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France & Portugal August 2021
  • Colleen Boyer

France & Portugal August 2021

This is a rebook of a trip that was to have occurred August 2020 but cancelled due to worldwide COVID 19 pandemic. The pandemic is not done yet! Lue lisää
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    24. elokuuta 2021
    Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Calgary Airport

    23. elokuuta 2021, Kanada ⋅ 🌧 9 °C

    Checked in in Calgary for the first leg of our þip. Toronto! Already tired of masks 😷 but at least the airport is pretty quiet at 6am. Still took almost 40 minutes to check in as we are headed to France. Covid!Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Toronto Airport

    24. elokuuta 2021, Kanada ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We met Paul and Cheryl at Pearson airport. Our flight was slightly early and theirs an hour late. But the lounge is closed! Covid! Having a quick bite and hoping they feed us on the next leg to Frankfurt.Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Still in Toronto!

    24. elokuuta 2021, Kanada ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Well we are all loaded on the plane. 45 minutes now and haven't moved. Apparently the tractor that is supposed to push us away from the gate has broken down. They are searching for another one! Our connection time in Frankfurt was 1 hr. 50 minutes which was tight. Sounds like we will be leaving an hour late so...... stay tuned. Not sure what may happen in Frankfurt. I was reminded 2 days ago that exactly 4 yrs ago we missed our connection in Frankfurt to Prague.Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Nice France

    25. elokuuta 2021, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    So we made it to Nice by about 6.30pm. No customs or health checks!? Cab to the Best Western plus hotel Massena. We did a quick freshen up and then put to find some dinner
    I don't know how you can get hungry from sitting all day! Found a place nearby with a great selection of tapas. That and a bottle of wine 🍷was delicious. A short nap and then bed. Like most Europe the room is quite small but comfortable 😌.Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Frankfurt airport for 8 hours

    25. elokuuta 2021, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Lufthansa has graciously put us on a flight to Nice! But we are here for 8 hours! So we have paid to get in to the Lufthansa lounge for breakfast, lunch and drinks until 3.30pm. By that time we will have been up for 27 hours. Need to be flexible when traveling. It will be nice to get to Nice tonight and into a real bed. I don't know that we will make it to dinner. We are taking turns napping 😴 while someone watches the bags. Day 2 but it still feels like day 1. Notice the guy with a string towing a huge jet!Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer
    11

    Nice on Thursday

    26. elokuuta 2021, Ranska ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    On Thursday we rode a carousel. Then a tour around all or most of Nice on the hop on hop off bus. Beautiful city built into the cliffs. In the afternoon we walked along the promenade and had ice cream! Dinner at le meridian with the full group and enjoyed a beautiful ocean view and sunset.Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer
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    Nice is also nice on Friday

    27. elokuuta 2021, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    We had nothing booked particularly today so we're a little slower getting going this morning. Smoothies for breakfast then walked over to old Town to browse the shops. So many beautiful things but I resisted! I'm sure we will see the same thing gs outside of Nice as it seems expensive here. A city for the rich and famous! We had a pizza lunch as we headed back to the hotel with leftovers given to someone who looked like they could use it. We went for a short swim at the beach. The water is actually quite warm. The beach is all stones. Rounded but hard! And quite the undertow so difficult to get out. We are resting and cleaning up now and will meet up with John and Heather for dinner. Unfortunately I've picked up an allergy to something so have swollen upper lip and right eye. Itchy too. Thankfully I always have benadryl with me!Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Saturday travel day

    28. elokuuta 2021, Ranska ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    Today is Cheryl's birthday! We had planned to take the train and a bus from Nice to Avignon but the route was rather convoluted so we used a van instead. It was still a 4 hr ride and we were at the hotel by 2pm and rooms not available. We are at the Avignon grand hotel, across the street from the city wall. We wandered downtown a bit and found some fish and chips for a late lunch. Then over to the river where our Viking longship is tethered. The Buri. We will be able to embark tomorrow around 10.30 am but I suspect there will be a covid test before we are allowed on board. After such a late lunch we opted to skip dinner and have an early night.
    My allergic reaction continues. Right eye, lips and now left arm and chest. I sure wish I knew what is causing it. Fortunately I have benadryl with me. It is somewhat helpful in relief of the swelling and itch but still quite uncomfortable and I feel like a cyclops!    Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Monday trip to Arles

