P&O Iona Ports: Spain and Portugal

Whilst on my New Years Eve cruise on the P&O Iona, I visited a number of ports in Spain and Portgual: Cadiz, Barcelona, Valencia, Lisbon and Vigo. Below I've given a bit of background to each port.

Side note: You may also be interested in trip on the P&O Azura and the ports I visited.

Seville and Seville Cathedral

I was excited about this port as I had a P and O tour booked to Seville. Seville is about one and a half hours from the port of Cadiz, including a stop at the service station. My fellow shipmates had elected to explore Cadiz. On arrival, our guide walked us through a park and into the old part of the city.

He gave us some free time to wander, as we were booked at a set time to go into the cathedral. Wow, what a beautiful place. I definitely will return for 3-4 days to do the city justice. I went into the tourist office and asked her the best time to visit. She says it gets very busy and recommends February before the hot summer. I hope to return next year. 

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I wandered through the narrow, winding streets. I encountered lively markets, quaint cafes, selling an assortment of tapas, and locals doing flamenco. It has a romantic historic charm. There are oranges everywhere, growing on every street and corner. The guide explained that because of the bitterness of these Seville oranges, it’s only the Brits that purchase these to make our breakfast marmalade. Either way, the contrast of the brightness of the oranges against the historic buildings is stunning. 

The guide took us inside and we had an extensive tour. He explained that the cathedral was a UNESCO heritage site. It was the third largest Christian Cathedral from the 15th century. Wonderful inside and out. I would advise you to book a tour, as you would miss so much.

He explained that Christopher Columbus’s tomb was here but previously his remains had been in Havana and Valladolid. The tomb itself is an elaborate structure supported by four allegorical figures representing the four kingdoms of Spain during Columbus' time: Castile, Leon, Aragon, and Navarre. History is controversial about the authenticity of the remains. 

The cathedral itself is a breathtaking architectural marvel. It is huge, and we went around exploring for over an hour. It’s worth getting a guide, you are supplied with a headset. I couldn't take it all in, or remember it all, but visually it left a lasting impression.

Plaza de España, Seville

We returned to the coach for a short drive to the Plaza de Espana. 

I know I keep saying it but it's another, oh Wow! Stunningly beautiful and enhanced by so many colourful ceramics.

It’s an architectural marvel, built for the Exposition of 1929. Renaissance and Moorish styles.

It's a semi-circular building with a canal and four bridges, representing the four parts of Spain. The entire plaza is full of vibrant ceramic tiles, depicting historical scenes, and decoration. 

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You can take a rowboat along the canal or a horse carriage ride around the plaza. We didn't have time for either of these as we were only here for half an hour. The guide told us the Plaza de España was featured in Lawrence of Arabia and Star Wars. See  Trip advisor Seville. for more info. 

Suddenly with no warning, this vibrant lady started to do her Flamenco. It was a fitting end to a beautiful tour of Seville. I had my own personal show. 

After the drive back to the ship, I met up with my shipmates, and they all said they had a fabulous day in Cadiz. I had a look at some of their beautiful photos and it's clear that Cadiz is also a must do. Ancient buildings, charming squares, restaurants, beaches. Anyway, I couldn't fit it all in, next time. 

Cadiz is a great place for duty-free and was the cheapest port for cigarettes and alcohol. 

A walk around Gibraltar 

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I haven’t been here for about twenty-five years. Goodness, it has changed. So many buildings. I remember clearly the Rock Hotel, the cable car, and a visit to see the apes on the rock.

I strolled down Main Street – it's a good place to grab a bargain. You can snag some tax-free deals. Plus, the mix of cultures – English, Spanish, and North African – gives the place a multi-cultural flair. 

For the best views ever, take the cable car up to the top of the Rock. You'll see the whole Strait of Gibraltar, Africa on one side, and Spain on the other. If the weather is clear. 

The Great Siege tunnels stretch for miles. You can explore these tunnels, check out the chambers, and imagine what it was like for the soldiers who carved their way through the rock.

I came across this place. Ocean Village Marina

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Gibraltar feels like a little British enclave with its red post boxes, pubs serving fish and chips, and a proper pint. Union Jacks flying on several buildings. You’d almost forget you are on the tip of the Iberian Peninsula. If you come here, it's a very easy walk into Gibraltar town from the ship. One couple in our group took advantage of the beautiful jewellery here; and got engaged. Congratulations. 

Getting in the lift, on board the ship. I was joined by another lady. In a very broad northern accent, she said to me “Did ya see monkey?” Made my day, so funny. 

So it's goodbye to Gibraltar, I had a great day. See Tripadvisor Gibraltar  for info.

Visiting Barcelona, from P and O Iona

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Visiting Sagrada Familia, Barcelona

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Again, I decided to do my own thing as I was not going to miss going inside the Sagrada Familia. You could get the coach P and O supplied, for a fee, into the city, but I decided I’d get a taxi straight there. It was 15 euros. It gave me time to have a wander and a wonderful cup of Spanish coffee and a freshly baked croissant. Also to buy a scarf. Though the weather was sunny with blue skies. It was surprisingly cold. 8 degrees with a cold wind. Of course, I saw a few Brits in tee shirts and shorts, as they do. Made of stern stuff. 

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I booked my trip through Get Your Guide about three weeks prior. P and O only offered a tour around the city. I met the guide outside the Sagrada Familia gift shop at noon. I showed him my ticket, and we were moved into the Fast Track queue. Worth doing as the regular queue was very long. I’d paid £40. We were given headphones and the tour began. A wonderful young man, who was very informative. He explained about the works and life of Gaudi. 

