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PORTUGAL 2023
  • Travel with the Wicks
  • Travel with the Wicks

PORTUGAL 2023

A 14-day adventure by Travel with the Wicks Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 25, 2023
    Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Whoopi! We are on our way!

    March 25, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 2 °C

    So here we are, packed, tickets in hand. A kiss goodbye from our grandson Hendrix, and Joe drove us to the airport. Two weeks isn’t long-in our life but for Norah & Hendrix it is. We will miss them both!

    I was able to catch up with a couple of my former colleagues, while waiting for our flight. Captain Bowser and First Officer Ruff were waiting to board a delayed flight and didn’t mind a picture. Clearly, Captain Bowser is the senior crew member with his stately throne, while First Officer Ruff must sit on the floor and field questions from the travelling public about the reason for the delay. They both look good in their dark uniforms, but I was surprised that neither wore the regulation hat. The airline ID is PALS and stands for Portuguese Air Line System. I hope the Captain is flying this leg because otherwise we might expect a Ruff landing.    Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Lisbon Arrival

    March 26, 2023 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C

    We arrived in Lisbon pretty well on time, sailed thru passport control, luggage came off together in record time and with nothing to declare we were ready to meet up with Sofia to give us a lift to the apartment . The apartment is is centrally located, and the owner met us and gave us the $5 tour. She had set the table with wine, breads, cheese, honey and Pastiés de Nata (a delicious treat) The apartment is perfect and has everything you need.Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Lisbon walk-a-bout

    March 26, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We needed to get the a feel for the Bica district and also some provisions, so a Sunday stroll was in order. Most of our walk was either uphill or downhill. It seems rare to move on a level surface. After finding the Rossio train station we stopped for a coffee, looked over Rossio square and went back to the apartment. The temperature outside is 23 degrees so after having a bite to eat we enjoyed an evening walk down by the water. There is a pink street here, with restaurants and bars. Of course Dianne insists on a selfie to mark the occasion.Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler
    Train station

    Early morning train to Sintra

    March 27, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Unlike a trip with a tour company, we had a modest breakfast this morning. We had coffee with toast, a banana, and a cereal bar. Out the door by 6:50 and only one false start as I returned to get another camera. We even made an earlier train than we anticipated leaving the station at 7:11 instead of 7:30. It is still dark at that time of the morning.
    The attraction here is Peña Palace and a Moorish Castle located on forested hillsides that overlook Sintra and the surrounding area. The palace was finished in 1810. That makes it almost new in the host of palaces we have visited.    Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Pena Palace

    March 27, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Instead of takin the bus from the train station, we were enticed by a smooth talking tour guide to get a ride up the hill in the comfort of his car and listen to the history of Peña Palace. Just to make sure you’re paying attention, there is a quiz at the end. The bus cost is 7 euro and his informative and educational conveyance is only 10 euro.
    We got underway almost immediately, stopping only to try and rope in another customer from the train station as there was one empty seat in the car. He talked non stop for the 12 minute journey covering history from the Muslim occupation of the Iberian Peninsula to King Ferdinand II and his actress second wife. We had a photo opportunity once when we stopped behind the bus we didn’t take. He rolled down my widow for an unobstructed view.
    Dianne and I realized when we parted company that the bus ticket was round trip. We would have to walk back to town..    Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Moorish Castle

    March 27, 2023 in Portugal

    This castle is on the walk back to Sintra and I thought I could give it a skip since there was still a lot of walking to do. Brave Dianne disagreed, saying we shouldn’t miss this opportunity. Ironically, the walk along the high walls on a narrow stone path with panoramic views of the area is more suitable to my sentiments than to hers. She gripped my hand with a vice like force with me reminding her to breathe as we made our way around the castle walls. Brave Dianne was visibly relieved to be back on the footpath to Sintra, but as she said. “We did it.”Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Cascais

    March 28, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    We walked to Cais de Sodré train station for a trip to the beach. Nice start to the day.
    A relaxing 40 minute ride to Cascais. Coffee and pastéis for a celebratory arrival snack, and then some shopping before we get to the beach.Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    This is Belem

    March 28, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    Belém is the western most neighborhood of Lisbon. It is historically the starting point for for the world exploring journeys that the Portuguese sponsored. We had a very good lunch here after the train back. Dessert was pastiés from a local favourite, a shop dating back to 1837. Our plan was to ride the tram back to our part of town after our walk by the river. That didn’t happen.Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler
    1

