PORTUGAL AND ITS ISLANDS The jewels of Portugal come to life on this journey that takes you along some of Portugal s most beautiful mainland and island coastlines. Relax and get to know Lisbon, the Azorean island of St. Michael, and the island of Madeira. Day 1 Friday May 5, 2017 At 12:30 pm we gathered at the Quality Inn in Woodstock, all 14 of us. Inga and Eleanor, Wendy and Marilyn, Janet and Elizabeth, John and Pam, George and Dianne, Shirley and Karen and Doug and Gail. Our vehicle was from Grayhound and we had lots of room to spread out and the important feature, a toilet! We made a quick stop at the Parking area at Homer Watson to pick up Jean, Beth and Donna, the Kitchener\Waterloo group. At the Toronto Airport we are to meet Judy from Barrie. We arrived in plenty of time at the Air Canada check in. Once we told them we were a group of 18, they put us together so check in went smoothly. Doug and Gail got the wheel chair express which worked out well. If you have trouble walking be sure to get wheel chair help as TO has a lot of walking! Once at the gate we found a spot to get a bite to eat...you know the meal won t be served until at least an hour in to the flight. We always empty our water bottle for security but keep it so we can get it filled as soon as we get on the plane. Our flight over was not direct to Lisbon so we got the opportunity to have a stop over in Munich airport. As this was our entry into the EU we had to go thro a security check but we had lots of time to get to the next gate for our Lufthansa flight. Day 2: Saturday, May 6, 2017 Lisbon, Portugal - Tour Begins Your tour opens in Lisbon where Old World traditions continue to thrive. Your journey will introduce you to medieval towns, coastal villages, natural landscapes, Portuguese cuisine, regional wines and folkloric entertainment. Tonight, meet your fellow travellers at a welcome dinner. (D)
We arrived at the Lisbon airport and once we gathered our bags and got to the arrival area, Maria Pacheco, our smiling Collette tour manager, was there to meet us. Maria was very special to our group. We had been in touch with Maria over the past few weeks. She had been very helpful answering our questions via email. Once on the bus we had a short ride to our hotel, Altis Grand Hotel in Lisbon. We are here for 3 sleeps. Fortunately our rooms were ready so we had some down time before our meeting at 5:30. The meeting turned out to be really fun as once Maria went over the basics she had everyone introduce themselves. We had 19 people join our group. 4 gals were from New York and 4 from California. The big surprise for us was Gary and Ruth from Ingersoll Ontario!! The rest were American individuals who bought retail. We even had a couple from Hawaii. I have to say that by the end of the trip we were all one group of 37!! From the meeting we were taken by bus to our Welcoming Dinner at Sabor and Arte Restaurant. This restaurant was amazing. The service was wonderful, the food amazing. We sat with Karen and Shirley and were all impressed! Before the main dish there was goat cheese, bread and olives. The dessert we chose was a pudding like the tarts we love. The menu consisted of several dishes including codfish, fish fillets with shrimp and rice or steak. It was a great dinner and a wonderful way to begin our Portugal and Its Islands trip.
