25th September, 2019. Visit to Biarritz (Saint Jean-de-Luz) France

It was disappointing to receive news that our visit to Biarritz has been cancelled following the decision that it was unsafe to launch tenders in the Bay to take passengers on shore.

They have been monitoring the 3 metre plus swell for the last 2 days, but the swell with accompanying white caps make it unreasonable to continue with this planned visit.

As a consequence we sail for Bilbao and will have 2 days in this beautiful city.

22nd September 2019 La Rochelle -our Segway ride and tour.

We awake to a near perfect morning following yesterday’s inclement and changeable weather. Following breakfast we have a 20 minute bus transfer from the industrial port area to the downtown area. We then have to find our Segway location within the city centre area. Fortunately, it is only some 300 metres from the drop off point.

Jeanette leads the way and we arrive as Charli is opening up. Whilst our booking is for 10.90am, in fact he has a group of 6 scheduled and we join this group.

We paid our account then we were fitted out with helmets and then we dragged each Segway across to the Square where Charli checked each person out and instructed each of the group.

Then a practice period for 15 minutes then we were prepared to depart.

We were fine, Ken was requested to bring up the rear and ensure the others follow Charli.

We enjoyed a terrific Segway ride around the waterfront. It was a busy morning as there was an ocean racing event departing the harbour.

There is a very large Marina in La Rochelle, possibly the largest in France.

We completed our ride and caught a shuttle back to the ship at about 12.30pm. We boarded, changed and enjoyed hamburgers for lunch, then a quiet afternoon ,before dinner in Red Ginger Thai restaurant .

2nd October. 2019 Visit to Benfica Stadium and tour then to City Centre for Tram ride.

Again just a perfect morning with a light breeze and almond cloudless skies.

Following breakfast here, Ken had a tour of Benfica Football Stadium at 10.20am and enjoyed a wonderful time. It is a new 65,000 seat stadium with the most modern facilities. This is a proud and highly successful team.

Following the Stadium visit and Tour, Ken returned to our suite #512 before departing to ride the Metro into Chiado where he then rode 4 trams in different directions across the inner city. Thoroughly enjoyable and just special.

Then lunch at a bakery where he has a Quiche followed by a delicious custard and lemon tart with coffee . Jeanette has decided to relax, catch up on Facebook, then do some ironing.

Following his team rides he returned to Benfica via the Metro and walked to our Suite.

This afternoon we have to pack, but will do a load of washing so everything is up to date.

Jeanette visited the local Supermarket, purchased food for tonight and we have enjoyed a terrific time here in beautiful Lisbon, with its friendly people.

1st October 2019 Tour from Lisbon to Sitka and Pena Palace, International Palace, Cascais with Betsy and Gene Brody- Simply Amazing

We were picked up by Pauli our guide and departed Lisbon to travel some 49 miles up into the mountains to the palaces of Sitka where the Royals and nobility of what is now Portugal have lived and reigned for over 1200 years. This area has its own micro climate and this morning the places are shrouded in thick clouded and fog.

Whilst that is disappointing we do visit the Pena Palace which is simply stunning with the elaborate architecture, stunning decoration and breathtaking views over all ofLisbon.

We happened to beat the crowds, but even so there are queue and some jostling of people.

First glance at international palace Sitka

500/year ild Cork tree

29th and 30th September -Concluding a wonderful Cruise in Lisbon then pick up and Day tour of Lisbon and Checking in at UPon Lisbon Prime Residences.

We woke to a calm perfectly clear morning, having arrived in Lisbon, Portugal at 6.00am.

Ken looked out to stunning scenery of clear blue skies and the ship is berthed in downtown neat the Castle and old town.

Berthed behind us is the Crown Princess.. We departed our suite, went to say goodbye to our stewardess and Jeanette presented her with a small koala. We didn’t see Rince p, our butler, but he tried hard to meet our small needs. Then we took our small carry on to the Grand Dining Room and enjoyed breakfast sitting at the back of the ship, with Crown Princess behind.

We departed Oceania Marina at 8.30am, collected our luggage then waited in the terminal for waited in the terminal for Betty and Gene Brody, who have organised our pick up and day tour of Lisbon.

Our driver, Pauli, arrives on schedule at 9.00am, we proceed to load our luggage, then proceed and commence our tour of Lisbon.

The crown pRincess berthed behind oceania marina in LisboN this is taken from our breakfast table in Grand dining room.

Departing the ship from gangway on level 6 in lisbon, portugal 29september 2019

The pick up and transfer has worked well, and we now have from 9.00am until 4.00pm to do a tour through the new reclaimed areas then make our way towards toward the Castle and featured tourist spots. We depart and quickly enjoy seeing the old trams. But the old city is a maze of narrow winding streets with impossible traffic jams, people frustrated by the Trams and tourists everywhere.

But our guide Pauli, does an amazing job in getting us to sites.

Paulintakes first to the new waterfront areas where we enjoy a30 minute walk, then drive to the Railway Station area.

The Statuon Complex at Lisbon Central

From here we drove into the Castle areas. That involved a 10 minute drive then walking up and down meant steps and steep inclines.

We took photos and really enjoyed our time.