Tag Archives: Retirement abroad

Portugal

Food Tour Through Lisbon Portugal

We went to Lisbon which is the capital and the largest city of Portugal. It has an estimated population of around 500,000. We thought what would be the best way to experience the local culture? So we decided to take a gastronomic walking tour. It was a unique way to discover parts of Lisbon, through its food, flavours and small restaurants and cafes.

We began our tour at 8:30 in the morning at the Praca de Comercio.  Which is a main plaza with lots of bars and cafe shops along the plaza.

The Placa de Comercio in Lisbon, Portugal.

We walked through the many unique streets in the old quarter of Lisbon. There was some beautiful architecture with many buildings finished in decorative tiles.

Buildings decorated and finished with ceramic tiles.
Typical street in the old quarter of Lisbon

We explored different historic sites including several plazas

Our first stop for a taste of Lisbon was at a small local business called “Manteigaria Silva” that sold selected local foods.

Food samples from Manteigaria Silva  food tour

After enjoying some local port and food we continued our walk.  We explored many narrow streets and different barrios. The views and architecture were amazing.

We stopped at a great restaurant for some traditional plates.

Restaurant with unique Portuguese foods

We the continued our food walking tour and end at a very quaint and unique restaurant called “A Muralha Tapas and Vinhos.” This tapas bar was a great spot. The bartender served flaming meats cooked in a small pottery style tray.

Bar tender cooking Portuguese Chourico sausages
The special trays used to heat the chourico using alcohol

We enjoyed a few glasses of port and tasted several types of sardines which were very tasty.

One of the types of flavoured sardines we enjoyed at the food tasting

We finished off our tasting with a nice glass of Portuguese sour cherry liqueur.

Serving us a sample of sour cherry Liqueur.

The food tour was a fantastic way to explore part of Lisbon and experience some of the unique foods of the country. We took a group photo at the end of the tour as a small memento of our food adventure.

“Tenha um ótimo dia e aproveite a vida ao máximo”

Camino de Santiago, Spain

On the Camino de Sanitago

We began walking early every day at around 8 am or earlier.

Mark and Ray on the Camino de Santiago

Heading out early to beat the heat and enjoy the peaceful walk on the camino. The trails are well marked and easy to follow.

Typical marker along the camino trail.

We began our camino journey by walking along the streets of the camino leading through the town of Sarria and then along country paths.

Walking through the streets of Sarria on the Camino
Church in Sarria

We soon reached the countryside and began walking into some fields and walking upwards on some hills. The vistas were beautiful all along our way.

View of the roaming hills on the trail of the camino.
One of the many trails along the camino.

During the eight days we walked the camino, we came across some unique and interesting people and buildings. We walked through old Spanish hamlets and towns admiring some of the buildings and churches.

Old buildings along the camino de Santiago
One of the many churches along the camino

Old ruins of a building on the camino

There were religious crosses and other symbols along with some interesting animals.

One of the crosses along the camino.
Ray with a donkey along the camino

We would walk along with other pilgrims on the trail and chat with them about different aspects of the camino. Finally saying good  bye with the common phrase of “Buen Camino”.

Some of the many people we encountered on the Camino.

All along the camino we came across areas which had makeshift shrines. These shrines small stones, images of people and notes written to loved ones who had passed away.

One of the many shrines along the camino de Santiago.

We stopped to look at the shrines and read some of the notes left there by loved ones. It was a very moving experience to see so many along the camino trail.  Below are just a few of the camino memorials or shrines along the way.

One of the ad hoc shrines along the camino

One of the many signs along the camino.

We walked a total of 115 kilometres on the Camino from Sarria to Santiago de Compostela. Over that distance we saw many beautiful vistas and towns. Here are just some of the interesting things and vistas along our 8 day trek on the camino.

We arrived at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela around noon on the eight day.

Ray and Mark at the Cathedral of Santiago

It was a very rewarding and emotional adventure. The Camino de Santiago is an emotional, spiritual and physical adventure. You have to experience the camino to truly understand and appreciate the adventure.

Buen Camino!

“La vida es una aventura, vive tu aventura”

Camino de Santiago, Spain

The start of the camino de Santiago adventure

The Camino de Santiago is a religious pilgrimage which has always been of interest to me. It is known as “The Way of Saint James” an important pilgrimage that dates back to the middle ages. There are many different pilgrimage routes that lead to the city of Santiago de Compostela. Some of the routes are considered main routes for the pilgrimage. All routes however lead to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great where his remains are located in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

I began my preparations for the pilgrimage nearly a year in advance. Walking and training with my camino partner Mark for the journey which would inevitably take me through steep hills, valleys and other challenges. Reading many articles and conducting research it became obvious that planning and the right equipment was key.

Packed and ready for the Camino de Santiago

The day finally arrived and we set out by train to our starting point of Sarria Spain.

Once we boarded our train, we settled in for the eight hour train ride.  We toasted to the adventure that would follow.

