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: left;">
The trail is approximately 75 km long and is divided into 7 journeys/days.<br />
Is a 7 days long loop trail which goes through hills and valleys where you will find crystal clear water lakes that reflects the silhouettes of impressive granitic mountains.<br />
The average elevation of the route lies on the quota of 2,500 m, sometimes reaching very close to 3,000 m.<br />
During the course the hike you will have the opportunity to visit 8 mountain refuges among which 6 we will use to spend the night and dine.<br />
The use of mountain huts allows you to do not have to carry excessive weight in your backpacks because there you will find very good food, shower and a place to sleep. More than that, these huts are also a meeting point for travelers from various points of the globe and the talking and exchange of experiences creates unforgettable moments.<br />
The comfortable pace and moderate distances make this an accessible hike to most trekkers, even with little experience.<br />
The map image above gives you an idea of the trail we will walk where the each colour corresponds to each journey/day.<br />
The 1st and 8th nights will be spent in hotel on the outskirts of Barcelona Airport.<br />
The remaining nights will be spent in mountain huts in Aiguestortes National Park, in the Spanish Pyrenees.<br />
In each hut is possible to sleep and they will provide dinner, breakfast and the lunch for the next day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsGxxm6bjMU/WKGX3BHJxvI/AAAAAAAAVS4/TuDG8_6ravwz4aXJtZ-nwFnWtfcNnxTKgCLcB/s1600/Aiguestortes-017---Espanaxxxxx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsGxxm6bjMU/WKGX3BHJxvI/AAAAAAAAVS4/TuDG8_6ravwz4aXJtZ-nwFnWtfcNnxTKgCLcB/s640/Aiguestortes-017---Espanaxxxxx.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
</div>
<h3 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; text-align: left;">
Questions & Answers</h3>
<h4 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<strong>How does it works?</strong></h4>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
You can join me for a pre set tour or gather your own group and establish your own schedule.<br />
Reservation forms and respective payment will be received until Reservation Deadline.<br />
Reservations are only considered effective with the respective payment.<br />
I will provide all required information’s in order to help client’s to prepare their travel.<br />
Clients will be meet at the Barcelona Airport upon their arrival and, at the end of the tour, they will be taken to the airport as well. Different arrangements (ex: pick up and drop off at a certain hotel) can be agreed case-by-case.</div>
<h4 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<strong>Accommodations and meals</strong></h4>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The included six nights will be spent in mountain huts during the trekking tour.<br />
Extra/optional nights in Barcelona, or any other location, can be agreed. Please contact us for more details.<br />
In the mountain huts you will find a place to sleep, ward style, where you will get a mattress, a pillow and blankets. We suggest you to bring your own light sleeping bag.<br />
In these huts you will be served with very good meals. You can have both breakfast and dinner in the hut and lunch is provided early in the morning, picnic style for you to carry in your backpack.<br />
From Day 1 dinner to Day 7 lunch you will have all three meals per day included in the base price.</div>
<h4 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<strong>Luggage and backpack</strong></h4>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Each client has a volume/weight luggage quota of 60 liters and/or 30Kg.<br />
During the walk you will carry your backpack with only what you will need for the duration of the hike.<br />
Your remaining luggage can be left in the town's lockers.</div>
<h4 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<strong>Clothing, footwear and other individual items</strong></h4>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
We will be glad to provide you all the information you may need to help you to better prepare your travel.</div>
<h4 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<strong>Transfers during the tour</strong></h4>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
There will be a logistical support vehicle allocated to the tour.<br />
The transfer Barcelona/Tour/Barcelona is included in the price.</div>
<h4 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<strong>Detailed Program</strong></h4>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The Detailed Program is part of the documentation that the participant receives when the tour is confirmed.</div>
<h4 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<strong>Plane flights</strong></h4>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
You can purchase directly your plane flights.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>Please bear in mind: last minute reservations can result in increased costs and booking difficulties.</strong></div>
<h4 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<strong>Mountain huts</strong></h4>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
There are many kinds of mountain huts and the experiences we have had in some places are not necessarily equal to the experiences we will have in Aigüestortes National Park.<br />
In the context of mountain huts at an European level, we will find a set of huts with very good conditions, very good management and very well attended.<br />
Some are stone and masonry construction, with wooden interior for greater comfort level and most of them providing warm water for showers.<br />
With capacities to between 20 and 70 people, depending on their size, they offer a set of miscellaneous services not losing their mountaineer charisma.<br />
Each hut has its own management so you can find small differences in the rules. These rules are extremely important when so many different people get together in small places.<br />
The photographs here used can give an idea of the appearance of some of the huts used during this tour. To those that do not have previous experiences using mountain huts, this is an excellent opportunity to start.<br />
We can provide you all informative support to help you to in the preparation of your travel.<br />
Those who already have other experiences will be probably pleased with the conditions they will find here.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYavr6rRN6A/WKGYAMeSuAI/AAAAAAAAVS8/Zb2l9ueoYQUtVkeiMjf1JH_mkE6qUac8wCLcB/s1600/Aiguestortes-022---Espana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OYavr6rRN6A/WKGYAMeSuAI/AAAAAAAAVS8/Zb2l9ueoYQUtVkeiMjf1JH_mkE6qUac8wCLcB/s640/Aiguestortes-022---Espana.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; text-align: left;">
</h2>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; text-align: left;">
Tours in 2017</h2>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
Tour Dates / Reservation Deadline<br />
1st Jul to 7th Jul 2017 / 15th May 2017<br />
<strong><em>or gather your group and select the schedule with lower prices, ask me :)</em></strong></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Price and reservations</h2>
<h3 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
<strong>Tour Base Price: 700€</strong></h3>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<strong>Includes:</strong> Accommodation (6 nights in mountain huts during the tour), breakfasts from Day 2 to Day 7, lunches/picnic from Day 2 to Day 7, dinners from Day 1 to Day 6 - all provided by the mountain huts. Vegetarian options must be informed upon reservation.</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<strong>Does not includes:</strong> plane tickets and everything else that is not expressly mentioned as included in this information page.</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<strong>Single room supplement:</strong> not available because there is not such possibility in the mountain huts where we will stay.</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<strong>Reservation value and procedure</strong>: 350,00€ - Remaining amount paid in full until 90 days before tour’s first day.</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
All above mentioned prices includes guide, insurance and VAT plus usage of the equipment if needed and if that is stated in the specific information of the event.</div>
<h3 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
<strong>Cancellation</strong></h3>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
The costs of cancellation are as follows:</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
90 days before 1st Tour Day – 0% of reservation</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
89-60 days before 1st Tour Day – 25% of reservation</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
59-45 days before 1st Tour Day – 50% of reservation</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
44-30 days before 1st Tour Day – 75% of reservation</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
29 days or less before 1st Tour Day – 100% of reservation</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
To cancel your reservation it is mandatory that an e-mail is sent from the same e-mail address used for the reservation.</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
The amount will be transferred back to the same account used to the reservation.</div>
<h3 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
<strong>Informations and reservations</strong></h3>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
Email - <a data-mce-href="mailto:david.monteiro@iberactive.com" href="mailto:david.monteiro@iberactive.com" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">david.monteiro@iberactive.com</a></div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
Cell Phone: +351 914 794 553 (also in WhatsApp)</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
Skype: monteiro.david</div>
<h3 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
<strong>Legal information</strong></h3>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
“Iberactive” is a registered trademark of the Travel Agency<br />
<strong>Iberhills – Eventos e Viagens, Unipessoal Lda</strong><br />
Rua Professor Mira Fernandes, Lt 1543 – 5Dto<br />
1900-383 Lisboa<br />
Portugal</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
Tax Identification Number (VAT number): 513 891 099</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<strong>Bank Account:</strong><br />
Novo Banco SA (Lisbon, Portugal)<br />
<strong>IBAN: </strong> PT50 007 0000 0031 3261 0162 3 <strong> SWIFT / BIC: </strong>BESCPTPL</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
Also payable via PayPal</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; padding-left: 30px;">
Operating with the following licenses: RNAVT: 6246 and RNAAT 338/2016 of the <a data-mce-href="http://www.turismodeportugal.pt/english/TurismodeportugalIP/Pages/TurismodePortugalIP.aspx" data-slimstat-async="true" data-slimstat-callback="false" data-slimstat-clicked="false" data-slimstat-tracking="true" data-slimstat-type="0" href="http://www.turismodeportugal.pt/english/TurismodeportugalIP/Pages/TurismodePortugalIP.aspx" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Portuguese Tourism Authorities</a><br />
Certified as "Turismo de Natureza" by <a data-mce-href="http://www.icnf.pt/" href="http://www.icnf.pt/" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">ICNF</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2017/02/july-2017-trekking-tour-in-the-pyrenees-aiguestortes-national-park-spain/" target="_blank">Check our photo gallery from previous tours</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com025597 Espot, Lleida, Spain42.5758342 1.087954099999933542.569987700000006 1.0778690999999336 42.5816807 1.0980390999999334tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-34053902412652130042017-02-12T08:50:00.003+00:002017-02-12T08:50:44.795+00:00What to do and what to visit at Porto in one day?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0lSe8s7ERRc/WKAhoAjEISI/AAAAAAAAVSI/VakvwjHuGNMD-VBRkFBa0t4tMc9s96fagCLcB/s1600/Porto-008---Portugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0lSe8s7ERRc/WKAhoAjEISI/AAAAAAAAVSI/VakvwjHuGNMD-VBRkFBa0t4tMc9s96fagCLcB/s640/Porto-008---Portugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; text-align: left;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="font-weight: 400;">What to do and what to visit at Porto in one day?</span></h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The most common answer you will have when asking such question to a “tripeiro” is: “you can’t”.</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: right;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: right;">
