Blogs from Portugal, Europe

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Europe » Portugal » Northern » Porto » Santo Tirso May 12th 2024

Not often do I order a dessert wine in a restaurant. Usually, I am too full, or just want to share a small dessert that is not too sweet. But here are some basics to help you navigate a different world of wines. From Daily Meal: If you've ever reached the end of a delicious meal and decided you want something sweet but are not in the mood for a whole dessert -- look no further than a glass of dessert wine. Instead of url=https://www.thedailymeal.com/1206907/when-to-pair-a-dessert-with-wine-and-when-to-leave-it-alone/pairing a regular wine with dessert, dessert wine gives you the best of both worlds. But not all dessert wines are the same, nor are they created equally. So, how do you choose the right one for you? It's a good idea to take advice from Doreen Winkler, a consulting sommelier who ... read more
Love some ports
My favorite place

Europe » Portugal » Azores May 11th 2024

We finally reached the Azores Islands today and we were docked in Ponta Delgada when we woke up this morning. The Azores are actually composed of 9 islands, with this being the largest. They were all made by volcanos long ago, but none are active any longer – we hope. We went to the breakfast buffet and again someone helped Janet with her plate. They are beginning to spoil her and David is going to have to step up his game in the future. Anyway, we had breakfast while the people on excursions were lining up for their buses. The ship was cleared to let people start disembarking about 9:30, so we went back to our cabin to let them get out of the way. We did not have an excursion scheduled today. There was a ... read more
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Europe » Portugal » Lisbon & Tagus Valley » Lisbon May 5th 2024

We are off on another odyssey. This one is 50 days from start to finish. That is almost half of a world cruise. We start off with a 12-day crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from Miami to Lisbon. The next segment takes us to Morocco and the Canary Islands. The third portion of this cruise is from Portugal to Spain, Ireland, Wales, France and England. On the final 11 days we cruise to Belgium, Holland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and passing through the Kiel Canal ending in Hamburg, Germany. After a night in Frankfurt we will fly back home. We are covering a lot of territory on the beautiful Seabourn Ovation. The Ovation carries 600 passengers and will be full for most of the journey. Our group is rather large at about 55 guests per segment. We ... read more
SEABOURN OVATION
SUNSET ON THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
VISITING THE BRIDGE OF THE SEABOURN OVATION

Europe » Portugal » Lisboa February 14th 2024

Dear All Yay! After four days of travelling through Portugal, I had arrived in its capital city - Lisbon! I always find it interesting to travel in a country first before getting to know its major city. I've actually done this on my four most recent trips: South Africa, Croatia, Albania, and now Portugal. It's as if the whole trip is building up to this crescendo. While I did like Lisbon, I actually preferred the rest of the country. Porto, Coimbra and Fátima were all quintessentially Portuguese, while Lisbon seemed more international and cosmopolitan. Don't get me wrong, I also like international and cosmopolitan, but the main reason I visit a country is to find out about the country itself. I think this was done best for me in the non-capital areas of Portugal. Still, my ... read more
Lisbon Tram
Elevador de Santa Justa
Me, Torre de Belém

Europe » Portugal » Central » Fátima February 12th 2024

Dear All Praise the Lord! What an absolutely wonderful day I had today! I spent it on a Pilgrimage in Fátima, one of Catholicism's holiest sites in the world and visited by around five million pilgrims each year. On this day in February, I was one of them. As I believe I mentioned in my last blog, my arrival in Fátima the evening before was just ethereal. The sun was setting and darkness encroaching, as a thick drizzly fog had also settled in this high plateau, bringing a kind of hushed peace to the place. The atmosphere felt instantly spiritual, as I made my way to my accommodation a short walk away from the bus station through the back alleys of this special town. I had booked myself into a Convent, the Sisters of the Church, ... read more
Crown of the Virgin of Fátima
Jacinta and Francisco's House
Me, Francisco and Jacinta's House

Europe » Portugal » Central » Coimbra February 11th 2024

Dear All I had a lovely day of explorations today, and feel so happy to be on the road again. In the morning, I bade farewell to my comfortable lodging in Póvoa de Varzim, realising what a great find it was. While Porto was busy and quite touristy, this place to the north of the city was Portuguese and authentic. I could really practise my Portuguese there, which I'd been learning for a few months already before my visit. Being a Spanish speaker, Portuguese is really quite easy to read. It is speaking and listening to it which isn't easy, they speak so fast and really "eat their words", as they say in Spanish, so it's difficult to catch what's being said. I'm enjoying the challenge though! I took the Porto Metro for the last time ... read more
Paço das Escolas
Old St Clare Monastery
Coimbra

Europe » Portugal » Northern » Porto February 10th 2024

Dear All Yay! Greetings from Portugal, country number 93! I arrived here at the beginning of our February half-term for a six-day trip from Porto to Lisbon. Although I count it as a new country now, I actually first set foot in it, quite literally, around 20 years ago. I was visiting a friend in Salamanca in Spain over Christmas, and one day we drove over the border around 75 miles to the west into Portugal for a quick Portuguese coffee. I noticed at the time the dramatic change from cold and dry to mild and humid. And now that I'm again here in the Portuguese winter, the climate feels similar - relatively mild and humid. I didn't count that visit as a proper visit to Portugal though, and thus it still remained one of my ... read more
São Bento Train Station Azulejos
Ponte Luis I Bridge by Night
Port Tasting with Fellow British Teacher Robert

Europe » Portugal » Algarve » Albufeira February 2nd 2024

Random pictures that may have been missed before. Au revoir to Albufeira, meaning I hope I return some day. And away we go again! Back to Faro airport to fly back to Lisbon. There’s a 5 hour wait before we board & leave for Toronto. By paying a little extra we have premium lounge privileges-free food and bar drinks . So I can charge my iPad and phone so it will last on the flight home. It’s busy in the lounge and it takes a while before we can get a more comfortable seat with a charging station. This is a whole new experience for me to go to a premium lounge and get food and drinks. Charging stations are in great demand so you have to watch diligently for someone to move and quickly take ... read more
me looking out the window at Silves Castle
storks nesting on the church
King Sancho

Europe » Portugal » Algarve » Albufeira February 1st 2024

Our last adventure! We set off at 11:35 to walk down to the marina and pick up our tickets for the zodiac boat ride to see dolphins and sea caves. Heading out into the ocean which is the Strait of Gibraltar it appears we are just heading straight south towards Casablanca in N. Africa. I have always wanted to go there but not by zodiac boat with 17 other passengers. The ocean is a wondrous colour. You think it’s an blue but when you are riding out there on top of the big swells and the choppy smaller waves the colour is not describable. Overall it is an intense deep blue but the top is silvered with light reflections and indigo shadows under the curves of the waves but if you look deeper you see the ... read more
Captain & first mate
leaving the harbour
salty spray

Europe » Portugal » Algarve January 31st 2024

In other news…the first picture I took early this morning while having coffee on the balcony is the sky over the ocean just down the way from our house. Isn’t it beautiful? And there’s a picture of Suki. She’s the cutest little thing, very smart and appropriately pampered. She’s a little Papillion, 12 years old and walks everywhere we do. She never gets tired and keeps looking back to see if we’re coming. She doesn’t need a leash, just stays close and listens very well. We are taking a break from driving today and exploring the Old Town of Albufeira which is only minutes away from our house. It’s typical of all European towns with the medieval centre of the business area full of very narrow streets and small shops with apartments on the upper floors. ... read more
Suki
Peek a boo
Mooo




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