    30. elokuuta 2021, Ranska ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We were up early for breakfast as the bus to Arles left at 8am. About half hour away, Arles is a charming French town dating back to Roman times. An amphitheater dating back to 90 ad which is still used today for bull fighting. We did a walking tour of the old Town. Our guide Anne lives there and was were knowledgeable on both the art and history. Vincent van gogh spent many years there and some of his famous paintings were done there. It is also where he cut off his ear! A little time to wander and shop and then we went to our boat for lunch which had now moved up river to Tarascon. Arrived a little late so we only had an hour for lunch. Our 2pm tour left for an olive mill. Some olive trees 500 years old and we learned how they make olive oil. It is a family business run by 2 sisters and it has been in the family 10 generations or about 300 years. We had some samples of oil and olives and tape are. Also some local rose wine. Next stop was Saint Remy. A village of about 2000 and very high end! No shopping for me. So far I have been very good. Perhaps I need to get some lavender. We are back to the boat around 6pm to freshen up for dinner. The boat will head back south as we eat as we spend the day tomorrow again in Avignon. So far the weather has been perfect. About 28c and clear blue skies.Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer
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    Tuesday in Avignon

    31. elokuuta 2021, Ranska ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We had a little sleep in this morning as the walking tour started at 9am. Everyday they have a different egg style for breakfast and today was frittata. Very good with a pastry and fresh fruit. The walking tour took us again to the bridge of Avignon which is now half washed away from flooding and originally built at 1300's. From there we went to the pope's palace, originally built the old palace in 1300's, the new larger part added 1400's. 7 popes lived there. It also mostly burned down in 1700's.. some of the original frescoes can still be seen but much was desecrated when the palace was used for an army barracks. We walked through the rest of town inside the walls then headed back to the ship for lunch. Some of the group stayed in town for lunch and of course shopping. A nice lunch then off in a bus to a nearby town for wine tasting at chatdeauneuf du pap. We tried 3 wines and learned how to properly smell and taste wine. This brand is a blend of 13 wines, 8 red and 5 white. Then bused to the remains of or original Chateau as a stop on the way back to the boat. Long day! Need a shower before dinner and hopefully am early night.Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Thursday tournon and further north

    2. syyskuuta 2021, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    An early start once again with an 8.15 walk about town of Tournon. Then a 10 minute bus ride to the train station. A steam engine. Train de l'ardeche. We rode through the 2 gorges. About half hour and we disembarked the train. The engine was detached, turned around, and placed on the other end of the train for the return I believe the train and track were built in 1903. Back on the bus to return to the ship that has moved since we left it this morning.
    So many acres and acres of vineyards. The grapes will be harvested in about a month, end of September.
    Random thoughts, the boat is the Buri. Our most frequent waiter is Norman(s). He is from Latvia and has been working for viking for 7 years. Nice guy.
    We had about 2hr cruise down the Rhone and were able to sit on the upper deck, as long as we didn't stand up. Some low bridges and thankfully a partly cloudy sky so that it wasn't too hot. We will arrive in Vienne about 4.30 for a short walk about town before dinner. Probably won't take a shower b4 dinner though as apparently there is no hot water on the ship..... beautiful scenery all along. Vineyards up and down taking all available land.
    We did the walk and even had time for a shower. The water was warm but apparently there are continued problems with the hot water. For dinner we had French onion soup and scallops! Once again it had been a long day. I have missed the evening entertainment every night! It dosen't start until 9.30pm 😴💤    Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer
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    Its Friday in Lyon

    3. syyskuuta 2021, Ranska ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We are on a bus once again after just arriving in Lyon at 8am. We will be here until we disembark on Sunday. This morning is a bus tour around town followed by walking and shopping before returning to the ship for lunch. Seems we are eating way too much! Across other river and up the hill there is q Roman amphitheater built in 2 AD. Then the cathedral . It was built in the 1870's and contains many beautiful gold mosaics. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. We walked some and saw some ancient roman ruins. An amphitheater. We went to old Town and bought some beautiful chocolate. Lunch was a Greek salad and baked apple. By 2pm we were back on the bus for a tour to the town of Perouges. It is supposed to be an ancient mideavil town. Most of the current city, close to the rivers was built after 1850's after the floods. The floods are now contained by the lock system. Perouges is about an hour from Switzerland and Geneva. We walked through the charming town, built in 1400's. Inside the walls the population is 400 plus 700 outside the walls. There are no cars in the town unless you live there. It is close to the alps so cold in the winter. It felt very authentic and I know I would not have liked living in the middle ages!Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer
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    Saturday is our last day on the ship!