Day 3: Sunday, May 7, 2017 Lisbon - Sintra - Cascais - Estoril - Lisbon Your tour of Lisbon features the Moorish Alfama Quarter, Jeronimo s Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage site), the Monument to the Discoveries, and the Tower of Belem (UNESCO). Later, explore the town of Sintra (UNESCO), the summer residence of Portuguese kings for six centuries. Continue to Cascais and Estoril, coastal resorts on the Portuguese Riviera, dotted with specialty shops. This evening, savour Portuguese cuisine and wine while professional local artists perform the traditional Fado (UNESCO). (B, D) After breakfast we headed out at 8:30 for a tour of Lisbon by bus. As the streets are very narrow it is difficult for the buses to manoeuver so we are doing drive bys while our guide gives us information. As it was Sunday, it was easy to manage the streets as the traffic was very light. We then proceeded to Sintra a beautiful stop in sunshine. We got let off by the castle with the cone shaped towers and Doug and I decided to sit and people watch at a beautiful outdoor café just across from the castle. The group winds their way from shop to shop. We check out the pastries and decided on the Sintra pillow. It comes warm with orange ice cream on the side. It was AMAZING! When you use the cafes you are welcome to use their facilities so that is a good excuse to sit and eat!! The drive to Cascais by Guincho Beach was very pretty. Interesting to see what the Portuguese do on their day off. When we got to Cascais we decided with the cobblestones being hard to walk on that we would just go until we came to the first nice restaurant. In our heads we could remember one beautiful spot with waved pavement and this was the town. However, we crossed the road and had lunch with Eleanor and Inga.A cold beer and a glass of wine were first course. I tried the mussels. Doug had his usual burger and the girls had salads. It was a pleasant hour outside under the awnings. Back on the bus we headed back to Lisbon to see the beautiful Jeronimos Monastery and the Monument of the Discoveries.( Both of which we had seen last time we were in Lisbon so we got off the hot bus(air had quit!) and sat in a little park while the tour went on.)
We had thought we would use the pool at the hotel but instead when we got back to the hotel we decided to rest after the long day and get ready for the evening out. At 7:10 we departed for the Fado Dinner at Lisbon s Adega Machado Tonight we sat with Pam and John. It was fun catching up with them as they had not travelled with us since the Austria trip. The food tonight was okay but the worst part was the service. It seemed they were not very attentive and we had to keep reminding them to look after us! However, the entertainment was excellent. There were 3 different performers and they all sang individually and then together for the finale. The minstrels behind them were very talented. A great night!! nd We appreciated this being the 2 night as we were more awake then last night!! Day 4: Monday, May 8, 2017 Lisbon - Fatima - Nazare - Obidos - Lisbon Travel to Portugal s Silver Coast, a region of sleepy villages, rich vineyards and age-old castles. You ll visit three distinct villages, each with its own cultural character. Begin in the pilgrimage town of Fatima. Discover the beauty of the famous Basilica and the magnificent Batalha Monastery (UNESCO). Continue to Nazare, a popular seaside community. According to legend, the town gets its name from a small wooden statue of the Virgin Mary that arrived here in the 4th century. And then it is on to picture-perfect Obidos, where whitewashed houses are guarded by a hilltop castle and medieval city walls. (B) The 8:30 departure to Fatima worked out well as when we arrived there were very few buses. Doug and I had been to Fatima 2X before so we decided to sit in the sunshine and enjoy the atmosphere and people watch at a café we had stopped at on the way to the Douro River. We, of course, had to have our favourite Portuguese pastry...the tart with the custard filling called Pastel de nata and a coffee. While we were doing that, who should appear but a fellow we had met many times at
Presidents Club. He and his wife Nancy from Atlanta had a group here at Fatima as well. They were looking for us at Dubai but we unfortunately missed it. The big news about Fatima is that the Pope is coming on Friday for a Saturday service.there will be millions here that day!! The next stop was the Batalha monastery which we had not been to before so we walked inside and around the back and visited a few shops before getting on the bus again for Nazare. It was quite late by the time we stopped there for lunch. As it was a seaside area we thought we should have fish and chips. It took us awhile to find the perfect one but finally we managed! We sat outside in an alley way which overlooked the ocean and had a delicious meal. Doug tried the sardines which he thoroughly enjoyed. I had fish and chips.this is where I bought my sweater. The next stop Obidos is a walled city with lots of cobblestones and shops. We walked until we found a pleasant place to people watch and enjoy the scenery. Marilyn Douglas joined us at a small table in an alley so you could see the