October 30, 2022
We began our journey on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Robin took us to the airport, and then we enjoyed an easy check-in with Air France. We spent the next two hours in the Delta Sky lounge.
Once on the plane, I watched Topgun, then tried to sleep with little success.
October 31, 2022 - Crossing the Atlantic, Paris, and Lisbon Happy 47th Anniversary
Not everyone spends their wedding anniversary crossing an ocean and then in two different countries!
Our transition in the Paris airport from Terminal E to F, Gate 49 was the easiest EVER. Our flight to the Lisbon Airport was about two hours. The pilot made a smooth, but short stop, almost like he over-shot the runway. Later we found out that the airport is actually located in the city limits and indeed, has a very short runway. Delighted to see our luggage (after our horrible lost luggage issue this summer, we'll never assume that our luggage will arrive) we enjoyed a very welcoming transition to the Tivoli Hotel on Liberte Avenue, lovely room 642. This delicious treat was waiting for us:
We checked in around 2:45 and quickly settled into our room before taking the City Walk tour at 3:30. The sidewalks in Lisbon are truly works of art.
After a shower and rest, we ventured up to the Sky Bar which is listed as one of the ten top bars with the best view in Europe. Unfortunately, it was too crowded and smokey, so we headed down to the Liberte Cafe for dinner. We had a delicious traditional dinner of cod, potatoes and onion, a lovely salad and the MOST heavenly dessert - an apple tart with cinnamon ice cream.
November 1, 2022 Lisbon, Portugal All Saints Day
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, courtesy of Viking, we boarded the bus for our City Tour at 8:45. We drove to the fortress on the river.
Next stop, the Monastery where Vasca Dagama is buried and the Maritime Museum.
After the city tour, we walked to a local restaurant, Gino's, for a delicious pizza. Many places were closed because it was All Saints Day. With a full stomach, Rob returned to our hotel room for his afternoon nap, and Lana headed out on the Viking excursion to the National Tile Museum. This museum was AMAZING!
As a bonus, our group had a brief art lesson and then painted a tile. The tiles were fired in the kiln, and delivered to our ship later. What a fabulous keepsake of an amazing day.
Back at the room, showers, and a trip back to the Sky Bar where Lana enjoyed an Old Fashioned and took MANY pictures of the beautiful sunset.
We went back to the hotel restaurant for another delicious dinner. Tonight we decided to split a dinner, since the portions are so large. We ordered the grouper with prawn rice, salad, white wine, that amazing apple tart AGAIN, port, and cappuccino.
November 2, 2022 traveled to Porto
We enjoyed another fabulous breakfast with pumpkin jam. As we're leaving for our checkout, the hotel is having elevator issues, so we had to walk down six flights of stairs. Our bus was waiting, so we began our journey to Porto and LEARNED so much! We learned about the airport, the capes worn by the students at the Coimbra University inspired J.K. Rawlings' character development for her Harry Potter novels. Rawlings was married to a Porto gentleman. We stopped briefly in the Combra for some power shopping, so I purchased gorgeous cork shoes and a purse. On to the university where we saw several students wearing black capes.
The library at the university is so beautiful and it contains over 13 million books and documents. Back on the road, we stop at Repubica Saudade Restaurant where we walked over the black cape, enjoyed a fabulous lunch, and listened to Fada music.
Our road got narrower and narrower as we approached Port Vila Nova de Gaia. Upon arrival as the lovely baby longship, Osfrid, we were escorted to cabin 300, a large lovely suite. At dinner, with joined the table with six lovely folks who had worked together early in their careers in Minneapolis - Jody, Kent, Terry, Pat. Afterwards, I went to a Port Talk on Portugal by Barbara Levy.
November 3, 2022 - Thursday - traveling down the Douro River "River of Gold"
We woke up to traveling through a locke as we sailed along the Douro River. It's a bit drizzly, but a smooth ride. I attended a fascinating cork presentation where I learned so much about the uses of cork - NASA, watches, clothes, etc. It takes 90 years to get trees where the cork can be harvested, and thereafter, the cork is partially removed from the tree every nine years.
After lunch, we took an excursion to the Matteus Mansion, which was magnificent.
Next we drove up this scary mountain road to Sandeman Port Vineyards. Our guide wore a black cape and bolero hat.
After the tour, we sampled very expensive red and tawny port.
We sat with Diane and Dave from New Hampshire. Tonight was Game Night which was a great music trivia game where we danced and laughed.
November 4, 2022 - Sailing down the Douron River - Castello Rodreigo
Our excursion today was to Castello Rodreigo, a lovely village that harbored Jews during the Spanish Inquisition. A portion of the pathways we walked on were part of the Santiago trail. We saw the Jewish section of the town, including a mikvah. It was gorgeous.
We had a "taste of Portugal" dinner this evening, and then we were entertained by Flamingo dancers.
