Welcome to my story style travel blog, featuring my adventure through Spain and Portugal in the summer of 2025.
You can read the blog in order, or about whichever destination intrigues you! Within my stories, I’ll offer some recommendations and some tips and tricks for a smooth journey. When I travel, I mostly do group tours and the reasons are:
* As a solo woman traveler, it is much safer especially if traveling long distances or to countries that can be dangerous in some areas
*The itineraries are amazing and usually include all of the things you’d want to see and do…and if not, there is free time to do as you wish
*You don’t have to worry about booking transport, finding hotels, etc. Sometimes that can contribute to the adventure, but it’s also nice to sit back and relax and let your Tour CEO be in charge
* And finally…the new people you meet on your tour become your family, and I’ve made lifelong friends in these journeys. For myself, this has equal importance with exploring new countries.
This time I used Expat Explore; the tour is called Spain and Portugal Explorer. It’s actually split into 2 parts….you could do either part, or do the whole thing so of course I did the whole thing! I’ll explain more about that along the way! This is my second time traveling with Expat, and their European itineraries are really awesome and not super expensive. Also, transport is by coach bus which is nice because the buses offer air conditioning, comfy seats, WIFI and charging ports.
This morning we leave Barcelona and take a 2.5 hour drive to the beautiful seaside town of Peniscola. Now careful how you pronounce this one…haha. The correct and least offensive way is peh NEESH cola.
Perched dramatically on a rocky peninsula that juts into the glittering Mediterranean, it is one of Spain’s most enchanting seaside towns. Often called “The City in the Sea,” it’s a place where history, beauty, and beach life blend effortlessly.
As usual, Gustavo takes us on a little walking tour
and we end up at the top of the town, at Papa Luna castle – this is where our free time begins so of course I’d like to explore inside.
The castle was built in 1307 by the Knights Templar; the core of the castle remains intact, with some of the other areas modified to satisfy Antipope Benedict XII(Papa Luna) so he could live there.
There are some cool caverns and rooms to explore and from the castle ramparts; the views sweep across the old town’s maze of whitewashed houses, winding cobblestone lanes, and the turquoise waters.
SOUVENIR ALERT – Knights Templar items – statues, cups, flags, costumes…they have everything. I am able to bring back a small cup.
I leave the castle, and wander around the town. I find the Casa de Les Petxines, or the House of Shells….the façade is all shells…it’s pretty cool.
I walk a bit further to the bufador, a blowhole right within the town.
The air makes a sound moving through the blowhole, and is sometimes accompanied by a big burst of water.
I end up at this viewpoint…
The old town is a postcard come to life: bougainvillea spilling over balconies, and artisan shops tucked into centuries-old white washed stone buildings.
I head back towards the castle and over to the castle gardens; I pass a few of my tour buddies having lunch but I’m not ready to eat just yet.
The gardens at the Parque de Artilleria are nice but I thought they would be a bit more spectacular . Oh well. I have fun looking around and making new friends….
After this, it’s time for lunch and I find a restaurant that is on my list. It’s called Tasca al Masset; to get to the tables I have to climb up a flight of steep stone steps, but the view of the town below is amazing.
I have a beer and a tasty cuttlefish sandwich.
There is still time for a swim, but I can’t be bothered to change in and out of a swimsuit and then get back on the bus. But no problem, the water here is soooo shala la la low.
I can walk out quite far and still only be up to my knees in water! I join Violeta, since her husband Oscar would rather stay close to shore. They are a Mexican American couple who live in Chicago.
The Peñíscola Beach stretches for kilometers—soft golden sand lined with palm trees and relaxed seaside cafés that are perfect for an afternoon sangria. We don’t have time for any more drinks though as we have to get back on the road!
Our final stop for today is in the city of Valencia, famous for its oranges and mix of modern and ancient architecture.
We check in to the hotel, The Silken Puerta Valencia, and I’ll say this is the nicest one we’ve stayed in so far.
Tonight is also my final no-rooomate stay, so it’s a luxurious evening. We get a ride into the old town, and meet up with our guide, Mar. She is my absolute favorite! Such a character…it’s almost like I’m watching a comedic actress parody a tour guide. Like a mix between Andrea Martin and Cheri Oteri.
She has me giggling the entire time; I appreciate her knowledge and enthusiasm. Our first stop is somewhere more modern – the City of Arts and Sciences. It is a complex made up of an IMAX theatre/planetarium, a science museum, an outdoor botanical gardens/sculpture gallery, an aquarium, an opera house, and an exhibition hall.
