September 8, hubby and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary at my favorite place to dine for brunch, the Hotel Hershey. Not wanting to overlook our 35 years of marriage, we planned another as we say five-star trip. Read part one of our luxury European vacation on the Douro River.
When I first discovered European vacations by river cruising, that became my preferred method of travel. You may recall my first Ama Waterways Cruise on the Seine River in France in 2016. The fascination with re-learning European history, I can’t get enough.
Ama Waterways as an upscale boutique river cruise line; most people are familiar with Viking or Uniworld. Ama is a family-owned and operated cruise line founded in 2002.
What appeals to me is that the ship typically carries no more than 100 people. At least on the two cruises I’ve traveled. I believe this type of ship carries up to 200 people. As I’ve aged, I prefer not to go on the big cruise lines with massive crowds.
I mention not liking the large cruise ships. Although, one of my best vacations ever, a 2008 Smooth Jazz cruise on Holland America Carribean line to Aruba in 2008. That cruise, Trent and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. If you like smooth jazz, that cruise is a must-do.
I know we pay dearly for river cruises. Still, the services offered by Ama are impeccable, From the agents meeting you at the airport car service to the fabulous hotels, the amazing tours, the fantastic guides, and the agents there to respond to any questions during your stay.
Did I mention that while Trent and I commemorated our 35th wedding anniversary, my bestie Cynthia and her hubby Howard celebrated their 30th? I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our marriage milestones and friendship.
How did I decide on Portugal and Spain? Both were locations to visit on my bucket list for European travel. First of all, Portugal is one of the most inexpensive places to visit in Europe. It’s worth exploring the rich history of fishing, port wine, olive oil, and cork.
Hubby and I always opt for car service to the Philly airport since we live at least 2.5 hours away. Our flight to Portugal, a direct flight out of the Philly International Airport, is just a mere 6 hours to Portugal. The plane of nearly 300 people going home or vacationing. I don’t know.
Before boarding the Ama Waterways river cruise ship on the Douro, we spent three days in Lisbon at the superb Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Hotel. How about the doorman handling our luggage? The well-appointed hotel is perfect for downtime after the six-hour flight.
On my hit list of things to see and do in Lisbon, I recommend taking a tram ride (a must-see tourist attraction), enjoying plenty of alfresco dining, going to Sintra to see Pena Palace, visiting Porto to sample port wine, and visiting some of the UNESCO Heritage sites.
Visit the most Instagrammable place in Portugal, the Pena Palace. This fairytale castle is located in Sintra, a lovely mountain village that started as a summer residence for the Portuguese royal family. The view was a bit disappointing because of the long lines, rain, and fog.
The UNESCO World Heritage sites that we toured in Portugal:
♠ Cultural Landscape of Sintra
◊ Jerónimos Monastery
♥ Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém
◊ Alto Douro Wine Region
Online sources best describe a world heritage site as a landmark or area chosen by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Many sites around the globe have cultural, historical, scientific, or other forms of significance.
After checking out the Tivoli Hotel, our next excursion included a 2.5-hour North train ride to Porto, Portugal, the City of Bridges. Ama Waterways provided a bus to carry our luggage to the river cruise ship in Porto.
Next up, a panoramic view of the city by bus and a cable car ride over the UNESCO World Heritage Site where Cálem Winery is located in the Riberia section of Porto. One of the highlights of the city of Porto is the Ribeira district. The UNESCO World Heritage site boasts a fantastic waterfront promenade with its cafes and restaurants.
Port wine is unquestionably one of Portugal’s best-known products around the world. The Douro River Valley is famous for producing Port. We had our share of tasting the different varieties of port while on this vacation.
On the second day in Porto, we ventured into a shopping area lined by many beautiful art nouveau buildings dating back almost 100 years. We found and shopped in the Zara store.
How about one of the top 10 must-see cafes in Porto? The Majestic Cafe is a Belle Epoque-era cafe with an ornate interior featuring carved wood, mirrors, and chandeliers.
How about another palace? This one is in Vila Real, an 18th-century Baroque-style palace and gardens named Mateus. Fans of the rosé-colored Mateus will recognize the image on the famous’s labels.
It’s a hard stop here. I will continue next week’s post with the remaining days in Portugal and then Madrid, Spain. Stay tuned.
As always, I appreciate your love and support. Have a fabulous week.
