BIG OIL RETIREE VISITS IBERIA

Thirty seven years ago (can it really be that long) when I joined Mobil Oil as a 10 year old (!), the first person to introduce himself to me was Dave Kranz and we have been 'lifelong' friends ever since. Dave has finally come to his senses and retired from The Horse after a globetrotting career in excess of 40 years, and is currently in Crete living the well earned good life, working hard at doing nothing. On his way, he dropped in to Madrid for a couple of nights with his partner Liza. We had a couple of lovely days strolling around the streets of the city, checking out some of the landmarks and, crucially, partaking of fine Spanish culinary delights.

Dave, Liza, Gran Via and the magnificent Metropolis Building....

........Palacio de Cibeles in the background....

.....the bear and the strawberry tree, the emblem of Madrid...

.....beautiful Plaza Mayor

 The highlight of this was having lunch at STREETXO, the seafood/Asian fusion food bar that serves dishes taken from its Michelin *** parent restaurant Diverxo. And whilst Estado Puro near the Musee Prado is still fabulous, Streetxo is now Don L's lunch venue of choice for visiting dignitaries.

Streetxo - no frills and brilliant

Smoked razor clams

Calamari rolls (bocadillos calamares)

Pekinese dumplings

Hot & sour Ramen black pig......

.......egg yolk and sweet paprika added

Dig in!!

We rounded out it all with dinner that night at Puxa Asturies, a local bistro that specialises in delicious Asturian (northern Spain) cuisine.

Dave and Liza's next stop was the sleepy Portuguese coastal town of Vila Nova de Milfontes, south of Lisbon, where yet another member of the retired Horse fraternity, Barry Harker and the lovely Dorville, are chilling out. And so we loaded up Rocinante and headed off. We crossed the rolling plains of western Spain, stopping occasionally at villages that time has passed by, and entering the heavily forested terrain of Portugal. Along the highway, we witnessed a sight I haven't previously seen on the LegsyBoys' expeditions - hundreds of white stork nests perched on power line pylons (it will come as no surprise that the major cause of unnatural deaths in this beautiful species is electrocution!). The Spanish white stork is historically a migratory bird that heads to north Africa, but in recent years the migration has significantly dropped off. Whatever the reason, it's a truly amazing sight to see all these storks building and living in their nests - a true high wire act!

The drive to south of Lisbon wasn't pretty, refineries, fuel terminals, power plants dotting the landscape, so we were astonished to find that Milfontes was BEAUTIFUL, a vista of white washed villas perched on the river mouth. We had a stroll around to take in the view, checked out the memorial to Beires, Gouveia and Paes (the first flight from Portugal to Macau - a Portuguese dominion at the time - in 1924) partook of the local fare at a 'cash only' restaurant (Barry says the Portuguese haven't quite cottoned on to credit cards as yet!) and then a couple of glasses of the local brew.

Barry & Dorville's hacienda, Milfontes

Idyllic

Dave, Liza, Dorville, Barry

Milfontes - Macau memorial

It got me to thinking as we sat around enjoying the evening....just how good is this life? Who'd have thought that 3 annuitants from the Flying Red Horse would be congregated in a tiny hamlet on the Portuguese south coast, enjoying a quiet glass or two and looking forward to whatever next lies around the retired corner. I left before everybody was up the following morning, driving home via previously Spanish countryside previously uncharted by the LegsyBoys and popping in to Salamanca on the way.

Only in Spain

Stunning countryside

Salamanca Plaza Mayor

 I gotta tell you, there is some extraordinarily beautiful countryside out there, but that's another adventure. In the meantime, Thanks for popping in Dave, and I'm guessing the next haircut will be when you get a job - haha!