<em>“tripeiro” - the natives of Porto are known in Portuguese as "tripeiros"</em></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">You will understand that the answer results from loving too much the city and when you will visit it you will easily get the reason why, it’s a gorgeous city, very photogenic in fact.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">However sometimes the reality is that we only have one day so we will have to cook with the potatoes we have.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">By reducing the time to just one day we will have to select only a few places to go in a wide variety of interesting sites.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<b>My suggestion for you is:</b> <i>a morning walk, a lunch with products from a local market and a monument/museum visit during the afternoon.</i></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Does it seems like a plan?</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Yes, it will be a busy day.</span></div>
<h3 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: left;">
<b>Morning walk in Porto:</b></h3>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Please </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><a data-mce-href="https://app.box.com/s/vxj1sj5xqjln62r94y1urbbcanwr26mv" href="https://app.box.com/s/vxj1sj5xqjln62r94y1urbbcanwr26mv" style="color: #00aadc;">download a map</a> that will guide you on a walk where you can visit some of the most iconic sites in Porto. Please print the map in a A3 format or use it in your smartphone as a pdf.</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Is a 6,5Km (4mi) stroll, perfect for a sunny morning and it will leave you enough time to stop for pictures and a coffee on the way.</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
The suggested walk will take you to several spots where you can take panoramic photos from Porto.</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">In a future post I will describe what can you see during this walk by identifying the numbers you can see written on the map.</span></div>
<h3 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: left;">
<strong>Lunch with products from a local market:</strong></h3>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">During your morning walk you can visit a market identified as number 3 on the map, is the <a data-mce-href="http://www.visitporto.travel/Visitar/Paginas/Descobrir/detalhespoi.aspx?poi=1393&idcategory=n5n&lang=en" href="http://www.visitporto.travel/Visitar/Paginas/Descobrir/detalhespoi.aspx?poi=1393&idcategory=n5n&lang=en" style="color: #00aadc;">Bulhão market</a>.</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">There you will find fresh products like fruits and vegetables and around there you will also find some old traditional groceries shops. I’m sure you can get there plenty of items to arrange a snack for you.</span></div>
<h3 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: left;">
<strong>Monument/museum visit:</strong></h3>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">During the afternoon I suggest you to visit one of the following monuments/museums:</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.museusoaresdosreis.pt/en-GB/Museum/ContentList.aspx" href="http://www.museusoaresdosreis.pt/en-GB/Museum/ContentList.aspx" style="color: #00aadc;">Museu Soares dos Reis</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://www.palaciodabolsa.com/" href="http://www.palaciodabolsa.com/" style="color: #00aadc;">Palácio da Bolsa</a>, <a data-mce-href="http://www.torredosclerigos.pt/pt/" href="http://www.torredosclerigos.pt/pt/" style="color: #00aadc;">Torre dos Clérigos</a>, <a data-mce-href="https://www.serralves.pt/pt/" href="https://www.serralves.pt/pt/" style="color: #00aadc;">Museum and Gardens of Jardins de Serralves</a> or <a data-mce-href="http://www.casadamusica.com/" href="http://www.casadamusica.com/" style="color: #00aadc;">Casa da Música</a>.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Enjoy your day and do not hesitate to send me an email you case you need to exchange some ideas.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2017/02/what-to-do-and-what-to-visit-at-porto-in-one-day/" target="_blank">Link to the original source</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Porto, Portugal41.1579438 -8.62910529999999241.0623098 -8.7904667999999919 41.253577799999995 -8.467743799999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-53362781977974180542017-02-07T11:30:00.000+00:002017-02-07T11:30:48.055+00:00Escaroupim, some days are forever<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K3y4CTb-GoA/WJmvatLGAdI/AAAAAAAAVOY/eWnPgfU7csclAkaX_TQrtTEH6o9dWkVHwCLcB/s1600/Escaroupim-002---Portugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K3y4CTb-GoA/WJmvatLGAdI/AAAAAAAAVOY/eWnPgfU7csclAkaX_TQrtTEH6o9dWkVHwCLcB/s640/Escaroupim-002---Portugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h1 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Escaroupim, some days are forever</h1>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="font-weight: 400;">A day at Escaroupim, Portugal, and you will feel that some days are forever.</span></h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Not too far from Lisbon, driving around 45 minutes north, you will find a tiny little village called Escaroupim.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">It sits at the left bank of the river Tagus, Tejo in Portuguese.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Escaroupim is one of the several “aldeias avieiras” along the river. I guess you don’t know what an “aldeia avieira” is but in a later article I will explain.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">At this traditional village you can take a boat that will drive you through the several river channels where most of the birds go for their late afternoon bug meal … amazing scenario.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
On top of all we get to know more about the local birds with the entertaining explanations.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">It really doesn’t matter if it’s cold or warm because the boats have covers that can be putted on or off.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">What it really matters is the time of the day and sunset is king.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">A day to remember.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">David Monteiro</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2017/02/escaroupim-some-days-are-forever/" target="_blank">Link to the ariginal article</a></span></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Escaroupim, 2120 Salvaterra de Magos, Portugal39.0671736 -8.754903300000023614.041597099999997 -50.063497300000023 64.092750099999989 32.553690699999976tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-75141618671972728972017-02-06T09:34:00.001+00:002017-02-06T09:34:18.540+00:00Cliché photo of a waterfall at the Azores<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pCc6Niqz7oI/WJhCJ-AEXPI/AAAAAAAAVNo/cWwqkZFJp1YsKmxC4luQ8zf2Y43pK1PYwCLcB/s1600/Acores-002a---Portugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pCc6Niqz7oI/WJhCJ-AEXPI/AAAAAAAAVNo/cWwqkZFJp1YsKmxC4luQ8zf2Y43pK1PYwCLcB/s640/Acores-002a---Portugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Some shots are irresistible.</h2>
<h1 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Cliché photo of a waterfall in the Azores</h1>
<div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w_22GNa8SE8" width="640"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I was at Flowers Island, at the Azores archipelago that belong to Portugal, spending days of vacations and, contrary to the rest of the year I was not in the mood for physical activities, which I do all year round. I wanted to enjoy being there, the place and the tranquility.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
But, after two days of heavy rain and being confined to this cheap hotel room the relaxation was starting to annoy me a great deal.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
We had planned to spend two days at Corvo island but it was impossible to go out or to arrive to Flores, boats and planes are not running because of the bad weather. So, that tour went down the drain.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
After this two days the plan were to go spend some more days at Fajã Grande, the opposite extreme of the island.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
With so much rain the soil couldn’t absorb more water and the creek and waterfalls were pumping of life in movement and colors.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
On our way to Fajã Grande at a certain moment I saw another waterfall but without realizing how far I was a didn’t pay too much attention, it was just another one and … who care for pictures of water falling from a cliff?</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I was not for cliché photos were at that time until I reached the road that is close enough ear the water falling and that was really far anyway.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Ok, I was totally convinced to stop and photograph the scene.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>Location:</strong> <em>Waterfall of the “Ribeira Grande” and viewpoint of Fajãzinha, Flores Island, Azores archipelago, Portugal</em><br />
<em><br /></em>
<em><a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/11/cliche-photo-of-a-waterfall/" target="_blank">Link to the original article source</a></em></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Flores Island, Portugal39.4474713 -31.19394499999998539.251286799999995 -31.516668499999984 39.6436558 -30.871221499999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-73941708283842188452017-02-06T09:25:00.000+00:002017-02-06T09:25:59.311+00:00Aigüestortes National Park at the Pyrenees - Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8LjRLUBBxC8/WJhArCfTtgI/AAAAAAAAVNc/o2XN-TYORg0S_rRrJ_TgIIlCt22UqmObgCLcB/s1600/Aiguestortes-005---Espana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8LjRLUBBxC8/WJhArCfTtgI/AAAAAAAAVNc/o2XN-TYORg0S_rRrJ_TgIIlCt22UqmObgCLcB/s640/Aiguestortes-005---Espana.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
The Park's correct name is Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park but usually is referred as Aigüestortes because the name is quite long.</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Is located in the central area of the Spanish Pyrenees and is the only national park in Catalonia.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Its territory is divided between the municipalities of Vall d’Aran, Pallars Sobirá, Alta Ribagorça and Pallars Jussà, about 200 km West of Andorra.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Was created in 1955 and today covers an area of approximately 40,000 hectares also considering the peripheral protected areas.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Is a natural space of great beauty where both water and granite appears in their maximum splendor and in surprising combinations.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
With a high concentration of ridges often around 3,000 m high, as is the Punta Alta (3,015 m) and the Contraix (2,960 m), you will find a high contrast with the deep green valleys where streams flow with crystal clear waters.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The first time I visited this park I didn’t know what to expect, I thought this was another Pyrenees park as beautiful as the others I knew. I was wrong.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
In between my circle of friends it was not very known and back then I couldn’t find much information about it so it took me a while to be interested in going there.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I remember to join a group of friends to climb the Vignemale and after that, because I still had a few days to spend so, together with my friend Carlos Queirós we decided to visit the park.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The first two days was quite foggy so I couldn’t really appreciate the place but on the third day it was just amazing, it was like walking in a postcard, I</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
My company logo was inspired in the mountains of the park and my active tourism entrepreneurial endeavor was begun, important landmarks for me.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Have fun,</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/02/aiguestortes-national-park-at-the-pyrenees-spain/" target="_blank">Link to the original article source</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Vall de Boí, Lleida, Spain42.5282162 0.84845240000004242.3410342 0.525728900000042 42.7153982 1.1711759000000419tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-38431864802907971202017-02-06T09:18:00.000+00:002017-02-06T09:18:21.785+00:00A hard day at Sierra de Gredos - Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xTE4yGHsYNc/WJg-0w3Q4gI/AAAAAAAAVNQ/seZqe8zn7LMKUJqsCbqBpxjH3UCb0wSsgCLcB/s1600/Hard-day-Gredos-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xTE4yGHsYNc/WJg-0w3Q4gI/AAAAAAAAVNQ/seZqe8zn7LMKUJqsCbqBpxjH3UCb0wSsgCLcB/s640/Hard-day-Gredos-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">A hard day at Sierra de Gredos - Spain</span></span></h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The wind was blowing tremendously strong intensifying the wind chill effect and the fog was preventing us to see more than 50m ahead.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I knew the summit Almanzor was not too far from the point where we was standing but we were still missing the most difficult part to climb.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The team was not prepared to overcome such a difficult task and, on top of that there was no point to continue.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I knew everybody was eager to reach the top … we were so close …</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
