Spain and Portugal or Greece for a Month
#1
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Join Date: Oct 2008
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Spain and Portugal or Greece for a Month
We are seniors, in good health, looking for a laid back destination for a month in September/October 2010. We did Italy last year, basing ourselves in Tuscany for 2 weeks and Amalfi Coast for 2 weeks. Loved it!!!! We like to immerse ourselves in the culture, get to feel "at home" in a small town or village and make day trips from there. Love water views, beaches, good food and "small town shopping." Were not looking a lot of museums and ancient ruins (did plenty of that in Italy). Welcoming your thoughts on which destination would suit us best.
#2
Join Date: May 2007
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I am unfamiliar with Greece.
There are many coastal towns in northern Spain where you would feel at home. The cultures change as you travel across. The northwest is Gallego where they speak a combination of Spanish and Portuguese and play the bagpipes and in the northeast corner they speak Basque and have their own distinct culture and history. In between there is a variety of great natural beauty and historic sights.
Also northern Portugal is beautiful with some magnificant sites as well and a cuisine that is different from the regional foods of Spain.
There are many coastal towns in northern Spain where you would feel at home. The cultures change as you travel across. The northwest is Gallego where they speak a combination of Spanish and Portuguese and play the bagpipes and in the northeast corner they speak Basque and have their own distinct culture and history. In between there is a variety of great natural beauty and historic sights.
Also northern Portugal is beautiful with some magnificant sites as well and a cuisine that is different from the regional foods of Spain.
#7
We prefer to travel this way, staying in one place for an extended amount of time. We have stayed in Hondarribia near San Sebastian and liked that area and the French Basque region nearby.
We also would like to return to Galicia and Northern Portugal, Santiago de Compostela and the Minho, with beautiful coastal areas in the Rias Baixas.
But we also loved our month in Greece. We rented a cottage near Chania, Crete for several weeks. I would like to return and do a longer term rental in the Peloponnesean Peninsula as well. We gravitate to coastal areas as you can see, and love seafood. We enjoy immersing ourselves, shopping locally and getting to know an area well.
We also would like to return to Galicia and Northern Portugal, Santiago de Compostela and the Minho, with beautiful coastal areas in the Rias Baixas.
But we also loved our month in Greece. We rented a cottage near Chania, Crete for several weeks. I would like to return and do a longer term rental in the Peloponnesean Peninsula as well. We gravitate to coastal areas as you can see, and love seafood. We enjoy immersing ourselves, shopping locally and getting to know an area well.
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
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sloopy: we've done the same thing. spent a month on the Algareve once, loved it, traveled in the north of Portugal several times, loved it; also Mexico; PV is great, loved it. Also love slow cruises; lots of sea days, small boats, etc. Just staying put....thrashing about is too much trouble when you are a senior.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2007
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sloopy: we've done the same thing. spent a month on the Algareve once, loved it, traveled in the north of Portugal several times, loved it; also Mexico; PV is great, loved it. Also love slow cruises; lots of sea days, small boats, etc. Just staying put....thrashing about is too much trouble when you are a senior.
#12
Join Date: Jan 2003
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I love Spain and Portugal and have enjoyed them on 6 varied trips over the past 20 years. My favorite Spanish destinations all start with "S":
Sevilla
Segovia
San Sebastian
Salamanca
Be sure to find Maribels Guides for wonderful detailed information on all things Spanish.
Sevilla
Segovia
San Sebastian
Salamanca
Be sure to find Maribels Guides for wonderful detailed information on all things Spanish.