Southampton, waiting to depart

Aviles, Spain. The cruise terminal

Luanco, the old harbour

The look out tower for the whalers

Iglesia de Santa María

the balconies reminded us of Cartagena and our world cruise

Docked in Corunna now. We took a trip to Betanzos

the old town was on a steep hill

and onto the Pazo de Mariñan

the gardens of Pazo de Mariñan

a sea day - ice carving

We are in Portimao now and we took a trip to the town of Silves. A Moorish town finally re-captured by the Portuguese in 1242. This is a view from the castle

still in Silves

cruising up the Guadalquivir river to Seville - these are rice fields

the lock gate on the Guadalquivir

The Guadalquivir is an industrial river

going under the bridges as we approach the mooring

moored

fountains in Plaza de España. Built originally for a trade fair in 1928. The pavilion is now used for regional government offices

another view of the Plaza de España

Seville Cathedral

Cathedral tower, originally the minaret of the Seville mosque

Seville by night

Hospital de la Santa Caridad - a charity founded in 1674 to care for the aged and infirm

the courtyard of the building

Seville's bull ring

Onto Huelva and a trip to El Rocio. A town in the Donana national park with no paved roads - all sand. The rails are to tie your horse !

inside the national park

another view of El Rocio main street

the church

main street again

Now to Granada and Alhambra

Alhamba

the last time we came these lions were being restored

details of the intricate decoration

they started restoring the palace about 100 years ago

one of the more modern gardens

looking out over Granada

another view over the town

Our final port of call Vigo. Our trip was to the Agro de Baza vineyard.

just beore the heavens opened

and the Castle of Soutomaior

it is set in fine parklands but again the rain came

inside the castle walls