{"id":797,"date":"2026-08-26T18:26:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T18:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/travels-with-my-son-30-april-24-may-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-08-26T18:40:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T18:40:13","slug":"travels-with-my-son-30-april-24-may-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/travels-with-my-son-30-april-24-may-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Travels with my son: 30 April \u2013 24 May 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Chris Snyders<\/em><\/p>\n

A couple of years ago my son, Danie, established contact via the internet with a family who lives in Tolosa, near Bilbao in Northern Spain. They wanted to tour South Africa and inquired whether they could exchange the use of their camper for a camper in South Africa. Danie agreed to do so, and in exchange he was promised that he could use their camper for his tour in Europe.<\/p>\n

His wife was unable to go due to other commitments, and my wife, Rita, did not see her way clear to travel in a camper for 3 weeks. It was agreed that Dad and Son would travel to Europe for 3 weeks, a kind of once-in-a-lifetime bonding trip.<\/p>\n

The owners of the camper, Angel and his wife Fabi, proposed an itinerary for a 3-week tour of Spain and Portugal. Danie enjoys doing research on the best places to go, the essential things to see and do, and the recommended camping sites in the towns we wanted to visit. The internet and AI have certainly made an immense difference to overseas travel since the 1970\u2019s when I travelled through Europe with a backpack and a map. This was a golden opportunity to spend some time with my son and share a new experience. Rita did not envy us; she was content to stay at home and assist with the grandchildren and their activities. Thus, we were booked to leave on 30 April 2026 and return on 23 May 2026. I decided to record my impressions and experiences for each day.<\/p>\n

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30 April 2026: Day 1: OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul<\/h3>\n

We left in the evening of 23 April 2026 with Turkish Air. There was no direct flight from Johannesburg to Spain or Portugal, and we decided to go via Istanbul.<\/p>\n

1 May 2026: Day 2: Istanbul airport, connecting flight to Bilbao in Spain<\/h3>\n
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We arrived in Istanbul after a 9-hour flight. It was raining, but I was excited at the prospect of our tour. I was absolutely amazed at the size of the airport, the crowds, duty-free shops and restaurants that were fully operational 24 hours a day. We had a few hours\u2019 stopover before catching our connecting flight to Bilbao, a 4-hour flight.<\/p>\n

Bilbao is a port city in the North of Spain, capital of Vizcaya province, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country.<\/p>\n

Angel met us at the airport with the camper that was to be our home for the next 23 days. He drove us to Camping Sopelana, our stopover, for the first night. Angel showed us how the camper operated and where to locate the necessary equipment. We unfolded the table and shared a lunch of cold meats, bread, cheese and cider. The cork of the cider bottle is partly extracted; it has 2 holes to allow the cider to be poured into a glass. You hold your glass low to catch the thin stream of cider. This technique, called txotx, aerates the cider and gives it more flavour. Only a small portion is poured each time, and it is drunk immediately while the cider is still carbonated. Basque cider is a sour, dry and non-sparkling apple cider and very popular in that region.<\/p>\n

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We decided to head into Bilbao and explore the city. The bus stop was close by, and soon we were walking alongside the Nervion river admiring the Guggenheim Museum which was designed by Frank Gehry. The curvy, titanium-clad building was opened in 1997, and houses contemporary pieces of art.<\/p>\n

After coffee and a snack Danie and I returned to camp. We spent the rest of the afternoon settling into the camper and unpacking our luggage. Danie planned our trip for the next day, marking stopover points on his GPS. This was to be our daily routine during our travels.<\/p>\n

The ablution facilities were clean, and it was a pleasure to enjoy a hot shower after 2 days of travel.<\/p>\n

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2 May 2026: Day 3: Bilbao \u2013 St Jean de Luz<\/h3>\n

We set off for St Jean de Luz, a fishing town at the mouth of the Nivelle river, in the Southwest Basque region in France. Our base was Larrouleta camping Urrugne, a lovely site next to a lake where you can wander around and enjoy the scenery.<\/p>\n