November 5, 2022 - Salamanca, Spain
Today, will be a very long day as we travel to Salamanca, Spain. We drove across the battlefield where Napoleon was defeated by the Spanish, Portugese and British armies. Portugal is the oldest country in Portugal. We stopped at a small rest stop for orange juice and a bathroom break. Once in Salamanca, we had a tour of the Public Market, along with some wine (at 10:00 AM) and food samples.
As we walked into the plaza, we saw a wedding taking place.
I began my "walk a thon" with the cathedral, then over to the very weird Niew Art Museum and continued walking around the city - over 11,000 steps throughout the day. Salamanca is home to the oldest university - founded in 1129 in the cathedral. Students who graduated wrote their name and date of graduation in bull's blood on the outside of the building, as well as sharpened their swords on the stone.
We saw the good luck symbol of frog's on the building.
The day was absolutely gorgeous - a lovely day to spend exploring this delightful Spanish village.
We strolled past the building where Columbus came to ask for funds for his explorations. This town also housed Jews during the Spanish Inquisition. The folks here allowed the Jews to sale their homes and actually keep the money. We enjoyed a delicious snack before heading back for the long drive ( 2 hours and 45 minutes) back to the ship.
November 6, 2022 Pocinho, Portugal
We road past the Rowing and Crew facility where people from all over the world come to practice in the Douro Superior region. Next, we rode over the Flavor Dam, the newest, largest, and most powerful dam on the Douro River which also provides power to Spain. As we drove into the little village of Favios we saw a woman washing her laundry in the local tank. Arriving at Barca D-Alvah, a co-op where Moscatel vineyard farmers bring their grapes for wine processing. Wine Spectator gave this facility a 100 out of 100 rating where some bottles see for as much as 500 E per bottle.
Next, we visited the bakery of "Four Corner" bread where the delightful lady explained the process. Everyone got to sample her delicious bread before heading over to the wine and bread museum.
Our journey continued to the restaurant for lunch where we were met by musicians and our gracious host. Our lunch was fabulous - salad, cod croquettes, wine, sausage, roast beef, potatoes, cabbage, four types of desserts, and of course endless glasses of red and white Moscatel wine.
The ride back to the ship was breathtaking.
Back on board, I relaxed on the balcony working on my needlework while Rob napped. I attended an amazing presentation called "Fire and Ice" where the cork from port is removed by actually breaking the neck of the bottle - first, a hot tong is placed around the neck and then cold water is poured over the bottle causing the ice to break.
We enjoyed dinner with another couple from Michigan.
November 7, 2022 - Charming Lamego
Rob opted for another "day at sea" while I went to walk another portion of the Santiago Trail in the charming city of Lamorego. We visited the Santuario de Nossa Senhora dos Remedios or The Cathedral of Remedies. If you have something ailing you, you bring a wax replica of your infirmed body part to leave on the altar, and supposedly, you will be healed. Our guide, Hugo, had a drone and took a neat video of our group, as well as the stairs we were about to descend. I walked down the 680 steps.
Upon reaching the bottom, I walked to the visitors' center for a bathroom break before beginning my power shopping.
Back on board, I had lunch with Rob, then immediately went to the (sigh) Disembarkation Talk. Back in the cabin, I relaxed, showered, and then went to the Port Talk for tomorrow. Tonight's dinner was Chateaubrian which we enjoyed with Lou and Larry. Our entertainment was another Tuna group singing several beautiful Fado numbers.
November 9, 2022 - Porto, Portugal
We woke up to overcast skies so I dressed expecting to get drenched. As we left for our 8:30 City Tour - Porto on Foot - the clouds were present, but it was dry. We walked over the bridge to the Cathedral.
Next, we walked to the lovely train station, which is easy to spot from it's lovely tiles.
I had purchased tickets for Denise (a fellow passenger) and me to go to the Lello Bookstore where J.K. Rawlings was inspired for portions of her Harry Potter books. By now, the drizzle had started, but we were determined to wait in line (45 minutes) to enter this bookstore. It was worth every second we got drenched!
I purchased a few treasures, then Denise and I walked back to the river for our water taxi back to the ship. We made it back on board with minutes to spare for lunch. I changed into dry socks, dried my shoes with the blow dryer, and then hopped on the shuttle bus to go back downtown for some last-minute shopping. I had only walked a few steps when I spotted the shop much like the one in Venice where I purchased Rob's original "The Toddler" bib. Of course, I had to buy him a new one, since the old one is covered with stains. All of the girls working in the shop got a good laugh out of my purchase.
I really think that Porto is my favorite city in Portugal. It had such personality! I will be sad to say farewell to this friendly, beautiful country.
November 9, 2022 - Porto - Amsterdam - Atlanta
Luckily, we had an 11:00 AM departure and NOT the crazy early departures that so many of the guests had. We departed the ship at 8:00 AM and were at the airport by 8:45 AM where we rested comfortably in the Sky Lounge until our departure. Amsterdam was not quite as organized as usual, so by the time we were processed in, it was time to head to our gate. Our flight home was quite uneventful. Robert Hicks picked us up at 9:00 PM and fortunately, the Atlanta rush hour was over, so we were back home in record time after an amazing journey.
