Up at 3:00 a.m. to get the shuttle to Venice. OPTI ride? My cousin found it for us...when Boca got past the idea that strangers would be riding with her, and there was no exact pick up time till the last min and finding out we had to be at pick up spot at 4:00 a.m. it actually worked quite well and we would recommend it. Who said Boca couldn't go hip?
Venice. Yup. Flew out of there to Lisbon.
Summer mob scene.
Yes, they can still Saran Wrap their luggage in Italy....and why???
Nothing like getting there in the morning and eating pizza for breakfast....washing it down with 5 cappuccino's. A little wired were we???
PORTUGAL
Out there on the Iberian peninsula- next to Spain. This land has been continually fought over since prehistoric times- as they say location, location, location. This little country was the longest lived of the modern European colonial empires- about 600 years. It is now 53 sovereign states- remember the independence of Brazil in 1910 and getting rid of the monarchy. Lots of hits and misses and don't forget about the Carnation Revolution of 1974. This is quite a developed country- with an advanced economy and high living standards. Of course a member of the EU-early on. But also economic dis and gov debt in the wake of the late 2000"s financial crisis- and of course leading to lots of cut back and loan renegotiations. Sounding familiar??? 10 million folks here.
LISBON
and over 500,000 live here in the capital (over 3million in the metro area)....
yeah, there we are...kinda looks like the Golden Gate Bridge, doesn't it/
We come ahead of the tour a couple of days to enjoy Lisbon...we check into the 4 Seasons Ritz...very nice...standing majestically overlooking the city. What a great way to see Lisbon. Hey, wait a min. Is it a 4 Seasons or a Ritz? Ah Miss Boca, we are both- Canadian owned. Hmmm. Mr. Bubba, does your wife have rocks in her suitcases???
Let's take a look around...hey what's that Bubs? Flowers???
You've got that right Boca- orchids on steroids. Va Va Voom! And don't get any ideas about your orchids at home....
and whom do we know that lives over here???
And we head out to Caiscais, a seaside town outside Lisbon. This coastal town west of Lisbon was a former fishing village and gained great fame as a resort for the Portugal Royal Family in the late 19 and early 20th centuries.
Quite a little ride from downtown Lisbon, about a 40 min cab ride.....but well worth the ride. Oh you could take the train but that would require figuring it out and way above Boca's pay grade.
We were excited to visit our pal, Fernando. We met the infamous Fernando on the World Cruise/Silverseas last year-2013. He was our Cruise Director and really made the trip great for all. He was gracious enough to invite us over for drinks at his place (very old and historic- poetic justice) and out to dinner with the "girls".
Yes Fernando's place is in one of these historic buildings...the poor cab driver went round and round trying to find it- no easy feat. Caiscais in now quite the cosmopolitan address. Surrounded by many popular beaches as well as a cliffy shore line, attracting many tourists.
Boca was curious about the "Boca do Inferno".....translated, Mouth Of Hell. Bub's said the name worked on many levels. 1 or so outside of town, lots of splashing going on out there...
And there's our buddy Fernando...colorful as his hacienda.
Bubs wait patiently for his cocktail as Boca was on Fernando's heels for a libation....
In spite of the interesting art work, the ladies got a kick out of the Gorbachev stacking doll...
What's a Boca??
"Good", said Fernando's most darling Mom, "Margot and Boca are birds of a feather".
Bubs suggested that this tile should hang out side of Fernando's door....
Fernando's ladies...keep up with them Bubs! Time to eat? It's only 10'oclock.
The Reign in Spain is anything but plain!
We had met "INFANTA MARGURITA OF SPAIN, DUCHESS OF SORIA on last years World Cruise, one of Fernando's friends. "Margot" is kid sister to the just abdicated King Juan Carlos I of Spain. He abdicated to his son Felipe VI-a big coronation of course and putting aside World Cup misery, the Spaniards cheered.
Margot is an absolute stitch- her love of rock and roll is over the top. Remembering verse after verse of a gazillion rock songs, that's what I call a fun dinner partner. I kvetched about our 2 kids not being married, she said, I can match that neither are mine...age 48 and 49. Touche. This indomitable strong woman is involved in many charitable foundations and gets around like the energizer bunny- hello, she's 75! And what's really incredible- blind since birth. You go Margot. Looking forward to seeing you again- although bummed we won't see you in Madrid, as you will still be in beautiful Caiscais- here's to the next fun! And as Audrey Hepburn so aptly said, "Elegance is the only beauty that never fades."