Ray and Mark toasting to the Camino de Santiago

We enjoyed the train ride and we met other great people heading to Sarria for the Camino adventure. We arrived tired but excited to start our camino the next morning.

At the start of the Camino de Santiago I felt that the adventure would be a challenging walk and a hiking experience. I did not realize that the camino de Santiago experience would change me forever.

“Deja que comience la aventura”

Greece

Archaeological Site of Delos Island

We went to the amazing archaeological site which is the entire island of Delos in the aegean sea.

The island is considered to be one of the most significant archaeological sites in Greece and was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1990.

Our boat docked at the site and we followed our tour guide to begin exploring the island.

Our tour guide leading the way at the start of our tour.

We followed the tour group for some time listening to the amazing history of the island. She explained different areas of the island and how the society was at the centre of commerce at the time.

Ruins on the Delos island

It was hard to imagine that this island was a bustling city of over 30,000 people during the 1st millennium B.C.

Shelley and Ray at the pier of Delos Island

After following our tour guide for an hour or so, we decided to break away and explore the island on our own. We walked through the different streets exploring the ruins.

One of the many streets of ruins on Delos Island

The ruins of a butcher shop with stone butcher table still intact.
The famous Terrace of the Lions dates back to 3,000 BC.

The ruins of a traditional home on Delos Island

Tiled floor of ancient mansion on Delos Island
Touching a piece of history
Ruins of Delos Island

We walked through the ruins and came to an amphitheater. We stopped and decided to sit and relax in the 1 BC amphitheater.

The 1st BC amphitheater on Delos Island
Shelley sitting on the 1 BC bench of the amphitheater on Delos island

We saw a trail that lead up to the top of the mountain so we decided to go  an explore the mountain.

Top of the mountain on Delos Island

It was a fairly long and hard walk up the trail to the top. We stopped a few times along the way to catch our breath and take in the views.

The view from part way up the mountain on Delos Island

We continued up the trail and made our way slowly to the top.

View of the trail looking back down towards the base.

We reached the top and the views were well worth the walk up the mountain.

Ray and Shelley at the top of Delos Island
View from the top of Delos Island

We came to the highest point of the island and placed a rock on the top.

Ray placing a rock on the highest point of Delos Island

We stayed on the top of the mountain for a while enjoying the fantastic views of the surrounding islands. The pictures don’t give justice to the beauty of the views.

A short video of the climb up to the top of Delos Island

Our day on Delos Island was fantastic. Walking through the ruins of ancient Greece and knowing that this was referred to as the birthplace of the immortals gods of greek mythology. was a highlight of our travels to Greece.

“η ζωή είναι μια περιπέτεια, μην ξεχάσετε να την αγκαλιάσετε”

Greece

Exploring the Island of Santorini

The town of Thera on the Island of Santorini was very beautiful and interesting. The white washed buildings and stunning views from the cliffs made for great vistas.

View of the town of Thera on Santorini Island

We walked through the narrow streets of the town admiring the different shops and the views.

Ray and Shelley in the town of Thera in Santorini
Pedestrian walkway along the cliff edge of the town of Thera.

The streets were adjacent to beautiful white washed buildings.

Shelley along one of the narrow streets in Thera Santorini

Some of the stores and shops were very impressive with beautiful art and unique items.

White washed buildings along the streets of Thera

We walked along the streets which were either leading upwards or heading downwards toward the Aegean sea. There was very few areas without some form of incline or decline.

We walked up stairs along the cliff edge and eventually came to a restaurant with a perfect spot to enjoy a glass of local wine. We relaxed at our table which provided us with a perfect view of the island.

The views at our table also provided us with a fantastic view of the caldera which was caused by a volcano which is still considered active today.

Satellite image of the Santorini caldera. Photo courtesy of NASA – http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA02673

The volcano was one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history, which occurred about 3,600 years ago.

After enjoying a rest and admiring the views, we headed back down towards the old port of Santorini. Along the way we would stop and just take in the moment admiring the views.

Ray on the Island of Santorini, Greece

We decided to go down the steps which lead to the old port located at the base of the island. Each step was numbers and they were fairly steep.  We took our time and walked carefully and slowly down the  587 steps to the bottom.

Stairs leading down to the old port of Santorini.

Along the way down we came to an area which had lots of donkeys. There were people selling rides down the steps on the back of a donkey for five euros.

Donkeys along the steps leading down to the old port of Santorini.

We continued walking down the steps and about half way down we came across more donkeys. These were just standing on the stairs and were not tied. They just stood there and we had to cross behind or in front of them. It was somewhat apprehensive for some people.

Donkeys standing on steps on the way down to the old port of Santorini.

It was not a pleasant walk down because of all the donkey fecal matter on many of the steps.  Once we reached the bottom we came to a cruise boat offering tours to the volcano. We decided to take the tour and explore the volcano, but that is for another post.

“Κάντε μια υπέροχη μέρα και μείνετε ασφαλείς.”