Dave and Judy's Ruby Tour

18/04/2023

Porto station is beautifully decorated in the entrance hall. The blue and white tiles depict rural life. The coloured freeze around the top tells tales of battles and conquest.

18/04/2023

Majestic cafe Porto, unfortunately the prices matched the facade

18/04/2023

Coimbra, the university town perched on the top of a rather steep hill.

18/04/2023

The abbey of Tomar. On the outside a plain looking white building that hides wonderful architecture and art work. This is the ony place in the world where mass is celebrated in the round!

Original paintings were done as frescos onto the plaster. All the walls inside felt damp. Because of that the frescos did not last. Art was changed to boards that were then attached to the walls instead.

There is a contrast to the richness of the church areas and the simple cell for the monks and the vaulted dining area.

05/04/2023

Cascais, a very desirable seaside town where the rich like to have second homes. We got ice cream.

05/04/2023

Cats (and a pup) sleep anywhere, any table any chair... Morocco certainly has a lot of feral moggies. But even the scruffy ones know if I fits I sits.

05/04/2023

The place that was once the edge of the world apart from the Canaries. Cabo de Roca and its not raining!

05/04/2023

Obidos, beautiful medieval town, the home of sour cherry liquor. I love the way that other countries leave health and safety up to you, look no hand rails.

05/04/2023

Sintra, a place that's supposed to be a fairytale village, more gothic nightmare in the rain. The photos aren't soft focus, I just couldn't keep my lens dry.

05/04/2023

The church of St Jeronimo the only pre-17th century in Lisbon as it was only one to withstand the massive earthquake. Inside is the tomb of Vasco De Gama and lots of Brazillian gold decoration.
Lisbon has a things about elephants. Apparently the little tiled pavements are because elephants were brought to the city and the fancy pavements were built as carpets for the elephants to walk on. This started a trend across the country for building pavements like that. If you look at the side of the horse statue in Praco di Comecio there are more elephants there, along with the ones in this church.

05/04/2023

Belem Tower, the umbrella sales will be available again when it stops raining.

05/04/2023

Praca de Comercio

05/04/2023

Lisbon old town, beautiful buildings, tiles and orange trees with fruit in March!

05/04/2023

King Edward 7th Park in Lisbon, shame it was a bit murky on a good day the view must be amazing.

24/03/2023

18/03/2023

Birds eye view of the open market area

18/03/2023

A last visit to the Medina and Souks in Marrakech

16/03/2023

A change in scenery as we got closer to the mountains.

16/03/2023

Moroccan carpets. The colours are stunning. Depending on which tribe makes them they may be flat weave in camel wool or agave silk, tufted wool, embroidered, or a combination. The Touraeg nomads have very mixed texture carpets on the floors of their tents. This is to relieve your bare feet after walking all day.

All carpets are made by women. They may be made on a vertical loom in a house or a horisontal one in a tent so it can be packed and moved easily. These rugs can take up to 18 months to make.

16/03/2023

16/03/2023

Todra Gorge

16/03/2023

Travelling West from the edge of the Sahara towards the Atlas Mountains.

16/03/2023

A visit to a fossil factory. It was amazing to see specimens of that size. The rocks were full of ammonites, trilobite, belemnites and crinoids.

16/03/2023

My friends