passers by and enjoy a glass of wine and beer. Tonight is the Palace dinner which is an option. About half of the 37 decided to try it. We decided to unwind and eat in the hotel and went to the Rendezvous Coffee Shop for a great meal. Day 5: Tuesday, May 9, 2017 Lisbon - St. Michael, Azores - Ponta Delgada Fly to St. Michael, the largest of the nine volcanic islands that form the Azores archipelago. A brief walking tour of Ponta Delgada s town centre features the Portas da Cidade (The City Gates), Saint Christ s Church, St. Sebastian Church with 17th-century painted tiles, and the seashore promenade. Later, gaze at the twin lakes of Sete Cidades (Seven Cities), one of the region s most beautiful natural settings. Composed of two lakes inside a volcanic crater, it is the island s most popular national park. From the edge of the crater, one lake appears blue (reflecting the sky) and the other looks green (reflecting the ground). Your day concludes with a magnificent view of the coastal village of Mosteiros. (B, D)
Today we had our bags out at 8:30 but did not have to be on the bus until 9:45 for our departure to the airport to fly to the Azores. The Azores is an archipelago composed of 9 volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean about 1360 km west of continental Portugal and about 1925 km southeast of Newfoundland. Our flight is 2 hours to St Michael Island, Azores When we leave the airport, Maria takes the group on a walking tour while the bus driver takes our bags to the hotel so they will be in our room when we return from seeing Sete Cidades Lake with several view point stops at Vista do Rei, Pico do Carvao and Escalvado. We sure had winding mountain driving today but it was worth it! Tonight dinner was at Restaurante O Silva. We are staying at the Royal Garden Hotel, Sao Miguel Day 6: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 Ponta Delgada - Terra Nostra Botanical Park - Furnas Valley It is your choice this morning! You may choose to take a stroll through the Terra Nostra Botanical Park, home to the world s largest collection of camellias. Or, perhaps you would prefer to experience the sensation of rest and relaxation in the park s mineral rich thermal water pool. In Furnas Valley, experience a cozido das furnas lunch in which meat and vegetables are stewed in the heat of the volcanic earth. Afterward, explore Caldeiras das Furnas, the town s famous hot springs area. Your day comes to a close at a tea plantation where you will learn about timeless methods of production. (B, L) This morning we departed at 9 am for our day of sightseeing. The weather can change abruptly so we must bring our yellow jackets with hoods. Again the roads will be windy so those needing medication are taking it regularly so they don t get bus sick! Our first stop is at Furnas Valley where Doug and I and a few others have their bathing suits ready for the thermal water pool. The rest are strolling through Terra Nostra Botanical Park while we relax in the brown water.(that night it took 20 rinses to get the brown out of my suit!) Our cozido lunch is eaten in a lovely big room overlooking the lake. Today we ate with thejean and her gals. We next visit Caldeiras and then at the Tea Plantation. What a view before we go in to see how the tea is done. As tea drinkers we brought some
home to try. Our final stop is a pineapple plantation which is close to Ponta Delgada. Tonight we ate in the Bar. Inga and Eleanor were there so we sat near them and ordered beer and a hamburg and red wine and Pizza with pineapple and lots of cheese. We were in bed early! Day 7: Thursday, May 11, 2017 Ponta Delgada - Optional Tours - Cooking Demonstration Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore Ponta Delgada or perhaps take an optional tour maybe you will choose to swim with dolphins, take a whale watching boat trip, or kayak at Sete Cidades. Late afternoon, discover the secrets of Azorean cuisine with an interactive cooking demonstration at one of the island s most popular restaurants. Your evening concludes with a sumptuous dinner. (B, D) After a late breakfast we decided to go to explore Ponta Delgada.We took a taxi to find the horse and carriages but apparently they only come out for the cruise ships. We ended up at the little train and got the 11:30 tour. As we were the only ones there, we decided on the historical tour which took us through the back streets in areas we had not seen. We got the driver to stop near the mall area and had a great lunch on a patio. Lunch was a sandwich of ham and cheese which we shared and a bowl of salad with 4 items...lettuce, olives, tomatoes and onions. With coke zero and ice tea. When we got back to the hotel we decided to try the outdoor swimming pool. It was a beautiful pool and one you could just walk in...no ladders needed. Of course it was not warm but we are used to Lake Huron so it was fine once you got in. It was great to stretch out and move around after all the sitting we had done on planes and buses! The departure for the museum was at 4pm. We decided to enjoy our balcony for the hour and take a cab to meet them in the parking lot at a little after 5. Doug finds the walking difficult with his ankle and I don t like walking and stopping.
