Part 2 - after all it's a long journey with a lovely 6 hour layover in my fav airport:-) Back to the airport albeit briefly; still in Edmonton and I had purchased a new TSA lock as mine had died that morning. What I didn’t realize was the instructions were not on the cute little booklet that came with the lock (how silly of me to assume) but were on the original packaging. This cute elder couple saw me and quickly figured out my dilemma and started giggling with me. So true to Ned’s nature, I went back to the container that was fortunately recycling and praying that other people respected the same, stuck my arm inside and dug round for my instructions. I came up gleefully to the giggles of a few people, but i ... read more

So as I was on day 4 (possibly 5) of my latest work trip, I was driving from Drumheller to Calgary after another Consumer Event. It was dark, my eyes are not great, and despite our 'distracted driving' laws in AB The classic David Letterman top ten list kept running through my head, Sales Manager style. So I called upon my dear friend (yet slightly hearing challenged) Siri to help me remember them via dictation and this is what I came up with: The top 10 things I discovered on my latest excursion to Southern, Sunny, Windy Alberta: Rule number one: Never, ever, ever, ever trust Apple maps (unless of course you prefer dead ends, wrong turns, closed roads and gravel roads and are behind schedule) Rule number two: the Strathmore Starbucks always opens tomorrow. Regardless ... read more

What a great day so far, Porto is quickly becoming my fav city I've seen in this country! It's still a big city, but had a great 'old town' a neat UNECSO residential area and some truly magnificent buildings. Starting off the day with a 09:00 start helped my mood I'm sure, despite the fact I woke up around 06:30! Had a lazy lie in, got one blog done, then breakfast and away we went with our local guide Fatima. We went to the former stock exchange building, nothing I would have gone to on my own and I would have so missed out. No photos allowed inside, but what a truly spectacular building. Each room had a different in laid wood flooring pattern, different materials for the roof and walls, and stunning. I am not ... read more

Oh where oh where has my little phone gone... Oh where or where can it be? First time ever while traveling and I've lost my iPhone. Which is in a case that also has my debit and credit cards. Oops. Thankfully I keep my passport separate and even my cash elsewhere but still discouraging to think I've lost it. Last time I had it was on the coach, and I had dozed off so when we arrived I grabbed my stuff quickly. The hotel phoned my TD for me and they get back from an optional dinner at 9:30 so I'm waiting until then to either breath a sigh of relief or panic. Boo. Either way its terribly distracting to say the least. So here I sit nibbling on fresh grape tomatoes, nuts and crackers I ... read more

Last night we had a great welcome reception that led left no man hungry, in the old district of Alfama. It beauty was being a quaint restaurant slightly below grade, with the original floor pre-earthquake which was quite cool. There was an old church from the 1600th century just 2 door shown that managed to survive, of course I have a heap of photos but on my SLR and they are in raw format so can't show you until I get home. Should just start taking photos with my iPad, if only for blogging! This morning we left for our full day of sightseeing, and man was it packed and wonderful. However the most interesting part of my day was when I decided to go stroll the streets of Portugal, and listening once again to Lonely ... read more