Back in Spain

Today was a day of transfer.  Suitcases out by 6:30 am, breakfast, and then board the bus by 8:00 am. We are in Spain.  The terrain changed dramatically during the day.  We started out with very rugged forests, moved to olive trees, then pasture lands with animals (cows, pigs, sheep), and then in the middle of the drive there were beautiful fields of crops.  We stopped after an hour and 45 minutes —for a technical stop—I would call it a potty stop.  Then on to Salamanca.  We said ‘Good-Bye” to Maggie, our guide through out Portugal.  She was the best.  Portuguese guides can only work in Portugal.  Likewise, we have a Spanish bus and a new bus driver.  He is more into his cell than conversing or helping riders. The day was sunny but cool with a breeze.  We met Carmen, our Spanish guide for the city.  We took a walking tour.  Spent time in the two cathedrals.  The new cathedral was 500 years old and the old one was 300 older than that.  Then we had time for lunch plus we needed to sit down.  Went to a tapas bar and sat at a table—mistake.  If you sit at the table you have to order from the menu.  The waitress couldn’t speech English and even whipped the napkins and silverware off the table and stomped off.  Chuck ordered wine and tapas.  N. Got her own food - garlic free.  We ate and used the facilities.  M. Suggested that we give the waitress a tip since we caused her such distress.  N used her meager Spanish and presented the tip.  All was good.  Oh, we had empanadas  and a hamon sandwich.  Good.  Went next door for ice cream.  Did a little shopping and back to the bus.
We are in Madrid now.  On the way to the Farewell Dinner.