Porto, The great Dame on the Douro.

After about a week of traveling through Spain's great cathedrals and historic towns, we crossed the unattended border into Portugal.  The only sign visible was the Portuguese flag flying high on a flag pole.  Soon we crossed the bridge over the river Douro into the alluring city of Porto. Portugal was one of Europe's largest and richest powers with extensive holdings along the African coast, Eastern Asia and South America.

Dom Luis I  Bridge, an icon of the city of Porto. It spans the river Douro linking
 the port wine houses with the downtown Ribeira district of Porto.

Prince Henry the Navigator is Portugal's greatest son. And the production of fine Port wine its character.The wine in this region has been produced from grapes grown in the Douro province since the 1600's The wine produced is fortified by the addition of a natural grape spirit known as aguardiente. This process stops the fermentation, boosts the alcohol content and it's so good!

Many of these boats bring in their daily catches of fish and other delicacies from the sea
to the restaurants all along the river, What can be fresher?

We were sitting at one of the outdoors tables in a restaurant near the wineries, this was the view high above  Porto and the Douro's cool waters.  As we waited for our seafood dinner, we uncorked  a bottle of green (vinho verde) wine which Portugal is also famous,  the aroma and taste we divine.  Ahh... a rare kind of tranquility.

Because I was traveling with my very own oenophile Mercedes, our first stop was at the very famous Porto winery Sandeman. After a tour through the winery and tasting a wide variety, we asked ourselves, "What would Dionysus do"? We purchased a few bottles to enjoy on the trip and few more to be sent home.

Why am I not there?...someone had to take the picture or maybe I was at the tasting counter.

Well now that we obtained what we came for, we drove back across rio Douro to our hotel
 in downtown Porto.
We had to get ready for a night in the town in this beautiful land of love and romance, Portugal.

Toledo: Dating back to antiquity

We devoted the morning walking through the narrow maze of cobblestone streets to antiquity. Toledo is mentioned in Roman History as far back as 59 BC because of the fierce battles they encountered against Celtic tribes. Under Roman control it was named "Toletum". The outer walls were expanded and fortified around the whole city. Roman architecture and aqueducts flourished. They also built a great circus for sporting games and chariot races, the race tracks are still visible today. After the Romans, the Visigoths ruled the city until the Moors conquered the peninsula early in the eight century until the reconquest by the Christian monarchy.

The large building on the background is the Alcazar of Toledo a stone fortification located 
at the highest part of the city. It was once a Roman palace. In the 1500 s. It was restored and 
       later played a very important role during Spanish Civil War. The Alcazar became a symbol
 of Spanish Nationalism. In present day it is the Castilla-La Mancha regional library, it also
 houses the museum of the Army.

El puente de San Martin is a medieval bridge across the river Tajo. It was constructed in the
late 14 century, still in use today

Mercedes' peek-boo greeting from Toledo Spain

The cobblestones twinkle after a light morning drizzle. Narrow streets 
make for a good "neighborhood watch program".

This street leads to the Cathedral of Toledo, you can see the tower.

 Primate Cathedral of Saint Mary of Todedo,  Established after the Moors capitulated in a 
bloodless take over by Spain.

A view of the Cathedral's tower

We arrived in Toledo early, we met our guide and walked through the narrow streets. 
 most part free of crowds. On the way out  to our coach it was a bit different.

This masterful work of art, by El Greco "The burial of Lord of Ordaz", has been on exhibition at the Church of Santo Tome in Toledo since the 1500 s. This work is considered universally as his greatest masterpiece. Art critics claim that it is the most beautifully crafted religious painting of all times. The painting is divided in two parts, heaven above and the burial scene below. Skyward elongated saints and angels in El Grecos' mannerist style. Below the terrestrial scene painted in normal proportions. Because the painting lacks horizon and perspective it achieves supernatural space and creates strange species of harmony.

The Alcazar castle in Segovia

The Moorish word Alcazar stems from the Arabic " 'Al'qasr ", meaning fortress.The castle in Segovia is well rooted in bedrock adjacent to the río Eresma, part of the river was redirected around the castle to feed water to its' moat. After the reconquista the fortresses was taken over by the Spanish and began the rebuilding them with castles, fortresses with military headquarters. Building of the Segovia's Alcazar begun as early as 1085. Whereas its a purely Spanish architecture the buildings themselves bear a strong affinity to the Islamic influence.

Although the castle is of Moorish tradition, the spires are of central European influence. A place for
 royalty: kings, queens, prince and princesses. Wonderful models for modern
                day amusement castles.    
                                                                                                                                                                                              

the side view give you a different perspective

A better view of the huge rock the Alcazar was built on, with a perfect natural moat
surrounding the castle.This location gave it a natural defensive advantage.

The top is the front entrance to the castle and below the Code of Arms.

entering the castle

There are many rooms where businesses were carried out by the court and regal family
These three are a small sample of their colorful beauty.

Fernando III and Alfonso X were key for building the majority of the rooms we see today.

 

                                           

This video is of the tapestry of the coronation of queen Isabela displayed in one of the rooms.

                The Alcazar was built with two courtyards: el patio del reloj (patio of the clock)
                                 and the large one is el patio de armas (the armaments patio)

Can you tell the difference between a soldier and a knight in battle? The night had
 two extra weapons, the toes of their armor.