Spain and Portugal

I had been planning this trip for more than 4 years, so it was great to finally get to go and visit Spain and Portugal. Having transited through Dubai and Singapore numerous times, I decided to see if I could travel via Hong Kong and take the opportunity to explore a new destination. As luck would have it, the transit in Hong Kong was for almost a full day, giving me plenty of time to explore the city on the way to Europe and even fit in a visit to Macau on my return leg!

Spain lived up to all of my expectations - perfect weather with sunny blue skies, a vibrant atmosphere and an eclectic mix of both modern and historic architecture. I was especially impressed by the arts precinct in Valencia, was stunned by the interior of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, enjoyed the scramble through the narrow, twisting lanes of Toledo and fell in love with the gardens of the Alhambra.

While my time in Portugal was shorter, I still managed to get a taste of this country, exploring the hills of Lisbon and even more hills in Sintra, as well as relaxing in the university town of Coimbra. Travel was easy using the trains and coaches, every place I stayed at was more than welcoming and accommodating and the people friendly and helpful. I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I enjoyed seeing these places for myself.