After visiting Spain including Barcelona and Madrid, we met up with Uniworld River Tours in Madrid, and after two days visiting Madrid, headed to Vega de Terrón by coach to embark on the Queen Isabela.  Once aboard and settled, we had dinner and orientation, welcome etc and to bed.

After breakfast the next day we took to a coach for the trip up a windy road to Barca d'Alva and the medieval town of Castelo Rodrigo.  Along the road up, we noted many eucalyptus trees, it looked a lot like Australia except for the hills covered with Olive and Cork trees, and Grape Vines.  We learned a lot about growing olives, cork and grapes.

Olive trees on the hills of Barca d'Alva

The following galleries with comments on many images will enlighten you, click the Info button on the gallery slideshow.

On our return, with our Queen Isabel now moored on the Portugal side of the river, we headed down river to Pinhão

View the Gallery of images for DAY 1 AM ON THE DOURO RIVER - Castelo Rodrigo

The cruise down river to Pinhão during dinner was excellent, food and service was exemplary.

View the Gallery of images for DAY 1 PM ON THE DOURO RIVER - Cruise to Pinhão

I hope to get much done as we relax in Porto for a couple of weeks.