Douro Valley

I am writing today's blog from Madrid's Museo del Prado.

It's an art gallery of Spanish masters including Goya, Reubens, Rembrandt, and more.

To explain, I have a three-step method to bring you my blog:
1) Capture the photographs;
2) Select my best ones;
3) Associate words with the best photos

Of course, step one is live.

Steps two and three take place during gaps in our travel.

Today, I have a huge gap - I am embarrassed to tell you that I just can't find enjoyment looking at the masterpieces in art galleries.

I really tried today, but... Nope.

It's just not me.

What can I say?

Mind you, I seem to be able to appreciate other artistic works.

On the way to the Prado museum today, we walked through the streets of Madrid and came across a group of rather elderly musos playing classical music to the multitudes on the street - fantastic.  I found it moving, even shedding a tear.

So, I'm not totally devoid of artistic appreciation. I must only be partly handicapped in this area.

So... Anyway, while Ruth is appreciating the Spanish masters, she doesn't seem to be afflicted with the same handicap, I can devote my attention to step 3 of my blog process and describe the magnificent experience Ruth and I had through the Douro Valley, the subject of today's blog.

First stop from Porto was a village, Amarante.

Amarante has a Roman Bridge.

And a church. 

The scene up river is very peaceful too.

But...

Fire, Fire, Fire...

Call the air wing.

Helicopter on the job:

Next town to stop at was Peso da Ragua.

Gorgeous outlook was beginning to be the norm.

Stunning view back from where we came from.

At the next town, Pinhao, we decided to take a booze cruise.

This is a little less rowdy than the Phi Phi island booze cruise Louisa took us on, but no less enjoyable.

A passing cruiser with vineyards in the background.

I'm quite confused.

I don't get the museum pieces of art, yet I very much enjoy natural views like this:

And this:

And this.

The sun is shining, and although it looks like we're in blue and white striped prison garb, the warmth, inside and out, is overwhelming.

Clearly, we're not the only people to want to experience this form of natural artwork.

Now for something truly amazing.

You will find this hard to believe - I couldn't explain it with my knowledge of physical laws.

Was it a miracle?

Was it a sign?

Check this next photo out.

Keep your eye on the circular patch in the middle of the photo.

Nothing special yet.

This photo was taken from our hotel - Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros - just outside the village of Pinhao.

You will recall that I am on a fund-raising tour - the Global Pong.  I am raising money to eradicate human trafficking and child exploitation.

The way I'm doing this is by playing ping pong all around the world (well, this year its Portugal and Spain).

If you haven't already, please donate by clicking on my page https://theglobalpong.raisely.com/julianjosem

So here I am ponging away, and in the background, that circular patch of ground I mentioned in the previous photo is just out of picture to the right.

As I completed today's pong, it happened.

Like a message from above.

Check this same patch of ground in the next photo:

Here's a closeup:

The sun was focused on it... right there in front of us.

I can't explain it to you, but I am glad to be able to share this miracle with my blog readers.

Enough of the supernatural and spiritual.

Time to cool off in the pool.

So how good is our hotel.

So good in fact, Ruth and I have awarded Casa do Visconde de Chanceleiros our "Hotel of the tour" award.

It really ticked all the boxes:
1) Great location
2) Great service and exceptionally nice management and staff
3) Great food (they cook for you like they are a small B&B)
4) Great facilities

And to top it off, the odd miracle is in touching distance!

Mind you, I wasn't so rapt with their bulldog, but she (Molly) was harmless.

They look forward to receiving the plaque I'll send them citing that they are this year's Josem 2017 travel award winner - it will sit alongside their awards from Tripadvisor and a host of other awards they have received over the years.

While in this neighbourhood, we took in a winery tour.

We visited Qunita do Panascal.  This was unique in that they basically let you wander the fields with an audioguide that explained the history and what you were looking at (in English).  The narrator spoke in a very matter-of-fact dry tone - I'm sure he had a plum in his mouth.

You've seen the views from the cruiser, and from a distance, you can see the tiered landscape.

Here's a closeup while walking the vineyard, and you can see how they put a line of grapes on each side of a tractor's path, etched into the mountainside.

The width of each tractor row is about 2 metres, and the distance between each tractor row is dependent on the gradient of the hill/mountain.

I was asked to give my professional opinion on the grape quality.

After due consideration...

Nope... Not up to my standards.  This winery didn't produce Port but some other varietoes.

I much prefer Australian wines - these ones were quite acidic.

But I certainly gave my tick of approval to the environs.

Our next stop was Guarda.

But actually, we had to admire the views along the way.

At Guarda - they had a cathedral.

And inside, they had an altar.

And they also had a statue of Mary tilting her head to the left and looking sad.

We climbed to the highest point in Guarda and looked down on the cathedral...

and graveyard.

Next stop: Salamanca, Segovia, then Madrid.

OK...  I'm going to have another go at the masterpieces... lets see if I do better after my little gap writing this blog.

Check you later,
Julian