I don’t have a Facebook account so I don’t get the opportunity to “share” with everyone what I’m eating at mealtime. So, I thought I would start this post with just that.  In Portugal there’s actually a science to making a hamburger, it’s called Hamburgology.

I feel like a Facebook’er, “Here’s what I had for lunch at Hamburgology”.

After any meal in Portugal you must have a glass of Port.  Taylor’s has always been one of my favorites.

Looking across the Rio Douro to old town from Taylor’s .  Great patio with great views to have a glass of port.

They were having a clearance sale on some old inventory they couldn’t move.

It tasted pretty good for being so old.  I should have bought a few more.

These signs light up at night and you can see them from the old town at night

Teresa with the old town in the background.

Teresa talking to the resident peacock.

Leaving Taylor’s in search of another Port House.

Just down the street and around the corner there’s Sandeman’s (background) and Offley’s.  Hmm, which one?

Teresa carrying the days purchases back to Sea Rose.

We finally made it to the old town.

Portugal is known for its colorful tiled houses

We started Day 2 with an unexpected delivery of awesome marina provided fresh bread laying on our deck.  This is the best hospitality from any marina we have stayed in so far.  The bread was great.

Daytime view of the marina buildings.  Very contemporary in style.

After breakfast it’s off to our first Port House, Churchill’s!

We finally found someone to take a picture of the both of us.

There’s always one tourist who can’t follow instructions. Don’t Touch anything!

Churchill Port aging away in the large kegs.

A happy customer.  I’m glad the tour is over and we can start the fun stuff.

Rachael, Kathie, Teresa & Larry in search of the next Port House.

A view of the old town from across the Rio Douro.  The old town is on the north side and all the Port Houses are on the south side.  Of course, we’re on the south side.

The world’s oldest working lighthouse  “Torre de Hercules” still shining bright as we leave La Caruna, Spain for Porto, Potugal

Flipper & Co. stopped by to visit us in route to Porto

Ah, Cape Finisterre, otherwise known as “Costa de la Muerte” or Cost of Death due to all the shipwrecks that have occurred here over the centuries.

In Portuguese waters now and a large wind power generator way off shore.  I’m glad we sailed by it in the daylight.

One of our avid Blog followers spotted Sea Rose entering the Porto harbor from the jetty and took these pictures and forwarded them to us. There’s a fine line between “followers” and “stalkers”.

We tied up, washed the boat and were rewarded with this great view of one of the many bridges crossing the Douro River.  The Port gape vineyards are some 123 kilometers up this river.

After a few sundowners we decided to walk into town along the river.  The old town is well lit up at night.

As you can see from the tracker we just traveled from La Rochelle, France to La Coruna, Spain.  You can follow Sea Rose anytime on the tracker at; http://my.yb.tl/beerows/

We arrived Friday evening and after tying up we quickly hit the town.

You can’t miss Plaza de Maria Pita

Teresa’s more interested in food and drink, so down the small streets we go.

The Spanish love their Serrano.  It’s hanging every where.  Just don’t let the fat drip on your head.

The next morning the forecasted weather blew in.  It’s not always “Fun n’ Sun” on Sea Rose.

We did eventually get a clearing patch that allowed us to get off of Sea Rose for the afternoon, so we headed back into town.

Hmm…is that possible?

Spanish Big Guns?

La Coruna architecture.

Teresa with the La Coruna main harbor behind her.

Me chilling with the locals in Plaza de Humor.

We’re in Europe so there must be an old church around.  This one was pretty cool inside.  Teresa was kind enough to light a candle for Sea Rose.

We saw “Torre de Hercules” while arriving, so we made a pilgrimage to see it up close.

Teresa was feeling left out and wanted to get in the picture. (Selfie)

Looking out over the entrance to La Coruna rias.

The old Fort which use to protect the town.

Easter Island in Spain?  I wonder if these stones will tip over.

Stonehenge in Spain?  It’s a Stonehenge wannabe.

Selfie of the town of La Coruna in the background.

The local beer was cold and plentiful.  When in Galicia you must drink the local brew.

After 4 wonderful days in La Coruna and with the weather clearing, we are off to Porto, Portugal tomorrow.  Calm seas and gentle winds!

We spent 3 days and 2 nights sailing across the feared Bay of Biscay in October. We had good winds the first half of the trip and then the wind died on us. Sometimes you have to motor when sailing, but then it’s not really sailing is it?

The Code 0 was out.

The Code 0 was still out at sunset.  Great sailing day.

It was time to hoist the ARC rally flag.  There are discounts to be had at various marinas if you fly it on your way to Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.

Hard to believe the weather is this good in the Bay of Biscay in October.  The winds have died down, the sails are in and you can hear the engines running now.

Teresa and I pulled the 6:00 AM shift and got to enjoy the morning sunrise on the Bay of Biscay.

The Spanish cost is finally in site after 3 days at sea.

Due to a weather system moving in from the direction we are heading, we decided to pull into port at La Coruna, Spain for a few days and let the system pass.  The Spanish courtesy flag is hoisted along with the Q flag (until customs is cleared).

.

As we enter La Coruna marina the “Torres de Hercules” can be seen in the distance.  It is the oldest still operating lighthouse in the world.  It was built by the Romans in the 2nd century.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_Hercules

Entering Marina Coruna.  The weather is already beginning to darken.

After being home for the month of September we returned to La Rochelle, France and to Sea Rose. We’re anxious to learn whether or not the scheduled work was completed so we can “officially” start our adventurous trip to the Caribbean.  The main project was installing the new “hard top” bimini and as promised, Yacht Concepts delivered on time.

Sea Rose without the bimini. 

That’s Capt. Glenn in the rain in Santander, Spain. He’s not smiling.

Sea Rose with the bimini.

Capt. Glenn is much happier now, let it rain!

We have now repositioned Sea Rose for the early morning bridge opening.

The sun is setting on our last night in La Rochelle.

Our last night in La Rochelle.  Hard to believe we have spent a total of 6 weeks here.

That is the bridge in the background through which we will be exiting in the morning.

It’s morning, the bridge is open and we are on our way.

As the sun rises, we say good-bye to La Rochelle.  Only 4,000 miles to go before we reach our destination, St Lucia.