My Camino: July 2016

Friday, 29 July 2016

Culinary Tour Lima

26July 2016

Started with the market - so varied

Then onto a beach where a monk dives off for tips - dangerous fund raising.

Then to a restaurant to prepare food - Mike and I can now invite people over for a dinner party 🎉🍷🍻💃🏼

Cusco

28th July 2016 Flying from Lima to Cusco - surrounded by the high, snow covered peaks of the Andes.

Landed in Cusco at an altitude of over 11500 feet. I remember that 12000 feet is the cut off for flying without oxygen. Stepping off the plane our lungs bitterly complained. It feels like you have flu with a dull headache (mild symptoms of altitude sickness).

Acclimatizing by slowly walking around and seeing the sites - climbing a flight of steps feels like running a marathon at km 38.

Great group of people in our tour with our guide Richie - they are Incredibly supportive and we are enjoying spending time with them.

Still no luggage!

Nachos in Cusco

Wednesday, 27 July 2016

Lima and Alpaca wool

26th July 2016 - We had an American breakfast at the hotel consisting of scrambled eggs and ham - bread rolls butter and jam and the most awesome coffee with milk. La Castellana is an old acienda style hotel with a middle courtyard. Walls made of stone!!! I didn't know stone is not soundproof!!!

We walked Lima's streets and it is a typical city but with so many cats. People sit waiting for busses and in gardens with stray cats on their laps. They are fed as there are cat pellets and water in every park.

Indulged in chocolate coffee from Havana - decadent and luxurious chocolate taste mmmm.

We walked the Inka market and bought Peruvian alpaca wool clothes - yay I can wash this set of clothes (I have worn them 3 days). Back at the hotel we washed and changed - handed our clothes into the laundry and went out to a restaurant we had passed. Tiny smaller than our bathroom at home. The owner, granny and children took part in making the food using a churascaira. Mike had breaded beef with salad and I had a steak from Argentina with salad - served with 2 types of chilly - soooo good!! Three beers later we were ready for bed. Unfortunately there was Lots of noise with comings and goings of youngsters in the lobby - lots of laughing and conversation. I so felt like going and telling them to use their inside voices - getting old much 😫

No beach sand only pebbles - so many people surfing and boogie boarding

Tuesday, 26 July 2016

Lisbon - Lima via Toronto

24 and 25th July 2016 Probably the longest time i have ever been in an aircraft. 8hrs Lisbon to Toronto 45min there and 8hrs Toronto to Lima - no luggage in Lima!!! - maybe to be expected considering the time that we were in Toronto. The good news is that we may get the bags in Olyantambo on Friday the 28th- We start walking on the 29th and need a sleeping bag 👣👣The bad news is that if we do not get it then - we have to hire a sleeping bag etc - not so keen on that. Anyway we will probably still get our bags before boarding for Rio - I will be packing my carry on for Rio so very differently!!

Monday, 25 July 2016

Madeira Restaurant and Mercado

24 July 2016 Miguel very capably drove us from Ericeira to Lisbon. Jorge bought chicken soup for the Tias and Tio Manuel. Luis brought them a taste of the fantastic food from the wedding. The Tias and Tio had lunch and then Jorge, Rosa and Miguel took us too a Madeira themed restaurant for lunch. I am not sure if you have noticed as to how much food plays a part of enjoyment in Portugal - a get together is not an occasion unless there is copious amounts of delicious food. I could live here!! I would be as big as a house but I would definitely enjoy the food and drink way of life.

We rested at the Palace (what an awesome Hotel) and then went out with Luis for dinner (after finishing lunch around 15:00) - see the pattern!! egg and Portuguese sausage, padron peppers, mushrooms and Caldo verde for Michael. Tapas at its best in a Mercado with lots of food stalls surrounded by the actual fruit and veg market (that section was closed on Sunday a00)

Ericeira

24 July 216 We stayed the night after the wedding at a hotel on the beachfront.

A surfing Mecca in Lisbon

Blue flag beach with many people enjoying a Sunday out and taking advantage of weather designed for suntanning and if you can brave it, a swim in the freezing Atlantic.

Marta and Eduardo's wedding. 23 July 2016

A lovely occasion with the bride looking radiant and absolutely lovely and the groom so very smart. Both Marta and Edwardo looked like they enjoyed every minute.

Graca and Luis spoke from the heart and are very proud of their daughter and brand new son. The best wedding I have ever attended as a guest. The attention to detail in everything was incredible. Thank you Marta and Eduardo for inviting us.

Journey to Mafra - the wedding venue.

23 July 2016 We went to Mafra via the Tias e o Tio Manuel. They are fragile st 90, 87 and 90 respectfully- amazing for their advanced ages. Tia Vitoria came with us to the wedding.

Belem

23rd July 2016 We visited Belem on the open top bus. Simpler option with time constrains. Would have loved to Metro to Cais do Sodre and then take the train to Belem.

Ended up drinking iced coffee in an air conditioned Starbucks Belem - it was 35 degrees. 😅 Then back to our very own Palace to get ready for Marta and Edwardo's wedding.

Portugal - Lisbon

21st July 2016 - flight to Portugal via Dubai arriving in Lisbon on the 22nd at lunchtime. Luis fetched us at the airport and took us to Dom Pedro Palace. Totally spoiled by Luis and Jorge throughout our stay.

In the afternoon Michael and I explored down town Lisbon.

Dinner with Luis

Drinks in Bico - Luis our guide shared his Lisbon with us, we are forever gratefull that he took time out of a busy schedule wit Marta's wedding and work commitments to show us this vibrant city at night.

Pensao Amor - an interesting place with a burlesque feel, restored and very trendy. 2am 23rd July - Lisbon parties very late and the streets are fillled with people - all with a common purpose - to enjoy this beautiful city.