Tour and tasting at Foursquare Distillery on Barbados
“Man… you guys do keep on the move. Even your “light” travel schedule would knock a lot of other folks to their knees.” –
Jeff C in an email exchange discussing 2025 travel plans
2024 was a good year. In fact, 2024 was a very good year for Tom & Kathy. Everyone stayed (mostly) healthy, there were no major catastrophes, we spent time with friends and family, and we traveled. Boy did we travel!
We started off the year with a 4700 mile road trip that took us to Texas and across the gulf coast to Florida that included three cruises and lots of sightseeing along the way.
We headed to Ohio in April for the Total Eclipse.
In May and June we made the 5600 mile round trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
In July we made a 3800 mile loop of PA, OH, MI, WI, KY.
In October we left the car at home for a 6+ week trip to Portugal & Spain.
And we managed to make a few other short jaunts to the NC mountains and beyond.
Miles: 20,441
Photos: 18,975 (How many keepers…I don’t know yet! 😉 )
Kathy considers a good travel year to be 100 nights away from home. This year: 153
I haven’t finished processing our Spain photos, although it doesn’t matter much. It’s nearly impossible to filter just 24 favorites out of 18,000!
How do you choose just one Yellowstone/Grand Teton photo? You don’t. You choose 6. That was tough enough!
Minerva Trace. Lower Terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National ParkGrand Prismatic Spring at Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National ParkDead Lodgepole Pine Trees, nicknamed Bobby Sox Trees for the white bases that result from the trees absorbing the mineral rich water. Near Tangled Creek along Grand Loop Road in Yellowstone National ParkMary Bay, on Lake Yellowstone near Lake Yellowstone Hotel.Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River from Artist Point. Yellowstone National ParkHistoric barn at the Thomas Alma and Lucille Moulton Homestead. Part of the Mormon Row Historic District of Grand Teton National Park
Sometimes a photo is a favorite because of where we were:
Night time departure from New Orleans aboard Celebrity ConstellationWawatam Lighthouse in St. Ignace, MichiganThe ‘Secret Garden’ at The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, MichiganThe Christopher C. Kraft Mission Control Center, from which NASA led Gemini and Apollo missions, including the momentous first lunar landing mission as well as early space shuttle missions. Space Center Houston in Houston, TexasThe Hangar Hotel in Fredericksburg, TexasWawatam Lighthouse in St. Ignace, Michigan
Portugal and Spain were quite nice – 9 more:
Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, SpainLa Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, SpainCiutat de les Arts i les Ciències in Valencia, SpainTourist boats on the Douro River in Porto, PortugalScene from our walking tour of Porto, PortugalOne of many fountains at The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainTaylor Fladgate Port Winery in Porto, PortugalPonte Infante Dom Henrique Bridge over the Douro River in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, Portugal
Sometimes a photo is a favorite because of who we were with:
Monte photographing the interesting clouds over Pawnee National Grassland, east of Fort Collins, ColoradoIt’s usually a good idea to take a photo when Kathy points it out. Sunset from the rooftop bar of Hotel Hesperia, our hotel in Cordoba, SpainI didn’t count this in the 24 but it is still a favorite! Aboard Adventure of the Seas
I’m gradually working my way through photos and am now up to our time in Cordoba, which was the third of the five stops in Portugal & Spain. After our day trip to Granada and The Alhambra, we spent two days exploring this beautiful city.
Sunset from the rooftop bar of Hotel Hesperia, our hotel in Cordoba, Spain
Our first stop was the The Mosque-Cathedral, which like the Alhambra has a complex history, dating back to the 6th century as a Visigoth Basilica. The building became a Muslim mosque in the 8th century, and after a number of additions and enlargements eventually became a Catholic cathedral in the 13th century. Restoration work began in the 19th century and is ongoing. The building became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984.
The Mosque-Cathedral Monumental Site of Cordoba, Spain
One of the things that distinguishes the Mosque-Cathedral is the red and white arches that span the columns in the building.
The Mosque-Cathedral Monumental Site of Cordoba, SpainThe Mosque-Cathedral Monumental Site of Cordoba, SpainThe Mosque-Cathedral Monumental Site of Cordoba, SpainColorful light through stained glass windows. The Mosque-Cathedral Monumental Site of Cordoba, SpainShadows from light through the windows. The Mosque-Cathedral Monumental Site of Cordoba, Spain
We spent much of the rest of our time in Cordoba exploring the streets, alleyways and neighborhoods of the town, both on our feet and using the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus to get from place to place. We also attended a Flamenco show, which was so interesting it warrants its own post, which I will do soon!