The bus then took us to Paladares da Quinta Restaurant for a cooking demonstration.. The owner and his young daughter welcomed us and he made us a drink of Lajido and tonic. For appetizers we had bread baked in a wood oven, blood sausage with pineapple and fresh local cheese. The soup was a fish broth. The main course was braised tuna on a bed of fresh sauteed vegetables. Dessert was a delicious blackberries cheesecake. Throughout the whole meal we enjoyed white and red wines from Alentejo. It was quite a fancy restaurant and I wished I had dressed differently Day 8: Friday, May 12, 2017 Ponta Delgada - Lagoa do Fogo - Ribeira Grande - Nordeste Witness the art of hand-painted ceramics during a studio visit. Next, take in the beautiful vistas of Lagoa do Fogo (Fire Lake), a mystical lake surrounded by mountains. Journey to Ribeira Grande, known for its historic 16th- and 17th-century buildings. See City Hall, Church of Our Lady, and the eight-arch bridge, a symbol of the town. Then, stop at a family-owned liqueur shop to taste some of the allnatural local liqueurs. Continue to the highest part of the island, scenic Nordeste, where you will explore the natural beauty of Ribeira dos Caldeiroes Natural Park with its waterfalls, watermills and unique vegetation. Your final stop today is at a pineapple plantation where an expert will lead you through the farm s greenhouses to explain the traditional methods they use. (B) At 9 am we departed for the Ceramica Vieira Pottery Factory. When we arrived there were a whole lot of buses. Maria was not impressed nor were we when we understood the layout. It was uncomfortable going thro and not enjoyable at all. We were glad to get back on the bus. Doug even got lost in the crowd!! From there we went to see Fire Lake...a beautiful spot! th th Our next stop was at Ribeira Grande to see the 16 and 17 century buildings. Doug and I found a patio across from the bus and spent a pleasant half hour with a beer and cold white wine. When I went into the bar to order the drinks, the place was filled with men watching TV... the Pope had just arrived in Portugal!!On my way out I noticed and smelled the chickens roasting on the spits.
The next stop was for liqueurs. Just as we were going in, Eleanor let us know that she was taking a taxi back to the hotel as she was not feeling well from the windy roads and felt a time off the bus would be good for her. The demonstration explained the process to making liqueurs and then we went into the tasting room where you could have at least 2 liqueurs. I took Maria s advice and had 2 orange ones which were great. We bought 10 little bottles already pre-packaged so will try them at the cottage when no one has to drive! From there we headed to a restaurant Maria suggested we might like to try. It was called Alabote. We had preordered the lunch for 11 euros. They were ready for us. As it was a holiday for the Pope s visit they were quite busy!! Our final stop today was at the Parque Natural da Ribeira dos Caldeiroes where we saw a beautiful waterfall and great scenery. Earlier in the week Doug & I talked to Maria about having a get together for our group but after we slept on the idea we decided to have a party for everyone as by now we were not separate groups. So when we got back to the hotel we arranged for us all to meet in the lounge area near the bar. Everyone was told to bring a drink from their room or get one at the bar for a Happy Hour. As there was a piano in the area and we had 3 pianists in the group, we were delighted to have some music by John, Janet and Betty. It was a wonderful get together. That evening we decided to just go back to the bar area for supper. The pizza and hamburgs were perfect after a big lunch. Elizabeth and Janet had the same idea and sat beside us. As tomorrow is an airport day, it was early to bed after packing and organising. Day 9: Saturday, May 13, 2017 Ponta Delgada - St. Michael, Azores - Funchal, Madeira - Monte Fly to Madeira Island, the Pearl of the Atlantic. Madeira boasts a subtropical climate, majestic mountain ranges and volcanic caves. Stop in Monte, perched on the hills overlooking scenic Funchal. Visit the