We caught the bus into town. During the 1970\u2019s I stopped briefly in St Jean de Luz and have always wanted to return there and explore the town more fully. The St Jean Baptiste Church, where King Louis XIV married Marie-Therese of Spain in 1660, has a beautiful gilded baroque altarpiece and wooden galleries. I felt like I was in the Middle Ages. It was Saturday morning and there was a food market in the town square with musicians playing lively music, a meat barbeque and stalls with local food. We walked around the town and selected a restaurant where Danie had mussels while I chose bacalhau, a local specialty of salted cod with a creamy sauce.<\/p>\n

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It started to rain as the day progressed, we stopped at a supermarket to stock our camper shelves. We poured cider in the txotx way to accompany our cheese and baguette meal. The hot shower was wonderful after the day\u2019s explorations.<\/p>\n

3 May 2026: Day 4: St Jean de Luz \u2013 San Sebastian<\/h3>\n

Our next call was San Sebastian, a coastal city in Spain\u2019s Basque Country, just 20 kms from the France-Spain border. The Old Town is the center of the city\u2019s food culture. We sampled some of the flavourful snacks, called pintxos because these small bites are served on a small piece of bread and held together by a toothpick. We walked along La Concha Bay, a famous 1.5 km crescent-shaped beach. Thereafter we climbed many steps up Mount Urgull to the statue of Christ for a panoramic view of the bay. Later the rain returned and we decided to head back to camp.<\/p>\n

\"Photograph\"Photograph<\/figure>\n

4 May 2026: Day 5: San Sebastian<\/h3>\n

We had set aside a full day to explore San Sebastian. Our first stop was Antonio\u2019s Bar. It was still early in the morning, but there was already a queue of people waiting outside the tavern. This bar serves an excellent tortilla, which is a classic dish that combines the sweetness of caramelized onions with the richness of eggs and potatoes. It is served with a slice of bread, and they only produce a limited number of tortilla pies. Customers wait for the pies to come out of the oven. There was an atmosphere of expectation inside the tavern with patrons standing shoulder to shoulder.<\/p>\n

The rain did not deter us from walking around the old town, visiting a few other taverns and tasting their in-house pintxos. The bars display their freshly made pintxos in an attractive way and you make your choice from the displays.<\/p>\n

5 May 2026: Day 6: San Sebastian \u2013 Haro<\/h3>\n
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We left early and travelled about 15 kms to Haro, a town in the northwest of La Rioja province in Northern Spain. We camped at De Haro, located just outside the old town and a few minutes\u2019 walk from several wineries concentrated nearby. The vineyards are in the surrounding areas from where the grapes are picked and transported to the winery for processing and aging.<\/p>\n

Our first stop was the Bodegas Gomez Cruzado where we tasted 5 wines from the cellar. The hostess is married to a South African and she lived in Durban for a few years, so it was very interesting to talk to her. Thereafter we visited Bodegas la Rioja Alta for a glass of their red wine, and we concluded the day with a visit to Bodegas Lopez de Heredia. They did not sell wine by the glass, and we did not stay long.<\/p>\n

We headed into town to explore and find something to eat, but the town was deserted for the afternoon siesta. The restaurants only opened at 20h30. We stopped for a glass of wine at a tavern but eventually ended up at the supermarket where we bought food for our evening meal. Danie made us a pasta dish with chick peas and cheese, together with the wine it was delicious and a solid meal rather than just the tapas of the past few days.<\/p>\n

6 May 2026: Day 7 Haro wineries<\/h3>\n
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We continued our tour of the Wine Village by visiting Bodegas Muga. It was founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga and Aurora Cano, and its premises occupy a 200-year-old large house situated in the Station Quarter of Haro. Muga is known for its traditional winemaking methods, using only oak vats and barrels to produce around 2 million bottles a year. We tasted wines while admiring the displays and photographs of the family and the winemaking and aging process.<\/p>\n

Our next winery was Bodegas C.V.N.E. It was established in 1879 and is one of the most historical and revered wineries. It is still run by the founding family\u2019s descendants, it is famous for producing Monopole, Spain\u2019s oldest registered white wine name as well as the acclaimed Gran Reservas like Imperial.<\/p>\n

