Happy Holidays

Whether you are celebrating Channaka, preparing for Kwanza, or, like me, recovering from Thanksgiving and well into the fun of bright lights and deliciousness that makes Christmas so special for families - I wish you the happiness of the season and a joyous New Year.  And speaking of New Year's join me in Italy for the celebrations.  My next itinerary spans the globe from Rome to London by way of Algiers then on to Buenos Aires and the Falklands by way of Antarctica!!  I promise more pictures.  Judy-Lynn

Heading Home

Much like the trip to Portugal, it also took me two days to get home.  Unlike flying up early and having a wonderful day in Washington, two days flying home were a bit less exciting.  We set out early for the very short drive to the airport.  Nina said it was a complicated airport to navigate so it required us to be there at least three hours early.  She was going to stay with us up to security.  That didn’t happen…at least for Ruth and me.

Like everything on this trip, Nina did not stay on top of things and stuff got away from her.  We all shared email contact information but she didn’t get the list until the last day. Some were not with us so she got them at the Farewell Dinner.  Back at the hotel she found out that the copy machine was not working.  I wouldn’t be surprised if that hotel simply didn’t want to make the copies or were going to charge her and she didn’t want to pay.  Whatever happened, her husband met us at the airport to give us the copies as we were checking in.  It was good that he was there because the counter agent did not have much English and I wanted to be sure I had a window seat on the left of the plane.  This would protect my shoulder from being bumped during the flight.  It is still recovering from the most recent surgery.  TPA doesn’t allow check in for a group ticket until at the airport so it all worked out.

After we got the seat assignment everyone made their way to security.  Nina was right.   It was a little confusing.  Ruth and I do not hesitate to double check with employees when the signage is poor.  I ended up in the wrong passport line only because we got separated and the person I was following went to the resident line.  Not a big issue and I soon caught up.  

To get to the gate area in the Lisbon airport you are wound around a long twisting corridor of shopping.  It is not to either side but you plunge ahead right through the shops.  I vote to get rid of perfume and cologne in these places.  The scent was overwhelming to the point you could taste it and there is no way to avoid it here!

Gates were not announced until an hour before the flight, about twenty minutes before boarding.  Ruth and I had an idea which of several gates it would be so were happy to find nearby seating that included a foot rest.  We didn’t buy lunch or even water as the prices were ridiculous.  A hamburger at the airport kiosk, not a restaurant, was 15.75 euros!  We ate a granola bar and held out for the plane meal.  No one from our group was waiting here but we enjoyed a little talking and a lot of reading. 

It was interesting to be that there are three gates with the same number.  We flew out of 45, not 45 A or 45 B. Lucky for us we had only a ‘personal item’ so we were moved to the ‘0” line, not the “B” we were assigned.  We boarded first while anyone with a roll aboard went through the normal procedure.  They were going to need to gate check a lot of bags.  We found our seats.  The counter agent has us across the aisle from each other.  Ruth by the window and me in the aisle seat so my left arm was exposed to traffic.  Weird how that happened.  But we each had a solo flyer seat so we just took the two together by the window.  Ruth giving me hers.  When the lady came for the aisle she was willing to swap and take my assigned seat.  She just didn’t want the entertainment box so she was good.

The food was a chicken of some sort.  The video system was working so Ruth watched a couple movies, I wrote to update three days of this work of art which you are reading faithfully!  Then I read for a while. Drank lots of hot tea and soda. Nothing special about the flight.  I will comment that this plane was way better than the way over.  Actual elbow room by the window. The people in front didn’t infringe on our space and wall was well, it only left a few minutes late.  So we arrived back in the good ole U S of A at Newark, NJ, only a few minutes late. 

Because I have Global entry in was only a minute to go through Passport Control.  I waited for Ruth and we got our luggage quickly and proceeded through customs.  I didn’t realize that Global Entry also got you through Customs faster as so many fewer are in line and there really are not questions or examinations.  You are a ‘Trusted Traveler.’

