The Days After the Drinking, Dining and Sailing on the Douro

Europe » Portugal » Northern
October 19th 2021

Published: January 7th 2022

Seasick. Yes, that is what ran through my mind as I woke up feeling slightly under the weather and sluggish in my cabin. Seasickness could truly be the only reason. (mmm-hmm). After hitting the snooze alarm a few times, I rallied and met Dave and Merry Jo for coffee, although I wasn’t up to facing breakfast quite yet. We lingered at the table as we sailed along the river. Today was a low-key day... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 43, Displayed: 21

Comment Follow (42) Message

Brendan Vermillion

bvchef

Well, through good timing and lots of luck, I am about to hit the skies again. It has been far too long since my last journey. As much as I love going to visit my family each year, the act of heading to the airport and climbing on a plane to the homeland lacks the edge, excitement and the element of the unknown that a trip abroad brings. As with the rest of the world, my life shifted and changed through the pandemic; however, it is time to set free Brenno, the traveler lurking just beneath my daily home persona. The next big adventure is a trip to the Galapagos Islands. This will once again i... full info

Blog Options

Top Photos Blog Map

Print Version

[blog=1064372]

[blogger=65357]

7th January 2022

Rich
non-member comment

Love the pics
Great photos of your trip. Like that you're rep'ing Fairwood in the one!!! :)

7th January 2022

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Repping Fairwood
Thank you so much. I am glad you noticed that shirt. I spoke often of Fairwood, and most of the passengers on the ship had golfed at Troon courses.

7th January 2022

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

So sublime to enjoy cuisine at this level
Dave here....another blog that brings back the wonderful detail of our journey together.....it never gets old. Need to find a way to get the band back together!

8th January 2022

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

So true
We definitely need to get the band back together. The Masked Bandits will ride again!!

7th January 2022

D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley

After the drinking?
When did the drinking stop... I may have missed that? LOL. Ok, just one more portonic... or whatever that other drink was that you seemed to enjoy rather frequently.( but don't worry I won't tell anyone). I was soaking in the pool getting revitalized while and and Dave and the rest of your trivia team took the others to tasks. Dave is a wealth of useless knowledge and sports statistics and facts so it was great to have him on your team. When you visit next I want lessons in how to make those cod fish fritters... or maybe we can do a zoom call. I may have to buy a deep fryer. Indeed some of the food was not as top notch as I wanted it to be on a couple of nights but generally really great food. Well done. MJ

8th January 2022

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Well, that is a good point
True, the drinking and dining continued throughout. I was thinking of you lounging in the pool while we did triva. Such great times. And yes, I will be happy to show you how to make the fritters.

30th January 2022

alex waring
Alexander Waring

Deep in the Heart of Portugal
I have just looked at a map, and it seems the Douro River cruise really took you deep into the heart of Portugal at Castelo Rodrigo. It looks amazing. I also prefer visiting places without headsets and histories - I prefer feeling, sensing, smelling places. Lol - I thought for a short moment there that when you said a Viking ship pulled alongside you, you were going to get marauded by big, bearded blokes with axes - I'm glad you weren't!

1st February 2022

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

Bearded blokes with axes
Wow, you made me laugh when I read this. I think that Dave, Merry Jo and I could have defended our ship from the passengers from the Viking ship had they come to invade. lol. I get the feeling that we have similar ways of traveling. Going without headsets and histories, while still getting a feel of a place. I hope you get to hit the road soon.

14th May 2022

RENanDREW
Ren & Andrew

Blue pancakes
So was it seasickness... hmmm really? I have another theory. Ha ha! You really seem to be loving this trip, and I'm so proud of Travel Brenno for rallying through the 'seasickness' and getting on with things like a proper battler. I giggled when I read about your blue pancakes, I can only imagine what the waiting and kitchen staff thought of the bloke who didn't want chunky bits in this pancakes :)

9th August 2022

bvchef
Brendan Vermillion

I am sticking with seasickness
Regardless of the cause, the blue cakes made me happy and helped me get on with my day

Tot: 0.105s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 13; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0708s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.2mb

Do not copy images or text from this page without requesting and receiving permission. All rights are reserved by the author and photographer.

Contact Brendan Vermillion (bvchef) - a lack of a response does not mean that you have permission to use material from this page.

The Days After the Drinking, Dining and Sailing on the Douro

Copyright Notice: All Rights Reserved