Anime for life

Bag Bento Lunch

A golf holiday + + Agenda: - North Portugal Tour

Introduction: -

Last year was our first trip Porto in northern Portugal, through a one-week cruise on the River Douro, brilliantly organized by PortGolf. At the end of the week, Peter Everts who heads PortGolf suggested that returning to the feast of St. Juan and maybe play golf. That seemed a good idea if we went back to the United Kingdom, we hosted a dinner for two couples, one of which (Gerry and Catriona) had played golf all over Porto and Jim and Margery. We discussed the idea and decided that this would be a good number eight. Shortly after we had dinner with another couple, John and Marion, who volunteered to join us. None of us had never taken a vacation together before it is a test of friendship. Due to other commitments Gerry and Catriona and John and Marion would stay for one week, while Jim and Margery would stay for twelve days.

It follows a log of this trip: -

Thursday June 21: -

We decided to take the first flight of Puerto Gatwick at 6.30am while others have reached 1:30 p.m. flight. We were greeted Porto airport at 9:00 by Peter Everts, who took off four-star Hotel Fenix is conveniently located near the area Boa Vista. The weather was clear with a light rain around noon. After unpacking in our great room on the ninth floor with stunning views and a cemetery the city really great, we left our first adventure away from the center of the city and explore the area. We had a lunch of pasta and wine at a restaurant Simbios (€ 30) overlooking the river and saw the movement of vessels of port wine people from here to there. We walked up to the hotel call in the local supermarket gin and whiskey glass. The rest of the group arrived at 18:15 a little late because of delays. After checking all took the elevator to travel to the 9th of plants. However, this rise is a warning that says it is for 10 people - unfortunately, lead to 10 Portuguese people to get a little smaller in size 8 Columbia at the elevator down to -5 storey decided before reaching end with a resounding blow. Not exactly the start we wanted, but we managed to get ourselves out and go back to the ground floor we have made Lift up the elevator and the second - the time for a drink! Peter met us at the bar 20 hours, when we took two vehicles Maria Moita, a local restaurant for dinner port. Peter was understood that not much English is spoken and take pictures of the night. Fun Food with an interesting menu and carafes wine. 11.30 bed a little exhausted.

Friday, June 22: -

Up at 8:15, Dry, but a gray with a touch of blue. Breakfast, then a look at local stores. Peter and Paul resumed 12.30 for the first round of golf at the clock.

Course is located one hour from the center of Porto on the Atlantic coast. The drive was pleasant and informative and entrance guarded by two automatic doors. A drink and a toasted sandwich started the event was a four ball better ball with husbands wives association. Normally a link to this course, the wind was blowing like hell and was a contributing factor to round up to 4 hours. Gerry and Catriona are the winners and Lots of gin & tonic and beer was consumed. The shower and change before leaving the Casa do Frango in a nearby town - the problem was Our driver dropped us off at the wrong place procedures required, but not stop the flow of wine before the chicken and fries arrived - has proved to be a fun night and tested the ability of some people drinking. On our return to John and Marion Hotel joined us in our room for drinks and left at 1:30 am.

Saturday, June 23: -

Up at 8.30 and beautiful summer day. Everyone in the center of the city and its monuments, but we went shopping for scholarships to meet the band at Cafe Majestic - "in place" to see - Coffee and Cognac was the agenda. Stop for lunch at Foz Praia da Luz, a good restaurant on the beach, I tried last year - good food and wine with a variety of local dishes, ridiculously low € 30 per couple. Return at 16:00 at the hotel to rest before the evening activities. At midnight, Porto celebrated the feast of St. Joao.

Peter and the cabin we gathered led us to 9:10 p.m. ET in Porto Taylor Wine Lodge where the atmosphere is electric - a few hundred people are sitting around round tables for a menu of Kale and potatoes, bread, sardines, roast goat and vegetables followed by almond cake and ice cream. Top wines are served and we tried a couple of bottles of 20 years Porto. The Gaia Lodge is located on the south bank of the River Duero and 0:05 up on the terrace to watch a fire Fireworks that was over Porto this world - we are all surprised by the magnificence of the scene. John and Marion have to leave by taxi because of the cascade Juan Achilles heel, while the rest of us we must walk as no vehicles are allowed in the area, other than for medical reasons. The crash is worse than a Cup final at Wembley, but everyone seems so humor is great and all the inhabitants of Porto are knocking at head with a hammer or a long plastic garlic plants (both old traditions) - Finally stepped on the bridge, which was closed one point because too many people who actually crumbling. Street parties, dancing and singing all the way back to the hotel and in bed 3:00, after surviving a fun adventure.