"THAT IS IT GUYS … WE HAVE TO RETURN"</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
It's hard having to "stop the fun" especially when I knew that everybody had traveled from so far away to climb this mountain but I know today that was the right decision at that time.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
(one day earlier)</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I can't say the day before was sunny and with a blue sky, was not. Was kind of foggy day but good enough for a ice climbing introduction and I had the opportunity to explain all the techniques I was supposed to and, at the end was a wonderful working day.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
We spent the night at the Refúgio Elola, the local mountain hut and I remember the substantial dinner we had, was something like a goulash in a Spanish way, whatever that is.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The climbing day was supposed to have better weather but Nature has its mysteries and during the night the Gods might had some disagreement in between them.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I slept regularly, in mountain huts I never sleep deeply but the fair amount to rest. Anyway, inside the mountain hut one cannot have the perception of the weather outside.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
We left the hut around 5am, just before sunrise. It's always better to start walking with hard snow.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
There was no way to see the clouds and or to assess the weather for the next hours.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Around 8am the weather was already giving us a hard time and we was right before being exposed to the most severe area, we was about to be at the north face of the mountain, the windiest part.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Half an hour later I had all the team tide up to a rock, all prepared to climb the last section but there was when I realized the team couldn't continue and you know the rest.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I'm joining a picture of the place but with god weather so you can understand where was we :)</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The mountain is still there so we will try another day.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/a-hard-day-at-sierra-de-gredos-spain/" target="_blank">Link to the original source</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Sierra de Gredos, 05416, Ávila, Spain40.2997011 -5.089046400000029315.2741246 -46.397640400000029 65.325277599999993 36.21954759999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-69046554732899793232017-02-01T10:53:00.000+00:002017-02-01T11:11:22.005+00:00Walking from Fuenterrabia to San Sebastian - Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BXcoE2wOFz8/WJG92_JR_AI/AAAAAAAAVK8/qQxO_5YcuWA4z9M9z4eHMc3IQi9D_rZMgCLcB/s1600/Pays-Basco-002a---Espana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BXcoE2wOFz8/WJG92_JR_AI/AAAAAAAAVK8/qQxO_5YcuWA4z9M9z4eHMc3IQi9D_rZMgCLcB/s640/Pays-Basco-002a---Espana.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Walking from Fuenterrabia/Hondarribia to San Sebastian/Donostia, Basque Country, Spain.</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I loooove to walk … that is obvious … however is not an absolute truth because there are walks I love more than others and some walk I hope not have to do them.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Each walk has its charm but for a walk to enter into my favorites gallery the walk has to have something special like a story, History, superb views, extraordinary places or, something less objective, has to have that <em>je ne sais quoi</em> that will make it special.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The <a data-mce-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_Country_(autonomous_community)" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basque_Country_(autonomous_community)" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Spanish Basque Country</a> is widely known by its gastronomy and there there is also a quite long and beautiful coastal line.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
When I first started to analyze the trail from Hondarribia (Fuenterrabia in Spanish) to Donostia (San Sebastian in Spanish) I didn't know what to expect so I was open to whatever I could find.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Hondarribia is a Spanish Basque village at the border with Hendaye a French Basque village and, in between these two Basque villages, you can find the river Bidasoa. Is a village full of life where you will find a lot of bars with amazing pintxos.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
There's a trail here that will take you directly do Donostia, always along the Cantabric coast and that was the trail I first thought about doing. Has 30 Km with 1400 m of elevation gain, challenging but not too difficult.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
In the meantime, I realized that not too far from the trail there was quite a good number of elements that are quite interesting to visit while doing the walk and that could increase the charm of the walk, decrease the length, reduce the elevation gain a little bit and increase the charm ... looks like a good deal.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The trail ended up having 27 Km with 1100 m of elevation gain. Is still a challenging walk but with added value. Not too bad, I knew that some of my clients would love to do it.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Now I know that I can either do the trail in one shoot or split it in two wonderful walking days.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
During the trail you can visit/see:</div>
<ul style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<li><a data-mce-href="http://jetsettingfools.com/faro-de-higuer-hondarribia-lighthouse/" href="http://jetsettingfools.com/faro-de-higuer-hondarribia-lighthouse/" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Higuer lighthouse </a></li>
<li><a data-mce-href="http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/arte/monumentos/guipuzcoa/santuario_de_nuestra_senora_de_guadalupe.html" href="http://www.spain.info/en/que-quieres/arte/monumentos/guipuzcoa/santuario_de_nuestra_senora_de_guadalupe.html" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Guadalupe Sanctuary</a></li>
<li><a data-mce-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaizkibel" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaizkibel" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Jaizkibel</a></li>
<li><a data-mce-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlism" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlism" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">The six Carlist Towers</a></li>
<li>Donibane de Pasaia</li>
<li>Cross the river Oiartzun in a cute little ferry</li>
<li>La Plata lighthouse</li>
</ul>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
And, before crossing Donibane de Pasaia you can have lunch in a wonderful terrace by the river Oiartzun mouth looking to the sea.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Arriving to Donostia will be time to have a deserved bath and a nice meal. One thing that you will find in abundance in Donostia is restaurants where you have a superb dinner.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I already did this walk with clients and they loved everything. For sure I will repeat it.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Enjoy yourself.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
Location: <a data-mce-href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/San+Sebasti%C3%A1n,+Gipuzkoa,+Spain/@43.3073225,-1.9913925,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd51affe3b68fe15:0xe43ec55994864649?hl=en" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/San+Sebasti%C3%A1n,+Gipuzkoa,+Spain/@43.3073225,-1.9913925,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd51affe3b68fe15:0xe43ec55994864649?hl=en" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">San Sebastian, Spain</a></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/from-fuenterrabia-to-san-sebastian-spain/" target="_blank">Link to the original article</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Hondarribia, Gipuzkoa, Spain43.3708434 -1.800148799999988143.3477584 -1.8404892999999882 43.3939284 -1.759808299999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-2831617033170928052017-02-01T10:46:00.000+00:002017-02-01T10:46:50.560+00:00Walking in Ervamoira wine farm - Portugal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIIM2lhZRZc/WJG8HgnpFjI/AAAAAAAAVKw/6cE9Q4AlmTALvoTnydSocrX3SgWdReJjgCLcB/s1600/Ervamoira-003---Portugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EIIM2lhZRZc/WJG8HgnpFjI/AAAAAAAAVKw/6cE9Q4AlmTALvoTnydSocrX3SgWdReJjgCLcB/s640/Ervamoira-003---Portugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Walking in Ervamoira, a wine farm in the Douro Valley, Portugal where they produce Port wine and table wine.</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
It'spectacular and unexpected to see a planted vineyard where is so warm and so dry that only olive, almond and fig trees could grow and nothing else can.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The merit belongs to <a data-mce-href="http://www.ramospinto.pt/" href="http://www.ramospinto.pt/" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Ramos Pinto</a> the famous Portuguese wine makers.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
José Ramos Pinto was looking for a more flat estate to able to have a mechanized vineyard structure and found this estate that, at that time was called Quinta de Santa Maria.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The farm was "re"baptized as <a data-mce-href="http://www.ramospinto.pt/quinta.aspx?ID=10" href="http://www.ramospinto.pt/quinta.aspx?ID=10" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Ervamoira</a>, like the book from Suzanne Chantal.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
This is one of the warmer and dryer areas in Portugal so you may want to avoid the summer months because it will be to hot to walk. During winter it can also be too cold … extreme temperatures, very characteristic of inland regions of the northeast regions.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
This area, called Fôz Côa, is quite known due to an impressive set of prehistoric drawings. In case you want to visit the engravings you will need to go to the Tourist Office at Vila Nova de Foz Côa and get a guided visit.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Remember, above all this is a wine region so taste the wonderful wines you can find here, both table wines and Port wine. I tasted (several times) their white Port wine and is delicious. </div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
A special thanks to Sónia Teixeira the official guide of the Ervamoira and a lovely host.<br />From Chãs to Ervamoira's premises is a 7,5 Km walk with 390 m descent (blue line of the map) and from Ervamoira's premises until Chãs is a 9 Km walk with 375 m ascent (red line of the map), taking into account that you might want to see the engravings in the meantime.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Enjoy yourself.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/walking-in-ervamoira-wine-farm-portugal/" target="_blank">Link to the original article</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Muxagata, 5150, Portugal41.0340016 -7.1520926000000640.938173600000006 -7.31345410000006 41.1298296 -6.99073110000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-4065236046252822142017-01-30T22:32:00.002+00:002017-01-30T22:32:51.366+00:00Group travels are like wine and friends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8nh7z_IZAbE/WI--l4kVdXI/AAAAAAAAVIc/QRcTQGloM34iD6ORfvIFGVIr53UOE7HwACLcB/s1600/Pays-Basco-009---Espana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8nh7z_IZAbE/WI--l4kVdXI/AAAAAAAAVIc/QRcTQGloM34iD6ORfvIFGVIr53UOE7HwACLcB/s640/Pays-Basco-009---Espana.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Our shared life experiences, like those we may have during group travels, have a special place in our hearts, they have their own little house there.</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