Later we headed towards the town center. There was little activity during the afternoon siesta, and we settled for tapas and wine at a tavern. There was a huge spacious supermarket nearby, and we decided to buy vegetables and enjoy a home cooked meal with pasta and vegetables. It was a pleasure to see vegetables and salad on my plate rather than just a pintxos on a slice of bread.<\/p>\n

7 May 2026: Day 8: Haro \u2013 Salamanca<\/h3>\n
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We left Haro and passed through the most beautiful countryside with vineyards, snowcapped mountains with mist, green fields and very little traffic on the back roads. We checked into the camping site in Salamanca.<\/p>\n

Salamanca is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is celebrated for its golden sandstone architecture and the University which was founded in 1218. The Plaza Mayor is a beautiful 18th-century square, filled with tourists and lined with restaurants where one can sit and enjoy a glass of wine while watching the visitors. The fa\u00e7ade of the university is a point of interest with tourists trying to spot the hidden frog amongst the carvings. It is supposed to be a lucky omen for students before exams. We walked around exploring the old town, visiting the old and new cathedrals, enjoyed the magnificent views from the banks of the Tormes river, and concluded our visit with wine and tapas at a restaurant on the square.<\/p>\n

8 May 2026: Day 9: Salamanca \u2013 Almeida<\/h3>\n
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We left Salamanca and drove to Almeida, a fortified village in the district of Guarda, Portugal. The Almeida Fortress was constructed by the Muslims who occupied it until the Christian reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula. The present 12-pointed star fortification was constructed in 1641. The fortress guards an important cross border road from Spain and underwent several sieges.<\/p>\n

There was no campsite in Almeida, we parked in an Open-Air site with other campers. Fortunately, there was a water fountain and power points where you connected your cable for power. It was like another world to me, a few campers standing in the middle of the parking area, outside the walls of the castle, enjoying the peace of the area.<\/p>\n

We selected Restaurante 1810 for our evening meal. The owner was also the waiter, he did not speak any English, and a fellow guest translated the menu for us. She suggested we try the local sp\u00e9cialit\u00e9: Bacalao Encebollado, which was salted cod with caramelized onions and cooked in olive oil. It was a delicious meal and a delight to find such excellent food in the town.<\/p>\n

9 May 2026: Day 10: Almeida \u2013 Figuera da Foz<\/h3>\n
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It was a rainy morning as we headed for Figuera da Foz. We opted for another night in the Open-Air parking as it was right next to the beach and there was no charge for staying there overnight outside of the holiday season. There were about 15 campers with an available water point and place to empty your toilet, but no electrical point for connection. We walked along the wide beach to the Old Town; it was quite windy and cold.<\/p>\n

We stopped at a Taco Bar for a starter. This was different to the pintxos that we had seen in Spain, we ordered one taco with prawns and another with chicken. Quite a plain snack but very tasty. We were now ready for lunch, and after walking around we settled on Volta e Meia Restaurante Bar, it was crowded with local people, so we knew it had to be good. We ordered clams, pork strips, quail eggs on a flattened sausage and fried vegetables in a cake form, accompanied by red wine.<\/p>\n

10 May 2026: Day 11: Figuera de Poz \u2013 Obidos \u2013 Lisbon<\/h3>\n
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We left early the next morning, the rain had lifted and the sky was clear but there was a strong wind blowing. Danie had to concentrate hard to keep the camper steady. The motorway was very quiet so early in the morning. There were windsocks in the middle of the bridges to warn motorists of the intensity of the wind.<\/p>\n

Our first stop was Obidos, a picturesque medieval walled town. It is famous for its cobblestone streets, castle and sour cherry liqueur, ginjinha, traditionally served in a small edible chocolate cup. The 13th Century castle dominates the town, and meandering through the narrow streets makes a worthwhile stop. We had lunch at a small restaurant where they baked fresh bread rolls and served it with a chorizo sausage. The smell of the fresh bread was amazing.<\/p>\n