Sunday, June 24: -

For breakfast, many orange and black coffee seemed the agenda. Later collected to go to the golf course Amarante one hour by car. It seems that we are being ourselves. It is said in the hills, in fact, difficult to find, sometimes round, and some spectacular explosions accompanied holes all afternoon, S. Joao continues to be celebrated. The men meet women, on this occasion, the men had no chance. Showered and changed into a restaurant in Amarante - problem Our driver was seemed to have forgotten until it was informed by Pedro via a mobile phone, then proceeded driving at 120 km / h to get back on track. No English spoken at all in the restaurant which has made life a bit difficult. Food very nice, but seemed to be in a calmer mood - our nights age can wreak havoc on the formation of some people.

Monday, June 25: -

Today, we spend Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club Porto, then your bag as long as six of us in the adventure - A day in a boat on the Douro. Gerry and Catriona have made this trip before new Estela for golf. UK Weather and travel is well with breakfast and lunch and the river is so calm. We friend Lourdes, who is the guide. Later, he was surprised to see us drinking champagne - you ask what we celebrate, we say birthday, she asked whose birthday is and we say that we do not know, but we're sure it's someone's birthday somewhere. We arrived at 4:15 p.m. ET Régua taken by bus for about 200 meters from the train station where we will continue our adventure by train back to Porto trip takes about two hours. Pedro brings us to the station and brings us to our new headquarters in the LTC and OC a little oasis in the center of Porto. Very style Colonial and everyone is so nice. The shower and change and respond to drinks in the lobby before walking a few hundred meters on the road Capa Negra in February A local restaurant where they serve to Olivetti who speaks English well and gives advice on local dishes. A lot of wine and an evening entertainment for all the princely sum 30 € per couple. John and Marion insist on having a drink in our room - one night later.

On Tuesday, June 26: -

Breakfast at 9:00, then toured the site and inspected the tennis club, a cricket field (thought we would leadoff hitter) and the pool. We are preparing for the game and soon we were on our way to Ponte de Lima in a beautiful sunny day. Once more into the field an hour golf buggies but very picturesque little mountain - a necessity. Drinks and a snack first, but we must not rush into these places was a good job that cycle took more than five hours, something we are not accustomed to, but we are on holiday so what the hell. A quick shower and drink before leaving the Restaurant Comes. A limited menu and very costly for the region, but we've had. He returned to the club and home by 0:30 - a long day.

Wednesday, June 27: -

Up to 8.15 good shower and good breakfast. Today is a day of relaxation in which all do our own thing. A day in the pool for some, buying some of these ladies and the bridge for others. They all meet in the bar 8 pm tonight, we eat in the club room, food and prizes. Everything went well that everyone has won a class and Margery and Jim played Peter Evens "PortGolf" prices for the best performance index score for a hole in all the courses we play. Food, wine, service and atmosphere could not be best finish fantastic for those who leave the next day. A little late to bed!

Thursday, June 28: -

We told Gerry and Catriona lost again, but they are Marion and John who were taking a later flight. Today, Peter and Jim and Margery takes us on a journey Tower Road Douro Valley. We left at 21:45 with the sun again the glory. Our first stop is in the hold of the Quinta de Aveleda.

A tour and tasting cheese. We wander the grounds with beautiful gardens, including resident peacocks. At the store, a top American with his mouth, he was buying a pack of wine, boasted to the girl at the counter back home that had a thousand bottles of wine - the 'She replied: "And now you have one thousand and six, sir. "- Priceless!

