Day 72 – to Barca de Alva (actually across the bridge in Spain) – part two

At Castelo Rodrigo..

Then onwards and northwards to the Douro International Natural Park, which is one of the largest protected areas in the country, and spans about 250 kilometres of the river as it flows through narrow and precipitous gorges. It is International because just less than half of it is in Spain, and in this Natural Park, the river forms the border. Many cruise ships sail these waters usually, but they have been quiet for much of the last two years. Three were parked up at Barca d’Alva, a popular spot as here the Agueda river from Spain. I spotted a huge empty car park just across the river, in Spain, and it was an ideal place for the night. There is a tourist office at what is a admin building for the cruise ships; I chatted with the only person still working, and she told me there would be no problem at all, everything was so quiet. One huge cruise vessel did arrive just a few metres below me at about 10 pm. Staff worked all night on it, quietly, and a group of tourists arrived in the mist, and departed at 8 am for their winter cruise.

Just before sunset the dog and I took the river path for a couple of kilometres to the east. It immediately climbed a hundred metres or so, giving wonderful views of the confluence of the rivers at sunset.