They are so special that to access to those memories in full we will need the set of keys we own together with those folks we shared the moments.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
We can even remember those moments by ourselves, revive all the details in the comfort of our homes, post the pictures in a blog or tell about those magnificent adventures to friends that will listen all the words we will say … but it will never be the same, there will be always something missing.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
However it only takes a couple of seconds after joining our adventure buddies and the keys will open all the doors of the house and the sun will fulfill our hearts with joy and laughter.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
A good wine will always be a good wine but it gets much better when shared with friends.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Carpe diem.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/group-travels-are-like-wine-and-friends/" target="_blank">Article source</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-59365378248278717102017-01-30T22:23:00.000+00:002017-01-30T22:23:44.899+00:00Visiting Portugal - where to go, what to visit?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--rtwFQCkLRw/WI-8SJXlPlI/AAAAAAAAVIQ/TFj6t8GYrkgC_FEDUgh27GsiCGl6CxNtgCLcB/s1600/Porto-003---Portugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--rtwFQCkLRw/WI-8SJXlPlI/AAAAAAAAVIQ/TFj6t8GYrkgC_FEDUgh27GsiCGl6CxNtgCLcB/s640/Porto-003---Portugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Where to go, what to do when visiting Portugal?</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I believe that this must be the question I answer more often in this context.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Of course the answer will always depend on who is asking, not everyone enjoy doing the same things.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Not only will depend on individual preferences but also depends on the time and money you have available to spend in this country.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
My reply could be very different for those who want to come to Portugal for walking vacations or for those who want to come to Portugal to spend some time on the beach or visiting museums.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
However, I will try to simplify the idea and try to draw a plan to the visitor who wants to come to Portugal have active vacation but not necessarily for walking in the countryside. Will be a plan for a visitor who values visiting areas with some History, who values tasting the cuisine and local wines and is also interested on cultural differences.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I will also consider that this visitor prefers to see the sites in a more relaxing way rather than jumping from site to site in a frenetic race ... more quality instead of quantity.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>In relation to the time I will consider two possibilities: 7 days and 14 days.</strong></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
For any of the options I find it fascinating to do the trip from North to South, in which the city of arrival will be Porto and Lisbon the departure city where there are more flight connections with the rest of the world.</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<strong>7 days:</strong> 2-Porto; 1-Guimarães; 1-Fátima/Óbidos; 2-Lisbon; 1-Sintra/Cascais</div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<strong>14 days:</strong> 2-Porto; 1-Guimarães; 1-Viana do Castelo; 1-Pinhão (Douro Valley); 2-Coimbra/Fatima/Óbidos; 3-Lisbon; 2-Évora and surroundings; 1-Sintra/Cascais; 1-Setúbal/Tróia/Arrábida</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;" style="font-style: inherit; line-height: 1.625;">Each of these sites has a remarkable History, different customs and so typical gastronomy and wines to accompany and I will write about these places on this blog.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Come with me to meet Portugal.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/visiting-portugal-where-to-go-what-to-visit/" target="_blank">Article source</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Porto, Portugal41.1579438 -8.62910529999999241.0623098 -8.7904667999999919 41.253577799999995 -8.467743799999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-37433451402331254452017-01-30T11:59:00.000+00:002017-01-31T10:30:43.038+00:00Salto do Cabrito, a handsome waterfall, São Miguel, Azores<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lthoDzhqwfQ/WI8qKm3u-eI/AAAAAAAAVH4/3iCUk_VCxKszh-4qnPrHpdardGaE4SyLgCLcB/s1600/Acores-026--Portugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lthoDzhqwfQ/WI8qKm3u-eI/AAAAAAAAVH4/3iCUk_VCxKszh-4qnPrHpdardGaE4SyLgCLcB/s640/Acores-026--Portugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
One cannot imagine this walk’s beauty before you did it. Its name is Salto do Cabrito, near Ribeira Grande at São Miguel, Azores.</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The trail is marked to be done in the opposite way than the one I usually do it but I have my reasons. So, start walking at Caldeiras da Ribeira Grande where you can find some fumaroles making bubbles on the outdoor water tanks you can find there is a pleasant way of start this adventure.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I find quite annoying walking on the tar roads. However the surroundings are so lovely that it really doesn’t matter … or maybe I say so because I love the Azores.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Anyway, by the time you arrive at the small electric plant you will have to climb some stairs to walk on a platform on top of some big tubes/pipes.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Well, you can find it odd but you will love it. It will allow you to have a top bottom prespective that will be even better inside of a small canyon you will have to cross.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
At the end of the canyon you will find a handsome waterfall called Salto do Cabrito “little goat’s jump”.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
A gorgeous place.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
Location: <a data-mce-href="https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7979256,-25.4872816,466m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en" href="https://www.google.com/maps/@37.7979256,-25.4872816,466m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Caldeiras, Ribeira Grande, São Miguel, Azores</a></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/handsome-waterfall-sao-miguel-azores/" target="_blank">Article source</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com09600 Ribeira Grande, Portugal37.8210369 -25.51481369999999137.795949900000004 -25.55515419999999 37.8461239 -25.474473199999991tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-19804681334723291092017-01-30T11:19:00.001+00:002017-02-01T11:07:33.212+00:00Cape Roca - The westernmost point of Europe's mainland.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Have you ever been to the Europe's mainland westernmost point?</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Quite close to Lisbon you will find some trails along the sea coast that will give you the sensation of “I’m at the end of Europe” and, in fact, you are at the westernmost point of Europe mainland, the Cape Roca (38°46’49.59″N 9°29’56.19″W).</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
From the Cape Roca, or arriving here, you will find many walking trails and on each one with <img alt="" class=" alignright" data-mce-src="https://walkinginportugal.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/localizac3a7c3a3o_caboroca1.jpg?w=68&h=150" height="191" src="https://walkinginportugal.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/localizac3a7c3a3o_caboroca1.jpg?w=68&h=150" style="float: right; height: auto; margin: 16px 0px 16px 16px; max-width: 100%;" title="Cape Roca" width="87" />different kind of photo spots or interesting things to see.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Coming from the south you can find a XVII century fortress named <em>Forte do Guincho</em>, one of several military buildings that were part of the Portuguese coastal defensive line built after the revolution of Dec’1640 called “Restauração da Independência” – restoration of the independence.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
An interesting flower to look for and to care for, is the Armeria pseudarmeria. This species is at risk of extinction both because tourists pick them up due to it<img alt="" class=" alignleft" data-mce-src="https://walkinginportugal.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/cravoromano.jpg?w=210&h=139" height="139" src="https://walkinginportugal.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/cravoromano.jpg?w=210&h=139" style="float: left; height: auto; margin: 16px 16px 16px 0px; max-width: 100%;" title="cravoromano" width="210" />s beauty during blooming and also because it only grows along these cliffs, which is quite of a restricted area. <em>Photo from PNSC (Parque Nacional Sintra-Cascais – Natural Park Sintra-Cascais).</em></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Granite is king on this area, offering us magnificent cliffs often with more than 150m/492ft (+/-) high and with standalone rocks that looks like guardians of the coast, always searching for the enemy boats at the horizon.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The sun sets at the west so one can take amazing sunset photos from the Cape Roca or very impressive photographs of the waves hitting the rocks.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<img alt="Map-Guincho-Cape-Roca" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-956" data-mce-src="https://montesevales.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/map-guincho-cape-roca.jpg?w=680" data-wpmedia-src="https://montesevales.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/map-guincho-cape-roca.jpg" height="730" src="https://montesevales.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/map-guincho-cape-roca.jpg?w=680" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="1147" /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I usually come here with Portuguese guests that will participate in mountain hiking tours to get to know them better prepared while they walk the trail on the map posted here. Depending of what particular trail you will choose, you can have an easy or difficult trail.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Have fun,</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
Location: <a data-mce-href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cabo+da+Roca,+2705-001+Colares,+Portugal/@38.7802937,-9.5076437,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd1edcd85eac630f:0x7a6836309727a496?hl=en" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cabo+da+Roca,+2705-001+Colares,+Portugal/@38.7802937,-9.5076437,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd1edcd85eac630f:0x7a6836309727a496?hl=en" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Cape Roca, Portugal</a></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/cape-roca-the-westernmost-point-of-europes-mainland/" target="_blank">Article source</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Cabo da Roca, Estrada do Cabo da Roca s/n, 2705-001 Azóia, Portugal38.780417 -9.498884999999972913.452777999999999 -50.807478999999972 64.108056 31.809709000000026tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-62370940802966691962017-01-28T22:15:00.001+00:002017-01-31T10:36:17.690+00:00Accessing to the right photo spots for photography in Lisbon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1k1TKeCO64E/WI0XaStU31I/AAAAAAAAVFY/26hA-eobGGEpJlaLpYt59BKIvJxICasFwCLcB/s1600/Almada-001---Portugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1k1TKeCO64E/WI0XaStU31I/AAAAAAAAVFY/26hA-eobGGEpJlaLpYt59BKIvJxICasFwCLcB/s640/Almada-001---Portugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
For a traveler photographer, accessing to the right spots to shoot is often a problem for many reasons and in Lisbon that it is not different.</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
It starts by needing to know where the place is and to how get there but is it doesn’t end here. Occasionally, a different angle looks like a new approach in fact new because there are not many photos or none taken from that particular location and we wonder why.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Personal safety and equipment safety are concerns that one have to bear in mind and some locations are not the best places to go with expensive photography equipment.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Also there is the “time” constraint. So many places to go and so little time to spend.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
As a local photographer I’m offering tours for photographers depending on their specific or general interests.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