Thereafter we drove to our camp site in Lisbon, Lisboa Camping, where we checked in and enjoyed a hot shower. What a lovely feeling after staying in Open-Air parking where there were no ablution facilities. We caught a bus into the city and walked around the LX Market; it is a craft market with an ample supply of taverns serving food and drink. It was very busy and we did not stay long before moving on to the Time Out Market. This is another huge food hall lined with restaurants serving all kinds of food. Our choice was fresh sardines with a glass of beer.<\/p>\n

We decided that waiting for the bus was too cumbersome and expensive to take us back to the campsite, so we settled on an Uber. Danie was delighted that it was a Tesla, an electric car not available in South Africa.<\/p>\n

11 May 2026: Day 12: Lisbon<\/h3>\n
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It was sunny when we caught the bus to the train station and then by train to Sintra. There were many tourists and we booked a ticket for midday entry. It was still early and we meandered through the park on our way to the Moorish Castle. It is a fascinating historical monument, built by the Moors in the 9th century during the period of Muslim rule. The Moors erected the castle to protect the town of Sintra and monitor the trade routes.<\/p>\n

The National Park and Palace of Pena are examples of 19th Century Romanticism in Portugal and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built in 1839 when consort Ferdinand II started to convert the ruins of the Monastery of Pena into the fairy tale Pena Palace. There was a long queue of visitors waiting patiently in line for entry, but it was worth it. The view of the countryside and the magnificent interior of the castle made for a great visit.<\/p>\n

12 May 2026: Day 13: Lisbon<\/h3>\n
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We moved early and caught a bus into the Old Town. Our first stop was at Pasteis de Belem where we stood in line waiting for a table to enjoy their famous custard tart. The inside of the restaurant is beautifully decorated with tiles. The pasteis de nata were absolutely delicious and we enjoyed the experience.<\/p>\n

From there we walked a short distance to the square where the church and Jeronimos monastery are located. It is a beautiful example of Portuguese architecture and listed in 1983 as a UNESCO World heritage site. The building was commissioned by King Manuel I who reigned between 1495 and 1521. The 16th century cloister was secularized in the 19th Century and is a magnificent center to visit. The monastery is also the final resting place of explorer Vasco da Gama.<\/p>\n

Manuel I also ordered the construction of the Tower of Belem in order to protect the port of Lisbon and the monastery. The Tower is positioned at the mouth of the Tagus River and is decorated with intricate details. It was closed for maintenance, and we could not visit the interior of the Tower.<\/p>\n

From the Tower we walked along the riverbank and caught a bus back into the Old Town. We searched for the famous Bifanas do Afonso restaurant, where a tiny counter opening onto the street sells iconic pork sandwiches simmered in a white wine sauce. The patrons buy their food and then find somewhere to sit in the square while enjoying their food.<\/p>\n

We hailed one of the famous city trams along narrow and winding streets, up and down the many hills of Lisbon. The afternoon concluded with us enjoying a glass of wine at a terraced restaurant with beautiful views over the city.<\/p>\n

Back at camp we prepared for an evening\u2019s entertainment with a Fado Show and Portuguese dinner. The venue was a small church which had been converted into a restaurant. There were many international tourists and a tapas meal with unlimited wine. The artists were very good, performing the melancholic Portuguese songs deeply rooted in emotions of longing, nostalgia and fate. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening and meeting people from other countries, some of whom had visited South Africa on previous holidays. The show finished around 11 pm, I was amazed that we could still safely use the public transport by bus and train to get us back to our camp site.<\/p>\n

13 May 2026: Day 14: Lisbon<\/h3>\n
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We caught a train to Cascais, an elegant coastal town on the Portuguese Riviera. It has golden sandy beaches and visitors were sun tanning on the beach. We strolled around the cobbled streets of the Old Town and walked further to look at the Boca do Inferno where the Atlantic Ocean crashes into the rocks.<\/p>\n

Our lunch was a Prego roll in a terraced restaurant before we returned to our camp in Lisbon. We wanted to experience the historic trams once more and waited patiently in a long queue at the start of the circuit for number 28. It was very pleasant, scenic and most enjoyable to travel the entire circular route. What a wonderful farewell to the city of Lisbon.<\/p>\n

