Wednesday, November 29th
The intention here is to drive from Granada, Spain, to Estoi, Portugal, taking in Ronda, Arcos de la Frontera, and more of the Andalucian “White Villages”.
Then on to Portugal, most likely stopping in Tavira, on the Portuguese Algarve (the southern coast of Portugal), on the way.
However, this appears to be a a long drive, even without stops. We’ll probably have to make a lot of last minute decisions on the way — not to do some things, and to do others that we hadn’t planned, because they look interesting.
The White Hill Towns of Andalucía
Andalucía is the southernmost tip of Spain:
Here’s a map of the major White Hill Towns of Andalucía, taken from a good webpage that describes them:
Here’s what Rick Steves has to say about this area:
The Route of the White Hill Towns (Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos), Andalucía’s charm bracelet of cute villages perched in the sierras, gives you wonderfully untouched Spanish culture. Spend a night in the romantic queen of the white towns, Arcos de la Frontera. Farther east, the larger town of Ronda stuns visitors with its breathtaking setting — straddling a gorge that thrusts deep into the Andalusian bedrock. Smaller hill towns, such as Zahara and Grazalema, offer plenty of beauty.
Rick Steves
Here is what he is talking about:
The Portuguese Algarve
To quote Rick Steves:
The Algarve, Portugal’s warm and dry south coast, stretching for some 100 miles, offers warm, sandy beaches framed by jagged rocks that give way to rolling green hills dotted with orchards.
Rick Steves
Here is a map of the Portuguese Algarve:
Tavira
Perhaps we will eat in Tavira. It should be getting late by that time, after a long day of driving.
Here’s a map of Tavira, with some restaurants indicated:
Pousada Palacio de Estoi
Finally, our destination for the night. This is the Pousada Palacio de Estoi.
Its website describes it as:
The only “Palace Hotel” in the Algarve, and part of the select club of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, is now revealed in all its splendour, providing a unique experience in the south of the Portugal.
Characterised by the rich and decorative architecture resulting from the restoration of a 18th century palace, while preserving its original features, the Pousada Palácio Estoi has 63 rooms, French-style gardens, an outdoor swimming pool with a view of the sea and the mountains, as well as all the amenities of the 21st century.
Originally, our hotel chosen by TripMasters was in Faro, and didn’t look great. So, I looked into changing to another alternative, and found this. I couldn’t resist! It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I grabbed it.
It looks fantastic!