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In my life, there have been only two places that have taken my breath away. The Grand Canyon, and St Mark's Square in Venice. Now, the inside of the Sagrada Familia. 

The guide explained that Gaudí's masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia, stands as a testament to his architectural brilliance. The exterior is very intricate, each facade telling a story from the Bible. The details are mind blowing. 

As I  stepped inside,  I was awe-struck. The grandeur of the interior, with its towering columns resembling branching trees, is nothing short of a spiritual experience.  Light pours in through stained glass windows, creating a kaleidoscope of colours that dances around this wonderful space. If you are lucky, if you are there at the right time, as I was, the sun may pour through the windows. It's truly wonderful. My Photos do not do it justice. 

Our guide explained that Gaudi envisioned a fusion of Gothic and Art Nouveau. He wanted a structure that would harmonise nature and the Holy family. 

Gaudí dedicated the latter part of his life to the Sagrada Família, pouring his creativity into the project. He transformed the original neo-Gothic design into an architectural treasure that defied all previous traditional ideas. Sadly Gaudi was run over by a tram in 1926, but his work continues, following his plans. 

Tourist revenue has contributed to the ongoing work. I am truly thankful that my few pounds would go towards further development. At the end of the tour, the guide came up to me and asked if I enjoyed it. I was almost brought to tears by the beauty of this place and the wonderful human imagination and creativity Gaudi brought to this structure. There is nothing like it anywhere that I know of.  I could only croak an answer of, “Wonderful.” I felt like I'd been on a spiritual journey. 

I will return in a few years to see any further development. 

I had a wonderful day in Barcelona. Reflecting on the greatness of man. 

More details of the Sagrada Familia can be checked out on Trip Advisor.

Valencia from P and O Iona

I’ve been to Valencia before, so I didn't book any tours. On this day our lovely Mothership organised a walk from the port, which took us to the very nice city beach, Playa de Las Arenas. This beach is wide and sandy, with a boardwalk and plenty of restaurants. It’s a nice combination with the city.

Playa Las Arenas, you can walk to this beach from the port, about 40 minutes. There is also a shuttle bus which will take you to the port entrance, getting you a bit closer called Trasmed Grimaldi. There are also plenty of taxis available. 

On this particular day, one of our party met some friends who live in Valencia, and we all piled onto a bus to get into the old part of town. 

Exploring Valencia's Old Town is like stepping back in time, with its blend of architectural styles, historic sites, and vibrant street life. We wandered along, passing cafes and restaurants. Lots of offers on for Valencian paella, and ice cream. numerous churches and fountains. These narrow, cobblestone streets are lined with colourful buildings and quaint shops. 

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Our group found a cafe in a square. We were fortunate as the sun was shining and the sky was blue. We ordered coffee and drinks and relaxed in the sun, smelt the oranges, and listened to a busker playing guitar, before heading back to the ship. 

One of the main tours to do from the ship in Valencia is the City of Art and Sciences. It is a futuristic architectural complex that has become a symbol of the city. There is a Planetarium and an Aquarium. There is a chargeable shuttle bus from the ship if you have a saver fare, it's 4 euros one way. Select fares travel free. Transfer time is 30 minutes. 

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Once back on the ship, I chatted with some other guests. They said they went to the aquarium, which is the largest in Europe. They said they had a brilliant time. The aquarium features sharks, dolphins, penguins, cormorants, flamingos and more. You can check the current entrance fee here. Across the road from here is the EL Sale shopping centre, a four minute walk. 

There are many places to visit in Valencia, visit the official tourist board. 

Visiting Lisbon from P and O Iona

I don't have much luck with Lisbon weather-wise, The last time I visited it was heavy rain and storms, this time it's foggy, but predicted to clear later.

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It's a short walk into the city from the ship, maybe a little hilly, so you need to be quite fit. 

Our group decided to get the 28 tram which runs a circuit of Old Town Lisbon. The queues were very long, so after about 20 minutes of waiting, a friend and I decided to try the Tuk Tuk. It was 50 euros, but they can take up to 6 people. It was something we’d always wanted to do, so it was ticked off the bucket list. 

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Now if you know Lisbon, you will know there are a lot of old cobbles on the side streets. There are also the tram lines. The combination of these factors makes it a very bumpy ride. It was a cold foggy day. It was quite funny, the driver kept stopping at the usual points to show us the magnificent view, but we couldn't see anything. In the end, we had to tell him, we were quite happy with the experience. 

Lisbon is great for shopping, from high end boutiques to markets, and designer stores, it has it all. Crafts of ceramics, jewellery and cork products. 

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Before you go have a snack and coffee as we did. Try a pastel de nata. A custard tart with flakey pastry, delicious. 

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Well back to the ship, the weather started to clear, so we had a beautiful sailaway. 

Visiting Vigo from P and O Iona

The largest city in Galicia. It's the last port before we sail for Southampton. I had a trip booked through P and O but something unfortunate happened at home that I had to cancel. Next time. Anyway after I made all the necessary phone calls to home, I had a brief wander off the ship. What a pleasant maritime city. Walking along the promenade you pass a statue of Jules Verne. It's featured in Vigo because he devoted one of the chapters to The Bay of Vigo. He also visited here twice making many friends. Vigo welcomed him, as he had given the city much publicity through his novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. 

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There is an excellent Vigo tourism website depicting a recommended walk for cruise ship passengers. See Vigo tourism.

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Well, that's a brief view of the ports I visited. I had a wonderful time and made many friends travelling solo on P and O Iona.

Almost home, but It's not long until my next cruise, which is in four weeks around the Canary Islands, on P and O Ventura so I'm hoping for some sunshine. 

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Travel is my Therapy.