Welcome to our Tripadeal tour of Spain, Portugal and Morocco (plus some more..)

You know that you are in Europe when...

the skies are criss crossed with vapour trails!

There is so much to see and do around the world and this tripadeal tour was so inviting, both itinerary and price wise.

International flights included, we were lucky to have been put onto the Emirates airline. The plane was comfortable and the service very good. Dave spent his birthday in the air and was able to order a few drinks to celebrate.

After enjoying smooth airways and a change of planes at Dubai, we arrived in Madrid in the mid-afternoon of the Ides of March ( 15th March).

The second challenge of our holiday was  to find our ride into our hotel. We searched for our bus amongst the row of coaches, looking for the Tripadeal sign in the front window of the row of vehicles lined up in the bus parking bay. Not a sign was to be found. We wandered around a little and the started to look at the small cousins parked behind the big boys. As we peeked into the open door of the "Incoming bull" bus, the question posed to us by the passengers "Tripadeal?" Told us we were in the right place!

The smiling faces of Jenny & Ian, and Cathy & Rick gave us the feeling that that this was going to be a great holiday!

It is interesting embarking on a holiday such as this, where you don't know your fellow travellers. A bit like being on a reality TV show. Twenty eight people, plus our tour leader, Caterina and driver, Nuno, placed onabus together for eighteen days. 

(NB This post is written in retrospect on the 6th day of the tour and observations made thus far are really very interesting.....)