October 10, 2024

Our first port we can actually visit! Getxo, Spain

Went for a stretch of the legs into Portugalete & Getxo, the towns closest to the port, with fellow resident Stephen Clarke. Next thing I knew, we had walked 20,000 steps!  Below is Puente de Vizcaya, the world's oldest transporter bridge. Six million people use it to cross the estuary every year. A UNESCO World Heritage site, designed by Alberto de Palacio and opened in 1893. It was a revolutionary work of engineering allowing boats to cross under gondola at the same time on the river Nervion between the towns of Getxo and Portugalete. Very cool! Takes longer to buy a ticket and walk on, then it does to cross.

The town of Portugalete is one steep hill after another. We found they even have an outdoor escalator built into the sidewalk of one of the longest hills, sadly after we had already hoofed our way up! I was feeling all 20,000 steps that night and into the next day! 

By Patricia Patrick September 12, 2025
The Summer Palace is a vast ensemble of lakes, gardens and palaces from the Qing Dynasty. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
By Patricia Patrick September 12, 2025
BeiJing, used to be Peking - so we had to have the famous Peking Duck!
By Patricia Patrick September 11, 2025
We left the Great Wall and went to THE MING TOMBS - however we were disappointed to find there was nothing there except the grounds.