Category Airbnb/VRBO

Europe 2025 – Salamanca, Part Two

May 6 – 7 We continued walking down Calle Rua Mayor on the way to the university and entered a triangular little square with a monument honoring maestro Francisco de Salinas, a blind musicologist who taught at the University in the 16th century, one of many former professors celebrated around town.  In the square we […]

Europe 2025 – Salamanca, Part One

May 6 – 7 Our drive this day to Salamanca would take us roughly 2-3 hours and so, as with our drive to Madrid, we opted to seek out a diversion or two on the way, one being the Monasterio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial and the other, the Valley of the Fallen.  When […]

Europe 2025 – Madrid, Part Three

Blog Post 12-21-2025 Europe 2025 – Madrid, Part Three May 3 – 5 To kill time after our Taco Bell snack we drifted in and out of some of the shops on Calle del Arenal and then walked over to the area where the flamenco venue was located.  This took a little longer than it […]

Europe 2025 – Madrid, Part Two

May 3 – 5 After leaving La Mallorquina, we walked a short distance to Plaza Mayor, which dates to Madrid’s glory days, the 1600s.  Back then, this, not Puerta del Sol, was Madrid’s main square.  The equestrian statue (wearing a ruffled collar) honors Philip III, who made this square the centerpiece of the budding capital […]

Europe 2025 – Madrid, Part One

May 3 – 5 As mentioned in the post before this one, the very short drive to Madrid offered us time to do some sightseeing on the way and so we decided to check out the Royal Palace of Aranjuez, one of the official residences of the Spanish royal family.  Established in the 16th century […]

Europe 2025 – Valencia, Part Two

April 27 – 29 Continuing on from the market, we passed the Church of Sant Joan del Mercat, before arriving at the Llotja de la Seda (Silk Exchange) a late Valencian Gothic-style civil building that is considered to be a principal tourist attraction in the city.  Built between 1482 and 1533, the Llotja is composed […]

Europe 2025 – Valencia, Part One

April 27 – 29 Our drive to Valencia today would take a little over five hours and as we wanted to get there around  check in time at the Airbnb so we could get settled in early, which would enable us to shop for provisions before picking up Bev at the airport.  The drive out […]

Europe 2025 – Cordoba, Part Two

April 25 – 26 As mentioned in the last post, after dropping off our bikes at the end of the tour, we walked a few blocks back towards our apartment and found just the right place for lunch, which was Taberna De Viana.  After a short wait, we were able to find seating at a […]

Europe 2025 – Cordoba, Part One

April 25 – 26 We would have a four hour or so drive from Jessie and Dave’s place to Cordoba, our next stop on the journey where we would be staying for just two nights before pushing on to meet sister Bev in Valencia.  And so, we departed late morning after a satisfying homemade breakfast […]

Europe 2025 – Lisbon, Part Three

April 1-3 We were up and out early for our planned day trip to Sintra through Viator on their Sintra Highlights and Pena Palace Full-Day Tour.  Joanna and I visited this area in 2014 but did not take a tour.  Instead, we drove our car out to the coast and parked near the lighthouse there […]