Old Country, New Beginning - Part 1

April 9 - D Day

The last week's wait since Miss P left, took me back to my childhood. Then, the anticipation of a special event would turn into an unbearable wait, and time slowed down to a total standstill, only to flash by once there.

I boarded flight TP363 to Lisbon.

Lisbon - Docas by the bridge, a great place to enjoy lunch




Bacalhau (salted cod) is not just the preferred local fish, it is a national obsession. I'm happy with that.




Lisbon glowing at night. This first night's dinner was drowned by copious amounts of local wine. When in Portugal, it is almost impossible to pick the wrong wine from the menu. I'm yet to find a wine that does not please my palate. No, I don't have a problem with my aged taste buds!





Shaun joined us for a few days. He is particularly fond of the food, the wine, the beer, the weather, the city, the people... he will return.




My gorgeous granddaughter's first trip abroad! Visiting grandad's old stomping ground! How sweet is that?




Family breakfast at the Sana Lisboa Hotel with Katie and Scott




Street entertainment in Avenida Da Liberdade, one my favourite streets in Lisbon. This particular band, Trio Cadmira +1 are a great funk covers band




We headed north to the ancient walled town of Óbidos

where Miss P got into the GoT groove...

and the view from the restaurant of Pousada do Castelo Hotel added to the experience of days gone by.

From Óbidos we drove north to Portugal's second city, Porto, home of the world-famous fortified wine of the 

same name

While in the Porto region we visited vineyards...

 in the beautifully sculpted Douro valley...

and went to see Roberto Carlos in concert while in Porto. The famous Brazilian crooner, one of the greatest singer/songwriters ever ( 62 albums so far)  put on a brilliant show.

Porto is also home to the Lello bookshop, where J K Rowling found inspiration for her Harry Potter stories

The Lello Bookshop

The above took place during April 2017. The next blog will continue the  4 month journey thorough Central and Southern Portugal, Madeira Island, France and Brazil. 

Ciao for now