Today's the day I set out on my next journey. The car will be here shortly to drive me to Washington Dulles where I'll board my British Airways flight to Heathrow and then on to Lisbon, Portugal. I discovered I had some leftover miles on BA and managed to snag business class seats for this trip which is why I'm leaving from Dulles. I don't fly out until late this evening, but with the way airports are these days I thought I'd get there early. Besides, British Airways has a nice lounge.
I'll spend two nights in Lisbon at a hotel I also managed to book using AMEX points. (I like being able to use these things I've accumulated.) The hotel is a converted convent listed as one of the 5 star hotels in Lisbon. We'll see. I have an all day tour booked for the 16th with a guide from ToursbyLocals, just me and a guide. I'll write more about that later, but it will be something different from anything I've done before in Lisbon.
On Friday I board the Seabourn Ovation for 59 days. I'll sail up the Atlantic coasts of Portugal, northern Spain, and France. There are a couple of overnight stays in Bordeaux and Rouen, France. Next we'll sail around the British Isles, then up to the North Cape of Norway, around Iceland and back to Dover, England. It may be quite cold in Norway and Iceland when we arrive there, so packing has been a little challenging. As usual I probably packed too much. I have some friends on portions of the cruise and I know I'll meet some new ones. I've been to most of the ports and in some I will probably have a sea day in port. I've rediscovered exercise here at home (after a couple of years as a couch potato) and I'll try to take advantage of the fitness center on the ship.
I am an avid watcher of British mysteries on Britbox, especially Vera and Shetland. So I was pretty excited to learn that Anne Cleeves, the author on whose characters those two shows are based, will be on as a guest speaker. I often get invited to dine with guest lecturers so I'm hoping I get to meet her. I have some excursions planned along the way and I'll write more about them as they happen.
So, that's it for now.
3 comments:
Bon voyage! Hope you have a wonderful time!
Anna, I’m so exciting. I wish I was there too. And I really hope you get the meet Ann Cleaves, those are our favorite shows too.
Ann, Lisbon is bringing back wonderful memories! I believe it was in 2010, you & Al, Cindi & Ed & I were all together on a small tour of the Sinatra Palace then on a hunt for a famous, delicious Portuguese pastry. If you can again find that bakery, have one for us!
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