After a 2 year delay, we finally had our trip to Portugal – 18 days in Lisbon, Porto and driving around the countryside. Thoroughly enjoyed.
About 5 centuries past its peak but interesting country side, great roads winding through mountains and valleys, stone buildings, terraced vineyards and cork forests. People are very nice although apart from the bread and pastries, the food is mundane. Portugal is rather removed from the rest of the world and vice versa .
Finished with 5 days in London – theatre, opera, museums (our hotel was beside the British Museum), and pubs. Noticeable absence of Chinese and Russian tourists. Enjoyed a cigar lounge in each country (accompanied by port in one and scotch in the other). Everyone wore masks everywhere in Portugal, and hardly a soul in London.
A much better and more comprehensive coverage of our trip can be found at daihime.com for you Japanese readers (or those who enjoy google translate).
Happy to be back home with the blossoms blooming and everything turning green. This month I hope to make progress on our bedroom door (using another of the MEC doors) and the tea pavilion (although golf, kayaking, motorbiking and other diversions may slow progress).