14 May 2026: Day 15: Lisbon \u2013 Nazare \u2013 Porto<\/h3>\n
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We checked out around 07h30 and left for Nazare, a coastal town about 120 kms North of Lisbon. It is famous for its gigantic, record-breaking Atlantic waves that form in the Nazare Canyon and funnels ocean swells right towards the shoreline. Between November and February, the swells peak and surfers descend on the town. However, our visit fell outside this period and there were no surfers, much to our disappointment.<\/p>\n

Our next stop was Porto, a colorful city listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is located on the Douro River, and blends historic gothic architecture with a romantic atmosphere, very popular with tourists. We walked around the Old Town to a high viewpoint, it offered magnificent views of the river, the bridges and the city.<\/p>\n

Our afternoon meal was a traditional Francesinha, a Portuguese sandwich originating in Porto, consisting of a slice of toasted bread layered with steak, ham, cured sausage and cheese all blanketed in a rich spicy sauce and topped with a fried egg. It is a meal by itself. We were too exhausted to take the bus back to the camp site, so we hailed an Uber.<\/p>\n

15 May 2026: Day 16: Porto<\/h3>\n
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We had previously booked an organized day trip to the Douro Valley, with wine tasting, lunch and a boat trip on the Douro River. The Douro Valley is Portugal\u2019s premier wine producing region, located about 100 kms East of Porto.<\/p>\n

Our first stop was at Santa Marta Caves, located in the heart of the Douro Valley. The winery was founded in 1959 and is known for producing Port wines, sparkling and Douro DOC wines. We sat down for a lovely meal of soup, pork, dessert and local wine.<\/p>\n

After lunch we continued to Quinta de Marrocos for wine tasting, we purchased some wines for our camper and some to take back home to our friends.<\/p>\n

The next part of our visit was a one-hour boat trip through beautiful scenery with lovely sunshine. It was wonderful to see the vineyards and picturesque little towns.<\/p>\n

We arrived back in Porto at 19h30. The sun was still shining, we took a train across the river, enjoyed the beautiful evening with crowds strolling the riverwalk, shopping for souvenirs and listening to street musicians. We hailed an Uber to get us back to the campsite where we relaxed with a glass of wine, fresh bread rolls, meat and cheese.<\/p>\n

It was a fitting end to an exhausting but wonderful day.<\/p>\n

16 May 2026: Day 17: Porto<\/h3>\n
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The bus from our campsite dropped us in the Old Town of Porto. Our first stop was the Imperial McDonalds, an opulent McDonalds set inside the 1930 Art Deco Caf\u00e9 Imperial. The interior retains its Art Deco style with ornate ceilings and restored brass work. The chandeliers and art deco-stained glass are beautiful and made the visit special. The coffee and bun were exactly as I expected it to be, fresh and delicious.<\/p>\n

We visited the local fresh fruit and flower market which was an amazing experience. So many different colors, varieties and treats for the senses, it was overwhelming. We sipped a glass of wine while browsing the food stores, fresh fruit, flowers, fish, wine and souvenir stalls. Many people were shopping and enjoying the vibrant atmosphere.<\/p>\n

We continued our walk around the Old Town, admiring the impressive bridges over the river, the cobbled stones and narrow streets. We chose a small restaurant off the main area where we opted for the menu of the day. Our selection was white wine, soup, squid and chicken, a small dessert and coffee to finish our special treat of Porto.<\/p>\n

We could not leave Porto without a cruise on the river, passing underneath the 6 bridges. The weather was cold, but sunny and we loved every minute of the cruise.<\/p>\n

After disembarking we looked for a suitable place to watch Porto FC play Mata. There were many Porto supporters in the streets of the City, and we wanted to share in the vibe at a suitable place. We found a large beer and food hall where there was a giant TV, but the game was disappointing and at half time we decided to go home.<\/p>\n

