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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Oct 27, 2014 08:00 PM From Porto to Poland
They say that there is only 17 kms from the center of Porto to the airport - it is important hub for low-cost airlines. I fly home also by low-cost. The access to the airport is very convenient: metro is the best mode to come there. Ticket costs 1,85 euro plus the refundable cost of plastic card. But... I was surprised when I came inthe morning to the metro station - it was announced on electronic display that the next train to the airport will depart in 26 minutes!
Start early! Also because there are minimum15 stops on the route... Allow 1,5 hour for the transport and another 30 minutes to wait in the loooong line to the security control.
Security guys are strict in Porto - I had in my pack as emergency food a mini-can of meat. It was traveling with me already in 3 planes without any problem. Belive or not -in Porto airport it was confiscated. Paranoid!
I had few hours waiting in Bergamo for the connection to Gdansk. After sunny and hot Portugal it was cloudy and only 13 deg Celsius in Bergamo. I bought a ticket for the bus to the city of Bergamo. For 2.20 euro it took me to the old town overlooking the new city. The old Bergamo is not big, but worth a visit - especially basilica Santa Maria Maggiore. I was walking back to the airport by foot - yes, it is possible! Just take a free map from the tourist office and go!
We landed in Gdansk in the late evening. Cold, only 8 deg Celsius, brrrr.... Welcome home after another interesting journey to the sunny countries! And get ready for the next voyage!
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Oct 26, 2014 08:00 PM Guimaraes - where Portugal was born
Porto has two railway stations: Companha - through station and big one and the terminating station of San Bento - in the heart of the old town.
I started from San Bento to Guimaraes. It is 70 min journey and round trip ticket costs like 7 euro.
Guimaraes is a litte town with a rich history. First Portugeese king - Alfonso I ruled from here since 1111. His small but well preserved castle is second attraction of the town. I was walking about half an hour from the station to see the picturesque ruin - entry is free.
Close to the castle you will see little Roman church of St Michael an then - 100 m away - an old palace of Dukes of Braganza. They charge here 5 euro but it is worth to see the halls, furniture, weapons, paintings etc. This is UNESCO World Heritage site and worth to recommend.
Back in Porto I was sad because it was my last day in Portugal. Let you know that the bottle of red wine costs here from 2 euro, but real portwein - 6 and more. Let's celebrate!
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Oct 25, 2014 04:00 PM Poor Lisbon!
Rail journey in Portugal costs less then in Spain and they offer discounts so I decided to travel from Coimbra to Porto by train. I never been to Porto before and I must say that I am enchanted. Sorry Lisbon! Porto is situated on the high banks of Douro river which flows to the ocean like in the canyon. There are picturesque high bridges linking both sides of the city and a quarter of old riverside houses. Porto is hilly so you climb the streets or go down all the time. It has old churches and palaces and many places to try pamous Porto wines :)
I stay in the very basic Porto Madrid residencial. They charge only 10 euro for the room with bunk bed but the bath is one lewel below. But it is very clean and silent. I like Porto...
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Oct 24, 2014 04:00 PM Coimbra in Portugal
It took me 6 hours and 41 euro (!) by Eurolines bus to get from Salamanca, Spain to uniwersity City Coimbra in Portugal, surprisely it was not a luxury service - they did not offer even drinking water on board. Another surprise was that at the border bus controlled by Immigrations. Is that EU?
Coimbra is lovely old city with atmospheric narrow streets leading you up the hill where university buildings are located. It is not as big as Salamanca and not so rich, but it is worth to be here.
For just 20 euro I got a big room in Residencial Internacional - just opposite old railway station. Clean bath, friendly receptionist speaking fluent English and you are just steps from the old town! Much better offer then in Spain. Take upstrairs back room - it is more silent and has a great old city view!
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Oct 23, 2014 04:00 PM Salamanca universitaria
Salamanca is university city since ages. It is also the capital of the Castilla y Leon province. It has huge cathedral church visible from the distance when you are coming by bus. But first of all it has elegant Plaza Mayor - the main square. Thay say it is the most beautiful city square in Europe. Maybe... Departments of the university ale located in the old stone buildings. The best view of the cathedral is from the Roman bridge. In fact there are two cathedrals connected: new and old.But to get in, excluding the tower you have to pay first almost 5 euro. I stay in Hostal Albero - just on the border of the old town. They charge just 15 euro for the room with shared bath - clean and cozy place - recommended! It is a bit cooler in Salamanca, but still sunny.
