Every summer, my siblings and I take a trip together. This year our adventure started in Lisbon and ended in Barcelona. This was the first European trip for Gerry and Jennie, and a lot more planning went into it (mostly done by Bobbie). We spent a day in Lisbon before boarding the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship. One of the best decisions we made was renting a Tuk-Tuk for three hours. It was a fun—and slightly different—way to see the city. I hadn't been in a tuk-tuk since Thailand. The ones used in Lisbon are electric, quiet, and have comfortable padded seats, much different than the smoky and noisy ones of Thailand. We drove through Lisbon, taking in the sights, the colourful streets, historic buildings, and breathtaking viewpoints. Having a local driver meant we could see quite a bit of the city in a short amount of time while still getting that first taste of Portuguese culture.
Of course, no trip to Lisbon would be complete without trying their local goods. We sampled the city's beloved
pasteis de nata, the delicious custard tarts with flaky pastry and creamy filling. These were invented by monks before the 18th century. We also tried the traditional Portuguese cherry liqueur,
ginja, served in a little chocolate cup. Having the sweet cherry liqueur and then eating the chocolate cup afterward was such a fun Lisbon experience.
We ended the tour at a market where there were plenty of drinks, food, and live music. The energy of the city was palpable, and we had a great time here.
Our time in Lisbon went by too quickly, but we were excited for the next part of our journey. The following day, we boarded our cruise ship and set sail, ready to see what the rest of the trip had in store for us.
After settling in on the ship, it was wonderful to get out the next day at our first stop,
Portimao, on Portugal's beautiful Algarve coast. One of the highlights was seeing the famous sea caves. The dramatic cliffs, golden rock formations, and brilliant blue water made the coastline feel completely different from Lisbon.
You might recognize the Benagil Cave, as it was used as the Windows 10 lock screen approximately 10 years ago. Pictures do not even do this justice.
After enjoying the Portuguese coast, our next stop on the cruise was Cadiz, Spain. Arriving in Cadiz felt like stepping into a different world. The city has a wonderful combination of history, Spanish charm, and the sea, as the town is mostly surrounded by water.
We spent our time exploring the streets, taking in the beautiful architecture, and enjoying the atmosphere of this historical, coastal city. After the relaxed beauty of Portugal, it was fun to experience the energy and character of Spain.
We stopped at an outdoor bar/cafe, had a couple of drinks and a snack, and watched the people go by. This city was memorable as our first taste of Spain. We loved walking around and taking in the sights. We found a beautiful old church and sat inside for a while, lighting a candle for our Mom as I do in every country I visit. It was also a nice break to get out of the hot sun.
Our next stop on the trip was
Motril, on Spain's Costa Tropical. Rather than staying close to the port, we ventured inland, renting a car and driving to
Granada, one of Spain's most beautiful cities. The drive itself gave us a chance to see more of southern Spain, eventually reaching our destination of
La Alhambra.
This amazing palace and fortress complex overlooks Granada. We took a three-hour guided tour through the 6 km of grounds. Our guide educated us on the architecture and history of the only well-preserved palace from the mediaeval Islamic world.
Orange trees are iconic symbols of the Moorish design. They were planted for shade, have sweet-scented white blossoms, but bear the bitter fruit of Seville oranges. They are used for perfumes or marmalades, not to be eaten.
After walking around the grounds in the heat, we ventured to the Palacio Nazari Turkish bath for some much-needed relaxation. Inspired by an Arab bath, this facility had seven pools at varying temperatures, helping to relax both the mind and body. My brother and I opted for a massage as well, where they used essential oils after we relaxed on a hot stone. In addition, there were various oriental-style teas to enjoy in a quiet area. My skin has never felt better after spending a couple of hours there. I was so relaxed after the baths, it was difficult to make the drive back to Motril! This stop was a highlight of the trip for me.
Returning to the ship that evening, we made it back in time to witness the total solar eclipse just before sunset. Apparently this marked the first total eclipse on the mainland since 1905. There were some wildfires in Spain, and they caused it to look more golden than white. We didn't even know the eclipse was happening until some fellow travellers on board stated it was the main purpose for their trip.
