Girl's Trip with Audra to Spain!

Audra and I love our families, but boy did we have a great weekend without them! She and I had never been on a girl's trip together and I certainly hope it isn't the last! 

We chose a trip to Northern Spain. I was inspired to go to the Rioja region and also to a remarkable coastal site, Gaztelugatxeko (got to love the Basque language!) after watching Rachel's season of the Bachelorette :) Audra wanted to see the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao and the site of Dragonstone from GoT so it was settled! 

I left my house in rainy, cold Amstelveen around 1pm and we arrived at the Guggenheim museum in sunny Spain at 5:30pm! We took a spin around the museum, which was designed by Frank Gehry, admiring the architecture as much as the modern art exhibits, which are often lost on me! 

Massive metal structures that you can walk around and through.

We were really impressed by what we saw in Bilbao. The river walk was bustling with people on their evening passeos and everything was so modern and clean. So many fun playgrounds, too (the things you notice once you become a parent).

Our other Bilbao must-do was pintxos (tapas) hoping around the old town. Audra found two great little spots and we feasted for a dime!

Good morning, Bilbao! Big day ahead. We went back to the airport and rented wheels for the remainder of the weekend.

First destination, Gaztelugatxeko, an islet on the Biscay coast, connected to the mainland by a man-made bridge. 231 steps lead you to the top where there is a little church that dates from the 10th or maybe even the 9th century. It was as stunning as I'd hoped. The passing clouds kept changing the light on the islet and the color of the water. 

Lisbon was great hill training for this climb! Once at the top, we took turns ringing the church bell 5 times each for good luck. A rain shower appeared and the disappeared as quickly again.

We had taken quite the round about way down to the site, not realizing that there was more direct access via a staircase. So we headed that way back and were thrilled to see a restaurant at the top with Spanish omelettes. It was next to a beer garden and a sweet playground! I wouldn't recommend this journey with small children, but they would have had fun there! 

To be continued with a second post on our time in Rioja! 

Magical Sintra

We saved the best for last- a day trip to magical Sintra, a 40 minute train ride west of Lisbon. We knew we couldn't see everything in one day, so we chose two sites to focus on. We started at Quinta da Regaleira, a palace and gardens built into a hill with lots of fun places for us to explore.

We seemed to have missed the signs, but eventually found our way to the pièce de résistance- the masonic initiation well (intended use??). We spiraled down and down to the bottom and then made our way out through caves. Then we found the perfect secluded cave to have a prohibited picnic lunch.

We did the quick walk through the palace, which featured some nice mosaics! 

 

Our next stop was Pena Palace, which appeared to be just over a hill. So imagine our surprise when we get in the Uber and see that it is s 35 minute drive due to all of the roads being one way. Well, it was a scenic tour of Sintra and gave Maeve a chance to have a quick nap!

From Pena palace, you can see the Moorish Castle up on another hill. It was too ambitious to fit in a visit there, but we were happy to see it (and photograph it) anyway!

The Pena Park and Palace began when King Ferdinand II bought a former monastery on the site in 1838. He had his romantic style palace and gardens built around this. It is something else! So many charming nooks and such vibrant colors. We really enjoyed touring it at our leisure. 

The Moorish Castle as seen from the Palace Walls

Maeve on the Queen's Terrace

When we'd finished seeing the palace, we began our great descent. First, through the gardens of the palace, picking up fallen flowers and admiring the fauna, frogs and fish. 

Our Uber driver had told us to take the "15 minute" walk down from the Palace into the town. It definitely took us longer than that, but it was really enjoyable with views, ornate residences and a super scenic restroom stop along the way! And we were so proud of Jude, who walked the whole way by himself.

Great view of the castle from the walk down

Quinta da Regaleira in the distance

So much energy after a busy day! 

Back home, we got impatient waiting for our Uber so we decided to take one final walk back to our apartment, up, up and up the stairs and hills. Thank goodness I married a pack mule!

Our final morning before our flight was spent a local cafe, the playground and a good souvenir store.

 Tchau Lisbon! Thank you again for all of the memories!