I will cross the boder to Portugal by bus.
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Oct 22, 2014 04:00 PM Trujillo - city of Pizarro
It is only 40 minutes by bus from Caceres. From the distance you will see high city walls surrounding the hill and the towers of Santa Maria de Mayor church. It is short walk from the tiny bus station to the market square where I stay in friendly Alojamientos de Plaza Mayor. So far it is the nicest place I stayed here: clean room with bath, two towels and TV for just 20 euro - very good deal!
On Plaza Mayor in front of San Martin church you will see huge statue of Pizarro on the horse. Trujillo was his home town. Some people say that he was cruel to the Incas. I saw his grave in Lima, Peru and they do not like him there... Here he has his casa-museo.
But I like Trujillo with the churches, medieval palaces and narrow streets. Huge Arab castle is overlooking the city, bells are ringing - fortunately only during the day.
But why they cheat me here. In the bus station I wanted tu buy the ticket to Salamanca. But the guy from the window sent me to the agency opposite the station. And they charged me 3 euro extra! Stay away from agencies - in such a case it is better to buy ticket from the driver!
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Oct 21, 2014 04:00 PM Caceres - what a medieval town!
I am still in Extramadura. An for the first time in the great town from UNESCO list. It took me almost an hour to walk from distant station to the hill where Ciudad Monumental is located.
Wow! The chain of high walls, narrow cobbled streets, churches, towers and public buildings... What a atmosphere! But why they charge 1 euro to allow you to see each church and 2,50 euro to climb every tower?
It is wort to be here anyway.
I stay in the clean pension El Cezar in Margallo street - they charge 15 eu for single with shared bath. Wifi does not work in the room - you have to go to the corridor. Few tourists. But the day temperatures still above 30 deg Celsius and blue sky. I have a good time here!
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Oct 20, 2014 04:00 PM Roman Merida
Bye- bye Seville! It took me 3 hours by bus and 13,50 euro ticket to get to Merida. Roman retired legionaires establish this settlement 25 years before Christ. Now it is the capital of Extremadura Region. But Roman remains are the highlites of the city.
Almost 800 m long stone bridge is a good introduction to the history. You will go through the bridge going from the bus station to the center. Alcazaba fortres is right after the bridge.
Let you know that in this city they are selling one ticket covering all attractions, so it is hard to save :) It costs 12 euro - 6 € with discount.
Roman theatre for 4000 people is a great place -well preserved, UNESCO World Heritage site - amphitheatre housing 14000 is just nearby,
Then there is a circo- means hippordom, aqueducts on the outskirts and Diana temple in the middle of the city.
Merida is off the beaten track and well worth to see. I have been before in other Merida in Mexico :)
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Oct 19, 2014 04:00 PM Torreros and flamenco
Do you like Bizet's "Carmen"? It is one of my favorite operas, I saw it many times. In Seville you can see the places where the action goes: the building of royal tobacco factory is converted now to the university, but on the arena Plaza de Toros there are still bull fightings. There are monuments of tha famous torreadores in front of the arena
But the tourist highlite of Seville is a huge cathedral with Giralda tower and C. Columbus grave inside. Long line of tourists wait to buy the ticket and to get in. What a times!
Alcazar palace is also worth to see and Plaza de España too. Let you know that on Monday afternoons they offer free entry to Alcazar and cathedral - you must book via cathedral website first. I was lucky to see Alcazar again after years. Normally they charge 10 euro, and 8 in the cathedral.
In the evening there are many places where you can drink a wine and see flamenco...
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Oct 18, 2014 04:00 PM Cordoba to Sevilla...
I use mostly ALSA leading company buses to travel through Spain. On the first one Malaga-Grenada there were free wi-fi, bottle of water and only 3 seats in the row. On the second only a water. And today - no water, no wifi and dirty seats...
A ticket for 2-hours Cordoba to Sevilla juurney cost me 12,32 euro. In Sevilla we landed on big Plaza de Armas terminal near Cachorro bridge
(in the net there is false info that you dissembark at Prado S.Sebastian)
It was 32 deg when I was walking to my Vergara Pension hidden in the narrow street of the old town. Hard to find but what a location. Last expensive room costs here 18 euro. Do not expect any daylight, expect a long way to the bath. But that's the life of budget traveller.
In the evening I took the walk along Guadalquivir river enjoing to see again the place opposite Torre de Oro where 43 years ago as a student I was sipping my first sangria. Memories...
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