Ruth and I met up again and went out to Ground Transportation.  We had the directions to get to the hotel but called and were reminded to take the Plane Train to Parking 4.  Then we called again and Brian showed up almost immediately to take us to the hotel.  Big sigh of relief…temporarily. We were on the highway when Brian’s phone rang and his boss wanted him to wait for someone else.  He explained he was on the road but the boss knew it was rush hour traffic and would be a long turn around.  So reluctantly Brian looped off and drove back.  Good enough.  It was cold and windy and no one likes to wait.  But it was us who ended up waiting.

No one was at the pickup spot.  After a while Brian went in to look for someone coming out looking for a ride to the Holiday Inn. About 40 minutes later he returned with Estella and Alex from our trip.  Alex was the one who broke her leg.   They had with them a filled luggage rack and Alex was holding more on her lap in the wheel chair.  When they got on the van, finally, I commented that it took them a long time to get to the pickup zone.  Turns out they called for their ride before they were even in the first part of the Entry Process.  So even with the wheel chair there are two more steps to it.  They simply called too soon and never even said anything about being glad he came back or mentioned inconveniencing the others in the van.  Alex commented that she had a broken foot!

We got to the hotel in a cold rain after a lane changing drive on the packed highway.  Estella ran ahead leaving us to help Alex out of the van. I took my bag and ‘Ruth’s’ into the lobby.  I had accidently taken one of the girls’ five suitcases and many small bags by mistake.  After it was rudely taken from me I went back for Ruth’s bag while she checked us in.  I guess Estella and Alex were not happy with the way Alex’s trip had gone and were even wearier than us.  And they had a long flight the next day to the left coast.

The room was nice and because it was cold and dark we ordered a pizza from the place across the street that the desk clerk had said was quite good.  It finally arrived and was already not particularly hot nor delicious.  But it was food, and we needed it.  A hot bath for me, I am always glad when there is a tub.  We both read for a while and got to sleep early.

We both woke about four a.m. still being on Portuguese time.   Ruth went out into the cold rain and brought the car to the door and we set out for the Baltimore airport.  First stop the McDonald’s for coffee, Next stop just before Delaware for gas and a bathroom break.  I was in the Baltimore airport at my gate by 7:30. 

On the way to my gate I saw a whole lot of Army men and women.  Me being me, I sort of announced, “I can’t come shake each of your hands individually but I want you all to know that my family and I thank you.  We appreciate all you do.”  Several spoke up and thanked me and they seemed to brighten up in this early, rainy, morning gloom.  A non-uniformed lady that was with them asked if I had a little time before my flight and when I laughed and said yes.  She invited me to stay and join them as an Honor Flight was about to land in a half hour.  A group of Mid-Shipmen from the Academy and one Air Force lady joined us.  When the Spirit Air plane arrived it had 72 WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam vets on board as well as 60 helpers.  They were all from south Florida.  It took a while for them to begin coming through the yellow-ribboned gateway.  First came those in wheel chairs and then those able to walk assisted and then on their own.  The military present had cordoned off on either side and we applauded and cheered.  A Staff Sargent shook each hand and said, welcome home, thank you to each hero.  I was crying by then as we did not welcome home the Vietnam vets at the time.  It was so nice and I am very glad I was part of it.  The Honor Flight volunteers were escorting them to a reception for breakfast and then at some point they were going into D.C. to see the Memorials.  All very moving and thought provoking.  Maybe you can find out more about this program and see if you can help in some way.  The gratitude and even tears on the faces of those being welcomed would make it all worthwhile for you!

 

I am sorry I did not take more videos that were short enough to post or more stills.

These volunteer military got up extra early to do this.

I made my way through the empty concourses to the Delta gates. No one was there, no one.  Not even gate agents!  My flight was at 1:41.  Only two flights left the Delta concourse before that and both were to Atlanta.  Even though they were nearly only about half full, I was not allowed to change my flight because I had booked as Basic Economy.  Ridiculous.  Then my flight was very full and had only one empty seat.  What if the overbooked people had shown up!

So I had a while to wait.  Nothing or no one to distract or disturb me.  I caught up on email and messages.  One flight went through the area and then empty again.  So I had a while to wait.  Nothing or no one to distract or disturb me.  I caught up on email and messages.  One flight went through the area and then - empty again.  