Botanical Garden of Madeira with its vast collection of more than 2,500 plants from all continents. Discover Madeira s history during a panoramic tour of Funchal s charming plazas, Colonial mansions, 15th-century cathedral and the local market. (B) Bags out at 7 and breakfast begins 7:30 we departed for the airport for our 9:05 flight from St Michael Azores to Funchal, Madeira Madeira is a Portugese archipeligo situated in the north Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Portugal. It is 400km north of Canary Islands. Flight time from the Azores is 2 hours. Our local guide David met us at the airport and we are off for a driving tour of Funchal. At the Botanical Garden we had time for a snack as there was a lot of walking. Across from where the bus let us off, we found a patio overlooking the Gardens and had an omelette which hit the spot along with a glass of wine and a beer to help us enjoy the scenery while we waited for lunch. Back on the bus we then went up the Monte to experience the thrill of a toboggan ride down. Those who did it bought pictures to prove they did it! Our hotel for the next 3 nights is Pestana Casino Park. After our luggage arrives and we have had a bit of time to unpack and settle in, we decide to stay in the hotel for dinner. When we get to the lobby there is a huge reception taking place so we decide to try the Panoramic Restaurant which overlooks the infinity pool. What a beautiful room. It turns out the dinner is buffet which is not always our favourite but this one was worth it. The theme was Italian so the main dishes followed that pattern but the appetizers, salads and desserts were the usual. With some red wine it was a delightful meal. We even got to see John take a dip in the pool. Early to bed for our first night in Madeira Day 10: Sunday, May 14, 2017 Funchal - Câmara de Lobos - São Vicente - Porto Moniz Begin your day with a visit to Câmara de Lobos, a traditional village with a pictureperfect bay. Continue along mountain roads, passing banana plantations and vineyards en route to Cabo Girão, the world s second highest cliff. Make a stop in São Vicente, a charming agricultural town that
boasts dramatic views of the coast and surrounding villages. In the lively fishing village of Porto Moniz, enjoy free time for a swim (weather permitting) in the natural volcanic pools. (B) Today we are visiting the west part of the Island. Above it tells the spots we stopped at. We did stop for a pastry at Sao Vicente where I purchased a short sleeve T-shirt as my long sleeve one was way too hot.it is interesting when we checked the weather before we left Canada and the weather was to be 13 or 14. We certainly have had much better weather. The highlight for us was lunch at Porto Moniz where we found a restaurant with a patio overlooking the natural volcanic pools and were able to watch some of our group adventure into the waters. Pam, Jean, Beth and Donna were some we watched. Fish and chips were wonderful! The West coast had some beautiful scenery. When we got back to our hotel, we had to try the infinity pool. The next time you see Wendy, ask her why she swam in the infinity pool while wearing her house coat. Tonight dinner was on our own so we walked the 2 minutes to the side street and went in following the American gals to Casa Velha. Downstairs Gary and Ruth had already started dinner so we went upstairs to a lovely charming room for dinner. On one side was an English couple and on the other side was another English couple. Our dinner was delicious and we were glad we had ventured out of the hotel. nd Our 2 night in Madeira was great! Day 11: Monday, May 15, 2017 Funchal - Ribeiro Frio - Trout Farm or Levada Walk - Santana Wind through the mountains to Poiso to visit the island s third-highest point, Pico do Arieiro. Then it s your choice! At Ribeiro Frio (Cold River), you may choose to explore the natural beauty of the fascinating trout farm. Or, perhaps you would prefer to join an exhilarating levada walk* and follow the paths that run along the water channels that flow through the mountains. Next, continue to Santana, a village characterized by small triangular homes thatched with straw. Make a stop at a family-owned embroidery shop where you ll meet local artisans who will give you a first-hand look at their delicate craft. Then, it s time to sample some world famous Madeira wine. Celebrate your Madeira adventure with a traditional dinner known as espetada. Folk dancers and music entertain as you feast on a local dish of beef marinated in herbs and cooked over an open fire. (B, D)
