Category Archives: Travel

“Travels to a Different Time” : 13July2005: Coimbra, Portugal: A Large Donald Duck is Looking at Us!

Yet another great sleep waking up at 09:00 and we headed down for a buffet breakfast. Seems in Portugal breakfast is always included in the room rate.  We take our breakfast in a side room but unlike the Pousada in Viano do Castelo we don’t eat outside on a terrace. The dining area seems gloomyContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 13July2005: Coimbra, Portugal: A Large Donald Duck is Looking at Us!”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 12July2005 Viano do Castelo/Guimares, Portugal

We are doing our best to manage the jet lag. It seems to be working well as we had a good sleep until 09:00. We had our breakfast on the terrace overlooking the basilica and the town. Unfortunately, there are wildfires in the distance and water bombers are continually landing on the ocean and fillingContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 12July2005 Viano do Castelo/Guimares, Portugal”

Travels to a Different Time:11July2005 Viano do Castelo/Ponte de Lima, Portugal

All of us had a good sleep and up at 09:00 a bit groggy. We could have slept more but best get acclimatized to the 6-hour time difference sooner or later. Greeted by a very elegant dining room for breakfast. There are about 15 tables and all with a view of the town below. WeContinue reading “Travels to a Different Time:11July2005 Viano do Castelo/Ponte de Lima, Portugal”

“Travels to a Different Time” : 10July2005; Viano do Castelo, Portugal

08:30 arrival in Opporto. Climbed on a bus from the airplane to clear through immigration in the terminal building. A bit of a sour arrival as Andrew left his MP3 on the airplane. Apparently, Alex had borrowed it and returned to him when he was sleeping. Some cleaner no doubt will be listening to someContinue reading ““Travels to a Different Time” : 10July2005; Viano do Castelo, Portugal”

Travels to a Different Time: 9July2005 Departing Toronto for Lisbon: Airline Food and Its Contempt for Passengers: The Infernal Vacuum WC Flushes

Again always seem to be ready to depart at the very last minute before the airport taxi arrives. Managed to down a quick Martini but with no time to enjoy it. Lesson one is that Martinis are meant to be savoured although not so long they warm up. Four people in the car with tooContinue reading “Travels to a Different Time: 9July2005 Departing Toronto for Lisbon: Airline Food and Its Contempt for Passengers: The Infernal Vacuum WC Flushes”

Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 25July1971: Crete, Greece: Beef in a Pancake!

Dearest Barbara: Both Robert and I do not like Crete. We find Cretans surly and grasping not at all like the other islands. So we will take the first boat out of here in three days. It is terribly humid here. We went to a beach some twenty minutes from the pension we are stayingContinue reading “Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 25July1971: Crete, Greece: Beef in a Pancake!”

Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 22June1971: Rhodos, Greece: Such Kind and Pleasant People: Two Can Live For $5 a Day!

Dear Barbara: Rhodes is a heavenly place. It is so clean, the Greeks so kind and pleasant. The fruits and vegetables are lovely. The tomatoes and cucumbers are something else. We have a few melons and oranges in our room. On Monday we are going to the island of Symi for a week stay. ItContinue reading “Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 22June1971: Rhodos, Greece: Such Kind and Pleasant People: Two Can Live For $5 a Day!”

Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 9July1971: Rhodes, Greece: Being in Greece is Like Being in Another World and I Love It!

Dear Andy: We returned from Symi yesterday and tomorrow we leave for Karpathos which is seven hours by ship. I am sitting in a restaurant at the market square waiting for Robert. It is very hot here and thank goodness for a continual breeze. The market is full of fruit and Robert can eat hisContinue reading “Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 9July1971: Rhodes, Greece: Being in Greece is Like Being in Another World and I Love It!”

Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 16July1971: Othos, Karpathos, Greece: At a Village Party!

Dear Barb: You would never believe the setting. I am sitting at an outdoor café with just two tables with a fat Greek lady clothed in head to toe in black with a black scarf all around her head and neck. We were invited by a lady, Poppy, to visit her in a small villageContinue reading “Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 16July1971: Othos, Karpathos, Greece: At a Village Party!”

Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 28June1971: Panormitis, Symi, Greece: Staying with The Pilgrims in a Monastery: Father Gabriel’s Miracle

Dear Barbara: You and your roommates would go out of your head as Rhodes is bursting with sailors. I could have a million (at least). We met Harry and Shorty two sailors and on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Roosevelt we received a private tour and saw a side of the ship the regular visiting publicContinue reading “Travels to a Different Time: Travels of My Mother: 28June1971: Panormitis, Symi, Greece: Staying with The Pilgrims in a Monastery: Father Gabriel’s Miracle”