Paulette Welch

LISBON, PORTUGAL
Throughout Lisbon, fascinating monuments tell this proud city's story. Along the riverfront, in Praça do Comércio, an equestrian statue at its center represents Portugal's King José I, who capably rebuilt the city following the devastating 1755 earthquake. Among the most recognized of Lisbon's monuments is the grand Monument to the Discoveries on the banks of the Tagus River, displaying statues of more than 30 contributors to exploration, whose bravery and spirit still shape the culture of this vibrant European capital.
We traveled around in a tuk-tuk around the most beautiful and interesting areas of Lisbon, while sampling Portuguese cuisine. Our driver will was our guide, pointing out the sights and stopping for us to enjoy a few culinary treats. We stopped at one of Lisbon's most visited plazas, Praça do Rossio (Rossio Square); here, we again tasted a traditional Portuguese liquor, Ginjinha, that amazes everyone's palate. Then we drove to the São Pedro de Alcântara belvedere overlooking downtown Lisbon for a photo stop, and then visited the Alfama District, Lisbon's most emblematic quarter. Here, we were able to sit and taste cheese and wine from the different regions of Portugal.
After which we returned the Neptune ship and had drinks with John, Steve, Allen and dinner with Heather and Marie at 8.Read more

(Santa Cruz De Tenerife), Spain The Canary Islands, also known informally as the Canaries, are a Spanish autonomous community and archipelago in Macaronesia in the Atlantic Ocean. At their closest point to the African mainland, they are 100 kilometres west of Morocco and the Western Sahara. They are the southernmost of the autonomous communities of Spain. The islands have a population of 2.2 million people and are the most populous special territory of the European Union. The seven main islands are, from largest to smallest in area, Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. The archipelago includes many smaller islands and islets, including La Graciosa, Alegranza, Isla de Lobos, Montaña Clara, Roque del Oeste, and Roque del Este. It includes a number of rocks, including Garachico and Anaga. In ancient times, the island chain was often referred to as "the Fortunate Isles. CANARY ISLANDS (SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE), SPAIN
Fertile and green, Spain's Canary Islands overflow with exotic flora spilling down mountainsides to coastal pueblos. The archipelago's capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, exudes equal parts Spanish flair and island tranquility, brimming with lushly painted buildings of all colors, cosmopolitan shops and a city park where birdsong and the trickle of fountains echo the soothing sounds of Tenerife's rural reaches. The volcanic Mt. Teide, Spain's highest point, watches over much of the island Its rich and luxuriant hills harbor fruit plantations and vineyards that produce some of the nation's finest wines. The Orota Valley gently slopes down from Teide to the Atlantic and Puerto de la Cruz; the former fishing village transformed into a spi town for the 19th-century Victorian set and today welcomes endless strolls amid its fine boardwalks, leafy squares and seaside charms.Read more