    4. syyskuuta 2021, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We have a full day tour today north of Lyon to the Beaujolais wine country. Off on the bus by 8.30am about 45 minutes to Belleville. A farming area of grains, vegetables and sunflowers in addition to the vineyards. They are very proud of their wine production here. Most are family businesses. The wine picking will be a little late this year due to a poor summer. Most of the area was built up in the 1800's after the French revolution. 25000 pickers will arrive about 3 weeks to pick for about 3 weeks. Stop by the windmill for panoramic view then on to Chenas for a wine tasting at 10am! Julienas. First vines brought to the area by the Roman's. Next door is the Burgundy region. A different soil and type of grape. Approx. 40 acres of vines produce 200k bottles of wine.
    We tried 4 types of Beaujolais wine. 2 white and 2 red. About 1 hr. Drive to the truffle farm through South Burgundy region. The type of soil (rock) determines the type of grown. Clay,limestone, granite. When the vines get to be over 40 yrs they produce few grapes but they are valued for the flavorful grapes and quality of the wine. They can produce from 4 yrs to 100 yrs.
    Maestro truffle hunting dog. 5 yrs old. Some truffles you to 2000 euro per kilo. Black truffles.
    Our lunch was cooked s served by the family. We had local bread served with truffle butter and truffle oil. Then couscous with lamb stew. To finish we had chocolate Mousse with truffles and also a soft brie with thinly sliced truffles in the middle. It was all served with local Beaujolais wine, both red and white. Maestro then showed us how to truffle hunt. The owner is very passionate about his business. He has diversified over the year to include raising beef and lamb, growing truffles and grapes and has now added some olive trees.
    Now 20 minute drive to the goat farm near Lys. We had 3 types of goat cheese. Some made today , some slightly aged and some aged about 3 weeks which had the most flavor and I liked best.
    Now a little over an hour ba cl to the bus. It is about 4pm and we will freshen up for our last dinner and then pack as the bags are to be out in the hall by 8 tomorrow 😒    Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Lyon to Paris

    5. syyskuuta 2021, Ranska ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    We were up early to be out of our rooms by 8am on the ship. And they allowed us to remain on the ship for both breakfast and lunch. Cheryl had us play word search lol. The cabs came at noon to take us to the airport and that was 80 euros for each cab. About 45 minutes from our downtown location. The flight to Paris was only an hour but it is a huge airport and it was almost 6pm by the time we reached our hotel near the airport. A quick dinner which was not very good. We did not get a cab to downtown to see the eifel tower. It was very expensive so we decided to pass and go to bed early.Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    On our way to Portugal on Monday

    6. syyskuuta 2021, Ranska ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Today will be another day of travel. We are up for breakfast at 8 and will cab to the airport for our flight at 1pm. The check in was smooth as well security and we were settled in the waiting room by 10.30.
    An uneventful short flight and we were in Faro by 3pm as we lost an hour. The Sunline transfer van was there to meet us right on time for the one hour ride to the condos in Lagos.
    Of the 2 condos I think ours is the poorer set up. But it will function for 2 weeks. Pretty sparse of furniture. We are in separate buildings and each cluster has a small pool in the middle. Very hot here, even at 4pm.
    The lady (Theresa) showed us the units and then drove us to a grocery store to pick up a few essentials. We also got some to go items for our dinner- chicken and rice. Unfortunately the pool was closed by the time we were ready to swim.
    We had a short visit with the others and then off for bed and some wash.    Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    82 rua goncalves zarco