Ruth texted me that she was home eating breakfast and all was well. I talked to my brother for a little bit.  Elva called to catch up on future travel plans.  We seem to do that often when we are in airports. A lady came down the way and across from me put her bags down. Soon there would be a flight.  She went off, I thought to the rest room.  The woman was very noticeable since over her jeans jacket she was wearing a fuzzy pink bathrobe.  It was cold and rainy and I kind of wished I had the same!

I called Katie, just to chat on this Saturday morning. A gate agent went past and stopped to ask me if those were my bags.  I replied no but said the lady had set them there and then I thought maybe she went to the restroom or to get food as she headed that way.  A few minutes went by and the gate agent made a call.  About 15 minutes later, while I was still taking to Katie, a lady security guard came. She asked if they were my things which she obviously had already known they weren’t since she had been called and the gate agent greeted her before she came my way.  I described the lady and what she was wearing.  The guard called into her boss or station.  

Just then the woman returned eating a sandwich.  She was asked her name and said the bags were hers.  She took a seat with her back to me.  The guard called in again and spelled the name.  She then must have asked to see the ID because I heard her say you can reach in your pocket but don’t stand up.   As the guard stood knee to knee with her, the lady young woman ate her breakfast.  I would have been a nervous wreck.  Perhaps she was used to this kind of thing because the guard said that there was the possibility that there was a warrant out for her arrest.  

That is when another security person, a large man, came down the concourse.  This was timed perfectly with the arrival of a police officer coming from an exit door by the gate desk.  The new security office went around behind me and approached from behind the woman and the police office, while noticeably unbuttoning the cover of his gun belt, approached from the front. The officer asked if those were her things and took possession of them.  The first security person asked her to put her hands behind her back and introduced the handcuffs and locked them.  Then the four of them, two security, the police officer, and the woman who just wanted breakfast, walked out the exit.  It was all done very quietly, respectfully, and without marching the suspect through the concourse.  I just kept talking quietly to Katie who said I should video but I didn’t feel that was the right thing to do.  I did snap a photo without taking the phone from my ear.  

I have mixed feelings about all of this.  If it was unpaid parking tickets I feel sad that she just wanted to have something to eat and got caught.  I am glad she didn’t ask me to watch her bags which she might have done as we sometimes do after talking with people at the gate.  If she is a murderer I am glad she wasn’t on my plane.  

And I will never know!

My flight was good enough and again I was able to get my preferred seat.  A nice older gentleman was next to me flying to Savannah for his God Daughter’s wedding – the second one.  And he had paid for the first one and it wasn’t paid off before they split.  People are very open chatting when they know they will never see you again.  Then he played chess on his phone and I read.  I go nowhere, not even ordinary places without a book!

My bag was waiting on the carousel.  Karen was waiting in the cell-phone lot with my famous two headed dog! We stopped at Christine’s to pick up my car.  I got home about 5:00 p.m. on Saturday the 27^th after leaving my hotel room in Lisbon some 28 hours earlier!  I love to travel.  If I didn’t why would I go through the hardships that international touring, especially flying, creates!

 AMAZING!

A real lapful.  I was so happy to be home!

Can’t fool you, can I!  Meet my puppy, Wonton Noodle in all his fluffiness. 

  And Daisy Doodle, LLC!  Our “family dog!”

Thanks for following my adventures.  I will be adding photos now that I am home.  

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The next journey begins December, 28! 

A cruise from Rome to London.  Back in the States for less than 24 hours and off to Antarctica!

Obidos and Farewell

Today was our last full day in Portugal.  Tomorrow we fly to the USA.  We had two included events, the first in the morning.  We drove out to suburban Obidos.  For me and I think for Ruth as well as some of the others, this could have been skipped. It isn’t that I felt I needed more time in Lisbon but that it was a pretty drive to a small, cobbled, walled city with a steep uphill climb to see the exterior of a castle and a view of mostly just the highway below. And Shopping! The one street we were supposed to stay on was shop after shop where Nina encouraged us to support the local economy.  I feel I did that by just showing up in Portugal.  Have I become cynical?  

I will say that one of the best living statues I have ever seen was here. A ‘young girl’ perched on a wall and was all in silver costume and paint to look like a statue.  She moved in a repetitious mechanical fashion that made her actually seem like a wind up doll.  There were some very good street musician splaying guitar and singing.  Oddly, a lady who appeared to be their mother sat close by to each and watched the collection.  An officer warned Nina about pickpockets.  We are always conscious of that when we travel even to big cities in the States.  Crowds will almost always = pickpocket possibilities.  But with this special warning, they must have been busy today.