If you are spending a couple of days in Lisbon or in the surroundings as you may well know, that is not too much time to photograph so you better take the most of it.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Give me a call.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/11/accessing-to-the-right-photo-spots/" target="_blank">Article source</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Lisbon, Portugal38.7222524 -9.139336599999978738.6231754 -9.3006980999999787 38.8213294 -8.9779750999999788tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-6877659796770301162017-01-28T22:07:00.000+00:002017-02-01T11:08:48.322+00:00River Bestança, beyond the Douro Valley wine region - Portugal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_TmJJMDom98/WI0VvPWcTDI/AAAAAAAAVFM/OzegGAyrzawsFhJwWpzThCWYw0D6UX2UACLcB/s1600/Bestanca%2BRiver%2B001%2B-%2BPortugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_TmJJMDom98/WI0VvPWcTDI/AAAAAAAAVFM/OzegGAyrzawsFhJwWpzThCWYw0D6UX2UACLcB/s640/Bestanca%2BRiver%2B001%2B-%2BPortugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
The Douro Valley wine region is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world.</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Is was established in 1756 by Marquis de Pombal, the Portugal's prime minister during the time of the king D. José I.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
In the previous post I described a walking tour trail I lead once in a while that takes place in the demarcated wine region. It's a wonderful place where you can see all the landscape covered with vineyards.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
However the demarcated region does not cover completely the Douro Valley and there is a part of the valley that was not "affected" by the rules of the demarcated region and the landscape is totally different, although being so close to each other.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The river Bestança valley is a hidden jewel even for Portuguese people. Here the trails are old paths that were used by farmers to access to their farming lands or where they still go with their cattle.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
In the river Bestança Valley you can find both the lifestyle of 100 years ago but also quite interesting hotels, like the case of <a data-mce-href="http://www.hotelportoantigo.com/en/" href="http://www.hotelportoantigo.com/en/" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Hotel Porto Antigo</a> or manor houses that are totally equipped to receive guests.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Diversity is probably one of the strongest characteristics of the Portuguese territory where one do not have to go too far to be in a completely different scenario.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Enjoy.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/river-bestanca-beyond-the-douro-valley-wine-region-portugal/" target="_blank">Article source</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Porto Antigo, 4690, Portugal41.0894243 -8.073961800000006415.761784299999999 -49.382555800000006 66.417064299999993 33.234632199999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-2719540206187016052017-01-25T10:11:00.000+00:002017-02-01T11:08:07.850+00:00Walking the Congost de Mont-rebei, halfway to the Pyrenees - Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8zDWtrEB_P4/WIh5hy05oHI/AAAAAAAAVDs/UPqX4QY9ty8QnIorTPxLguwIFyvLEWD9QCLcB/s1600/Congost-Mont-Rebei-005a-Spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8zDWtrEB_P4/WIh5hy05oHI/AAAAAAAAVDs/UPqX4QY9ty8QnIorTPxLguwIFyvLEWD9QCLcB/s640/Congost-Mont-Rebei-005a-Spain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Nothing better like a nice walk to stretch your legs during a long van transfer, even better if is the Congost de Mont-rebei.</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
After a long flight there is nothing worse than being seated in a car for 4 hours driving to doesn't matter where. But that is what can happen when you are travelling to the Pyrenees after landing at the Barcelona Airport if you don't have a backup plan.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Of course you can fly to a closer airport like Huesca or Zaragoza. However there are not many flights to those airports and at the end it can take more time than getting there by car.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
So, what to do to, at least to soften the long car ride? The answer is to stop somewhere nice for a walk and enjoy the place and instead of a long drive you just add an extra interesting day.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I was searching for a walk halfway to the Pyrenees because of the above reasons and this place caught my attention, is the Congost de Mont-rebei.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The Congost de Mont-rebei is the narrowest canyon of the river Noguera Ribagorzana, right in between the provinces of Huesca and Lleida, Spain.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Is located in a quite remote hills and until the beginning of the XX century there was no roads to connect some local villages or with the existing roads it was a very long ride. So, in 1912 a walking trail was built in the canyon to connect Corçà to Alsamora and other tinny little villages.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Later a river dam was also built and the first trail was flooded (you can see that in one of the photos) and was needed to built a new trail again but now in a higher altitude. In 1984 the second walking trail was finished allowing the people to cross from one side to the other.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
More recently an iron bridge and some catwalks were added.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RvbbI3oMoQg/WIh5PabcnhI/AAAAAAAAVDo/XlsNl696SLsnF_SSnfwcs4AsYFD3M4vbgCLcB/s1600/Map-Congost-Mont-rebei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RvbbI3oMoQg/WIh5PabcnhI/AAAAAAAAVDo/XlsNl696SLsnF_SSnfwcs4AsYFD3M4vbgCLcB/s640/Map-Congost-Mont-rebei.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The trail (red line) is not too far from Tremp, has 13 Km to each side without relevant elevation gain. Obviously you can do a shorter distance because the most beautiful part of the trail is the canyon and it goes until the first 8 Km.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Allow me to suggest you to take a sandwich or something else to bite, you will find a perfect place to do it, like my colleague in the photo.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Have fun.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
Location: <a data-mce-href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/25620+Tremp,+Lleida,+Spain/@42.1266022,0.8440402,11z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x12a641ef7bdc09d1:0xd53060380fa24c7f?hl=en" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/25620+Tremp,+Lleida,+Spain/@42.1266022,0.8440402,11z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x12a641ef7bdc09d1:0xd53060380fa24c7f?hl=en" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Tremp, Spain</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/congost-de-mont-rebei-halfway-to-the-pyrenees-spain/" target="_blank">Article source</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com025620 Tremp, Lleida, Spain42.1669147 0.894929600000068642.1433762 0.8545891000000686 42.1904532 0.9352701000000686tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-4652484641595660162017-01-25T10:05:00.000+00:002017-01-31T10:39:45.267+00:00Climbing our way up to Canchal de la Ceja - Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXUhLLwFJAY/WIh3xlK0MqI/AAAAAAAAVDc/OGSLty7FN68QQg6-u0ffP2jxMNfUk9EcwCLcB/s1600/Laguna-del-Duque-003---Spain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tXUhLLwFJAY/WIh3xlK0MqI/AAAAAAAAVDc/OGSLty7FN68QQg6-u0ffP2jxMNfUk9EcwCLcB/s640/Laguna-del-Duque-003---Spain.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
The day was perfect to climb up to Canchal de la Ceja. The ice was hard, the snow was very firm and the sun was shining ... just perfect.</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Sometimes is just a question of luck, some other times it's a result of a good planning but when you get a little of both you might get the best of all, like the day we spent at Laguna del Duque, not too far from Salamanca.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The access to the parking area is some how bizarre because you will need to remove an apparently locked chain that makes you wonder if one day you will arrive there and find it really impossible to open.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
At Solana de Ávila you will find a narrow road that will lead you to the weirdest parking area and from here facing the dam wall, on your left you will find a trail, that's the one.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Please be aware that on the right side of the dam wall there's a hut you can use in case of emergency.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Usually I do a trail on the right side walking up to the summit, is a nice trail, not too difficult at all, accessible to most of the walkers.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
On that day we wanted a more "vertical" wall so the left trail would suite us much better, a more technical way offering a moderate challenge.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The summit, Canchal de la Ceja is the highest point of the "Sierra de Bejar y Candelário" with 2428m and climbing up here via the Laguna del Duque is the most challenging way.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The day started quite foggy and I was not very enthusiastic but by around 10 am the sun came out and the day just turned to be perfect.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
It was such a nice that I will repeat it.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Who will join me?</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/climbing-our-way-up-to-canchal-de-la-ceja-spain/" target="_blank">Article source</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com005621 Solana de Ávila, Ávila, Spain40.3150614 -5.613598899999942740.3090079 -5.6236838999999428 40.3211149 -5.6035138999999425tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-16434041652694854292017-01-23T17:43:00.000+00:002017-01-31T10:37:54.874+00:00Are you planning to visit Lisbon in one day?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7NIing2g80/WIZAfy-pVMI/AAAAAAAAU-E/ohSXkPefc0wbF2wgu-DDYOyk-KCiDzaFgCLcB/s1600/Lisboa-001a-Portugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U7NIing2g80/WIZAfy-pVMI/AAAAAAAAU-E/ohSXkPefc0wbF2wgu-DDYOyk-KCiDzaFgCLcB/s640/Lisboa-001a-Portugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
<strong>Are you planning to visit Lisbon in one day? </strong></h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
You know the answer: that is impossible. However, what to do when a day is all the time we have to get to know Lisbon? Of course we will have to make the most of the available time.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I will leave here my suggestions on how to divide the time during a one-day visit to the city and the best way to structure my suggestions is to divide the visit in: morning, afternoon and after dinner.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
