OUTBOUND WITH RON

Córdoba, Spain

Córdoba is among the most beautiful cities in Spain, which as anyone familiar with Spain’s abundance of beautiful cities knows, is high praise.

It’s a city of 360,000 on the banks of the Guadalquivir River whose Old Quarter offers wonderful remnants of past civilizations. Roman, Islamic, Jewish and Christian cultures each left extraordinary imprints here.

Córdoba's narrow streets, flower-filled courtyards, centuries-old monuments and lively plazas make it a favorite among travelers.

But even some of its admirers may not realize that in medieval times, under Islamic rule, Córdoba was one of the largest and most sophisticated cities in Europe.

In the heart of the Old Quarter one can visit the most prominent symbol of that era—the Mezquita—the great Islamic mosque left behind by the powerful 10th-century Umayyad Caliphate.

After the re-conquest, Spanish kings chose not to devote the mosque to destruction. Instead, they plopped a 16th-century Roman Catholic Cathedral into the middle of it.

It endures as one of the world’s grandest—and most peculiar—religious edifices.

4 hours ago | [YT] | 0

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Toledo, Spain

A lot of people come to Toledo as day-trippers since it’s a breeze to hop a fast, comfortable train in Madrid and arrive at Toledo Station in as few as 34 minutes.

I confess to turning up my nose at some day-trip destinations for reasons that have nothing to do with the place and everything to do with drive-by tourism.

Yet I don’t claim moral high ground just because I shelled out for a few nights in a hotel.

I feel sympathy for everyday folks in Toledo and similar places inundated by throngs of warp-speed sightseers who barrel through like a swarm of locusts.

One can’t help thinking about such things here, especially in the evening, after the crowds have left town in a kind of reverse rush hour.

It's then you truly appreciate what a terrific place this is.

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1 week ago | [YT] | 9

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Toledo, Spain

My journey through Spain continues with a visit to one of the country’s most fascinating cities—Toledo.

Often called the "City of Three Cultures," Toledo was once a place where Christians, Muslims and Jews lived side by side, leaving behind an extraordinary blend of architecture, art and traditions.

Around almost every corner you'll find a reminder of that rich past, whether it's a centuries-old church, a beautifully preserved synagogue or the remains of a mosque hidden in the maze of narrow cobbled streets.

The winding lanes, hidden courtyards, panoramic viewpoints and impressive stone buildings make every walk here a discovery.

Toledo is famous for its connection to the painter El Greco and author Miguel de Cervantes, whose classic tale, Don Quixote, draws upon his Toledo experience.

Of course, no visit would be complete without seeing the magnificent cathedral and legendary Alcazar and taking in the sweeping views of the countryside across the Tagus River.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 7

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Madrid, Spain

As a traveler there’s often tension between places you feel obligated to see—iconic landmarks and locations—and other places, however unsung, where your heart says you’d rather be.

Tourists with a short vacation horizon often prioritize the former for fear of somehow not getting their money’s worth.

As a vlogger I face a similar challenge. I must cover the basics, because that’s what viewers understandably expect of a travel video, especially if they’re watching in order to figure out an itinerary of their own.

Madrid, however, is one of those places where that tension tends to disappear.

As those of you who’ve been here might agree, there’s so much variety in the streets and neighborhoods and plazas of this city it’s easy to enjoy both aspects. That’s even if one does—as most people do—organize their visit around “the major sights.”

In Madrid, there’s a lot to discover and appreciate on the fly between those sights. And if in the discovery a couple of things on your "list" fall off, chances are you'll be happier for it.

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3 weeks ago | [YT] | 10

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Madrid, Spain

Madrid is the perfect place to begin my new series of videos from Spain.

Spain’s capital and largest city with some 3.4 million people—quite literally in the geographic heart of the country—has a way of making a first impression.

Renowned for its royal palaces, museums, elegant boulevards and a lifestyle centered on its lively cafes and tapas bars, Madrid is a place where bustling plazas and inviting neighborhoods seamlessly co-exist.

It’s a major magnet for expats.

