26th September to 7th October.
click on link to see all legs of journey to Santander from Setubal

View Setubal to Santander in a larger map

Sunday 6th October

First stop along the road north was at the unusual medieval town of Aguilar Campoo, it was the vernacular architecture that caught the eye with the glazed galleries.

Aguilar Campoo glazed galleries

Medieval bits...

...and bobs

The road now started it’s slow climb into the Picos  and subsequently wiggled its way to Potes deep in the mountains for our last night of camping in Spain, we were blessed with unexpected warm weather and fine vista’s for the journey.  

Picos view from the top of the pass

Views of the Picos

Views from the campsite

Last night in Spain

Saturday 5th October

Heading north across the plains of rural Spain to the remote village of Castrojeriz  with distant views of the Picos de Europa.

Lunch stop in the local bar

Tapas and a very well used coffee machine

Rural landscapes around Castrojeriz

Distant views of the Picos de Europa

Campsite with ruined Templar castle

Friday 4th October

Salamanca the masterpiece sandstone city; if you combined the cities of Bath, Oxford and and Cambridge they would not compare to the magnificence of this place; streets and plaza’s lined with cafe’s and bars make this university city a vibrant and friendly place to explore.

Colonnades and cafes surround the top draw Plaza Mayor

Spot Linda in the Plaza

Cafes and colonnades

Wall of shells

The Cathedral dominates the skyline

There it is again

...and again

There is a legend in this town about a stone carving of a frog on the university entrance wall. If you spot it they say you will be lucky in love and pass your exams, if you don’t then bad luck.

Spot the frog...

...he’s there on top of the skull (guess my luck’s in tonight)

Spot the Roman bits

and pieces

Thursday 3rd October

The road trip on our  last day in Portugal took us up into the high country of the Parque Natural da Serra Estrela. This magnificent forested park with lakes and tumbling streams is home to Portugal’s highest mountain called Torre which is just shy of 2000 meters, today it had its head in the clouds, but visibility did clear at 1600 meters to reveal the Vale do Zezere a spectacular glacier formed valley that our road followed all the way down to the main town in the park called Manteigas. From there we journeyed on across the plains to Salamanca in Spain, for our night’s campsite.

Shepherd's hut in the clouds

Linda on the rocks at 1600m

Tumbling streams

...and waterfalls

Zezere Valley

Rocks and trees

Sunset at Salamanca after 6 days of solid rain

Tuesday 1st October

Once upon a time Tomar was Portugal’s HQ for the Knights Templar, founded in 1119 the crusader knights outfitted in white coats sporting a big red cross. Their remit was to protect pilgrims en route to the Holy Land, although they took vows of poverty and chastity their protection racket proved to be very profitable to the point that they became bankers to the kings and pilgrims.

Convento de Cristo in Tomar yet another UNESCO World Heritage site is a fine example of the huge power the Knights Templar wielded, the Charola (round tower) was allegedly set up to enable a church service on horseback.

Henry the Navigator an ex grand master of the Templars had his adventures funded/sponsored by the Templars semi religious gangsters.

Convento de Christo

Charola

Charola ceiling with Knight's Templar cross

Marble bling pulpit

The charola is presently undergoing restoration due to be completed in December 2013 so we were unable to illustrate it’s full detail.

Stairways to heaven

and beyond...

Corridors of power

Knight of the very long table

Double decker aquaduct for thirsty monks

Yet more Templar real estate down river the romantic Castelo de Amourol

Sunday 29th September

Headed west towards Estramoz one of the so called marble towns where they have so much of the stuff it is a local utility item, forget concrete we’ve got marble.

Estramoz, aka marble town

Even the castle's made of marble

Our next destination along the road was Portalegre famous for its 7000 coloured modern take on tapestries, unfortunately this down at heel unwelcoming place with parking difficulties went into the bad idea’s box of places to visit. So we ended up moving on to Marvao a crag top town with a, you guessed it, Moorish castle. If sweeping landscape vistas are your thing then this place is not to be missed. The castle ramparts also have a  free camper stop with a view that is just priceless.  So this is where we spent the night watching the pending storm approaching. N39,556 W7,37667.

Marvao and the approaching storm

Marvao's whitewashed houses

Storm trooper Linda on the battlements, umbrella at the ready

Saturday 28th September

A second look at Evora took us to the Capel dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones) just to remind us that no one gets out of here alive. It was made by Franciscan monks in the 17th Century to meditate on the human condition,  the sign over the entrance reads “ We bones await yours”.

Always look on the bright side

Evora beach umbrella

Aquaduct house