In this post I will not include meals or lodgings because I will write about hotels and restaurants later.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>Morning</strong></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>- One monument visit:</strong> Jerónimos Monastery - this monastery is classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built by King Manuel I in 1502 and it took about 100 years to be built. Is the maximum exponent of Manueline architecture, also known as the Portuguese Baroque.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>- One tasting: </strong>Pastéis de Belém - as a result of the Liberal Revolution of 1820, in 1834 the convents and monasteries were closed. Was in this context that someone went to a sugar refinery close to the Jerónimos Monastery and put a few cookies on sale, these cookies are today known as the "Pastéis de Belém" and they must be the better worldwide known Portuguese sweets.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>- The first walk: </strong>Baixa and Chiado - are two typical neighborhoods of the city and good representatives of the society of 18th and 19th centuries. Start by the view from the Viewpoint of São Pedro de Alcântara and walk downhill until the Camões Square and after this walk along the Garrett Street and end at Rossio. It is certainly a beautiful journey through Portuguese Romanticism and also a good opportunity to visit Baixa (downtown), the neighborhood that was built after the great earthquake of 1755.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>- The second walk: </strong>Alfama and São Jorge Castle - Alfama is a medieval district and has been inhabited since the foundation of the city so it is here that we can find the oldest buildings in the city. Walking through the narrow streets of Alfama and observing its inhabitants is to know the typical Lisbon. Start your walk at the São Jorge castle and hence find the Miradouro das Portas do Sol from where we can see the roofs of Alfama, the quarter where we will walk until Terreiro do Paço.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Note: using a city map will help you making sense of all this names I’m mentioning.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>Afternoon</strong></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Having walked in the morning, for the afternoon I will suggest more cultural moments for the afternoon, so I will propose a Museum and the Oceanarium visits.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>- Museum of the City:</strong> it was easy to propose a visit to the Museum of Ancient Art (Museu de Arte Antiga), which is the most common suggestion you will find in terms of visits to museums. However, I believe that this Museum, being an excellent Museum, does not offer something unique to those visiting Lisbon, here you will find excellent pieces that could be in any major European Museum but not necessarily Portuguese pieces. So I will propose a visit to the City Museum, a small museum, whose collection is not something extraordinary but has the particularity of being a very nice space and the collection is Portuguese, this is a truly Portuguese space.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>- Oceanarium: </strong>is the second largest aquarium in the world which is by itself a sign of being something that you can hardly see elsewhere and has an extensive collection of marine creatures. It is located at Parque das Nações, which is an ideal area for a late afternoon beer and to end the active day.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>After dinner</strong></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The visit to the city will not be complete without a stroll through the area of nightlife where you can have a drink and hear some music.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Of course there are several areas in the city where this may happen but without complicating too much the explanation I would say that is in the Bairro Alto where you can find more diversity of bars.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Personally I love bar “Pavilhão Chinês" (Chinese Pavilion), one of the most beautiful bars I know.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Join the fun in Lisbon.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/11/are-you-planning-to-visit-lisbon-in-one-day/" target="_blank">Please check the original article at my blog in Wordpress</a></span></span></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Lisbon, Portugal38.7222524 -9.139336599999978738.6231754 -9.3006980999999787 38.8213294 -8.9779750999999788tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-59734089734538701202017-01-23T17:38:00.000+00:002017-01-23T17:38:43.364+00:00The Garrano Horse at Gerês National Park, Portugal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K1bMmJIS530/WIY_FSjdUeI/AAAAAAAAU94/-7GDpXbidLYtCOPH8hGilR659Js17_OUACLcB/s1600/Garrano-Horse-001---Portugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K1bMmJIS530/WIY_FSjdUeI/AAAAAAAAU94/-7GDpXbidLYtCOPH8hGilR659Js17_OUACLcB/s640/Garrano-Horse-001---Portugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Wild horses in Portugal at Gerês National Park.</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
In a territory with such ancient boundaries, such as Portugal, and where the human presence is almost everywhere, there are not so frequent wildlife sightings and when that happens, as it was in this case, it is always an exciting moment.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Garrano is a breed of Iberian horses. We often tend to refer them as being Portuguese but the fact is that the animal knows no boundaries and they can be seen both on the Portuguese side and on the Spanish side.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
On the Spanish side the Gerês (Gerês National Park) is called Xures, very similar.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
These are horses of small stature, wrongly often referred to as ponies, adapted to the harsh conditions of the Gerês and with working horse characteristics.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
It's difficult to find the word to express how much I love seeing these free animals in the wild.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
They are no longer in danger of extinction as once they were, it is a sign that there is hope in the future of coexistence between humans and wildlife.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
This was a moment to remember.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/11/the-garrano-horse-at-geres-portugal/" target="_blank">Please check the original article at my blog in Wordpress</a></span></span></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com04970-662 Soajo, Portugal41.8744565 -8.262891500000023416.8488775 -49.571485500000023 66.9000355 33.045702499999976tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-65226068481652026652017-01-23T16:50:00.000+00:002017-01-31T10:34:35.493+00:00How to divide the time to spend nine days visiting the Azores?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aoy0JyybdBs/WIYzQVh9DqI/AAAAAAAAU9Y/surVBNcKAvIbqqzATSD5qz2rCjgscn4AgCLcB/s1600/Acores-024--Portugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aoy0JyybdBs/WIYzQVh9DqI/AAAAAAAAU9Y/surVBNcKAvIbqqzATSD5qz2rCjgscn4AgCLcB/s640/Acores-024--Portugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; text-align: left;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The Azores is an archipelago of the Portuguese territory constituted by nine islands and these islands are organized in three groups accordingly with their relative position and proximity: Oriental Group, Central Group and Occidental Group.</span></h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Oriental Group:</strong> Santa Maria Island and São Miguel Island;</span><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Central Group:</strong> Pico Island, São Jorge Island, Faial Island, Graciosa Island and Terceira Island</span><br />
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Occidental Group:</strong> Flores Island and Corvo Island.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">There are lot’s of websites where you can retrieve geographical information about the Azores so I won’t spend much time on this subject. Also to know its geographic position you can go to <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/A%C3%A7ores/@24.2685843,-39.5129957,3z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0xb467f1e11e43b05:0xe2911b674bce0c1d!8m2!3d37.7412488!4d-25.6755944" target="_blank">Google Maps</a>.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">In spite the Azores being part of Portugal, is totally different from the mainland and is far from sufficient to say that you will find there a unique environment, is like visiting a different country but with same language although with specific accent.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">In between the several Azorean islands you will also find huge differences. While some islands are green, with dozen of lakes and waterfalls, others gives you dark landscapes colors with impressive mountains.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">These differences in between islands are not only in the landscape but also in their traditions and ways of being. At São Miguel island you will find a considerable size island, all green and quite exuberant, with an architecture based on black and white buildings and,on the other hand, just to give an example, Pico island is dark and dry because of the volcanic dark stone and the locals love to paint their dark stone houses doors with red colour … the result is fantastic.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">With nine islands and also considering the difficulties of access to some of them once in a while due to weather conditions, is totally impossible to visit them all in one week, at least it doesn’t worth your while to do it like that.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re planning a one week tour, or 9 days for that matter, you will need to make choices regarding to what islands to visit.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">In this post I will focus myself in a 9 days tour but later I will write another post considering a two weeks tour and these two possibilities will be very different.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Naturally that the answer will be that this will depend on your personal preferences. However, in case you are more willing to go trekking the answer will be to go visiting islands like Flores or São Jorge but if you are more of a general tourist maybe plan to spend more time at São Miguel and Terceira.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">For the sake of the explanation I will divide the people that are interested in visiting the Azores in two big groups knowing that I’m taking the chance of leaving many possibilities out of this division:</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Relaxed Group</strong> - Those that are more like a general tourist. Want some cultural activities, not too deep, some walks, not to far or not taking too much time, take some pictures, have some relaxation moments but get to know the place.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Active Group</strong> - Those that are interested in knowing the place while doing some physical activities like walking, maybe trekking, or scuba diving, photography, sea kayaking, etc, although are also interested in getting to know the place.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Note that, things like local food and wine tasting, getting to know people and some relaxing are included in both groups, naturally.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">I know that splitting the people in two groups like this is probably not even fair but this is a blog post not a scientific study … give me a break.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">So, the question is now <strong>“How to divide the time to spend nine days visiting the Azores?”</strong></span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Please bear in mind that I don’t like to travel with too much tide schedules or be all day long rush rush but I also need to feel that I’m taking the most of my time in a balanced way. What is good for me is not necessarily the best for you so you will do your own decisions.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>Relaxed Group: mix tour with some cultural activities, some photo opp’s and some walks</strong></div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">3 days at São Miguel island + 2 days at Pico island + 1 day at São Jorge island + 3 days at Terceira island</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>Active Group: plenty of opportunities for walking, scuba diving, serious photography, surf, rock climbing etc - two possibilities</strong></div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">3 days at São Miguel island + 2 days at Pico island + 2 days at São Jorge island + 2 days at Terceira island</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">or</span></div>