Foto Booth in Cordoba, SpainCamera store in Cordoba, SpainPlaza de Colon. Cordoba, SpainPalacio de la Merced. Cordoba, SpainRestaurante Sociedad Plateros María Auxiliadora Andalusian restaurant in Cordoba, SpainScene in Cordoba, SpainScene in Cordoba, SpainScene in Cordoba, Spain
I continue to add photos to my Adobe Portfolio gallery, so check back often to see what’s new! The one that changes the most is the one titled “Stops Along The Way” as it contains photos from places we stopped as we transferred from one city to the next. The most recent addition is photos from Alarcon and Requena.
Art piece in Cordoba, SpainPlaza de la Corredera in Cordoba, SpainScene in Cordoba, SpainScene in Cordoba, SpainNight time at the Roman Bridge. Cordoba, SpainNight time at the Roman Bridge. Cordoba, SpainMoonrise from the rooftop bar of Hotel Hesperia, our hotel in Cordoba, SpainSunset from the rooftop bar of Hotel Hesperia, our hotel in Cordoba, Spain
One of many fountains at The Alhambra in Grenada, Spain
It was interesting to note how many people asked “where?” when we said we were going to or had gone to The Alhambra. It is one of the top destinations in Spain, and it sure was busy when we were there. Even one of our drivers in Spain said that he had never been there.
City view from The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainCity view from The Alhambra in Grenada, Spain
In many ways, the history of The Alhambra reflects the history of Spain.
The complex was begun in 1238 by Muhammad I Ibn al-Ahmar, the first Nasrid emir and founder of the Emirate of Granada, the last Muslim state of Al-Andalus. The most significant construction campaigns, which gave the royal palaces much of their defining character, took place in the 14th century during the reigns of Yusuf I and Muhammad V. After the conclusion of the Christian Reconquista in 1492, the site became the Royal Court of Ferdinand and Isabella (where Christopher Columbus received royal endorsement for his expedition), and the palaces were partially altered. In 1526, Charles V commissioned a new Renaissance-style palace in direct juxtaposition with the Nasrid palaces, but it was left uncompleted in the early 17th century.
The site fell into disrepair over the following centuries, with its buildings occupied by squatters. The troops of Napoleon destroyed parts of it in 1812. After this, the Alhambra became an attraction for British, American, and other European Romantic travelers. The most influential of them was Washington Irving, whose Tales of the Alhambra (1832) brought international attention to the site. The Alhambra was one of the first Islamic monuments to become the object of modern scientific study and has been the subject of numerous restorations since the 19th century. It is now one of Spain’s major tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
One of many fountains at The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainCity view from The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainThe Alhambra in Grenada, SpainStairway at The Alhambra in Grenada, Spain
We booked a private tour from our hotel in Cordoba to Granada through Spain Day Tours. The package included a driver to the complex then a private guide who took us all through the various gardens and buildings. He was extremely knowledgeable and steered us to many of the “secret” places that others might or might not have seen. It was a great way to visit without having to also navigate trains and buses.
(Special thanks to James The (Retired) Wine Guy for his excellent recommendation!)
One of many fountains at The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainThe Alhambra in Grenada, SpainOne of many fountains at The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainGardens at The Alhambra in Grenada, SpainCity view from The Alhambra in Grenada, Spain
When we started planning our time in Portugal & Spain, we first had to decide where we wanted to go. Since we would be getting off the ship in Lisbon and getting back on the ship in Barcelona, those two cities were no-brainers. We knew we wanted to visit Porto, since that is the home of Port wine and also an important place in the history of Portugal.
Town Gate and Our Lady of Piety Oratory, dating to around 1376. Obidos, Portugal
We ultimately decided to visit Porto and Lisbon in Portugal, then Cordoba, Valencia and Barcelona in Spain. More time in fewer cities would allow us time to explore each place, with plenty of flexibility for discovering things not typically on the tourist checklists. It would work out to be a pretty good strategy.
Remains of the Usseira Aquaduct, dating to 1573. Obidos, PortugalObidos, PortugalObidos, Portugal
We chose where we wanted to go before we decided out how to get there. We initially figured on using trains to get from city to city. Trains from Porto into Spain generally go through Madrid, and we had decided to avoid Madrid for this trip since we were already planning to visit Barcelona. Yes, there are many interesting places we would miss, but we knew that we were going to miss a lot no matter where we went. Trains from Lisbon tend to stay along the southern coast of Spain, which is the general area we decided to visit. It seemed to make sense to go directly to Porto from Lisbon first, then return to Lisbon before working our way on to Spain.
