Lisbon part 2 (and last)

Monday we went to see the castle but it didn't seem interesting so did the cathedral and  treasures which were. On to the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) which is in an old power station with a very modern addition.  The stuff in the new bit was too wacky for us but the building was lovely.  Nearly got lost (and locked) in the old power station - great exhibits and the old generators 'n' all.

We discovered that the Portuguese School of Equestrian Arts was just up the road and you can visit all morning, watching exercises and visiting the stables, even going out for coffee and coming back in. So that was the morning sorted, then another fish lunch, the old royal palace (fabulous), royal treasures and a bit of ethnology rounded off our four days here - it's been really great.

Lisbon part 2 (and last)

Monday we went to see the castle but it didn't seem interesting so did the cathedral and  treasures which were. On to the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology) which is in an old power station with a very modern addition.  The stuff in the new bit was too wacky for us but the building was lovely.  Nearly got lost (and locked) in the old power station - great exhibits and the old generators 'n' all.

We discovered that the Portuguese School of Equestrian Arts was just up the road and you can visit all morning, watching exercises and visiting the stables, even going out for coffee and coming back in. So that was the morning sorted, then another fish lunch, the old royal palace (fabulous), royal treasures and a bit of ethnology rounded off our four days here - it's been really great.

In Lisbon part 1

Decided to spend a few days in Lisbon as we'd never been there before.  Bought a VisitLisbon ticket to do the public transport and museums etc - good value!  Found a great Airbnb near Belém. Ate well, did lots of museums and that's only two days.

Last days in Northern Spain

We'd booked two nights in Leon but stopped in Lugo for lunch and a look at the Roman walls and gothic cathedral. What a pretty little town.

 Our full day in Leon was very wet, but we did the cathedral and town museum which is very informative and well worth the visit.

 Then on to Haro which claims to be the capital of the Rioja wine industry but had to stop for lunch in Burgos (also a pretty little town with a world famous cathedral) where we ate in a "private" club in an old palace!  They even gave Chris trousers as shorts were not allowed.  

Haro is smallish but pretty and we walked both days, once in the jagged limestone hills (tough) and then in the sandstone hills covered in vines with loads of grapes and people picking by hand. In the village we walked from it was fête day with a folk band.  A great end to our trip - would happily come back and buy more rioja!

Vigo

Have spent three great days catching up with Jill and Andy and being taken around to local places of interest, coast walks, archaeology, industrial archaeology together with, of course, a bit of eating and drinking.  Very interesting area.  Off to Leon now then on to rioja region.

Picos de Europa

On our way to visit Jill and Andy in Vigo we spent three nights in Arenas de Cabrales in the Picos.  Walked the Ruta del Cares, aka Gargantua de Cares, stunning mountain scenery.  They tried to build a canal for the hydroelectric plant in the 1920's and the path goes alongside the 71 tunnels. Loads of people but very enjoyable. 

  Next day what looked like an easy 11km loop from Arenas - took us 6 hours!!! Knackered!  Off to Vigo in the morning, almost looking forward to a day in the car.

In Oz

 After getting visas, tests, declarations for this and that the airlines let us on and the Aussie border control let us in.   Our COVID tests on arrival at Brisbane airport were both negative.  Hooray!!  So Donna picked us up at Moranbah airport and took us to her new house.

Moranbah is a couple of hours drive from Mackay and the other local(-ish) towns are at least an hour or so away. We've been walking and swimming here, generally doing not very much and having a relaxing time.

Donna's also taken us to visit Dysart, Nebo and the old gold mining town of Mount Britton (now only a few old machines) and then a day out in and around Clermont which was flooded by 16ft of water in 1916, hence the piano up a tree.

Generally these small townships are all similar in their outback way but each has a different feel and something to recommend it.

Yesterday it rained all day (which is unusual). Less than a week left.