In a few days, Eddie and I will set off for a fifteen-day guided tour exploring Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. Since it’s our first time visiting these countries, we’re excited to share this adventure with our dear friends Phil and Karen. Phil, also known as Chef, is a retired professional chef. They are both warm and gracious, even when they are the visitors!. We have fond memories of being with them on the Grandstand at Myrtle Beach, S.C., where they brought coconuts for us to drink from, complete with fancy straws and umbrellas. They even brought a battery-powered drill to make holes in the coconuts!
A few years back in Mexico, I decided to prioritize Spain as my next travel destination. The remnants of mysterious ancient civilizations, vibrant Spanish cultural influences, and breathtaking landscapes make Spain particularly appealing. Mexico City and Querétaro, two of the most beautiful and romantic places I’ve visited, reflect these qualities. I previously shared my experiences in the blog post “Mexico – A Magical Inland Visit.” I believed Spain would embody these enchanting traits as well. Travel literature describes Spain as fiery, passionate, dazzling, and magnificent. Spain, Portugal, and Morocco share a rich, intertwined history, often featured together on travel routes. Visiting all three promises an epic adventure!
Getting There (Exploring Spain, Portugal and Morocco the best way)
Our initial plan was to rent a car and explore independently, which we believed would lead to a more relaxed, spontaneous, and off-the-beaten-path adventure. Then, after reading Lizann Lightfoot’s book about Rota, Spain, I started considering adding Morocco to our itinerary. Lizann mentioned that travelers visiting Spain should definitely experience a guided tour to Morocco. After several phone discussions with Chef and Karen, we decided that, since it was our first visit to this region and we wanted an epic adventure, we would opt for a guided tour exploring Spain, Morocco, and Portugal. Our search began for the best tour company.
Our search began at Vacations To Go. After choosing our preferences, the site displayed a list of major tour providers along with their prices. We compared their itineraries to identify differences. There was little variation among Gate 1, Globus, and Trafalgar, but we eventually chose one that included ferry crossings — specifically, crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Spain to North Africa and navigating through the Straits of Gibraltar, which connect the Mediterranean to the Atlantic. Vacations To Go also offers a Deal Tracker page to monitor the best deals. As we got closer to making a decision, we signed up for automated alerts from all of these tour companies, but in the end, we chose Trafalgar.
Travel Notes
Carefully review the optional excursions in travel tours. Guided trips may include extra excursions that could cost over $1,000, depending on how many you select. While guided tours typically offer plenty of guided moments, having free time allows for spontaneous experiences, which often become the most memorable parts of the trip. The occasional times we had exploring Spain, Portugal, and Morocco on our own were memorable. A guided tour with on-your-own time offers the best of both worlds.
Discover the history and culture of your destinations by reading or listening to travel literature and audiobooks. I select fiction or nonfiction according to my research interests. During trips to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, I explored a wide range of books. Additionally, Smithsonian Magazine (Sep 2009) features an interesting article about donkeys in Fez, Morocco, emphasizing their crucial role as the main mode of transportation. The article describes donkeys as “little pistons that keep the medina humming.”
Audiobook: The History of Spain, Land on a Crossroad, by Joyce E. Salisbury, published by The Great Courses.
Welcome to Rota: The Unofficial Guide to Settling In, Embracing the Culture, Food, and Travel Opportunities of Southern Spain by Lizann Lightfoot
A Short History of Portugal by H. Morse Stephens
The Last Storytellers: Tales from the Heart of Morocco by Richard Hamilton
Morocco Stories, Travel Tales Collections by Gary Roelofs
Learn to say the basic greetings in the language of the country you’re visiting. It often gets a conversion going. This was tricky for exploring Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
Even though I’m far from being able to speak Spanish, it gives me a better appreciation for the culture to Google the meaning and pronunciation of words. These are a few of the places that I Googled for this trip.
Madrid features the Cibeles Fountain, Gran Vía, Paseo de la Castellana, and Puerta del Sol, while Seville, Spain, is known for Plaza de España. Hello in Spain: Hello (Hola)
Greeting in Morocco (Peace Be Unto You) (As-Salaam-Alaikum
Marrakesh – Bahia Palace, Djemaa el-Fna Square, souks, Berber village; Fez
Greeting in Portugal (Hello) (Olá)
Lisbon – Belém Tower, Alfama district, fado music, Hieronymite Monastery, various bairros, and the Golden Triangle comprising Queluz, Cascais, and Estoril.
Photography Equipment
I’ll keep my iPhone X ready as usual. This time, I’ll also bring the Pixter Super Fisheye and Wide Angle Pro to enhance my iPhone photography. Additionally, I always carry my Canon PowerShot SX600 HS, a reliable point-and-shoot camera. I haven’t yet transitioned to a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera. In May, I’ll be a beginner with these advanced cameras during the Photography Expedition to Jordan with Great Escape Publishing. Whew! Let’s see how it all goes.
Join us on some of our epic adventures exploring Spain, Portugal and Morocco. Click the link below.
Suckling Pig Among Ancient Architecture
Karen and Chef explore the menu
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