Blogs from Almada, Lisboa, Portugal, Europe

Portugal our whirlwind stop off before Spain, actually turned out to be one of the more interesting (and scary) places we have visited. We arrived at the Charles de Gaulle airport just as the airline was finishing up the check-ins!!! So we hurried up to the counter and got checked in only to find that our bags were 6kg overweight! As we were quickly running out of time it was simply a matter of paying for the extra weight at a rate of €12 per kg which wasn't too bad but did mean we had to line up again wasting more time, as we had just been advised that the plane was waiting for us. So we rushed through customs and ran towards our gate only to find a line of about 40 people who hadn't ... read more

Yesterday, something awful happened. Something that would make every woman gasp in shock and quiver with fear. Yes, I lost my concealer. Normally, I would make do with an extra layer of make-up or a giant pair of sunglasses, but when you're backpacking through Europe, every hour of lost sleep shows up under your eyes. In a nutshell, I look like a swamp monster. Literally. Coming to terms with the loss of my concealer required each stage of the grief cycle. First; shock and denial, then anger. I threw a tantrum even my 2 year-old self would be proud of. I was like a madwoman, throwing things in the air and overturning pillows and mattresses, desperately searching for that beloved cream that would make me look more like a young lady and less like Shrek's mistress. ... read more

We flew in from Barcelona to Lisbon airport, mid morning on a Tuesday. A reasonably brief 2 hour flight we were probably the only two tourists in the midst of lots of business men and women - all obviously flying in from Spain to Portugal for work. We hopped the airport shuttle and headed into the centre of Lisbon. We were sad to leave Spain but happy to get to yet another interesting port of call. This was our first time in Portugal for both of us but not our first attempt at trying to get there. Earlier in the year, the Icelandic Volcano 'Eyjafjallajokull' (try and say that over and over) had stopped us from spending a long awaited weekend in Lisbon, instead we both had to go to work on the Monday when we ... read more

October 27-28 Portugal Another sunny day greeted us as we arrived in the port of Portimao. Maybe it’s the cold but I really didn’t see any reason for this stop. I know that tours went out to visit the Algarve Coast and perhaps that is the attraction but the town of Portimao itself wasn’t much to see. I took the shuttle into town, walked around a bit, had a hot chocolate and headed back to the ship. Enjoyed the sunshine by the aft pool and napped. Actually the timing was perfect for me because I got to nurse this persistent cough. Lisbon was another story. The day was warm and sunny. From my verandah I could see much of the city including the pantheon where royalty and former Prime Ministers are interred. Also interred there is ... read more

Olá Putas, Its been an incredible one week. My BFF LHLAB (best friend love him like a borther) came to visit me all the way from USA. We spent a day in Madrid, two days and a half in Lisboa and a day in sevilla and then back to Madrid. Our sleep schedule was that of a college student during speak break in tits paradise. We drank beers for breakfast, brunch, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, 2nd mid afternoon snack, 3rd mid-afternoon snack. and we took at a break at dinner but for dessert, you guessed it. Lisboa is, insert any adjective for beautfiul here ________. Of course with travels you have to sample the local men. due to privacy laws i cant divulge any information about these men. well maybe just a few minor details Bus driver ... read more