Church of Saint Mary. Obidos, PortugalBook store in a former church. Obidos, Portugal
As it turned out, we used private cars to take us from city to city. It is quite a bit more expensive than taking trains or buses, but it saved us the hassle of schlepping suitcases and dealing with train and bus schedules and unfamiliar stations. It also gave us the advantage of a driver with local knowledge and being able to stop in interesting places along the way.
On our ride from Lisbon to Porto, we stopped in the towns of Obidos (OH-bee-dose) and Nazare (NAZ-a-ray). We had a little time to explore each place, take a few photos, do a little shopping and grab a bite to eat.
View from the Miradouro do Suberco (viewpoint) in Nazare, PortugalNazare, Portugal
In Obidos we explored the town, including the remains of an ancient Roman aqueduct, the city gate dating to the 1300s and an old church, among other sights. We were able to pick up a bottle of Ginja, a sweet & sour liqueur made from cherries. It is typically served in a small chocolate cup, but we just bought a bottle and a couple of souvenir glasses to take along.
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth Church in Nazare, PortugalSanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth Church in Nazare, PortugalSanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth Church in Nazare, Portugal
Nazare is known as a beach town, and in winter can have huge waves which attract surfers from around the world. The sea was calm during our visit, so we wandered the town and visited Our Lady of Nazareth Church before heading on to Porto.
Our ride from Lisbon to Porto with Cesar in his Jaguar.
Approaching Santa Cruz, Tenerife aboard Adventure of the Seas
Before reaching Lisbon, our ship stopped at the Canary Islands of Tenerife and Lazarote. We did tours on each island that took us to many of the highlights.
Approaching Santa Cruz, Tenerife aboard Adventure of the Seas
On Tenerife, we explored the towns of Santa Cruz, Taganana and La Laguna, along with a number of sightseeing spots along the way.
Market in La Laguna. Tenerife, Canary IslandsMarket in La Laguna. Tenerife, Canary IslandsMarket in La Laguna. Tenerife, Canary IslandsLa Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tenerife, Canary IslandsMirador Cruz del Carmen. Tenerife, Canary IslandsMirador Cruz del Carmen. Tenerife, Canary IslandsView from Xiomara Restaurant in Taganana. Island of Tenerife, Canary IslandsRogue de las Bodegas. Tenerife, Canary IslandsSanta Cruz Tenerife, Canary Islands
On Lanzarote we visited Timanfaya National Park, a volcanic landscape with numerous hot springs and fumaroles, Bodega Antonio Suarez winery in the La Geria wine region, Cactus Garden, designed by César Manrique near Guatiza and Jameos del Agua, an event and entertainment complex built in a volcanic tunnel formed by the volcano La Corona 20,000 years ago.
Out the bus window! Timanfaya National Park. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsVolcanic heat demonstration using sagebrush. Timanfaya National Park. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsVolcanic geyser demonstration using water in a steam vent. Timanfaya National Park. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsRoasting chickens over a volcanic heat grill. Timanfaya National Park. Lanzarote, Canary Islands
It was our first time visiting both islands, and they were quite different than anything we’re used to seeing, and were both very interesting places to see.
The Green Lake at El Golfo. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsCoastal views at El Golfo. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsCoastal views at El Golfo. Lanzarote, Canary Islands
By the way, I have started posting individual galleries to my Adobe Portfolio page. I will continue to update this site as I go through my photos, but there are enough photos there now to make it worth a visit. I’ll periodically post reminders here when I’ve added more stuff.
Bodega Antonio Suarez winery in the La Geria wine region. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsBodega Antonio Suarez winery in the La Geria wine region. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsBodega Antonio Suarez winery in the La Geria wine region. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsThe Cactus Garden, designed by César Manrique near Guatiza. The garden hosts more than 1,000 cactus specimens. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsThe Cactus Garden, designed by César Manrique near Guatiza. The garden hosts more than 1,000 cactus specimens. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsThe Cactus Garden, designed by César Manrique near Guatiza. The garden hosts more than 1,000 cactus specimens. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsJameos del Agua, an event and entertainment complex built in a volcanic tunnel formed by the volcano La Corona 20,000 years ago. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsSmall albino crabs living at Jameos del Agua, an event and entertainment complex built in a volcanic tunnel formed by the volcano La Corona 20,000 years ago. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsJameos del Agua, an event and entertainment complex built in a volcanic tunnel formed by the volcano La Corona 20,000 years ago. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsJameos del Agua, an event and entertainment complex built in a volcanic tunnel formed by the volcano La Corona 20,000 years ago. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsJameos del Agua, an event and entertainment complex built in a volcanic tunnel formed by the volcano La Corona 20,000 years ago. Lanzarote, Canary IslandsJameos del Agua, an event and entertainment complex built in a volcanic tunnel formed by the volcano La Corona 20,000 years ago. Lanzarote, Canary Islands
Allure of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas in Coco Cay, Bahamas
Confusing title, right? No worries…read on.
