Coasters & Castles Travel- Barry Branaugh

10/31/2024

Happy Halloween!

10/30/2024

If you are interested in traveling to both Spain and Portugal, and want to do a river cruise, AMA Waterways has a seven day, all-inclusive tour up the Douro River. This starts in the northern Portuguese city of Porto and travels through the wine country of northern Portugal and Spain. Contact me for more information!

10/29/2024

If you are interested in traveling to Spain, CIE tours has a nine day, five city, all-inclusive tour. Contact me for more information!

10/28/2024

When I booked our trip, the default for hotels is usually a four star hotel. In doing some research I found three star hotels that were incredibly comfortable, close to where we wanted to be, with exceptional amenities for a little less money. In the videos you will see the Moxy in Lisbon (with a rooftop pool).

10/28/2024

10/28/2024

When I booked our trip, the default for hotels is usually a four star hotel. In doing some research I found three star hotels that were incredibly comfortable, close to where we wanted to be, with exceptional amenities for a little less money. In the videos you will see the Barcelo Raval in Barcelona (with a rooftop bar).

10/27/2024

Another option for getting around is via a Segway. While it was a interesting (and fun) way to get around, it was a bit painful on the feet unless you were ready for it.

10/26/2024

In addition to its cultural heritage, Toledo is known for its craftsmanship. It has been a sword making center since the 4th century BCE. There are also still artists who put gold inlay into jewelry by hand.

10/25/2024

Our final stop was the city of Toledo, south of Madrid. It is an ancient city that's know for the strong influence of three cultures: Jews, Muslims, and Christians. The entire old portion of the city is a UNESCO heritage site, which shows the significance the city has had on the history of Spain and the Iberian Peninsula.

10/24/2024

Another option we chose in each of the cities we went to was to start with a "hop on hop off" bus tour. There are multiple companies and options to choose from. The advantage is that you get to see all of the major sites at once. We used it to plan out the ones we wanted to see in greater detail. A disadvantage is that you may not see it as well as you'd like just going by on a bus. If you have a good idea of what you want to see, or have been to that city before, you may want to skip it. It was nice sitting on the upper deck with the wind going through what little hair I have left!

10/23/2024

We had a night time tour of old Madrid related to both the Spanish Inquisition and some ghost stories of that part of town. Having an incredibly engaging tour guide made the evening!

10/22/2024

Opposite the Royal Palace is the National Opera House in Madrid. Interestingly, from above the Opera House is shaped like a coffin! Maybe if the King was unimpressed with your performance, then . . .

10/21/2024

An absolute treasure in Madrid is the National Archeology Museum. It covers everything from the first human settlement of the Iberian Peninsula to modern history. It helps show the influence of the Celts, Visigoths, Romans, and Moors leading to the founding of the Kingdom of Spain.

10/20/2024

Another travel trip: take the bullet train! We got from Barcelona to Madrid in just under two and a half hours (it's almost six hours by car). Traveling at a cool 186 mph (300 kmph), the world just flew by 😉

10/19/2024

Another travel tip! What's a good way to get around in a new city?

10/18/2024

The oldest part of Barcelona is known as the Gothic Quarter. It has old buildings, narrow streets; it takes you back to the Middle Ages! From Roman walls to gothic cathedrals, it is an incredible part of the city. It's also a very popular place for food, fun, and friends, too!

10/17/2024

Nothing quite like a nice day at the beach!

10/16/2024

Words can't begin to explain the view from the top of Mt. Tibidabo on the north edge of Barcelona. Enjoy the video!