Galicia, Spain - Peniche and Obidos, Portugal - July, 2006.

Leaving Sao Miguel, Azores en route to Spain, July 5, 2006

Can anyone tell me what the heck this is?  We saw thousands of them floating in the middle of nowhere.

Welcome to Europe!  Baiona, Spain.

The girls beg to drive the dinghy no matter where we are.

Our "neighbors" Cenou navigating between the "viveros."  The rias are full of these mussel rafts which are anchored in neat rows, dangling lines on which the mussels grow.

The kids have to EARN their ice cream!

Juliana proving that she can row the kayak too!

Cassie waterskiing past Zia and Cenou rafted up for the evening.

The waterfront in Muros.

The view of the Ria and village of Muros from "Library Square."

Land is at a premium in the little town of Muros, especially in the cemetery.

Unfortunately, we caught the mercado when it was closed but I loved the building.

The girls loved the statue of the old lady sitting along the seawall, waiting for her love to return from the sea.

The seawall in Muros, again.

One of the minor churches in Santiago de Compostela.

One of the windmill farms behind the city of Camarinas, north of Cabo Finisterre.

Sunset in Camarinas.

Our only visit to one of the Ria Alta, the Ria de Camarinas was really quite spectacular.

"Zia" with Cabo Finisterre in the background.

The girls have really taken to the swing Joe set up for them in the cockpit.

Dinner time!  The local delicacy "pulpo" on display for interested customers outside a Galician restaurant.

Laundry day underway on "Zia."

The kids complaining about being bored as Joe gets his internet fix in Ribeira.

The grand finale of the festival in Ribeira.  Some guy sat in the chair and was shot out of this slingshot rig, onto a floating target.  I wonder how you earn that privilege.

Our two little girls.  I think they still play more than they fight, although it is a close calls on some days!

"Zia" at anchor in Ribeira on the Ria de Arousa. 

The fort in Baiona.

When we came back to Baiona after our trip north, we saw a couple of firefighting planes loading up with water to dump on the fires raging in the forests to the north.  Another similarity with California!

"Zia" at the dock in Peniche, Portugal.

Everywhere we go we seem to wind up spending a lot of time in playgrounds.

We saw some amazing motorcycles all decked out with fur and custom accessories.  As we gawked, the owners came out and insisted that the kids try them out!

The ancient mountain village of Obidos was spectacular.  The old Moorish wall dates back to the 1200s.  In 1282 the Portuguese monarch, so enamored with the lovely village,  presented it to his Queen on their wedding day.  Thus began the tradition which would last 600 years.

Ancient villages which were part of the Queen's dowry mean very little to the girls when there is a playground to explore.

The local fair happened to be in Peniche while we were there.  The rides were mostly for younger kids but Cassie and Jules managed to find a couple that entertained them.