Before I start posting more photos from our recent adventure, I thought a little background might be helpful. Maybe, maybe not.
Allure of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas in Coco Cay, Bahamas
For years I’ve entertained this idea that I would love to take a transatlantic cruise to Europe in the spring, spend the summer bumming around the continent, then take another transatlantic cruise back to the states in the fall. That’s what cruise ships (in the northern hemisphere) usually do – winter in the Caribbean and summer in the Mediterranean, Baltic or Alaska.
There is generally only one way to sail over to Europe and back in less than a summer on a major cruise line. Cunard operates regular transatlantic cruises year round on the Queen Mary II. We know people that do it, but it is a little pricey and just never seemed like the way we wanted to do things.
Adventure of the Seas in Coco Cay, Bahamas
About a year and a half ago, friends told us about an upcoming cruise opportunity on Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas that was going to Spain for dry dock. It was scheduled to leave Port Canaveral in Florida, sail to Lisbon, Portugal then go into dry dock for about three weeks. After dry dock it was scheduled to sail from Barcelona, Spain back to Port Canaveral. The price was great – less than it would cost us to fly round trip for both cruises – round trip! Plus it would make stops on the way both ways. Portugal and Spain had been on our radar for a while but had not quite made it to the top of the list. But sometimes opportunity is the best motivation! So we booked it. It seemed so far away at the time.
Adventure of the Seas in Coco Cay, Bahamas
Once we had our transportation over and back, we had to figure out how to get from Lisbon to Barcelona in 3-ish weeks. A couple of emails to friends and a few calls with our lovely travel agents came up with a plan. We had lots of options, but finally settled on spending time in Porto & Lisbon in Portugal, then Cordoba, Valencia and Barcelona in Spain. We usually prefer to spend more time in fewer places, and considered these cities to be good places to explore in and to explore from. We were also counting on visiting in the off season, so hopefully there would be fewer crowds in the popular places.
Rather than make this a 300 page post that no one reads (are you still reading? 😉 ) I’ll try and add some details to the individual city posts as I do them. That will make each post a little shorter and more concise, and give me more material to share. Porto will be up first in a few days.
How far can you sail in a straight line? Navigation map aboard Adventure of the Seas
Portuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, Portugal
While we were in Porto, Kathy & I couldn’t pass up a chance to visit the Portuguese Center of Photography. The Center is located in a former prison and court complex that dates to the late 1700s. After 200 years of use, the building fell into disrepair but was ultimately restored in a project begun in 2000, repurposing the structure as an exhibition hall. So not only are the contents interesting, but the building itself is photographically appealing.
Portuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, Portugal
At the time of our visit, the exhibitions included a display of student work from School of Media Arts and Design of the Polytechnic of Porto, a collection of photographic equipment from Antonio Pedro Vicente (link to the inventory) and an exhibit of work by British filmmaker Humphry Trevelyan from the 1975 Carnation Revolution.
Portuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, Portugal
Also around the museum were exhibits documenting the building’s role as a prison and court, including the early use of photography in documenting prisoners. Early “mug shots” of sorts, stripping the prisoners of identifiable signs, forcing them to stare at the camera with a frightened or defying look in order to suggest guilt.
Portuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, Portugal
It was a fascinating place to visit and to photograph, and a highlight of our time in Porto.
Portuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, PortugalPortuguese Centre of Photography in Porto, Portugal
Fado is a traditional genre of Portuguese music known for its expressive and melancholic character, often reflecting themes of longing and the hardships of everyday life. It originated in the early 19th century in Lisbon and is typically performed by a solo singer accompanied by guitars.
We experienced a Fado show at a venue in Lisbon called Fado In Chiado, so named because it is located in the Chiado neighborhood.
Fado In Chiado. Fado show in Lisbon, PortugalFado In Chiado. Fado show in Lisbon, Portugal
In my review I wrote: “I’m no expert on Fado, but our experience at Fado In Chiado was excellent. The venue is very intimate and provides good viewing and the acoustics ensure good listening. There was just enough English narration that we were able to follow along with the stories. It was recommended to us by friends and I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking to experience Fado.”
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Nazareth Church in Nazare, Portugal
We’re home and in the process of catching up on home stuff. I’m working on picking and processing my 6600+ photos, so while I do that I’ll just randomly post ones I find interesting. Eventually I will have them in a more cohesive order.
These are two very similar photos from two churches in two different places, but I thought they would make a nice pairing.
Colorful light through stained glass windows. The Mosque-Cathedral Monumental Site of Cordoba, Spain
