Portugal and Spain with Patty’s Places

Our 21-day trip to Spain and Portugal, March 5-25, ’02, with Patty’s Places (Seattle, WA) was lovely. We knew it would be, as this was our third tour with Patty; each was wonderful. Patty has a knack for attracting pleasant, congenial and thoughtful people for her tours; in no time at all we all were friends and began looking out for each other.

Our national guide, Laura, was very pleasant and friendly, had lots of enthusiasm and was well versed on the histories of both countries.

The tour covered the highlights and “must sees” of each country and then some. The cost was $2,375 plus air, and we added a 3-day extension to Bilbao for $375.

One of the highlights in Portugal was the small town of Nazare, where the older women still wear traditional dress and where fish are still dried on nets and sold along the beach. Among the best buys in Portugal are the handmade fishermen’s sweaters sold in Nazare.

In Spain, a memorable day in Madrid began at the Prado Museum, followed by a cappuccino at the Ritz Hotel just across the street. A leisurely walk through Madrid ended at the studio of David, a palette-knife painter, where we spent at least an hour choosing paintings to buy.

We had lunch that day at Botín Restaurant, which the “Guinness Book of World Records” lists as the oldest continuously operated restaurant in the world (open since 1725). What a place! Of course, we had to try the regional specialty, suckling pig. (We were assured it would be served in pieces, not whole!) The sangria was the best, and I got the maître d’ to talk me through the recipe.

The whole of Spain was truly exciting. Patty’s tours allow so much time to explore by yourself that at times you feel like an independent traveler. She always has many ideas of what to see and do on your own, and she provides wonderful handouts — maps of regions and historical notes.

The 3- and 4-star hotels are always more than comfortable and well situated for walking. Breakfast each morning was included and was often a complete buffet including local pastries and breads.

We’ve taken many tours, but we always check Patty’s Places first to see if she is heading for someplace we’d like to visit. We’ve never been disappointed.

— SUZANNE SMITH, Santa Cruz, CA