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Portugal and Paris - July 2022Portugal and Paris - July 2022
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An epic family adventure thanks to my Mom ❤️ Read more
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  • TravelerPortugal and Paris - July 2022
    Day 1

    And so it begins

    July 19, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    When we booked our trip in Sept 2021, July 2022 seemed to very far away! Over the months we would get occasional updates and requests from Viking and slowly the time ticked down, we picked out shore excursions, we checked flights and made some changes and then before we knew it July 19th was getting closer and closer and our trip felt more and more real.
    As we got closer to our departure all of us were anxiously watching the news with more and more stories of delayed and canceled flights and mountains of luggage at airports around the world that were being delayed or lost completely. It was a bit nerve wracking to say the least. We were headed to Europe for almost 2 weeks, could we really do it with carry on baggage only? Would our flights get out on time? Would we make our connection? The simple answers – YES! We did it! Carry-ons only and all of our flights left and landed on time!    Read more

  • TravelerPortugal and Paris - July 2022
    1
    Day 1

    And away we go!

    July 19, 2022 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    We all made our way to YYZ. Cats were dropped off for cat-sitting and the dog was dropped off for boarding. The weather was good and we had given ourselves lots of arrival time at the airport to make sure we made it through security and US customs with plenty of time. Sometimes you have to wonder it really makes sense to watch the news. Stories of long lines, long wait times and nearly missed flights made us nervous – apparently for naught. We were through and to our gate in just under an hour! So thankful to Bailey for sharing her “lounge” passes with us to make our almost 3 hour wait for departure somewhat less miserable!Read more

  • TravelerPortugal and Paris - July 2022
    Day 2

    Lisbon

    July 20, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    We’re not sure why but Viking booked us from Toronto to Philadelphia and then on to Lisbon. With no delays and none of the predicted weather impacts we arrived in Lisbon early in the morning of July 20th. There’s definitely something to be said for booking with a trusted and respected travel company. The Viking rep was waiting for us as we arrived at the airport and the air conditioned coach transported us quickly to our hotel.

    The hotel was beautiful, the service was impeccable, the Avenida da Liberdade was beautiful and the Viking staff were amazing. Our rooms weren’t yet ready when we arrived so we decided to venture out and see if we could find Bordalo the second’s Iberian Lynx art creation. We managed to use the city’s metro system without issues and in no time we found it – very hard to miss!!
    Although I hate to admit it, we also found a McDonalds to get a bite to eat. This has become a bit of a tradition now with Bailey and I as we also did this our first outing in Tallin, Estonia. It’s just easier to eat what you know when you’re tired, jet lagged and don’t have the energy to find something “local” to eat 😉
    We got back to the hotel in time to enjoy some time by the pool too.    Read more

  • TravelerPortugal and Paris - July 2022
    Day 2

    Exploring Lisbon

    July 20, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Thursday morning we had our first excursion with Viking, seeing some of the sites around Lisbon including the Belem Tower and the Jeronimos Monastery. It was hot, very hot and we were very thankful for the air conditioned bus. The monastery was just the first of MANY churches and religious locations we would visit over the next week but it was truly beautiful. It’s amazing to think how they created such impressive buildings and carvings with none of todays tools and resources.
    We had some free time during our outing and Bailey and found another Bordalo piece (Raccoon) while Kevin and Mom headed for some pastel de nata from Pasteis de Belem. Yummy little custard treats famous in Portugal. We might have had just a few during our stay 😋

    Thursday afternoon Kevin, Bailey and I did a bit more exploring, finishing up our afternoon sipping sangria at one of the many miradouro in Lisbon offering a beautiful view of the city. Thanks to our tour guide, Nuno, we had a recommendation for supper and let me tell you that if I ever get the chance to have francesinha again I will definitely be having that!! It’s like no sandwich you’ve ever had before and it was delish!!
    After dinner it was time to head for our sunset cruise. A lovely evening sail on the Rio Tejo, drinking wine, entertaining conversation and a lovely sunset. I think this was Mom’s favourite part of the whole trip, might have been the special attention she got from the captain of the sailboat 😉 A lovely end to our first of many busy fun-filled days.