<div data-mce-style="padding-left: 30px;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-left: 30px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">3 days at São Miguel island + 3 days at Flores island + 2 days at Pico island + 1 day at São Jorge island</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">This is only an idea on how to split time in between islands, you will decide what is best for you.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The Azores is in my short list of favourite destinations, I’ve been travelling there for many years and I know deeply all the islands.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">There are infinite possibilities to do a wide variety of activities like walking, photographing, lay down on the beach, jumping from cliffs, cultural visits, you name it.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Is really difficult to select some islands to visit in one week, leaving out of the choice so many other wonderful places but this is real life with its limitations of time and money.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">In this post I did not consider the logistic difficulties you can find when booking flights to the Azores, that will always depends of where do you come from. Although I consider how hard/easy is to move from one island to the other also taking into account how far in time are they from each other.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Later I will write a series of posts regarding each island and with some ideas of what can be done here and there adding some information to what can be already found in the internet. Also I will also explain the reasons for the above selections.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Have fun,</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">David Monteiro</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/11/how-to-divide-the-time-to-spend-nine-days-visiting-the-azores/" target="_blank">Please check the original article at my blog in Wordpress</a></span></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Azores, Portugal37.7412488 -25.67559440000002334.5529813 -30.839168400000023 40.9295163 -20.512020400000022tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-78706925870611612042017-01-20T11:49:00.000+00:002017-01-31T10:33:16.382+00:00Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra, San Sebastian, Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E18L_wiGPG8/WIH3v1K3HSI/AAAAAAAAU7k/WQiJp7nO_lUJPqB-JRqb45tA6Yslzi2pACLcB/s1600/pays-basco-021-espana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E18L_wiGPG8/WIH3v1K3HSI/AAAAAAAAU7k/WQiJp7nO_lUJPqB-JRqb45tA6Yslzi2pACLcB/s640/pays-basco-021-espana.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="font-weight: 400;">San Sebastian, or Donostia in Basque, is a synonymous of a glamorous lifestyle in which the <a data-mce-href="https://www.hlondres.com" href="https://www.hlondres.com/" style="color: #00aadc;">“Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra”</a> plays a quite important role.</span></h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Like in many other coastal towns, the origin of San Sebastian is related with fishing activities and the “La Concha” bay acting as a natural safe haven for traditional local fishing boats ultimately explains the success and prosperity of the town.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">However, when we look around we mostly see buildings dated after the 1800’s and one can wonder why.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The reason, although not obvious, is not rare on this part of the world. After a siege that took place in 1813, where the combined Portuguese and English troops successfully fought against the Napoleon army, the city was almost completely destroyed by the winners.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">As you can imagine, San Sebastian had to be rebuilt after that sad event.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">It also happen that the Queen Maria Cristina had to spend some time in the city recommended by her doctor due to her health condition.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The queen enjoyed so much the town that started to spend more time around here and that alone attracted other aristocratic members and European wealthy people in general.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Was in this context that the building that today we know as the </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><a data-mce-href="https://www.hlondres.com" href="https://www.hlondres.com/" style="color: #00aadc;">“Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra”</a> </span><span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">was constructed in the middle of the XIX century.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Initially was a private own palace and at a certain moment became an hospital, during one of the Carlistas wars.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">During the beginning of the XX century was adapted to become an hotel.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Today we can find a hotel with an elegant classic decoration although very modern in all the ways you can think about.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The Hotel had many distinct guests until now. Anyway, in its long list there is one that, in my opinion, stands out and completely fits the hotel’s environment, I’m referring to the famous and mysterious spy Mata Hari.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The hotel rooms are very elegant and classy, the restaurant has an excellent service with very nice quality/price relation in what concerns dinner and lunches. Breakfast here is a treat, the proper way to start your day.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">The best of the hotel is the their staff, no doubt about it.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">In these years I’ve been staying here with guests, as you can imagine, many situations occurred that I needed their help … in fact at the end is always the guest that has the need and the hotel staff always faced the problems with a tender smile and a eager to help.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">If you stayed in this hotel please let me know your opinion. My opinion is clear, is an excellent hotel.</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">David Monteiro</span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><br /></span></div>
<span data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;" style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 15px;"><a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2017/01/hotel-de-londres-y-de-inglaterra-san-sebastian-spain/" target="_blank">Please check the original article at my blog in Wordpress</a></span></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain43.318334 -1.981231299999990443.2721155 -2.0619122999999906 43.3645525 -1.9005502999999904tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-38139638493902008302016-01-13T09:49:00.000+00:002017-02-01T11:12:55.936+00:00Walking on the Lousã's aqueduct - Portugal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVjYeJnli4s/VpYdKPJQpnI/AAAAAAAAUZs/C6B8H8JMaho/s1600/Levada%2BLousa%2B001%2B-%2BPortugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NVjYeJnli4s/VpYdKPJQpnI/AAAAAAAAUZs/C6B8H8JMaho/s640/Levada%2BLousa%2B001%2B-%2BPortugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; font-size: 15px; text-align: left;">
A hidden aqueduct in the well preserved valley is a jewel and you can find that quite close to Lousã.</h2>
<div>
<span style="color: #3d596d; font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 15px;">Water was always one of the most precious resources in the world and around here that not different.</span></div>
<h2 style="color: #3d596d; font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 24px;">
In this case water's value shows itself by the power it has to produce electricity with its weight when falling from a certain height … simple. But, to have that in this narrow steep valley, a small aqueduct was built to conduct the water along the valley keeping the altitude as much as possible until the right place.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The result was a beautiful two miles aqueduct in the middle of the valley where one can walk.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<strong>How to access to the aqueduct? It's not too easy but I can think about to nice ways to do it:</strong></div>
<ol style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-weight: normal;">
<li>Starting from Senhora da Piedade (Lousã) it's possible to find a single trail that will take us to a small village called Talasnal. At this village we can taste a small cake called Talasnico e find the trail down to the aqueduct walking towards down the valley. The trail will last for (+/-) 150m and after that it will be walking across the bushes. Always walking down you can not miss the aqueduct and after finding it is to follow it until the trail that will take us back to the starting point.</li>
<li>There is an entrance to the aqueduct from the EN236 road at N40° 05.470' W8° 12.814'. From Lousã you can take a cab until the spot, find the aqueduct and walk back.</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Have fun.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-weight: normal;">
Location: <a data-mce-href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/3200+Lous%C3%A3/@40.1147322,-8.2725433,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0xd22ee926a671649:0xf8f0a2576fcf5f0b?hl=en" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/3200+Lous%C3%A3/@40.1147322,-8.2725433,14z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0xd22ee926a671649:0xf8f0a2576fcf5f0b?hl=en" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Lousã, Portugal</a><br />
<a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/lousa-s-aqueduct-portugal/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Please check the original article at my blog in Wordpress</a><br />
<br /></div>
</h2>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 15px;">
</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.1818px;">
</div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com03200 Lousã, Portugal40.1147188 -8.244003799999973140.066145299999995 -8.3246847999999734 40.1632923 -8.1633227999999729tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-6919555549682760972016-01-13T09:34:00.000+00:002017-01-31T10:31:44.778+00:00Casas do Côro at Marialva, glamorous village hotel - Portugal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.1818px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SiY8_XVpd4w/VpYZksACPJI/AAAAAAAAUZY/xEO7n465vq4/s1600/Casas-do-Coro-001a---Portugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SiY8_XVpd4w/VpYZksACPJI/AAAAAAAAUZY/xEO7n465vq4/s640/Casas-do-Coro-001a---Portugal.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<h2 style="font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , "times new roman" , "times" , serif; text-align: left;">
Some places deserve to be referred and Casa do Côro is certainly one of them, a glamorous village hotel in a spectacular landscape.</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Most of the times, when I think about traveling, I will first think about where to go and then where to stay. However, in some cases is totally the opposite.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
With Casas do Côro (<a data-mce-href="http://www.casasdocoro.pt/" href="http://www.casasdocoro.pt/" style="color: #00aadc;">http://www.casasdocoro.pt/</a>), the lodging itself is the destination and around it there are plenty of things that can be done like countryside walks, ride a mountain bike, a guided castle visit and also visiting other small historical villages.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Casas do Côro is located in Marialva which is one of the twelve Portuguese historical villages as you can check at <a data-mce-href="http://www.aldeiashistoricasdeportugal.com/en/" href="http://www.aldeiashistoricasdeportugal.com/en/" style="color: #00aadc;">http://www.aldeiashistoricasdeportugal.com/en/</a>. It worth visiting all the historical villages and Marialva is no exception.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Marialva is a village older than Portugal, isn't that funny? Portugal was founded in the XII century AD and Marialva was founded by the Romans probably during the II century AD.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
But, if you think that you will go to Marialva and you will find there a building with a sign saying "Hotel" you couldn't be more mistaken.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
When visiting Marialva you will notice that a certain part of the village is better preserved and has some kind of harmony even in the chaos of the narrow streets of the village. This newer area is the hotel.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Casas de Côro is composed by an increasing set of rebuilt stone houses and there is a bigger house where one can find the restaurant, a living room, kitchen and breakfast area … lovely concept, a village hotel.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
In each stone house you will find a complete house, I mean with rooms (with private bath), living room, kitchen and even a small yard.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The decor is absolutely fabulous but never ostensive. If I need to find only one word to describe it I will say elegant … yes, very elegant.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
This is the kind of place a Tour Leader loves because everything works like a Swiss watch, the service is as good as everything looks like, just perfect.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
One starts to wonder about the reason behind the success and the elegance until talking with the owners Paulo and Carmen Romão. You will feel they live the hotel and consequently the hotel mirrors them and it's their heart and soul.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I know the place since 2010 and I've been there in many different occasions, in all the stations of the year.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Although I can say that it was always good independently of the time of the year, is with bad weather conditions that I prefer the place.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Several times I returned to the hotel with the guests, all of us completely wet from the rain and cold from the hard wind after a walk in the woods and the people there had lighten the fireplace thinking about us. Upon our arrival we were greeted with a "Would you like some hot tea to warm you up?" … this is pure gold.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
