Albuferia, Portugal

Thursday, May 24, 2012 7:58 AM Posted by BlakelyTJackson 0 comments
Oh Portugal. Last I saw you Jason and I were in Lisbon... let's hope I have better luck this visit!

Albuferia is on the Southern coast of Portugal and holds some of the most beautiful beaches in the WORLD. So needless to say Sarah and I were so excited!!! Her parents, Ale, and I packed up the car and made our way early on March 31st. It rained the entire way but when we arrived, the darkness cleared. We walked to the beach and collected seashells and rocks. The cliffs that stood against the clear blue water was beautiful. We walked for awhile until we came upon the city center that comes right up against the beach. Low and behold we found MEXICAN!!

Mexican has to be in my top three favorite foods and I haven't had any in months. We grabbed a seat outside and ordered a pitcher of Margaritas. The server even brought out huge Sombreros for us to wear. I felt like the happiest tourist this side of the big blue. Then we returned to the beach to play some more.

There were caves and hidden spots all along the cliffs that we explored. After playing, we returned to a cafe to overlook the beach and drink Sangria. What an amazing day.

That night, we dressed up and headed for dinner. Store owners and servers alike are very demanding and great salesmen trying to convince you to eat at their restaurant. It was overwhelming until we broke down and just picked one at random. We ordered a pitcher of champagne sangria, thee best drink I have ever tasted! I talked Sarah's dad into sharing a traditional Portuguese seafood meal. We had rice placed on our plate and then came every seafood known to man kind in a red sauce. It was so good and very filling. I enjoyed it but I don't think Sarah's dad would eat it again. He explained he's more of a stick-with-what-you-know man.

We all joked and laughed as we made our way back to our hotel for the night. That night Ale, Sarah, and I grabbed a Caprhina at the bar. It is a traditional Portuguese drink and strong as hell. We played pool and had fun.

The next day we decided to do a boat tour as advised by our friend from the Rio Tinto. It was absolutely miserable. The wind blew very hard as we drove for an hour through the sea. The landscapes were gorgeous but the cold salt water splashing me was not too enjoyable.

We arrived to a cave where a few people at a time would get on a small boat to go through the grottos.... and as soon as the first group took off, the boat broke down. So we rode all the way back. I was disappointed but it was neat to see the beaches from the ocean.

Semana Santa & The Rio Tino Mines

7:30 AM Posted by BlakelyTJackson 0 comments

A week off from school?! YES PLEASE!!

Semana Santa features the procession of pasos (floats) in honor of Holy Week leading up to Easter. Some of the sculptures are of great antiquity and are considered artistic masterpieces, as well as being culturally and spiritually important to the local Catholic population. They weigh up to a metric ton and are carried in precessions all week. The processions are organized by hermandades and cofradías, religious brotherhoods. During the processions, members precede the pasos (of which there are up to three in each procession) dressed in penitential robes, and, with few exceptions, hoods. They may also be accompanied by brass bands. The processions work along a designated route from their home churches and chapels to the Cathedral, usually via a central viewing area and back. The processions from the suburban barrios may take 14 hours to return to their home churches.

Seeing these processions is incredibly awe inspiring. But of course, if it rains, the processions are cancelled. We never have rain here in Huelva. Ever. It took over two months for me to see my first rain cloud when I moved here. With that being said, it rained all week for Semana Santa. People plan their lives around this special week and are brought to tears when they are not able to participate.

A few afternoons in Huelva, the rain clouds parted and I was lucky enough to see processions right from my balcony. They walk late at night and the brass bands echo through the walls of our piso. Hundreds of candles glimmer around Virgin Mary as she is carried through the streets. It is a humbling experience and one I will never forget.

On a lighter note, another reason why I won't forget Semana Santa is that I had no clue that EVERYTHING closes ALL week in honor of Holy Week. I was not willing to eat the back of the cabinet/fridge food and went in search for something good. Low and behold I found Burger King. I had not eaten BK in 6 months and oh man was I happy to have found it. It was incredibly over priced and I had to walk two miles but it was allll worth it. That was the absolute best Whopper of my life. Just typing about this makes my stomach growl.

During this week, Sarah’s parents came for a visit. I really enjoyed having their company and going with them through Seville and Huelva to be a tourist once again.

On Friday the 30th of April, we visited the Rio Tino and the Mines of Huelva. 

According to myth, these are the fabled mines of King Solomon, and a section of the area is still known as Cerro Salomón today. The nearby villages of Zalamea la Vieja (now called Nerva) and Zalamea la Real are also named after the biblical king. It was tales of the Iberian Peninsula's mineral wealth that drew Phoenician merchants to its shores, laying the foundations for a succession of Greek, Carthaginian and Roman invasions. It is reputed to be the oldest mines in the world. Today, the mines are closed but people visit to see the red colored water and the lunar like landscape.

We arrived after a long drive in the rental car through winding roads and getting lost once or twice… or three times. We boarded the tiniest train. There were benches meant to hold one and a half people. No joke. So Sarah and I squeezed onto one and sat across from a man and his young daughter.

The tour guide began to speak in fast paced Spanish over a muffled intercom. We knew we were in for a treat. Sarah’s parents leaned forward and asked what he was saying. I replied with a smart-ass comment of, “Sombrero, Taco Bell… I have no clue.” The man across from Sarah and me asked us, in English, if he wanted us to translate. This was quite embarrassing because we had no clue that he could understand us. Apparently he was Portuguese and spoke perfect English and Spanish.  He was a nice guy and even gave us tips on what to do when we visited Albuferia the next day.

The landscape was beautiful and very interesting. Surrounded by lush greenery, the open mines expose layers of colors and minerals after years of work. Huge craters are created making huge trucks look like toddler’s toys. And the river itself is so bright red. It jumps out at you as it runs against the neutral colored rocks.

It was an experience like nothing I have before and it really gave me a history lesson on where I live and how my city used to be one of the most important in its hey-day.


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