    Bailey, Kev and I finished off our night completing one of Bailey’s Lisbon must-do – a drink at Seen, the rooftop bar at our hotel. It’s quite the spot and definitely one of those Lisbon hot-spots where it’s cool to be “seen” 😜    Read more

  • TravelerPortugal and Paris - July 2022
    Day 4

    Off to Porto - Coimbra

    July 22, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Today we left Lisbon behind and headed for Porto. A comfortable coach ride with a “technical stop” at the Portuguese version of an Onroute and a stop in Coimbra for a bit of sightseeing and what is believed to be the oldest university in the world. This university is also home to the most amazing library! No photos allowed of course but trust me when I say I could have spent days in there just looking and imagining the details of those ancient texts – it was incredible. In Coimbra Bailey and I also managed to sneak away from the group to find 2 more Bordalo’s – Gorilla and Baby Owl :DRead more

  • TravelerPortugal and Paris - July 2022
    Day 4

    Porto (Vila Nova de Gaia)

    July 22, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    We arrived in Porto (we were not actually docked in Porto but on the other side of the river in Vila Nova de Gaia – but that’s just basically a suburb of Porto 😉) and boarded our baby longship, Viking Torgil. Mom splurged on this trip and we had 2 of the nicest staterooms! Lots of space and our own little balcony’s to sit, sip a drink and watch the Douro valley go by.

    When we arrived Bailey and I had just enough time before the required muster drill and ship orientation to find another Bordalo – Half Rabbit. I think he was my absolute favourite – he’s so cute!!!    Read more

  • TravelerPortugal and Paris - July 2022
    Day 5

    Sailing to Pinhao

    July 23, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 37 °C

    We set sail from Porto early in the morning and Kev and I managed to get up on the sundeck with our coffees to watch Porto go by. The Douro river valley is truly beautiful. The landscape changes as you sail inland and as you watch the steep vineyard terraces start to appear. There are small villages with homes built right into the steep hills and you marvel at the tenacity of the people who chose to build there.
    As we sailed to our first stop of Regua we passed through locks along the river, including the deepest lock on the river - Carrapatelo. The locks on the Rideau Canal are nothing compared to these locks – they’re huge!
    We arrived in Regua and disembarked for our afternoon excursion to the Mateus Palace and the Sandeman Winery. We returned to our ship where it had docked in Pinhao.
    There’s truly no way to describe the roads in Portugal – small, winding and just a little bit on the nerve wracking side. Our bus drivers are some of the most impressively skilled people I’ve ever seen. How they manage to get those big tour buses down those steep hills and through the narrow winding streets of those Portuguese villages is truly beyond me – very impressive!!
    No Bordalo’s in Pinhao but Kev and I did manage to find a geocache and got to explore some of the little village.    Read more

  • TravelerPortugal and Paris - July 2022
    Day 6

    Castle Day!

    July 24, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We sailed a bit further upstream this morning and then disembarked again to take an excursion to the Marialva Castle. We enjoyed a lovely “picnic” on a vine covered terrace before exploring the castle grounds. So much history and you can truly see and feel how the locals lived hundreds of years ago.
    We met the boat again at Barca D’Alva where we would stay docked for 2 nights.
    Kev and I attempted to find a cache just over the border in Spain but no such luck. But it was a thrilling trek across an abandoned rail bridge and what is truly amazing is that you can just cross country borders in the EU without your passport!    Read more

  • TravelerPortugal and Paris - July 2022
    2
    Day 7

    A Day in Spain - Salamanca

    July 25, 2022 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    And off we went to Spain! It was a bit of a bus journey to get there but once there we toured the historic areas and were able to do some exploring of our own. So much history and so many churches and cathedrals!
    Apparently the frog is a symbol of luck in Salamanca - can you see it on the top of the skull?
    And can you see the astronaut in the carvings around the door??    Read more

  • TravelerPortugal and Paris - July 2022
    Day 8

    Heading back to Porto - via Favaois

    July 26, 2022 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    This was my favourite day! Fresh baked bread and what is now my favourite drink (although I may never get to have it at home!!) Favaois ❤️
    We watched as Donatella made the famous four corner bread of the region, then learned about the history of the muscatel wines before getting to the most important part – the tasting! Muscatel with tonic water, lemon and sprig of mint, served as an aperitif – YUM!
    We had a lovely lunch of traditional Portuguese foods and then back to the ship as it transited back down the Douro to stop in Regua for the night.    Read more

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