2004 - Bad Benthein (Germany)

The next stop in the 2004 Interrail trip was the small village of Bad Benthein.

It was supposed to be an one night stop but everything was so peaceful in the place that we simply stayed longer. There are no big attractions but the castle is worth a visit with stunning views once you go to the top. We found a really nice hostel to stay where we found the only person in the village that spoke English with us. Everyone was really nice but communication was quite hard.

Nevertheless I recommend a visit to all that need some time off.

2004 - Amesterdam (The Netherlands)

Second stop in the 2004 Interrail trip was Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

First thing you see when you leave the Amsterdam train station is thousands of parked bicycles. It is one of those feeling you don't forget.

I had two feelings while walking the streets of this city for the first time: everyone seams happy (they must have smoked something weird... it's Amsterdam after all) and I have to live in this country one day (I moved to the Netherlands the next year).

We walked the Nieuwendijk street and remember Santa Catarina street in our home city to finally make a stop in the Dam Square. By night we visited the Red Light District (no photos).

In this trip we got a chance to see some museums but it was a city to return... several times...

2004 - Paris (France)

In 2004 a Interrail trip across Europe had Paris as the first stop.

After 24 hours in a train from Porto to Paris we got to the "City of Light". Home of the Sun King,  Louis XI,V it was a wonderful opportunity to visit this city for the second time. 

The Eiffel Tower is the landmark, but there are other things one must do, like a visit to the Luxembourg Gardens and the Notre Dame Cathedral or walk next to the Seine. French waiters in Paris are really as rude as you expect them to be... 

2003 - Madeira (Portugal)

In 2003, again with my University Cultural Group, 3 weeks in Madeira Islands, nicknamed "The Pearl of the Atlantic".

Situated in the north Atlantic Ocean, Madeira is an archipelago part of Portugal with two inhabited islands: Madeira and Porto Santo.

Madeira

The main island, Madeira, is where the largest city can be found. Funchal is a modern and small city, tourism oriented yet completely organized and without tourist crowds. Gastronomy is amazing in the islands and some of the most amazing dishes one can find include fried corn and tuna steak. Tropical fruit can also be easily found.

Is a great island to explore, specially using the "levadas" walks. "Levadas" are the water channels of an ancestral irrigation system. This can be visited providing amazing views over Madeira's natural beauties

Funchal

"Levadas" path start

Interior of island

"Véu da Noiva"

Porto Santo

Porto Santo can be reached by boat (Leão Marinho) and by plane (I have no idea how to fly there), and is the only place where one can have a beach with sand (a 7km beach). I enjoyed every second there, but had the advantage of being with a large group, otherwise other beach and walking there wasn't a lot to do.

Leão Marinho on its way to Porto Santo

2001 - Cape Verde

Cape Verde is an island country in Western Africa. In 2001 I did a three week visit, with my University Group, to four of the islands of this beautiful country.

Cape Verde is a former Portuguese colony and later overseas province that got its independence in 1975 (after the 1974 Revolution in Portugal). The word "Verde" in Portuguese means "Green" and, if you visit some of the islands, you can truly understand the "why". If you only got to visit Sal Island, the most touristic one, it will make no sense for you.

Sal Island

Our first stop was precisely Sal Island. Sal (salt in Portuguese) is all about its name: salt and desert. Since you are in an island you actually also got a lot of ocean around you and some very interesting (at the time deserted) beaches to go to. A good place to go if you would want some peace, quiet and nothing else.

Santiago Island

The first settling place for Portuguese in this island was Santiago and for us was our second stop. In Santiago you get to understand Cape Verde. Historically speaking is the most important island, with the capital (Praia), the oldest settlement (Cidade Velha) and an historical Portuguese prison (Tarrafal). It is rather degradated (like most Cape Verde) but the worst about Santiago (and the only negative thing to say about Cape Verde) was the dirtiness of Praia city (the capital).  The landscapes are varied, from complete dry (because of the Sahara winds) to beautiful green mountains (from all the humidity present in other places).

 

São Vicente Island

São Vicente was a little more dry that Santiago, but it was the most wonderful experience. Mindelo, the main city, was all about the people. It was one of the places I have visited where people where more "pure". The children were also amazing, always trying to help and always smiling. It is my most important memory of Cape Verde. How "good" and "nice" people were. I've seen many carrying a Portuguese flag while we performed, and that was something I was not expecting.

Santo Antão 

Santo Antão was the last island we visited. No planes flying there at the time so boat was the only alternative. Not recommended for those who get seasick easily, it was worth it for the views. It's a volcanic mountain island and in my opinion the most beautiful, even though there is nothing "iconic" about it. It is not easy to visit at all, because all roads are mountain roads and there were not a lot of touristic infrastructures.