Who: Marlene and Jim Fugere of Boulder and Breckenridge, Colorado
Where: Grotto cruise along the coast of Portugal, near Portimao
Out and About: We toured Lisbon then bicycled with a Summit County (CO) group of 16 through central Portugal. The bike tour was organized and led by Hindriks European Bicycle Tours. It was a comfortable 25-40 miles per day. Following the bike trip we rented a car and toured the southern coastal areas of Portugal and as far east as Cadiz, Spain. The coastal caves and grottos near Portimao were spectacular – they reminded us of the Na Pali coast of Kauai.
Travel Tip: We traveled between April 6th & May 1st; the weather was ideal for biking and touring – cool in the mornings, pleasantly warm in the afternoons. NO crowds! But the ocean was a bit chilly for swimming. Lisbon was a pleasure: we stayed at the VIP Eden which is centrally located and a very convenient bus ride from the airport. Lisbon’s public transportation is safe and convenient. As in most large cities a private car would be a major hassle. We enjoyed the hop-on, hop-off city bus tours. Outside of Lisbon, we tried to stay at Pousadas, which are renovated castles or villas (www.pousadas.pt). In Spain, they are Paradores (www.parador.es).
