I'm so glad I came back to Portugal because the first time I was here, I didn't have enough time to truly enjoy it. In fact, I remember taking wrong turns and ending up on side streets full of dog pee. This time, my experience was quite the opposite.
Irony of ironies. Today, is actually Friday, November 15, 2013, and I find myself sitting in the lobby of the Fenix Urban hotel right in the heart of Lisbon writing a blog about what I did in Lisbon EXACTLY 7 months ago to the day. It doesn't stop there. The above picture is a picture of me and Sandra, my friend from the spa. On this day seven months ago, she disembarked the Silver Spirit, and I caught her at the gangway for a goodbye picture. TODAY, she is in town disembarking the Crystal Serenity. She has actually been in many ports with me over the past month, but I have never been able to run into her. Our schedules never matched up. We were together in Venice, Dubrovnik, Valletta, Barcelona, and probably a few more places, but I never saw her. Today, she's off with a mutual friend, Filipa (acupuncturist), and they're going to enjoy a vacation in Algarve.
I have a theory that she found out that I have a thing for Irish girls, and so she's keeping a safe distance. Any thoughts?
Anyway, it's video time. Come walk around Lisbon with me.
The stones are EVERYWHERE. Lovely, yes, but no good for rolling luggage.
Weirdo Anime building?
We could see this from the ship at night time.
An absolute must in dining experiences is Fogo de Chão. And for this I thank Soraia, our lovely international hostess, for introducing us to this place. Here's how it works: when you want more meat, you put the green side up. When you're done, you put the green side down.
How smart is that?
Please sir, can I have some more?
Isn't she lovely? (Soraia, not Gabe, Reid, or Nenad).
The very next morning was the beginning of a brand new cruise with a new set of guests, and for us that meant one thing: Happy Back to Work Day. But this one wasn't so bad. We had a nice backdrop with which we were able to entertain ourselves throughout the day.
Rebecca is singing in the (not) rain.
April 17, 2013 Portimão, Portugal
From Portimão, I hopped on a bus with the guests, and escorted them to what would be a life changing place. Cape St. Vincent. This is the trip that stands out the most in my mind when I look back at my entire 8 months. No more words, just watch the video:
My longest running facebook cover photo to date.
Ancient Sundial and Compass
The was what they like to call, "The End of the World." It's the southwestern-most, point of Europe. And it's just incredible. I don't know how it happened. Driving out to it, the world is just flat, and then all of a sudden, cliffs. Cliffs are everywhere, to your left and your right. I had never seen anything like it before. In case you can't tell by the above pictures. We were in two locations. The first four pictures were taken in the area of the lighthouse in the above pictures. The final five pictures were taking from a nearby fort of Henry the Navigator. Anyway, it's one of those places that you just have to go to really feel it.
I just found my notes. Here's what they say:
Cape St. Vincent Named after the martyred St. Vincent, the cape is the site of numerous naval battles, including those between Admiral Rodney and the Spanish in 1780, and Admiral Jervis and Admiral Nelson against the Spanish fleet in 1979. As you stand on Europe's westernmost point, admire a steadfast lighthouse whose guiding beam safely directs hundreds of ships past the cape every year. Sagres Some consider Sagres to have been the headquarters of Prince Henry the Navigator's School of Navigation. The school may have been within the 17th-century fortress that was defended from the shore by mighty ramparts, and from the sea by lowering cliffs. Prince Henry is also reputed to have created a shipbuilding yard in the small natural harbour below. Take a guided tour of the town. Visit the fortress and the historic Hermitage, which dates back to the 7th century. Next, view a giant pebble wind compass known as the 'Rosa dos Ventos', then continue east to Lagos, one of the oldest settlements in the Algarve.
And then, we went back to spend an anticlimactic day in Portimão. (But, honestly, anything would be anticlimactic after Cape St. Vincent).
Here's what we did:
When in Portugal, you buy Port!
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