17 May 2026: Day 18: Porto<\/h3>\n
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It was our final day in Porto, and we were not sure what to do. We took the bus into the Old Town and searched for a coffee shop. It was Sunday morning and few places were open so early in the morning. We headed for the Music Hall where we saw people in the cafeteria. To my delight we discovered that there was a midday concert on in the main hall, which would give us the opportunity to experience this amazing hall, famous for its architecture and acoustics. It was a family concert, parents with young children all casually dressed and excited about the concert. The programme consisted solely of the Fourth Symphony by Tchaikovsky, performed by the Porto Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jose Eduardo Gomes. It is a beautiful symphony, and we both enjoyed the performance.<\/p>\n

After the concert we walked around searching for a nice place for a snack and went to Pedro dos Frangos. There was a queue of people waiting for a table, indicating it was a special place. Fortunately, there was a shorter queue for takeaway foods, so we ordered chicken peri-peri with fries. We walked to a park nearby and sat down on a park bench to enjoy our takeaway snack.<\/p>\n

After a bit more walking we decided to have lunch at Dona Francesinha, a restaurant which specializes in the local Porto francesinha. It was a great experience, even if we both felt rather uneasy after eating so much food.<\/p>\n

We decided to head home and boarded the train that crosses the river via the main bridge. This gave us one last look at the Old City and its charm. Our campsite was right next to the beach, giving us opportunity to walk off some of the lunch and to admire the sunset over the ocean.<\/p>\n

18 May 2026: Day 19: Porto \u2013 Braga \u2013 Santiago de Compostela<\/h3>\n
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We left early to avoid the traffic rush. Our first stop was Braga, located in the Northwestern region of Portugal. It is one of the country\u2019s oldest cities with ancient Roman roots. The Bom Jesus do Monto is a mountaintop sanctuary and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We took the water powered funicular to the top, built in 1882 and currently being renovated. The piazza in front of the cathedral offers sweeping views over the countryside. We descended the baroque staircase with its 600 steps, admiring the water fountains on the way down.<\/p>\n

From Braga we continued to Santiago de Compostela, situated in the Northwest of Spain. It is the final destination of the historic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage routes. It is home to a majestic cathedral, and the Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We visited the cathedral and museum with its displays of artifacts and tapestries. The cathedral was consecrated in 1211, and the elaborately carved stone facades open onto grand piazzas within the medieval walls of the old town.<\/p>\n

We walked back to the Open-Air parking where we stayed the night. There were a couple of other campers there, but no ablution facilities or water points.<\/p>\n

19 May 2026: Day 20: Santiago de Compostela \u2013 Ribadeo \u2013 Cudillero<\/h3>\n
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It was misty and at times quite rainy as we left the city and headed for Ribadeo, a coastal town situated at the mouth of the Ribadeo Estuary. We wanted to see the Beach of the Cathedrals. It is a beautiful beach with stone arches and caves along the beach. You have to visit the beach at low tide if you want to walk through the arches, otherwise the water level is too high to allow access. We planned it right and arrived at low tide, so we were able to enjoy the walk along the beach and admire the arches.<\/p>\n

From there it was a short drive to Cudillero where we parked in an Open-Air parking next to the beach. Cudillero is a small, picturesque fishing village built against a steep hill. We walked through the town, enjoyed a cider on the waterfront while enjoying the quiet atmosphere of the town. There were very few tourists and the restaurants did not open till late. We visited a supermarket and bought salmon, vegetables and some mushrooms. Back in the camper Danie cooked a delicious meal for us. Later in the evening we walked back into town and took some photographs of the town by night, all lit up and looking idyllic.<\/p>\n

20 May 2026: Day 21: Cudillero \u2013 Llanes<\/h3>\n
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Our next stop was Llanes, a coastal town in Asturias, Spain. There is an Open-Air parking area next to the beach, and we pulled in with a few other campers. Thereafter we went for a hike along the beach, high on a ridge with stunning views of the seaside and of the countryside. The trail took us through the Old Town and along the canal to the harbour. We stopped for a cider at a tavern, bought a few more souvenirs and then walked back to the camper for a rest.<\/p>\n

In the evening we went back into town to a restaurant we had spotted earlier in the day. We had more cider, octopus and chorizo sausage. It was a lovely meal, but expensive and they did not accept credit cards. I had to go in search of an ATM and draw money.<\/p>\n

