This was an incredible trip through northern Spain and Portugal. It combined elements of a pilgrimage, walking parts of the Camino de Santiago, discovery of medieval cathedrals and cities, visiting farms and wineries, learning about local cultures, lessons in ancient history, and interactions with fellow travelers, local guides, and the tour group leaders. What I enjoyed most were the long walks through the meadows, villages, and the cities and being able to watch the locals going about their lives or crowding the bars, cafes, and streets in huge numbers at night. Many times, it was hard to find your way through the throngs of young and old, especially in the old towns, having a good time. I got the feeling that these people really know how to live.

The pace of the trip was perfect. It kept me constantly engaged and curious but also provided enough times for discovery on my own and rest. The cuisine was excellent, and so were the wine tastings. Accommodations were always in the perfect locations for easy access to the most interesting cathedrals, old towns, and other points of interest.
Our tour leader, Juan, was extremely personable, engaging, caring, attentive to detail, and a great sport. He made it very fun and easy to travel from destination to destination and spent a lot of energy and effort explaining the local cultures and history and provided recommendations for what to see and where to go in each location. He came up with spontaneous activities when possible on our way from one location to another, which kept long drives interesting and full of discovery of places we wouldn’t have visited otherwise.
An optional tour to walk on the 1700-ft long suspension bridge in Arouca became one of the major highlights of the trip.

Being a scientist, I like to think that I am naturally curious about the world and interested in solving riddles. But until I was on this trip, I didn’t realize that I was also very curious and fascinated by ancient history.

Our tour leader, Juan, and later Andreia during the post-trip extension in Lisbon, provided detailed information about local histories, pointed out important landmarks, and were always eager and available to answer further questions from us about the Spanish and Portuguese histories. Until this time, my knowledge of the history of these regions was somewhat sketchy. Discussions with the tour leaders and the local guides made my interest come alive and completely wetted my appetite to know more. OAT leaders also didn’t shy away from controversial topics, such as the Basque independence struggle or the emigration of youth from Portugal for lack of opportunities in their country. Now, after the trip, I still find myself wondering about the Basque peoples, their language, the Spanish civil war, bombing of Gernika, the Roman’s and the Moores, the inquisition, the Templars, the crusades, St. James Ways, Santiago de Compostela, and the symbols of all the previous cultures and peoples that invaded and lived there during the previous centuries or even millennia. This was truly a multi-faceted trip as is the multi-layered history of these (off the beaten track) regions where I was fortunate to travel with OAT. I recommend this trip to anyone interested in discovering the ancient cultures, history, and beauty of Northern Spain and Portugal! At the end of this trip, I am left with the feeling of a wide open sky and a wide open world awaiting discovery!