All Packed But Still Getting Out There

We are three days away from getting on a plane to Chicago but we are still enjoying some beautiful days in Porto.  The skies are blue and sitting in the sun is a real pleasure.

From the Terrace of our room

The room before we messed it up

We’ve walked across the bridge both ways— on the bottom and then yesterday across the top.

At the top

The Bridge 

Walking across the bottom tier of the bridge

We’ve taken the gondola both ways and stopped to sample port.

At Calem Port 

We’ve visited a sheep farm and a creamery that makes artisanal cheese.  As I was taking photos of the sheep and lambs I could hear Kristen saying, “You don’t have to go all the way to Portugal to photograph sheep!”

George the owner and his daughter-in-law who guided us in the process and in the fields

We’ve walked from the Ribeira to Catarina Street and back.

We’ve stopped here and there for a sip of wine or two.

In a few minutes, we’ll leave for a walk to the Crystal Palace Gardens.

We’re packed and ready to go with clothes laid out for tomorrow and the plane ride home. We’re hoping for the best so cross your fingers for us or do whatever you think might bring us home in one piece. Can I have an amen!?

We do a lot of planning ourselves but we also have been using Travel Leaders in Bloomington, Indiana for a few years now. Debbie, our travel agent has kept us out of a few scrapes in the past. This time she has been more than invaluable, taking our phone calls and answering our panicked questions. The fee is minimal compared to having someone to help you out of tough spots. We would highly recommend this as you never know when you might need some help that you can’t get from a website.

Kudos, applause, and many thanks, Debbie! 

The (probably) final Gospel of Dennis from Portugal:
(“Hack, hack, cough-sneeze”) Just kidding, I’m feeling fine. We leave Porto on the morning of March 15 and hope to be back in Chicago that afternoon as we pick up five hours on the return trip.  Don’t quite know what to expect in the USA but we may be required to self impose a 14 day quarantine on ourselves??? If we do, as soon as we hit Front Nine, we’re gonna throw a party and invite everyone over for drinks. What? That defeats the purpose of a quarantine? Hmm...bet I know some of you drinkers would take me up on it. 😀 (Note from Cindy—will not even consider this idea)
This will be a clue that we’re back: the garage door will be up.  If after a day or two the door is still up but you detect no movement inside or outside, call the sheriff or fire department and have them do a safety check.  If you’re brave enough, you can do a personal check.  All of our money is buried in a large crock in the back garden—13 steps off the lower deck step south and 4 steps north.  An X marks the spot on the ground, 3 feet down.  Take any unopened wine in the house too. Leave the new underwear I just bought for me in the next life.  See you soon!

Somewhere around here, maybe.