Tapas, Kites and Churches!

Hola and Ola!

Gosh it has been a long time since I have sat down to tell our tales...hmmm I will try to be succinct!

Well we have been off doing crazy driving and adventures since we left Ireland in the rain on June 21st! We were a little worried after a wet start - we missed our first ferry and then I managed to flood an entire cabin level on the next boat!! Good thing we had our togs out as from then on the weather only got hotter, clouds in the sky have been a miracle. I will pop the highlights of each place below.

France: 1st stop Mont St Michel, an absolute must do in Northern France, beautiful cathedral and monastery on a rocky island. Hours of night photos for Neal! Then lots of driving to Bordeaux - beautiful and sophicticated city with fab world food and drink festival ( even Aussie Fosters!). Popped into St Emilion near Bordeaux city and got happily lost in the narrow medieval lanes.

Andorra: CRAZY!!!!! Shop after shop in the mountains!!! Wicked drive there though the Pyrenees.

Spain:

Valencia. WOW!!! What an amazing week. We spent a great week with Dad and Moira (and every NZer living in London!) for the Americas Cup, well we are still gutted but it was a hell of a time! Sunshine, drinking and cheering from early till late! We met so many new friends, as well as ones we hadn't seen since school! Valencia itself was also a cool walled city with fab buildings and cafes, not to mention the best Tapas EVER! It was so much fun to spend the week with the parentals, and we were sad to say Adios as they headed back to France and us down south.

East Coast - Andalucia. We gapped it down from mental Valencia to the calm oasis of Altea, a beach town on the coast with steep winding streets to discover. Thank goodness we didnt stay long at the next beach Bendidorm - you couldnt even find a spot amongst the UK tourists and high rises! We sampled a golf course in Alicante and then headed down to Capo de Gato and Almeria in Sth Spain. The cape was wild and windy, with vertical drops and pristine beaches if you could only keep your towel down!

As a contrast we headed inland to Granada - one of my favourites so far. The Alhambra Palace - old Moorish fortress with amazing arabic architecture and mosaics - was awe inspiring. The old historical city was chocka with old souk/market streets, cathedrals and views well worth the climbs. From there we went to Cordoba, and hit 45 degrees! We happily escaped to the cool of the Mesquita, the original mosque now with a cathedral inside. It ahs to be one of the most impressive buidings I have ever seen with red and white arches as far as you could see! Then to Seville for golden cathedrals and Palaces, again so much to see and discover! Luckily we had a pool!

For a change of scenery it was down to Tarifa - a windy surf and kite surf town. More like home! We did a day trip to Gibraltar - a piece of England monkeys and on the bottom bit ot Spain.

Portugal:

We spent close to 2 weeks hanging out and becoming locals in the Algarve! The best of the week was learning to kite surf with some absolutely wicked instructors, Sofia, Ricardo and Maverick (Juan). We spent 5 days flying kites -and ourselves.....we can now get up an ride ....next step will be jumping....we are totally HOOKED!! To the Sofia and Ricardo - thank you for the most amazing time, and for taking us to eat baby pig!!! (www.southadventures.pt). Loads of other beaches and towns to discover, so nice to hang in the water!

Phew nearly ther... UP the coast to Milfontes then Lisbon - yummmy custard tarts, fado in Barrio Alto, Monastery in Belem. The only thing was we got a bit hassled in Lisbon, keep clear of dark streets! As a change Sintra was full of Palaces and Gardens righ tour of a fairytale, LOVED it! And lastly to Porto to cruise the old town and taste the gorgeous port at Taylors!

Now we are back in Spain, and heaing across the North then down to Madrid, Barcelona then warp speeding to Italy to meet Neals parentals....sorry guys in advance for the lack of air conditioning!!!!!!!!!!!!

Must finish, you probably only read the first bit!!!! Hope all is well.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Liessse and Neal