ALFAMA: THE HISTORICAL HEART OF LISBON Today is officially our 200th day on the road (for this trip), and what a day it was! We got to explore Lisbon’s historical heart today: the Alfama. A Medieval maze of cobblestone streets, tiny squares, and breathtaking views, the Alfama is […]
PONFERRADA’S TEMPLAR CASTLE We left the vast expanse of La Meseta behind today, heading down into the comparatively verdant embrace of the Bierzo Valley. Our home-away-from-home for tonight is the town of Ponferrada, the largest city in El Bierzo and another popular stop along the Camino de Santiago. […]
THE HIGH PLAINS OF BURGOS, WHERE EL CID ONCE ROAMED Burgos was once the capital of Castilla, the mighty kingdom that united with Aragon through marriage to form the foundation of modern Spain. Since the 11th century it has also been one of the most important stops along […]
CHÂTEAUX OF THE LOIRE VALLEY – PART I The Loire Valley once marked the edge of the Kingdom of France, with the Loire River an important boundary between rival territories. So important was this region that the capital used to be situated in the valley. Even when the […]
THE CHARMING CITE DE CARCASSONNE Carcassonne is a small provincial town in South-Western France, close to the border with Spain. Many of the people in this unassuming city of 50,000 inhabitants are employed at the large shoe factory that sits on the outskirts of town; the rest work […]
Wandering Soles 