Portimao, Portugal..........................

October 6, 2019

Sunrise 7:33 am

Early Mist and 82F

Arriving in port early morning, Portimao's busy marina - already a brilliant blue sky - and 

by 8:30 am we were aboard the coaches and heading out on the morning tour.

Only for the truly brave - walking on the windy cliffs of Cabo de. S. Vicente.

Our guys, Rob and Bob at the Cabo de Sao Vincente lighthouse

situated on the most south-westerly extremity of Europe and watching over 

busy shipping lanes. It's one of Europe's brightest lighthouses and can

 be seen from some sixty miles away!

Outdoor dining as only the Europeans can do it - waiting for the lunch crowd.

Shopping opportunity in Lagos.

A very warm 82F and a brilliant blue sky while visiting Lagos, Sagres and
 Cabo de. S. Vincente (Cape St. Vincent).

Prince Henry the Navigator - born 1394

This statue commemorates the 'prince of Portugal', regarded as an originator

 of the Age of Discovery and the Atlantic slave trade, and who used Lagos as

 a launch pad for many of the expeditions he commissioned. It was inaugurated

 in 1960 on the 500th anniversary of his death.

We headed back to the ship for our lunch. On most days, when aboard, we dined 

(as did the majority of the passengers) on the open Lido Deck where the always 

amazing buffet was served. . . . . .and relaxing and chatting was so enjoyable.

A more formal served lunch was also available in the dining room but we

 much preferred eating outside in the sunshine and watching passing boat traffic.

Next port of call takes us back to a favorite place in Spain!

Portugal 2019 - Embarkation and a little sightseeing -

WELCOME ABOARD!

Returning to beautiful Portugal was exciting, however not much time was spent

 in Lisbon as it was just the jumping off point for the cruise on the Hebridean Sky

 which took us 2,197 nautical miles to visit five countries!

After a quick 'sightseeing' zip around the busy city via motor coach, we and our

 group who had all flown together from London, unloaded at the dock. 

We boarded within minutes, were taken to our cabin (which was like returning

 home as we had the same one on this ship last year on the Patagonia/Chile 

expedition), our luggage appeared immediately, and within half an hour we were

 doing the required safety drill in the lounge area and ready for champagne and

 the Sail-Away!

As you can see, Hebridean Sky is a small ship compared to the German

mega cruise ship docked ahead of us. It probably had several thousand 

passengers whereas we were just 110 making embarkation so quick and easy.

 Another fun thing was seeing familiar faces among the ship's fabulous 

crew - and that they remembered us!

Sail-Away on the River Tagus heading to the Atlantic Ocean and a short

overnight sail of just 157 nautical miles to Portimao in southern Portugal's 

Algarve region.

The Monument of the Discoveries

Here's the link to our former visit to Lisbon a few years ago

where you can enjoy better photos taken when we had more time

in that lovely city.

Sea Fever

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; 

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sails shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.......................

John Masefield 1878-1967