If you have an opportunity visit the place and enjoy yourself.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Location: <a data-mce-href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Marialva,+6430/@40.9120854,-7.2677824,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd3c856d4623af97:0x500ebbde490cbc0?hl=en" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Marialva,+6430/@40.9120854,-7.2677824,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd3c856d4623af97:0x500ebbde490cbc0?hl=en" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Marialva, Portugal</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Article source: <a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/casas-do-coro-at-marialva-portugal/">http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/casas-do-coro-at-marialva-portugal/</a></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.1818px;">
</div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Marialva, 6430, Portugal40.9034022 -7.232925499999964840.8074042 -7.3942869999999647 40.999400200000004 -7.0715639999999649tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-48673276549074558872016-01-13T09:29:00.000+00:002017-02-01T11:13:29.040+00:00A hiking adventure at Sierra de Gredos - Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa4v6mmPW9U/VpYYHQTpzqI/AAAAAAAAUX8/BFKRaTFyKck/s1600/Sierra%2Bde%2BGredos%2B001%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa4v6mmPW9U/VpYYHQTpzqI/AAAAAAAAUX8/BFKRaTFyKck/s640/Sierra%2Bde%2BGredos%2B001%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.1818px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<h2 style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; text-align: left;">
At 110 Km Norwest from Madrid you will find the landscape of the book "For whom the bell tolls" from Ernest Hemingway and a perfect location for a hiking adventure.</h2>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
If I remember well, I read the book "For whom the bell tolls" when I was 18 years old or something like that. At that age I was far from imagining that one day I was going to lead tours there or even to climb to its summit, the Almanzor.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
When I read the book I was fascinated by the description of how the earth shacked when we made love with Maria, I admired the strength of Pilar and I could only imagine the mountains landscape in my dreams. One have to realize that back then there was no internet where I could go browse about Gredos, the closest thing I had was the local public library and there was not many books about such a place.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Anyway, this mountain range is like a mini Alpes, it really looks like it but in a much smaller scale. With its snowed granitic needles and its "U" valley one have the sensation of being in much higher mountain.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The highest summit is the Almanzor with 2,592 m (8,504 ft). If you want to know more about the origin of the name Almanzor, please visit: <a data-mce-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almanzor" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almanzor" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almanzor</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Sierra de Gredos is a lovely place to go for a walk, both during the winter or summer time.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Although during the winter is usually completely covered with snow, the walk from the parking area called Plataforma until the mountain hut Elola is well marked and there is always quite a lot of people doing it, especially during weekends.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
But if you want to climb to the Almanzor summit or similar, you better know what your doing or hire a mountain guide. I can't remember how many time I climbed this summit with clients and quite often we find people in trouble during the way up without proper guidance … please don't do that.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Just the walk until the mountain hut is already a wonderful memory and in the mountain hut you will find something very important: beer :)</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Have fun.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Location: <a data-mce-href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/05634+Hoyos+del+Espino,+%C3%81vila,+Spain/@40.3549529,-5.1781787,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd3f8f7d1448d21b:0x7877e1385f753b5b?hl=en" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/05634+Hoyos+del+Espino,+%C3%81vila,+Spain/@40.3549529,-5.1781787,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd3f8f7d1448d21b:0x7877e1385f753b5b?hl=en" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Hoyos del Espino, Spain</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Article source: <a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/sierra-de-gredos-spain/">http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/sierra-de-gredos-spain/</a></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.1818px;">
</div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com005634 Hoyos del Espino, Ávila, Spain40.3561458 -5.175468099999989140.3500958 -5.1855530999999893 40.3621958 -5.165383099999989tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-88932987894838734662016-01-06T08:26:00.001+00:002017-02-01T11:18:41.323+00:00Bicycle ride near Lisbon - Portugal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZMrV5RupaY/VozOjzApWeI/AAAAAAAAUXo/bb3-bjB72as/s1600/Moita%2B001%2B-%2BPortugal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tZMrV5RupaY/VozOjzApWeI/AAAAAAAAUXo/bb3-bjB72as/s640/Moita%2B001%2B-%2BPortugal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.1818px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<h2 style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", times, serif; text-align: left;">
A wonderful bicycle ride always looking at Lisbon on the other side of the river Tejo (the Tagus).</h2>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Lisbon is crossed by the river Tagus. One can't imagine the city without thinking about the river as well.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
But, like being part of the city it acts also like a barrier, not very often we think about the other side, with the exception of those that live there and have to cross the river to Lisbon to work.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
For those who live in Lisbon, like myself, we look to the river and what do we see? "The other side" … well not just the other side of the river, you have to say it like with Darth Vader voice … yes you get it right.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
In fact, for most of us, we just don't think much about it.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
But … I started to wonder what if I design a bike trail connecting two of the several ferries that crosses the river to the "other side"?</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Well, one of the ferry goes to a place called Montijo and another ferry connects Lisbon to Barreiro.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
So I did it.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I started to investigate single dirt trails, way from the roads as much as possible and closer to the river banks.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The result was a 38 Km trail, very beautiful, pretty flat and with a lot of interesting and unexpected nice views over Lisbon.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
After doing it with customers I also did a small video to share here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbTUjxP1se0">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbTUjxP1se0</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Enjoy the ride.</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Location: <a data-mce-href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Montijo/@38.6898499,-9.0151289,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd190dbdb387b425:0x376dd191f46aff93?hl=en" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Montijo/@38.6898499,-9.0151289,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd190dbdb387b425:0x376dd191f46aff93?hl=en" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Montijo, Portugal</a></div>
<div style="font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif;">
Article source: <a href="http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/biking-near-lisbon-portugal/">http://www.iberactive.com/2016/01/biking-near-lisbon-portugal/</a></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23.1818px;">
</div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com0Montijo, Portugal38.7055652 -8.974118299999986438.6064382 -9.1354797999999864 38.804692200000005 -8.8127567999999865tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571490796677204083.post-19484537498863372552016-01-04T14:02:00.000+00:002017-02-01T11:19:30.533+00:00River Ébron canyon – Spain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rpk6TpEf0SM/Vop63uQdfWI/AAAAAAAAUVg/YfIg4J0u-QM/s1600/Estrechos%2Bdel%2BEbron%2B%2B001%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rpk6TpEf0SM/Vop63uQdfWI/AAAAAAAAUVg/YfIg4J0u-QM/s640/Estrechos%2Bdel%2BEbron%2B%2B001%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qOIK8q6dRVg/Vop669Ls1sI/AAAAAAAAUV8/0Sf3Ze9YydU/s1600/Estrechos%2Bdel%2BEbron%2B%2B005%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qOIK8q6dRVg/Vop669Ls1sI/AAAAAAAAUV8/0Sf3Ze9YydU/s200/Estrechos%2Bdel%2BEbron%2B%2B005%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
I love to think that there are trails that have a different objective than the walk itself and this one is a perfect example.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
The river Ebron it's an interesting case of a river that starts and finishes in the same river. It's a tributary of the river Turia and in the same river has its mouth.</h2>
</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dju8638j6nw/Vop66dlaydI/AAAAAAAAUV4/EI-ylZpem2s/s1600/Estrechos%2Bdel%2BEbron%2B%2B004%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dju8638j6nw/Vop66dlaydI/AAAAAAAAUV4/EI-ylZpem2s/s200/Estrechos%2Bdel%2BEbron%2B%2B004%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" width="200" /></a>In its short path, the river Ebron crosses a canyon that was named "Estrechos del Ébron" (the Ébron strait) and it was built here some funny iron infrastructures that allows people to walk in the canyon without wetting their feet.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eysA-41anJU/Vop64HGztCI/AAAAAAAAUVo/hLQ-wxJnZb4/s1600/Estrechos%2Bdel%2BEbron%2B%2B003%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eysA-41anJU/Vop64HGztCI/AAAAAAAAUVo/hLQ-wxJnZb4/s200/Estrechos%2Bdel%2BEbron%2B%2B003%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" width="200" /></a>Exactly, you will be able to walk almost on the water. The maximum height is about 1,5m high.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Funny isn't it?</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
To access to the canyon area the trail was equipped with some iron structures that helps you "climbing" some rocks … very easy.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--q1EvttMoGo/Vop64N3XTSI/AAAAAAAAUVk/eZAKBRscRR0/s1600/Estrechos%2Bdel%2BEbron%2B%2B002%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--q1EvttMoGo/Vop64N3XTSI/AAAAAAAAUVk/eZAKBRscRR0/s200/Estrechos%2Bdel%2BEbron%2B%2B002%2B-%2BEspana.jpg" width="200" /></a>In the way in will find some places where you won't resist having a bath in crystal clear waters.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Be sure to came here during a hot summer day because is the best time.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
The canyon walls will provide the necessary shade and the water will be refreshing.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
This is what I call a walk with a hidden agenda :)</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
Have fun.</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 24px;">
David Monteiro</div>
<div style="color: #3d596d; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 25.5px;">
Location: <a data-mce-href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Torm%C3%B3n,+Teruel,+Spain/@40.209126,-1.3733058,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd5de5c54c7a1885:0x4018c6508cf6fa0?hl=en" href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Torm%C3%B3n,+Teruel,+Spain/@40.209126,-1.3733058,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0xd5de5c54c7a1885:0x4018c6508cf6fa0?hl=en" style="color: #00aadc;" target="_blank">Tórmon, Spain</a></div>
</div>
David Monteirohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12940577611157398396noreply@blogger.com044134 Tormón, Teruel, Spain40.2023081 -1.35325369999998240.199276100000006 -1.3582961999999821 40.2053401 -1.348211199999982