While it may be good to be the King it is also fab to be a "prince". And now we know why Fernando is the real Prince of Portugal. So lovable and fun! Thanks again Fernando for a fun evening. Boca is still raving about her octopus dinner-yes the full octopus...
Sweet sailing on the Silverseas. Don't forget us in Naples.
Duh, Portuguese is nothing like Spanish. You would think I would have remembered that from the old Anro Days....several Portuguese employees. Opa!
Venice. Yup. Flew out of there to Lisbon.
Summer mob scene.
Nothing like getting there in the morning and eating pizza for breakfast....washing it down with 5 cappuccino's. A little wired were we???
PORTUGAL
Out there on the Iberian peninsula- next to Spain. This land has been continually fought over since prehistoric times- as they say location, location, location. This little country was the longest lived of the modern European colonial empires- about 600 years. It is now 53 sovereign states- remember the independence of Brazil in 1910 and getting rid of the monarchy. Lots of hits and misses and don't forget about the Carnation Revolution of 1974. This is quite a developed country- with an advanced economy and high living standards. Of course a member of the EU-early on. But also economic dis and gov debt in the wake of the late 2000"s financial crisis- and of course leading to lots of cut back and loan renegotiations. Sounding familiar??? 10 million folks here.
LISBON
and over 500,000 live here in the capital (over 3million in the metro area)....
We come ahead of the tour a couple of days to enjoy Lisbon...we check into the 4 Seasons Ritz...very nice...standing majestically overlooking the city. What a great way to see Lisbon. Hey, wait a min. Is it a 4 Seasons or a Ritz? Ah Miss Boca, we are both- Canadian owned. Hmmm. Mr. Bubba, does your wife have rocks in her suitcases???
Let's take a look around...hey what's that Bubs? Flowers???
and whom do we know that lives over here???
And we head out to Caiscais, a seaside town outside Lisbon. This coastal town west of Lisbon was a former fishing village and gained great fame as a resort for the Portugal Royal Family in the late 19 and early 20th centuries.
We were excited to visit our pal, Fernando. We met the infamous Fernando on the World Cruise/Silverseas last year-2013. He was our Cruise Director and really made the trip great for all. He was gracious enough to invite us over for drinks at his place (very old and historic- poetic justice) and out to dinner with the "girls".
Boca was curious about the "Boca do Inferno".....translated, Mouth Of Hell. Bub's said the name worked on many levels. 1 or so outside of town, lots of splashing going on out there...
And there's our buddy Fernando...colorful as his hacienda.
Bubs wait patiently for his cocktail as Boca was on Fernando's heels for a libation....
"Good", said Fernando's most darling Mom, "Margot and Boca are birds of a feather".
Bubs suggested that this tile should hang out side of Fernando's door....
Fernando's ladies...keep up with them Bubs! Time to eat? It's only 10'oclock.
The Reign in Spain is anything but plain!
We had met "INFANTA MARGURITA OF SPAIN, DUCHESS OF SORIA on last years World Cruise, one of Fernando's friends. "Margot" is kid sister to the just abdicated King Juan Carlos I of Spain. He abdicated to his son Felipe VI-a big coronation of course and putting aside World Cup misery, the Spaniards cheered.
Margot is an absolute stitch- her love of rock and roll is over the top. Remembering verse after verse of a gazillion rock songs, that's what I call a fun dinner partner. I kvetched about our 2 kids not being married, she said, I can match that neither are mine...age 48 and 49. Touche. This indomitable strong woman is involved in many charitable foundations and gets around like the energizer bunny- hello, she's 75! And what's really incredible- blind since birth. You go Margot. Looking forward to seeing you again- although bummed we won't see you in Madrid, as you will still be in beautiful Caiscais- here's to the next fun! And as Audrey Hepburn so aptly said, "Elegance is the only beauty that never fades."
While it may be good to be the King it is also fab to be a "prince". And now we know why Fernando is the real Prince of Portugal. So lovable and fun! Thanks again Fernando for a fun evening. Boca is still raving about her octopus dinner-yes the full octopus...
Sweet sailing on the Silverseas. Don't forget us in Naples.