    7. syyskuuta 2021, Portugali ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Home for 2 weeks. The condo leaves a little to be desired but it will be fine. We managed 6 loads of wash for the 4 of us and it needs to hang outside in the humidity to dry. After washing we went again to the Intermarche supermarket for supplies as well as gas for the 2 cars that were delivered this morning. Citroën and they are standards on winding hilly roads! Glad I'm not driving and Paul did very well today. But we got terribly lost and turned around on the way back. Couldn't get my GPS to work. Pizza for lunch and then a swim in the pool.
    Paul found a great nearby restaurant for dinner- Atalaia. Some had sardines! They were huge! Den and I shared a veal steak with salad and it was delicious. For dessert Denis had chocolate covered chocolate ice cream and I had lemon ice cream served in a frozen lemon. Delicious. We found our way home and are chilling before bed. Hoping to head downtown lagos tomorrow and possibly the beach.    Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer
    11

    Wednesday in Lagos

    8. syyskuuta 2021, Portugali ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Paul, Denis and I went for an early morning walk on the beach. It was quite foggy tho for a while. The tide was out and so the beach was huge. And very clean so no shells or beach life.
    After a late breakfast and checking out maps we headed for downtown Lagos. We found some underground parking then walked along the boardwalk/sea wall. Many vendor stalls and tour sellers. It seems cork is grown near here so many cork products. We had a short walk through downtown and stopped for lunch. We found the slave museum and learned how lagos was a center for slave trade in the 1500's.
    Hot and humid and wearing masks everywhere we headed back to the condo around 3 for a dip in the pool before dinner . We had planned to eat at a restaurant nearby that didn't open until 7pm. On phoning we learned that there is no space available for dinner for 8 for several days so the alternate plan was to head to one of the restaurants on the nearby beach. We were able to get into the 2nd one - Antonio's and were inside which really didn't matter as the sun had set. Some had fresh sea bass, some clams, I had Portuguese style steak. Quite flavorful with a fried egg on top. We have also come to enjoy sangria, particularly the white. The waiter talked us in to a variety of deserts and decaf espresso.    Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer
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    Thursday around Lagos

    9. syyskuuta 2021, Portugali ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    No fog this morning and the boys are off for another walk. Not sure if it will be the beach or cliff today. I need to have a day with less food! We have eaten well but too much.
    So after breakfast we hopped in the car, headed west to Sagres, a small town half hour away on the southwest tip of Portugal and therefore Europe. The walls of a fort from 1400's have been resurrected and we walked out to the point. Couldn't see the coast of North America tho so I guess the world is round!
    We had a lovely lunch of baked brie and a salad. Some had pizza. Back to the condo for some pool time. We have decided to stay in for dinner tonight and eat up things in our fridge. I need a night off from eating out! Who would think I would ever say that!!    Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    First Friday in Lagos

    10. syyskuuta 2021, Portugali ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    After Paul and Denis did their morning walk we drove in to town. Have booked a kayak trip for some of us and the rest will have a boat trip to see the caves next Thursday. We took the small hop on / off bus/ train for a 1 hr tour of downtown and then went to Tasco do kiko for a late lunch. We shared some white sangria, ate sharkskin mayonnaise, lamb kebobs and crispy chicken sausage. I had strawberry Pavlov for dessert and Denis had apple strudel. All delicious. Again no dinner as we finished lunch at 4pm.Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer
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    Saturday September 11

    11. syyskuuta 2021, Portugali ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    So we have been moving around alot and it is catching up! So today we had a beach day! But of course that was after the boys had their morning walk along the cliffs. This time Pierre joined them. This needs to be done in the morning as the days are still very warm.
    Sylvester, the property manager came to address some deficiencies in our unit, as their are many, including a TV that won't work and lack of and poor condition of furniture. Then we were off to the beach as we had reserved lounges and shades. It was busy at the beach as it is Saturday. The beach is very clean and shallow for a long way out. The boys had a swim but I only made it as far as my waist as it is cool.
    Aftwards back for a shower and clean up as we had 7pm reservations at the French restaurant in our condo complex. Very lovely and delicious and we sat outside but pricey and cool by the time we were done around 10pm.
    Also a small herd of goats and sheep seem to walk through daily! Lol    Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer
    12

