Tapas - theme of our trip
Tapas - theme of our trip
Madrid street scene
Madrid street scene
A favorite tapas restaurant
A favorite tapas restaurant
A Madrileña
A Madrileña
Near Plaza Mayor
Near Plaza Mayor
Restaurants near Plaza Mayor
Restaurants near Plaza Mayor
Indoor market and food court
Indoor market and food court
Goodies in the Mercado
Goodies in the Mercado
Flavored vermouth
Flavored vermouth
More goodies
More goodies
Plaza Mayor, Madrid
Plaza Mayor, Madrid
Outdoor cafe in Plaza Mayor
Outdoor cafe in Plaza Mayor
Plaza de la Villa, Madrid
Plaza de la Villa, Madrid
Our tour guide and Cheryl
Our tour guide and Cheryl
Artist painting a scarf
Artist painting a scarf
Cheryl selecting a scarf
Cheryl selecting a scarf
Custom guitar workshop
Custom guitar workshop
Tools for making guitars
Tools for making guitars
Prawn, olives and wine
Prawn, olives and wine
Healthy salad
Healthy salad
More prawns
More prawns
El Retiro Park, Madrid
El Retiro Park, Madrid
Street musicians in the park
Street musicians in the park
Lisbon
Lisbon
Praça do Coméricio, Lisbon
Praça do Coméricio, Lisbon
Arcade of Praça do Coméricio
Arcade of Praça do Coméricio
Praça do Coméricio
Praça do Coméricio
Roofs in Lisbon
Roofs in Lisbon
Roasted chestnuts, Lisbon-style
Roasted chestnuts, Lisbon-style
Baixa, Lisbon
Baixa, Lisbon
Tower of Belém, Lisbon harbor
Tower of Belém, Lisbon harbor
Wine tasting, Lisbon-style
Wine tasting, Lisbon-style
Plácio Nacional de Pena, Sintra
Plácio Nacional de Pena, Sintra
Palace dates to 1493
Palace dates to 1493
Pena National Palace
Pena National Palace
At the palace
At the palace
Ceramic tiles in the Palace
Ceramic tiles in the Palace
More tiles
More tiles
Fortification near the palace
Fortification near the palace
Sintra
Sintra
Sintra
Sintra
Purses made from cork
Purses made from cork
Cabo Da Roca, Portugal
Cabo Da Roca, Portugal
Western-most point of Portugal
Western-most point of Portugal
Cascais, Portugal
Cascais, Portugal
Cascais
Cascais
Seasickness test
Seasickness test
City hall, Cascais
City hall, Cascais

Madrid and Lisbon

November 2013


It had been more than 40 years since we visited Spain and Portugal.  We returned for ten days - six in Madrid and four in Lisbon - to enjoy the food, wine and people.  In Madrid we had a private tour of tapas restaurants and local handicrafts including painted scarves, leather items, guitars, and hand-painted tiles.  While in Portugal we toured the Plácio Nacional de Pena in Sintra and the coastal resort of Cascais.  Four years ago Cheryl began studying Spanish and her ever-broadening language skills enhanced out experience.