Our next step was to see Amarante famous bridge and a quick tour the city, very pretty. In most of the hills filled with vineyards for Regua and stopped for lunch to the hotel. Sitting outside in the glorious sunshine and admired views of the valley. We went to Quinta do Panascal - free port warehouse Fonseca, had a tour of the terraces of grapes with a audio cassette and headphones provide a history and operation of the company. Back at the hostel for more tasting, a trip back through Vila Real through miles and miles of mountains full of vineyards, from top to bottom. Back to the club shower and change before Peter left us in the restaurant Porto. We were intrigued to see all the creations Jim, as he had ordered the fish soup "in the pantry. (The mass is at the top!)

Friday 29 June: -

Breakfast at 9am - now we are back Estela golf, but what difference, loads of sunshine and no wind. Girls against boys (yes, girls won of course, but only 18) - Back to the club for a rest and a shower.

An evening special when we met Peter's wife, Anabela, for the first time and we're going to Praia de Luz for dinner. A good meal with lively conversation and a beautiful sunset, we have several pictures if anyone wants a copy. Home to bed one more day.

Saturday, June 30: -

Despite last night's sunset, we awoke to gray skies and temperatures much colder. Girls, (I use the term wave) go shopping in Vila Nova de Gaia, "English Court." We do our own guys and I read that members are to eat barbecue - Jim sardines. Margery Lorna to return at 14:15 and after hearing of his adventures to tea and scones - how civilized.

Pedro us have picked up at 18:45 that we are in for a drink in his house in Senhora da Hora. We met again and Anabela Jacquay later with one of his twin daughters We entertain on the piano. Then we are faced with a fish restaurant in Matosinhos O Manel - English spoken and do not fight with the menu, not the best place to eat in our opinion, it is also very expensive. An early night for everyone.

Sunday, July 1: -

A day of rest - the time a little gray and not very optimistic. Margery and Jim decided to visit the city while, we decided to open top bus to the foot of the park Crystal Palace, which houses a large circular building for concerts, there are some beautiful views of the river and throughout the city. We continue our walk to the station Metro S. Bento, where he tries to buy a machine with two entries per day - only to fail miserably, despite the help of a couple locals, but were rescued by a security guard station who helped us buy the correct entries. The subway is very modern and is a cross between a tram, trolley and subway car - very clean and quiet. On the first trip takes us into the top of the Ponte do Luis and destination Final out "English Court." Back down, but get off at Jardim do Morro, where we have been informed that there are some good photos across the river. Then you decide to walk on the Bridge over a walkway. In retrospect, this was not a good idea because it calculated The bridge is similar in construction and the height of Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia - do not walk through this channel, even if they do then what railing we do here? So, being English, we put our heads down and continue walking until, a little relieved, we have achieved the other side - phew! I should add that the subway trains cross a few centimeters distance tends to add to the excitement. We had some good photos of trains crossing the bridge and enter the tunnel below us. With trembling legs down hundreds of stairs and alleys to reach the shore River where he had a bottle of wine and lunch and the public in the world go by. We returned to the station and came to the Estádio do Dragão, recently completed a stage before returning to our station closest to home, the Casa da Musica ". Time has been significantly improved this time he returned to the club in the sun.

We met near the pool and Jim and Margery share stories and adventures and then dozed off during some time before preparing to embark on our last night on "Caffeine" Restaurant. A building very intelligent and good food, but again it would not be in our top five. Peter is collected and sent back to us with certainty the club.

Monday, July 2: -

A wonderful attribute of the club is that customers do not leave their room until noon. We took advantage of this by having time to pack at a leisurely pace and have saved our bags were collected by Peter to take us to lunch at Rio Ar ", a modern restaurant Riverside Cais da Gaia. We sat inside a wall to open the search through the Douro River in bright sunshine. Peter is collected and led us to Puerto Crofts Lodge for a tour and wine tasting - a great way to end a day holiday in Porto.

We collected our Luggage Club, said goodbye to our staff and Peter left us at the airport in time for the flight to be delayed fifty minutes.

Overall a pleasant stay, as well organized by PortGolf Evens Pierre whose care and attention of their customers is unsurpassed.

We will certainly return to this most interesting cities.

Gizzy Mike & Lorna

June

About the Author

Mike Gizzy and friends joined Peter Evens for this holiday, who is a specialist in Tourism in Northern Portugal : For information on your Holidays throughout Portugal email portgolf@portugo.com or look at the website http://www.portugo.com/

TNi Bento Box Bike Bag, Large