Lisbon, Portugal to Caceres, Spain : Scenic Road Trip to History by Avanza Bus (Medieval Caceres Series1)

Lisbon, Portugal to Caceres, Spain 
Scenic Road Trip to History by Avanza Bus
Medieval Caceres Series1 

It was our last day in Lisbon and we had an
early breakfast at the Radisson Blu Hotel,

 

…and spent the whole morning packing up.

We took a taxi to the Gare do Oriente, 

 

…or the Lisbon’s East Central Terminal,

...for our noon time trip to Caceres, Spain,
our third stop for our European Spring vacation.

The Gare do Oriente is combined bus, train and metro.
It is apparently Portugal's busiest station, handling more
 passengers than New York's Grand Central Station.

 

The station was built as part of the Expo 98

designed an modernized gothic architecture.

The station is attached to the large Vasco da Gama

shopping centre, where bought really huge grapes,

 

 

...that we snacked while waiting for our bus to arrive.

Tha Avanza Bus arrived at noontime,

 

…we took our assigned seats, 
and left Lisbon on time at  12:15 PM.

The bus was modern and comfortable, 

 

...it had a TV for entertainment, and a clean toilet.

  

The bus leisurely cruised to the Moscavide,

…and Portela areas,

 

…before leading to the Ponte Vasco da Gama.

 

The Vasco da Gama Bridge is a cable stayed bridge

flanked by viaduct that spans the Tagus River in

Parque das Nações in Lisbon, the capital of Portugal,

...to the municipality of Montijo, in central Portugal and was
was built to alleviate the traffic on the 25 de Abril Bridge.

It is the longest bridge in Europe,

and a sight to behold.

The modern cityscape of Lisbon, was replaced by
 the bucolic view after crossing the bridge to Montijo.

 

 

Acres and acres of farmlands,

  

 

…and scenic pastures,

…as far as your eyes can see,

 

 

…was such a refreshing sight.

 

 

The modern expressway,

flanked with the rustic landscape,

  

 

…and remote country roads.

 

…give a relaxing serenity,

 

…that could lull a traveler to a peaceful slumber. 

 

The bus was supposed tohave a stop in Setubal, 
and I would have loved to see the town,

…but the bus just passed thru

the town without stopping.

 

From Setubal it was a long drive at Portugal’s 
 Evora district, that again rewarded us with the
 amazing countryside views of scenic farms,

…rolling hills of pastures,

…and rustic country houses.

 

We also caught the sight of

the Castle of Evoramonte.

 

…alternately spelled Évora Monte

or Évoramonte, it is a hilltop castle,

…and an important landmark,

 

… that we are already in close

proximity the town of  Estremoz.

 

The Estremoz skyline was dominated

by another hilltop medieval castle, 

 

…called Castelo de Estremoz ,

 

 

…which has apparently

been converted to a hotel.

  

 

From Estrermoz, it was again a

long drive along modern highways,

…sandwiched between rolling pastures,

 

...lovely country houses,

 

…along lonely country roads.

A little later the driver announced that we are
 soon entering Spain, thru the town of Elvas.

Elvas is also known as

the Garrison Border Town ,

 

…situated on the arid plains of

the Portuguese-Spanish border.

 

 

We arrived at the Spanish border town of Badajos,

located at the autonomous region of Extremadura Spain,

 

…. the capital of the Province of Badajoz.

 It is the first town on the

Spanish Portuguese border,

…that lies on the left bank

of the Guadiana River.

The bus will have a thirty- minute

stop in this city and we were happy,

 

 

…as we could stretch and rest for

a while midway on this journey.

The Badajos Central Bus Station

was a moderately sized facility,

 

…it was spanking clean,

…and had a very welcoming ambiance.

 

We were tempted to buy some

indigenous homemade sour candies,

 

…and enjoyed nibbling

them inside the bus.

 

The bus left Badajos with a new driver

on time, exactly after thirty minutes,

…and slowly cruised out of town,

 

…passing thru some of

the town’s historic places.

 

Finally we were on the arid countryside,

 

…on our last leg of our journey,

 

…to the ancient city of Caceres.

 

It was the last two hours of 

our almost six hours trip,

 

…from Lisbon, Portugal to Caceres, Spain,

…and we were greeted by acres and 
acres of flatlands serving as farms 

  

 

and pastures,

…interspersed with ancient ruins,

 

…and lonely country roads.

 

…we arrived late in the afternoon

at the Caceres bus station,

…took a taxi to  Apartamentos Turisticos Encanto, 



…located right at the heart of

one of  oldest district in Spain,

 

…and this would be our home for the next five days 
on the third leg of our European spring vacation.

Read the links below Medicieval Caceres Series.:

Lisbon, Portugal to Caceres, Spain  
Scenic Road Trip to History by Avanza Bus
Medieval Caceres Series1 

 Encanto Apartamentos Turisticos 
Beautiful, Spacious Home in Caceres 
Medieval Caceres Series 2 

El Requete 
Delicious Spanish Dinner
Medieval Caceres Series 3 

Caceres at Night
A Walk Back in Time
Medieval Caceres Series 4 

Caceres by Day 
Historic Tour to the Past
Medieval CaceresSeries 5 

Charcutteria Mostarzo 
Uniquely Spanish Supermercado
Medieval CaceresSeries 6 

Concatedral Santa Maria Caceres 
Ancient Center of Faith
Medieval Caceres Series 7 

Casa Palacio de los Becerra 
Middle Age Palace Museum
Medieval Caceres Series 8 

Iglesia de San Francisco Javier 
Ancient Church Museum
Medieval CaceresSeries 9 

Museo de Caceres 
Old Town, Old Museum
Medieval Caceres Series 10 

Granier Caceres 
Fiesta Official’s Breakfast Savior
Medieval Caceres Series 11 

Caceres Weekend Market 
A Real time Break from the Past
Medieval Caceres Series 12 

Restaurante Caceres 
Awesome Spanish Cuisine
Medieval Caceres Series 13 

Palacio De Los Caceres- Ovando
Old Town Armory Museum
Medieval Caceres Series 14 

Gastronomica Extremadura 
Foodie Tour in Caceres
Medieval Caceres Series 15 

We are Caceres 
From Ciudad de Nueva Caceres to Caceres Spain
Medieval Caceres Series 16 

Medieval Caceres 
A Travel Back in Time
Medieval CaceresSeries 17