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Portugal 2024
  • Nancy Reavis
  • Nancy Reavis

Portugal 2024

A 10-day adventure by Nancy Read more
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  • Trip start
    March 29, 2024
  • Nancy ReavisPortugal 2024Traveler

    Brussels layover

    March 30, 2024 in Belgium ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    6 1/2 hours from JFK to Brussels. Grabbed a sandwich and people watching. Depart at 10:30 for final destination of this long leg of flights 🤓

  • Nancy ReavisPortugal 2024Traveler

    Arrival in Portugal

    March 30, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 10 °C

    We made it to Porto, Portugal at 12:15pm!! We found our tour guide, Antonio, who led us and the other half our our group to our tour bus. Our driver, Francisco, drove us in our luxury big bus to our hotel. We were able to quickly drop off our bags, wash our faces, meet downstairs to walk around the city. We went to a really neat food market. Vendors had booths of Portugal foods and wine. We all chose our food and had a beer or wine. Walked around the town, for the afternoon. Came back freshened up and had dinner at an old church/monk house. Delicious food. Angus steak, potatoes kale and the best chocolate cake ever. Came back to hotel for a night cap. What a great group of people. Lots of fun. In bed by 10. Up at 6am for breakfast and looking forward to another fun day today. Happy Easter everyone!
    Sara - Happy Birthday to my sweetest daughter 💗-    Read more

  • Nancy ReavisPortugal 2024Traveler
    2

    Day 3, because this App says so

    March 31, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    App is telling me this is day 3, guess it includes travel day. Another great day. We took the tour bus to the Porto City Center. Along the way we stopped at Fort Sao Fransico Xavier, a beautiful old port built in 1661 taken over by the absolutist in 1882 and damage by the liberists then headquarters for the Porto Navy Brigades. Then went to Porto City Center. Lots of history and cool buildings and also a lot of hills. My legs are killing me. We walked down to Duoro River which splits Porto from Gaia. There are 7 huge bridges that can take you from one side to the other. We walked across one of them to get on a river boat and saw the other 5. Then, docked the boat and went to the Ferreria winery of Port wines. Really beautiful old facility established in 1751. Of course, we had porto tasting at the end. We did more walking, suvineer shopping, eating and drinking. Some of us old folks were tired and took an Uber back to hotel, others are whooping it up. Great times today!
    Oh! Porto has the oldest book store in the country. I wanted to go in for Sara. Sadly, they were closed on Easter Sunday.    Read more

  • Nancy ReavisPortugal 2024Traveler
    212

    Morning of day 4

    April 1, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    This morning, we went a university, founded in 1290, the University of Coimbra (UC) is one of the oldest universities in the world and the oldest in all of Portugal. Up until the early part of the 20th century, it was also the only Portuguese-speaking university in the world.
    Beautiful campus. Was for prestigious male students until the 1800's. The most interesting part was the library. It was a scene out of Harry Potter with 2 levels of books, accessible only by the librarian, the 2nd level accessible by ladder only. Decorated in beautiful wood with real gold inlays.

    Fun facts
    *The library has a jail in the basement.
    *Students that were caught speaking any language other than Latin would be placed in that jail.
    *The picture attached of weapons are what the University guards carried with them.
    *If you were late to class, caught leaving campus, didn't agree with professors and university beliefs, unacceptable grades, you were sent to jail.
    *At night, the release bats into the library to eat the insects in order to keep the insects at bay.
    *No photohlgraphs allowed in the library.

    Ww also viewed the church and secret rooms for the professors. The University sits on a hill. We walked up and down many stairs.

    Very interesting tour. Great lunch today- Tosta de Bacalhau. Yum!    Read more

  • Nancy ReavisPortugal 2024Traveler

    Day 4 part 2

    April 1, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    3 hour drive to Evora. It is one of the last cities to have a roman enclosed stone wall from the 3 century made for defense. Such a beautiful town. We took a short walk around and found a great spot for dinner. Tomorrow we tour the Chapel of Bones. Should be fun!

    Oh, our hotel was amazing.
    https://mardearhotels.com/    Read more

  • Nancy ReavisPortugal 2024Traveler

    Day 5

    April 2, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    Spent the day in Evora, toured the Church of Bones. Very interesting. It's not as morbid as it sounds. Had a wonderful lunch and did some local shopping. We just finished up on the cork factory. It's an amazing process to make a cork for wine and champagne. Also they make wallets, belts, key chains, coasters, purses, wallets, flooring, wallpaper and furniture. I had no idea.

    On a 3 hour bus ride headed to Algarve for the next 2 days. Taking a nap now 😴    Read more

  • Nancy ReavisPortugal 2024Traveler

    Day 6 - Lagos

    April 3, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    First stop today, the town of Lagos for a boat ride. Perfect weather day, no rain and no wind, just sunshine. We toured the coastline to view what the call "The Caves" really fun smooth waters adventure. Then came back and had lunch overlooking the water with a pitcher of Sangria's.Read more

  • Nancy ReavisPortugal 2024Traveler

    Day 7

    April 4, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Left Algrove at 8:30 for 3 hour ride to Lisbon. Toured the city, had a great lunch. Checked in hotel at 3:30. Had a few hours of free time. Left for Fado music and dinner. Didn't get back to hotel until 11pm. Exhausted 😩Read more

  • Trip end
    April 7, 2024
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