Spain – Page 2 – Linda Scandore

Personality – Oct. 18, 2022

Day 3: Madrid
Weather: 65-75 degrees / overcast, blue sky

Personality plus best describes these buildings. With grandiose buildings, my eyes constantly rove. These buildings capture my focus, attention, and appreciate.

There’s the difference between looking and seeing.

Floor tile. “Eight pointed star” or “X?”

Grandiose – Oct. 17, 2022

Day 2: Madrid
Weather: 65-80 degrees / overcast, light rain, blue sky

Grandiose well describes Madrid. The scale of buildings centuries old goes beyond my ability to capture by camera. Touring Palacio Real de Madrid is like Versailles on steroids. Madrid’s central area is walking friendly. A walk so dissimilar to past weeks of walking Portugués Camino.

Decompression – Oct. 16, 2022

Day 1: Santiago de Compostelle to Madrid
Distance: 360 miles
Time: 9 hours
Weather: 65 degrees / overcast and light rain

Decompression is necessary after a solitude journey. Going home would be too abrupt. A neutral place allowing the experiences to settle is wise. The nine hour bus ride to Madrid began the thought process. Unbeknownst I rode through towns from my first Camino in 2014…Arzua, Lugo, Ponferrada, and Astoria. Haunting! Contrasting the similarities and difference helps sort my 2022 Portugués Camino.

Madrid tile street signs are non-reader friendly.

Jerónimos Monastery – Sept. 13, 2022

Day 3: Lisbon
Weather: 65-80 degrees / blue skies with clouds, windy

The Jerónimos Monastery was built to commemorate Vasco da Gama. He was the first European to sail around Africa to India. Vasco da Gama died in India during his third voyage. His body, albeit well salted, was brought back to be buried at Jerónimos Monastery.

Tower and Cloister of Cloister of Jerónimos Monastery

The Portugués Cavalry parades when a foreign dignitary is being presented at Jerónimos Monastery.

What luck to be at the right spot at the right time for this unscheduled event.

Walking Tour – Sept. 13, 2022

Day 3: Lisbon
Weather: 65-80 degrees / blue skies with clouds, windy

Both walking tours in Lisbon are exceptional. They bring order to a maze of streets while adding historical content. Our guide calls attention to the sepia photographs quietly displayed on city walls. Increases in tourism…increases in rents. Affordable rents are declining as accommodations are being flipped for profitable Airb&b’s. These portraits of locals help establish laws preserving a portion of housing as affordable.

A good Lisbon Walking Tour must include the infamous custard pie.

Rain – Sept. 12, 2022

Day 2: Lisbon
Weather: 65-80 degrees / thunderstorms with downpour, overcast

Driving rain sent me purchasing the first in a series of €5 umbrellas. When the rains stops, each umbrella became the latest donation. Travel light.

Clutching my first “donation” umbrella. My motto is, “Use it or loose it.”

Even Gortex rain gear could not handle today’s fierce rain. I am willing to carry extra weight for an extra layer of rain gear. It takes two Decathlon Sport Stores before I am able to buy the last rain poncho in Lisbon.

Entrances – Sept. 11, 2022

Day 1: Lisbon
Weather: 65-80 degrees / overcast, sunny

As though I am Alice in Wonderland falling through the rabbit hole, I enter my hostel through a kitschy souvenir shop. Other entrances lead to far grander places.

Entrance to my hostel through a gauntlet of souvenirs.

Entrance to Santa Maria Major Cathedral, starting point for the Lisbon Camino.

Entrance to Lisbon the Triumpal Arch of Praça do Comércio

Entrance to Manteigaria Patéis, BEST custard tarts in Lisbon.

Orientation – Sept. 11, 2022

Day 1: Lisbon
Weather: 65-80 degrees / overcast, sunny

Series of city hills, twisting streets, and metro re-constructions makes orienting in Lisbon immensely challenging. “Rooftop” views are spectacular; yet, disjointed for orientation. Rambling I discover Lisbon. City signage keeping tourists huddled from one site to another. We’re like a swarm of bees around the queen bee. Move two blocks off the landmark routes and there isn’t a tourist to be found.