The next morning, we stopped in Gibraltar, and it was exciting since it was completely different from the places we visited in Portugal and Spain.
Dominated by the famous Rock of Gibraltar, it rises dramatically above the coastline, and even though it was cloudy when we arrived, we could still see it. Gibraltar offered a fascinating mix of British and Mediterranean influences. It's hard not to appreciate how unique it is here.
British-style touches sit alongside Spanish and Mediterranean surroundings, creating a character like no other.
This British territory had iconic red phone booths and red Royal Mail pillar boxes scattered along Grand Castmates Square.
Even though it wasn't quite noon, we stopped for a pint and fish and chips at Venture Inn. This Irish pub was welcoming, warm, and cozy, with Irish relics and memorabilia adorning the walls. Rugby played on a loop on the TV. There were seats outside, but as the establishment was on an incline, so were the seats, so we opted to sit inside (safer not to spill the drinks!).
After Gibraltar, our cruise brought us to Ibiza, possibly the most famous island in the Mediterranean. Ibiza is a Balearic island and well known for its nightlife. We took a guided tour through Dalt Vila, a historic walled old town with cobblestone streets; saw some of the markets; and ended at a beach.
Our next stop was Palma de Mallorca, another beautiful Spanish island. We spent time at a resort soaking up the sun, enjoying drinks and food, and seeing some of the town.
Mallorca is famous for the
ensaimada, a soft, spiral-shaped pastry dusted with powdered sugar. It was good, but I preferred the pastry in Lisbon more.
This was our last port before our cruise ended in Barcelona.
The cruise had a farewell party with great music and dancing. It was sad to pack up our suitcase and say goodbye to our home for the week. We grew accustomed to waking up in a new destination and exploring what it had to offer, trying new foods/drinks. We enjoyed so much on board as we sailed between stops. But our adventure wasn't quite over as we decided to spend two extra days in Barcelona before flying back home.
After spending so many days moving from port to port, it was nice to drop off our suitcase at the Hotel Continental Barcelona (recommended by our friend Kayla) and have a little more time in one place. The hotel was centrally located and had a 24-hour free snack and drink buffet. We were able to slow down, soak up the atmosphere, and enjoy the city without having to worry about getting back to the ship. We enjoyed the Tuk-Tuk tour so much in Lisbon that we booked one in Barcelona.
We saw many iconic landmarks, including Gaudi's masterpieces—from the iconic Sagrada Familia and the colourful Casa Batllo—to the Olympic Port and the majestic views from Montjuic. It was a beautiful city, and the architectural design was breathtaking.
That night, we bought tickets for flamenco dancing. The show took place in a very intimate atmosphere (only 30 guests per show) at the Casa Sors in Barcelona.
The family business began in 1972, and the acoustics were exceptional in this old recording studio. They also had a guitar museum in the front of the store. They served cocktails and tapas at an extra cost. The experience was exceptional as we could feel the talent and passion in these performers.
The singing, guitar and dancing transported us. It was a unique experience, and I would recommend this to anyone visiting Spain.
The weather was extremely hot during our visit, so we spent part of our final day on
Nova Icaria beach, swimming in the Mediterranean. For our last night, we went to the Dow Jones Bar (my nephew discovered this must-go-to bar on TikTok), where the price of drinks goes up and down like the stock market. We then went for an amazing dinner before finishing the night with drinks at our hotel. Barcelona was the perfect place to finish our annual sibling adventure.
From the colourful streets of Lisbon to the caves of Portimao, the historic beauty of Cadiz and Granada, the unique character of Gibraltar, and the Mediterranean charm of Ibiza and Mallorca, every stop had given us something different. We walked thousands of steps, took a lot of pictures, and ate and drank way too much. Most of all, though, the trip was about spending time together. I look forward to these trips each year, and this one provided us with countless memories, stories, and laughs.
Thanks for reading.
~MT
