Flavors of Portugal & Spain

Portugal is for explorers. Its valiant seamen first charted the Azores, discovered Japan, and unlocked the major sea routes the world over. Now you can share the anticipation they must have felt as you explore this exciting city.

You’ll discover an 8th-century Moorish castle, quaint cafes and a palm-studded coastline. The Alfama district is a maze of narrow, twisting streets, whitewashed houses, flowered balconies, archways, terraces and courtyards that charm your socks off. (And if you can find your way out of this dizzying array, 20th-century Lisbon is just as intoxicating.)

Of course, if you’d rather play by the sea, the Portuguese Riviera lies just outside town, offering something for everyone, from sun, sand and surf to thrilling casinos. Lisbon is a vast garden abounding with flowers and tropical plants. The city’s appeal lies in the magnificent vistas from its many belvederes and in the tree-lined avenues and squares decorated with mosaic pavements.

Madrid, the capital and cultural center of Spain, is a lively and exotic spot for a vacation.

Nestled in a bend of the Douro River, Pinhão is a sleepy but picturesque town in northern Portugal. Though the town itself doesn’t offer much in the way of tourist attractions, it’s a perfect base for exploring the many vineyards of the region.

The province of Salamanca is situated in the Southwest corner of Castile & León on the border with Portugal. Lying on Spain’s Northern Plateau (west-northwest of Madrid), it forms part of the Duero river system, with a landscape of pastures, dotted with trees and bushy undergrowth.

Many a writer has espoused the beauty of the area: stands of holm- and cork-oak, the thorn encloures, the slate walls and stone markers. The rural romance of Salamanca still endures to this day in the countryside (Campo Salmantino) — a terrain of pastures, of extensive grazing, where ranching coexists in perfect harmony with the local plants and vegetation.