It is so impressive; the buildings are so unique and beautifully designed. We only have time to see them from the outside; it would take a full day to see everything .
FUN FACT: this complex has been used in many TV shows and films, the most recent being the Star Wars show Andor…as part of the planet Coruscant.
From new to old, we end up at the Torres de Serranos; a 14th century gate and monument.
It is one of the most important landmarks, and one of the best preserved here in Valencia. Mar takes us through the streets, and we end up in the Plaza de la Virgen, which sits on the site of the old Roman forum. The square is perfect for kicking back and people watching, as well as observing some of Valencia’s most iconic buildings. This is the Basilica de la Virgen de los Desamparados, one of the first Baroque buildings in Spain.
And the amazing Valencia Cathedral.
We don’t get to go inside today, but I was hoping to get in to observe the Holy Chalice, which is believed to be the true Holy Grail.
And when it gets too hot in Valencia(which is inevitable) you can cool off beside the Fuente del Turia, that represents the Turia river and how it supplies water to the city.
We continue walking around, here are some examples of the beautiful architecture.
Mar gives us some free time to grab a snack and do some shopping. She recommends a few places and I immediately head over to Horchateria de Santa Catalina, for THE best horchata I have ever had.
It is a creamy cold drink made from ground tiger nuts. And I stop into a store to grab some turron, a very sweet Mediterranean nougat that absolutely melts in your mouth. I have time to pick up a couple of souvenirs…
SOUVENIR ALERT – anything that has to do with oranges, and tiles called Socarrat. They are hand painted ceramic tiles with intricate patterns and are associated with traditional Valencian architecture. I find a small one at an artisan shop; the big ones are very pricey and also very heavy!!
We meet up with Mar again, and we have a chat in this other square
We can see such landmarks as the Central Market
and the Llotja de la Seda, a UNESCO site known as the Silk Exchange. It was the financial centre, where merchants worked out their contracts starting in the 15th century.
It is significant because of its style and display of power and wealth at that time.
Now it’s time for dinner, and we are dining at La Masia del Vino. This meal is included in the price of the tour. Yay! On the menu tonight…Paella!!
FUN FACT; Paella actually originated here in Valencia. While there are many varieties of meat/seafood types of paella, the Valencia original features chicken or rabbit…tonight we have the chicken. The main veggies are flat green beans, tomato, and white lima beans, mixed in with short grain rice flavored with saffron and paprika. Yum!
To drink we have Sangria, which is red wine mixed with additional spirits like brandy or flavored liqueurs and soaked with fresh fruit.
This one tastes like it has no alcohol at all, because after one large glass I don’t feel any buzz. I also try another famous drink of Valencia – the Aigua de Valencia which is a cocktail made of cava or champagne, mixed with orange juice, vodka and gin.
It’s yummy, but I suspect this one is also watered down, because after this and that sangria, I STILL don’t feel a buzz which makes zero sense to me. For dessert, we have Valencia oranges…what else would we have? Haha
Tonight is the last night of the first half of the tour, so we have to say goodbye to some of our new friends. It was a pleasure getting to know everyone!
And also Stephanie, Jing and Francis, but I don’t have a good photo of them!!!
This morning we head back to Madrid with a stop along the way at Belmonte Castle.
It is a medieval castle on the hill of San Cristobal and was declared a national historic monument. Dating back to the 15th century, Belmonte is a place where history, myth, and chivalry come to life. It was built for defense, but also as a lavish residence. We have an hour to explore and it’s easy to navigate and learn about the castle by using the downloadable audio guide
The courtyard is simple, but pretty with its greenery
This is the armory
And then a quick peek downstairs in the dungeon. There are a couple bats flying around
Now let’s go upstairs. Don’t know why, but I like taking pictures of staircases ha ha
There are dining rooms, bedrooms, offices, living rooms and they’ve done a great job with the decor to give it that authentic feel
And a couple creepy mannequins
But this is my favorite pic from the castle. It’s a real woman, walking around in costume
There is a large banquet hall, and the design on the ceilings are very intricate
And a couple of cool windows
And finally, I have a walk outside along the outer walls, that are at the highest point of the castle, a perfect lookout point for dangerous invaders
And back on the bus to Madrid! Overall, a really great experience on this half of the tour. The people, the sites, the food… Everything was amazing. Stay tuned for the second half of the tour where we go into eastern Spain and Portugal!
Everywhere On Earth With Erin 