    Belem Tower and more

    March 28, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    It turned out that a tram broke down close to our stop. It stopped the rest of the trams from continuing, so we rode a bus that was the same number as the tram we planned to ride. We got the boot off that bus a few blocks down the road. So did everyone else, and it was packed with people! Now we are a gaggle of folks all looking for a way onward. There are other busses but it takes a while to figure which one is the best choice. Dianne and I don’t always agree on what bus to take, and this time is no different. We finally do get on a bus that goes to our starting point, but it took a while.Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Tram #28

    March 28, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    I have had enough of public transit for a day, but not Dianne. She wants to ride a tram. Dianne thinks this is a “special” tram as it goes by some of Lisbons’ most interesting buildings and neighborhoods. So we climb the hill one more time to get a ride on #28. We have tried to catch this tram before, but missed because it was either too full or we didn’t get there in time. This time we get on only after chasing it to the next stop. We ride it for half an hour and get the boot for the second time today. Everyone has to get off at the last stop. We get back on
    another tram, still #28. We ride some more and get the boot again at the last stop on the other side. We are both tired of riding trams now, but we wait for 2 more to depart the final leg before we can get on again. It is a popular ride. I was enjoying this ride for a while but I overstayed my tram tolerance.    Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler
    Porto City Hall

    2nd travel day

    March 29, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    On our way to Porto. Uber to the train station. Uber and a short walk to the local apartment.
    The apartment is centrally located and we found we could walk most places we needed to.
    The city Hall was 2 minutes from the apartment. We took a short walk in the afternoon to take in a couple of sitesRead more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler
    Prison for bad students!

    University of Coimbra

    March 30, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Coimbra has been an educational institution since around 1200. The university was originally a Royal Palace. The ancient library has around 60,000 books and is a current reference source for students. You will see some students wearing formal robes around town and around campus. Reminds you of Harry Potter when you see them.
    A degree from Coimbra in either medicine or law is considered prestigious.    Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Aveiro

    March 30, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Aveiro is known as the Venice of Portugal because of the canals. We had lunch here at a restaurant recommended by our guide Carla. We both had a tasty sea bass and saved room for dessert. A boat ride was the highlight of the afternoon.Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Praias da Barra

    March 30, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    The last stop on our day tour is at the lighthouse and seaside town of Praia da Barra. The colourful houses are unique to this area. Waves on the Atlantic coast are a good size and you could surf them, but we didn’t see any surfers.Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Olive oil press

    March 31, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    The vineyards also have olive trees and this Quinta (farm) has what amounts to being an olive press museum. It could still be used but olive oils are cold pressed these days and this old press used hot water when the olive oil was processed. It was interesting to hear about how the oil was made. Extra virgin olive oil has to have an acidity of less than 0.8%. We tasted oils that had levels of 0.3% and 0.1%. Very smooth.Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Stomp those grapes!

    March 31, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Surprisingly, the grapes are still stomped with bare feet to make the wine here. The stompers work a two hour shift. Sounds to me like it would be fun for about 15 to 20 minutes. About as long as I like to ride a tram.Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    The Douro Valley

    March 31, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Today is a wine and port tasting tour of the Douro valley. We met our fellow tourists when we were picked up close to our accommodation at 8:15. Two pleasant ladies are from New Zealand and look to be senior to us in years. Another couple is from New Jersey and is around our age. Then there is a younger couple from Oregon. We don’t talk too much on the way to the Douro valley, but get to know each other better once we are seated for the tasting.
    Kiwis and Canucks get along great, the Americans get along with each other too. Nobody talked about politics and everyone talked about previous travel experiences.    Read more

  • Travel with the WicksPORTUGAL 2023Traveler

    Finally, a sleep in!

    April 1, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We slept until I wasn’t tired anymore, and since it looked like the sun was coming up, I got up. I waited another 20 minutes before I woke up grumpy. She had planned a day for us and wanted to get up by 7:30.
    Well I got up, dressed then we had coffee and toast. Then we did the wordle and the mini crossword.
    When I opened my phone the time said 0624? I asked Tom what his clock said? 0624!
    We have been up for an hour…..he got me up at 0530; no wonder I was grumpy😂

    What happened is l had left the light on in our small patio, and it looked to me like the sun was rising. It could have happened to anyone.    Read more

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