MaverickRovers

A Porto visit is not complete until you have taken either a  short (we chose short) or a long cruise on  The Douro River.  The bridge in the distance is the Pont Luis I bridge,  designed by Alexander Gustave Eiffel who also designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France MAVERICK ROVER WORLD Blog Post #76 More about Porto (Oporto) , PORTUGAL Since the Portuguese  language may sound a bit  like Spanish, it is all but impossible for the untrained American ear to understand more than one or two words.  The good news is that nearly everyone involved in the service industry  in Portugal does speak English,  and might I say, very, very well. We love all of the foreign languages spinning in the background, one language in our right ear and another in our left ear.  How wonderful it would be if we had more ears for all of the other languages floating in the air. We are, after all, in Porto, the home of Port Wine. Although we no longer...

  PORTO, PORTUGAL This image is actually on a cork post card. Cork  'quercus suber'  is a local tree that is used, of course,  for wine bottle corks and so much more.  The so much more includes backpacks, purses, money pouches and even hats and shoes.  Cork is the most common tree species in Portugal  and the bark is harvested e very 9 years.   MAVERICK ROVER WORLD    BLOG POST #75 Porto, PORTUGAL After so many of our friends have already visited  Portugal,  we have finally made it. It seems that we are quite fortunate with the weather, as we are early in the season when it is most often cool and rainy.  Today it was sunny and warm in the 70s.  Sidewalks are not just sidewalks here in Porto,  they are ART in every sense of the word.  It seems that no two designs or materials are the same. Just down the street you will find this... ill repaired and dangerous art. This Intercontinental Hotel exemplif...

FALLAS FIRST PLACE Represents 17 Sustainable Goals The monument shows a large wizard in the centre, concerned about the effects of human excesses on the planet. There are large characters representing Flora, Fauna and Mother Earth, all surrounded by elements related to ecology, natural balance and hope. MAVERICK ROVER WORLD POST #74 Valencia, SPAIN More about the FALLAS FESTIVAL The festivity is held annually from March 14 to 19 to symbolize the coming of spring, providing an opportunity for collective creativity and the safeguarding of traditional arts and crafts. It is also a source of community pride and contributes to cultural identity, thus enhancing social cohesion. In the past the festivity was a way of preserving the Valencian language at a time when it was prohibited, thus protecting and disseminating culture and knowledge, and to this day it still serves as a reminder of Valencia’s strong ties to the great Silk Roads.  SECOND PLACE  The theme is check mate . As is ha...

             Fireworks and Bull Fights, Oh My Maverick Rover World   Blog Post #73 Valencia, SPAIN  During the annual Fallas Festival fireworks abound.  Every day for a couple of weeks at 2:00pm and  midnight a fireworks display rocks the city.  The ground literally shakes more than any earthquake I have ever experienced Along with hundreds of food carts along the street, music  everywhere,  and might I mention cigarette smoke, the city it packed with human bodies moving in droves from one venue to the next all hours the day and night.      I understand that bull fights are not for everyone, however the fanfare and pageantry is certainly a sight to behold. and by the way, the bull is not wasted since it does become hamburger.      We were fortunate to sit directly in front of Matador Nek Romero's girlfriend, who told us about him and shared her fear on every occasion that he enters t...