On the way back we stopped at a lively restaurant in a square and enjoyed a last cider, served in the traditional txoxt way. We had potato cubes with a selection of sauces to conclude our visit.<\/p>\n

21 May 2026: Day 22: Llanes \u2013 Suances<\/h3>\n
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In early morning we had a last look at the ocean and the beautiful views of the countryside. Our next destination was Suances, a coastal holiday resort in Cantabria. We booked into the campsite around midday and our first priority was a hot shower in the ablution block. What a joy to experience the hot water running over your body.<\/p>\n

After a rest we went for a walk through the town and along the beach. It was a sunny day and there were many people on the beach, even a school for surfers.<\/p>\n

We walked up the hill overlooking the beach to a restaurant, El Castillo de Los Locos. From the terrace one has a beautiful view of the sea and the sunset. However, the wind came up and we moved indoors. We ordered beers and a plate of potato cubes with Alioli and a chili sauce, and tacos with a spicey filling.<\/p>\n

22 May 2026: Day 23: Suances \u2013 Tolosa<\/h3>\n
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This was our last day in Spain; we had to return the camper to Tolosa in the North Basque area. It was a sunny day and the roads were busy as we were nearing the town. I was once again impressed by the motorways, the many bridges and tunnels, and by the courtesy of the drivers. We arrived around midday and parked the camper in the open parking area near the town center and then went in search of a restaurant for lunch. It was a hot day, and the streets were deserted during siesta. The main street had some activity with cyclists preparing for a time trial through the town.<\/p>\n

Later in the afternoon the owner of the camper met us. His family originates from the area and he escorted us on a walking tour of the old town, pointing out important buildings and political events in the history of the town. He invited us to dinner at his apartment in the town. It was a great privilege for us to meet his family at their home, and to share a meal with them. There was bread with cheese and meats for starters, while the main course was a local sp\u00e9cialit\u00e9; cows\u2019 cheek cooked very slowly until soft and tender. Dessert was fresh strawberries with cream. We were overwhelmed by their hospitality.<\/p>\n

Their apartment did not have space to accommodate us for the night, and we walked back to the camper. We were exhausted, but rather looking forward to returning home and sleeping in my own bed.<\/p>\n

23 May 2026: Day 24: Tolosa \u2013 Bilbao: Flight to Istanbul, connection to OR Tambo, JHB<\/h3>\n
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Our host collected us at 07h00 and headed for the bus station to take us to the airport. However, the ticket office informed him that the next 3 airport buses were fully booked and there were no seats available. Angel offered to drive us to the airport. It was very kind of him, and we were thankful since an Uber would have been expensive. We arrived at the airport in good time for our connecting flight to Istanbul.<\/p>\n

Back in Istanbul we had 7 hours\u2019 waiting time and walked around this amazing airport. Fortunately, Danie managed to gain us access to the lounge, so we had opportunity to relax before our flight home. There was an endless supply of food and drink, a hot shower and plenty of comfortable chairs. What a wonderful way to end our travels.<\/p>\n

Our flight left at 02h40, and dinner was served soon after takeoff. Breakfast followed at 08h00, but we were not really hungry.<\/p>\n

24 May 2026: Day 25: Johannesburg<\/h3>\n

Our family was waiting for us at the airport, they were so happy to see us, and we were just as happy to be home. During the 3 weeks we had made many memories which I will nurture for years to come, we had travelled about 2750 kms by camper, walked over 300 kms and experienced some wonderful foreign customs and foods. For me it was a special experience to tour Europe with my son, and I will treasure the memories. There may not be another opportunity to repeat the experience.<\/p>\n

Sources for historical information: Wikipedia, Spain.info, visitPortugal, Tripadvisor<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chris Snyders and his son Danie spent 25 days touring Spain and Portugal by camper van, covering some 2 750 km by road and more than 300 km on foot.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":165,"featured_media":765,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-resident-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/165"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=797"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":799,"href":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/797\/revisions\/799"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/765"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=797"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=797"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/featherwoodliving.co.za\/af\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=797"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}