From the plaza Puerta del Sol you're at Spain’s symbolic "Kilometer Zero," where, historically, the nation's major roads began.

What’s especially impressive, however, is the city’s energy. People linger over coffee; parks fill with families well into evening, and every plaza seems to have its own personality. Madrid doesn't rush you. It invites you to slow down and enjoy the moment.

In this series I’ll explore not only Madrid but other incredible destinations across Spain, and the culture, history and local character that make them unique.

If you've been to Spain, I'd love to hear which place stole your heart. And if you’re planning your first visit I hope the videos help inspire your travel list.

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 8

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Evora, Portugal

I’d like to say that Evora surprised me.

But that wouldn’t be quite true, since while planning my Portugal itinerary I envisioned Evora pretty much as I’ve found it—an ideal change of pace from more mainline destinations.

If you’re a travel vlogger you have to love the Evoras of the world; places that possess much of what their better-known counterparts do, but with fewer (or lesser) crowds.

Such places offer the traveler a unique gift; the sense of getting a more authentic and less-filtered experience of what a place is like.

Evora gives me that sense.

After each day of taking in the town’s considerable “sights” I’ve been able to retreat to the neighborhood near my guest house and find a restaurant or bar where the clientele is overwhelmingly local.

That, my friends, is travel gold.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 13

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Evora, Portugal

I’ve come to the beautiful, historic town of Evora in Portugal’s south-central region of Alentejo.

Alentejo means “beyond the Tagus,” a reference to the river that empties into the Atlantic Ocean near Lisbon.

It’s a region of rolling hills and plains with wheat fields, olive groves and the distinctive cork oak tree, famous for producing cork for wine bottles.

Evora, its most important town (with a population of about 60,000) is a delightful, less-trammeled place to unwind while soaking up Portuguese culture and history.

For centuries it was the residence of choice for Portuguese kings, enough of whom lived here at least part-time to give it a reputation as a “royal city.”

As the video shows, there’s a lot to see in this relatively compact, walkable city, including ruins from when the Romans conquered Evora and turned it into a major outpost after 57 B.C.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 14

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Cabo da Roca, Portugal

Cabo da Roca, or Cape Roca, with its picturesque 1772 lighthouse, is a gorgeous spot on Portugal’s rugged Atlantic Coast.

It’s roughly 25 minutes by public bus from the historic town of Sintra, which can be confusing unless you know the following:

Sintra, the town, isn’t to be confused with Sintra, the county. The latter is a 319-square kilometer area that encompasses several towns and villages plus Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, which includes the cape.

As my latest video suggests, the cape is a must-see. Come for the lighthouse. Stay for the bluff-top trails.

For the intrepid, Ursa Beach at the bottom of a steep cove north of the lighthouse is known for its towering sea stacks, roaring ocean and seclusion.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 13

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is 45 minutes by train west of Lisbon, yet occupies a different world.

The countryside here is lush with green hills and home to several historic castles. Much of the town is a declared World Heritage Site.

It’s a charming place with cobbled streets and well-preserved architecture at the foot of Sintra Palace—the oldest of the castles. Once home to Portuguese royalty, the castle has been a museum for more than a century.

As the video shows, a special charm of the place is in the surrounding countryside stretching to Cabo da Roca, home to one of Portugal’s oldest lighthouses and with marvelous Atlantic Ocean views from trails along the bluffs.

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1 month ago | [YT] | 10

OUTBOUND WITH RON

Lisbon, Portugal

Of all the attributes great touristic cities possess none is more important than the human element, and by that I don’t mean merely how “lively” a place is, but rather how people generally interact with one another.

In other words, the vibe.

Lisbon clearly has a great vibe. It’s a bustling place, as you would expect of most any European capital, but you don’t feel ground down after a day on the streets here.

Part of the reason is that the city is largely a collection of differentiated neighborhoods that have maintained unique characteristics despite modernization.

That doesn’t happen just anywhere and never by accident—all the more reason to appreciate Lisbon.

In my next video I explore the historic town of Sintra and the countryside that abuts Portugal’s magnificent Atlantic coastline.

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2 months ago | [YT] | 14