We departed for the Eastern section of the Island. The first stop was either the levada walk or the tour of the fish farm which we did. The bus then took us to a spot where we waited for the group to end their adventure. Again we found a spot for cakes and wine!! It was a great way to enjoy the atmosphere. At Funchal first thing in the morning we stopped to see the embroidery shop where Karen Seguin found beautiful dresses for her 2 granddaughters. From there we walked down the street to see the market where Karen found 2 bonnets to go with the dresses. Doug and I sat outside and enjoyed a gelato. We then departed for the Eastern section of the Island. The first stop was either the levada walk or the tour of the fish farm which we did. The bus then took us to a spot where we waited for the group to end their adventure. Again we found a spot for cakes and wine!! It was a great way to enjoy the atmosphere. Santana was where we saw the thatched roof houses. At the end of the day we went to sample some world famous Madeira wine. It was a short walk through a beautiful park to take us back to the bus. Tonight - We drove on the bus to our traditional Espetada Dinner and Folklore Night Day 12: Tuesday, May 16, 2017 Funchal - Lisbon Return to the lively city of Lisbon and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Later, bid adeus to Portugal during a farewell dinner. (B, D) 8am Bags out 9:30 Depart hotel for airport 12:00 Depart Fuchal
1:30 arrive Lisbon and transfer to the hotel Maria and Eleanor stayed at the airport to go to the Police Station to see if they could find Eleanor s IPad which had been left in a security bin when we went through security on the way to the Azores.Would you believe it.. They found it!!! Doug was in charge of getting the group back to the hotel in Lisbon as the parking for buses was terrible and our bus driver had to double park to pick us up. Fortunately, our rooms were ready at the Altis Grand Hotel where we had stayed before and we had the afternoon at leisure. Some went shopping to get those last minute items they were looking for. Doug and I decided to try the indoor pool. I don t think we had ever had been in such a warm pool!! But it was great to get in and move around after being on buses and planes. 7:10 Depart for Farewell Dinner at Faz Figura. The traffic was terrible and our 15 minute drive took us almost 45 minutes. Dinner We had a choice of starters - quail's nest or Azeitão cheese with nuts - and then a choice of main dish - fish bouillabaisse or meat with clams - and a choice of dessert - almond pudding or flan or fresh fruit. And lots of wine! Day 13: Wednesday, May 17, 2017 Lisbon - Tour Ends (B) 9:30 Bags out Breakfast 10:30 Depart for airport for direct flight back to TO on Rouge The departure lounge was a zoo and we ended up having problems as our group did not do web check in the night before ( Maria had offered to help us but most did not take her up on the offer)
The flight home was great!!except for one thing... you could not get duty free on the Rouge plane and we had skipped the duty free shop as we did not want to carry the bottles!!! At Pearson Airport our Grayhound charter picked us up and got us to Woodstock in good time. Doug ordered 5 cabs to pick those up at the Quality Inn for needed transportation home. Super trip!! PS The only disappointment on the Air Canada Rouge flight was that there was no duty free shopping. Itinerary at a glance Day 1 Overnight Flight Days 2 A lt4is Grand Hotel, Lisbon Days 5 R o8y al Garden Hotel, Sao Miguel, Azores Days 9 11 Pestana Casino Park Hotel, Funchal, Madeira Island Day 12 Altis Grand Hotel, Lisbon On some dates alternate hotels may be used.