    Sunday sept 12 in Lagos

    12. syyskuuta 2021, Portugali ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    We are starting to settle in to life in Lagos. After they had their morning walk along the cliffs we drove over to Luz, a small village nearby. We shopped a little, had lunch and enjoyed the views. Back to the pool and then Chinese food for dinner. The food was good and they even have ginger beef! But the service was poor in the end and we waited almost an hour for the bill. Sometimes traveling in a pack of 8 slows things down.Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer
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    Monday tour day

    13. syyskuuta 2021, Portugali ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Once again the walkers were out by 8.30am but today was just Denis and Heather and John. We thought they had got lost as they were gone for 2.5 hrs. Those 2 love using walking sticks!
    We then piled in to the cars to head to Aljezur, a small village to the north west, along the edge of the national park. The scenery is treed but looks dry and the soil is very reddish, iron? The road was fairly windy but only took about 45 minutes. We had hamburgers for lunch but with no bun, a fried egg on top and home made fries. Some had fish, grilled Dorado. And then carrot cake for desert.
    The next leg of the trip was easy to Monchique. An even smaller village in the mountains. We stopped only long enough to visit a cork store. Lots of cork trees in the area. And the road there was REALLY windy and steep. By 4pm we headed back south to Lagos and part was on the toll road so the driving was somewhat easier. A stop at the Intermarche for groceries and light food for dinner. We had a chat with the girls on Imo and Paul and I played cribbage. We each won one game so we will have to have a rubber match!    Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Tuesday

    14. syyskuuta 2021, Portugali ⋅ 🌧 21 °C

    Tuesday is supposed to be another unsettled day so we decided to go to the mall in Portamao. The walkers did a short walk first as rain was threatening.
    Portamao is only about .5 hr east and we took the scenic route with a little traffic. It was a good decision as it rained while we were in the mall. And it's a 3 story mall with food court on the top floor. All is open mostly to the weather so a little wet up there but we managed to stay dry for lunch. It's a very upscale mall so there were not a lot of purchases. Lip balm for my dry lips and nail glue for a cracked nail lol. Den got light bulbs for his salt lamps at home.
    Back to the condo to play 6 handed euchre. Denis and Pierre walked the cliff in the heat of the afternoon!
    We returned to a restaurant nearby for dinner, Atalaia. Of course thing's are not always as good the second time. We had great lamb chops but poor service. The poor guy was learning and we are 8 and 4 separate bills.
    And I didn't take any photos today!    Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Wednesday we went to Silvas

    15. syyskuuta 2021, Portugali ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    After the morning walk we hopped in the car and headed east to Silvas, about. .5 hr away. It has been there since around 500BC. Much of it is restored rather than original and very interesting. We visited both the museum and the castle on the hill. It was a steep climb up the hill to the castle so there were several stops to shop and for a beer and an orange tart which is nothing like the tarts we know of.
    By the time we got back down to the car it was 4pm so we headed home.
    Dinner reservations were at 6.30 at Antonio's on the beach and our waiter from the other night, Mario, served us again. He is a real salesman and and sold us fish dishes. Heather had a blue lobster, a little over 2 lb. And it was 90 euros! We had white sangria, den had a fish like a salmon and I had 6 huge shrimp! Dinner took 3 hrs. And we watched the sun set over the ocean.    Lue lisää

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  • Colleen BoyerFrance & Portugal August 2021Colleen Boyer

    Thursday is kayaks!

    16. syyskuuta 2021, Portugali ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    We had reserved with Discover tours to see the cliffs and caves. Some went in a all motor boat for an hour. Denis, Paul and myself had a larger boat with 16 (young) people which took us close to the cliffs and then we got in tandem kayaks with a guide to get up close and personal with the caves. We had an hour in the water before heading back and also an ocean swim so we were 2 hours. One couple overturned but they were OK. They push the loaded kayaks on and off the boat. When they were pulling Denis and I on the rope broke! We then had to roll into the water and climb up the ladder. Fun!
    We had lunch at the marina, a little more shopping along the boulevard. Lots of cork items here. We had a relaxing swim in our pool and walked over to the beach restaurant for a quick salad dinner. Windy! A warm wind but it made us cold nonetheless for the walk back up the hill to the condo.
    Only one week left!    Lue lisää

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