It was a nice day for a stroll and soon Nina was collecting our VOX radios on the bus for the ride back to the city.  She and the driver were friends and chatted the whole way.  I think she figured the tour was over!

Back in the city we enjoyed our lunch while our phones charged.  Ruth and I then took the map and made our way toward the Avenida da Liberdade.  This parkway was created after the 1755 earthquake as a Passeio Publico even though passage of ordinary people was barred. The high walls and gates excluded you and me as we would not have been of the high society or royal persuasion.  With the liberal revolution of 1821 these impediments were pulled down and it is indeed the avenue representing liberation.

Many monuments are placed at the beginning and end of each grassy section dividing the promenade. Some are of heroes as late as World War I as Portugal always sided with the Allies and the United States but did not become involved in WWII.  The street has a central lawn with a tiled walkway on either side.  Cafes and Kiosks selling food, newspapers, and souvenirs are along these.  Then on either side of those is a broad street making for one way traffic.  Next to that is the ordinary, but tiled, wide sidewalk fronting high end merchants.  Here you find boutique hotels and high end shopping; Prada, Michael Kors, Louboutin and others.  After about four short blocks there is a cross traffic street and another statue.  The titles of the statues indication who the person is and why he is there is spelled out with black cobbles amid the grey stones.

This is not my photo but I love the feel of it which is the feeling I had as I walked along this historic and iconic street.  A step back in time if you ignore the traffic!

 

Soon it was time to make our way back to the hotel.  On the way over a young lady helped us make all the right turns and was very friendly.  We were still in the Baixa District which is where our hotel was conveniently located.  We took a different route home and it was very much for locals only.  Lots of dusty construction, narrow streets with vans blocking traffic and strange characters made it most interesting.

Once we safely arrived we made sure our bags were in order for the next day’s travel and dressed for our Farewell Dinner.  Our bus took us a distance from the hotel into what no longer looked like a touristy section of town.  Here in a small restaurant on a back ally we were treated to a Fado performance while we dined on roast pork which luckily had gravy on it since all the meats were cooked to be very dry. The one exception to this was a hamburger which we enjoyed at a small, local chain.  The Dors did not want pork and Dorcelia waited especially long for her plate of chicken to be placed before her.  Dorene took the proffered fish.  All during our trip Nina commented on the desserts and sweets.  She didn’t eat them because they were too sweet.  Our friend Marion who had been here before agreed.  I did not find them that way at all.  As I mentioned earlier we added powdered sugar and cinnamon to one of them to give it a boost.  Tonight we had a delicious Flan but it was oddly served with ice cream on the plate. I was lucky, Dorene didn’t want her Flan so I was delighted to eat it for her.  Wine flowed but Ruth said it wasn’t even as good as her 99 cent bottle.

I was disappointed in the Fado show.  On the bus earlier in the week we had listened to the kind of music defined as Fado and it seemed solemn and forlorn.  Nina had explained that typically is a story of heartbreak and loneliness, kind of like our own country music but very somber.  What we heard seemed lively and cheerful. This restaurant and show was definitely a family affair and the mother, daughter, and father all performed.  Two men played the music.  One with the very unique Fado guitar and the other what the Portuguese call a Viola Guitar.  It is sort of a fat or wide version of our acoustic guitar.  They played quite well and we had a good view of them from our raised dining platform for the six o’clock dinner show.  The tables on the main floor were set and before we had left a tour arrived for the eight p.m. performance.  This group had a completely different menu judging by what was on their plate.  And their show included a lady playing the accordion and dressed in what looked to be a Polish costume.  I know this because I encountered her in the bathroom.  It was a bit of a strange evening.

Back at the hotel we left only the pajamas we were wearing and our clothes for the flight home out of our suitcases.  Ruth and I both like to not be scrambling to pack in the morning before moving on.  Although our flight was not until five to one we were leaving for the airport at nine.  Nina is going to stay with us until the security stop because she says it is a tricky place to fly out of.