Today we traveled from Lisbon Portugal and going to cross the border to enter Spain to reach our end destination at Seville. Portugal and Spain are both parts of the European Union, so we are free to travel from one to the other. We don’t have to come down for passport stamping at all. Portuguese roads are generally good, we experience good highways and toll roads. Driver drive on the right which is different from the Commonwealth countries.
Portugal Energy Plant
Portuguese Villages
I enjoyed the scenery of Portuguese Hilltop villages with their main crops such as cereals, (wheat, barley, corn, and rice), potatoes, grapes, olive, and tomatoes.
Portugal’s National Tree
Cork products are one of the top souvenirs to bring back from Portugal. Glad that I have the opportunity to see the cork tree farm during my tour in Portugal-Spain. In fact, Portugal is the world’s largest cork producer.
The good thing is the cork trees aren’t cut down or damaged when the cork is harvested, you will notice the skin has two different colors (below picture) due to stripping. Stripping is the process of extracting the bark of the cork tree.
There are many things made from cork, if you stumbled across a gift shop in Portugal, you will find products made from cork include hats, shoes, handbags, wallets and many more. And yes, don’t forget about the wine bottle stoppers.
Wine Bottle Cork
Coaster with Rooster of Barcelos Print
Rooster of Barcelos is another icon to represent Portugal. It can be seen almost everywhere especially in gift shops. It is believed the rooster is a symbol of faith and bring in good luck.
Gifts Shop and Snack Bar
We have a break in the highway and went in to take a look at the restaurant and gifts shop. The gifts shop here offers interesting souvenirs for travelers to bring back home as it is near the border of Spain.
Some of the local Portuguese cookies with traditional flavor.
Honey in a cute bottle.
Spice & Seasoning Products
I spotted piri-piri, it is hot I know and tasted in Sintra Portugal. It was the Portuguese exploration of the African coast, beginning in the 1400s, that sparked their huge love affair with the small hot pepper, Piri-Piri.
Olives
Not surprising to find olive in the bottles but it is hard to bring home, I would prefer to have olive in a can. It is safer to put into the check-in luggage for cans.
Ginja Alcohol
I spotted Ginja in Lisbon and learn that it is Portuguese alcohol made by infusing ginja berries, a type of sour cherry. It is a type of traditional alcohol consumes in Lisbon.
Fish in Cans
It is kind of a tradition for Portugal, the canned fish, from sardines to mackerel & from tuna to anchovy. I love the cute packaging and I suggest these are great for souvenirs too.
Cigarette vending machine
Self Serve Restaurant
There is a small self-serve restaurant next to the gifts shop. Selection of wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks are available.
After a quick break, we continued our journey to Spain.
Grazing sheep in Olive farm
We have entered Andalusia autonomous region in Spain. We spotted countless of olive farms in Spain road trip. The country produces almost half of the world’s olive oil, more than three times as much as Italy, Greece and Tunisia. Andalusia of Spain was the major olive oil supplier for the Roman Empire back then according to archaeological evidence. This is the place for olive trees for thousands of years ago.
Final thoughts:
Glad to have spotted the olive trees and Cork trees during our road trip in Portugal and Spain. Both trees look similar if you look from afar but the olive trees are usually shorter and smaller when compared to cork trees.
13 comments
Epic road trip!! Love those wine bottles and forks!!
Yes, you are right, the wine bottles are really interesting on the road trip border. Great for souvenirs.
The road trips are absolutely the most beautiful experiences there are, to discover at every step that you do!
Those olive farms are beautiful, I can just imagine how that breeze must have felt while you were driving by! Also the wine looks delicious!
Dear Sondra,
Glas to have seen how olive tree farm looks like.
I did that same road trip a couple of years ago, was soooo much fun. I can’t wait to do it again.
Glad to learn that you like it very much.
I love road trips and looks like you went on an epic one! I love those wine cork bottles those are so cool. I’ll definitely have to keep this post if I ever get chance to visit this area
Looks like you had an amazing time! We were just recently in Spain and enjoyed our time.
What a great trip! I don’t think that I knew that Portugal was the world’s largest cork producer. I’m glad to hear that the trees are damaged to get the cork. Who knew you could make so much stuff with them?
Looks like you had an amazing time, I love both countries but would never have considered a road trip
What a trip you have had! So much to see, do and experience at the same time and not forgetting the food as well. I love how unique Portugal’s souvenirs area. I hope to follow your footsteps someday.
Looks like you had an awesome road trip. Some beautiful scenery you got there.