What are you doing Wednesday evening? How about wine, painting and cheese? Victorios Art Studio in Fort Lauderdale

Elsa Victorios has a delightful idea for your evening on Weds., Friday and Saturday.  Bring something to eat, something to drink and a smile.   Spend three hours learning how to put colors on a canvas.

Her art studio can become YOUR art studio for the evening.

Facebook

Find her on Facebook

Find her on Yelp

• 934 N Victoria Park Rd
  Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
•  (954) 764-6968
•  victoriosart.com

From her Facebook page

Click HERE

Your Best One-Day Lisbon Experience

Getting ready to enjoy Pata Negra, a very 
special ham made from
black Iberian pigs

It's hard to make a decision when visiting Lisbon for only a day.  I think there's nothing like a personal walking and dining tour of some of the best of Lisbon culture; port wine, Pata Negra, hidden sights and all you can eat and drink in a delightful atmosphere.

We went online and found high ratings for Your Friend In Lisbon, a website that offered a walking tour in the historical center ending with a wine tasting and samplings of cheeses, famous chorizo, jams, olive oils and the proper way to enjoy their renown Pata Negra and salted codfish (the codfish was actually delicious).  They lived up to their promise in a big way.

Personal tour guide Adriana met us at the appointed time a short walk from the shuttle bus stop at the Praca de Comércio. Adriana was cheerful, energetic and knew her stuff.  From there we enjoyed a picturesque walking tour through Lisbon's historical center.  It included the important things like just enough history not to get bored, the top pastry shop (with sampling), side stories we never would have known about (see the captions), hidden sights behind closed doors topped off by a glorious two hours with all the wine, tapas and conversation we could handle.

Here are some highlights of the perfect Lisbon day:

 

Lisbon preserves its past
within the modern construction

The old train station
has horseshoe doorways

There are plenty of
affordable
menus to be had

First stop, check the pastries

The second telephone in 
Lisbon went into the bakery
so that the king could order
pastries
 

Lisbon's national custard
pie....delicious!

Adriana demonstrates the
proper way to purchase codfish

Delicious cod properly made...
and eaten

The Igréja de Sao Domingos
Famous place where a Jew started a revolution
marking the end of the Inqisition

Lisbon welcomes all beliefs
and it's clearly written on
walls and plaques

One of the hidden places:
Casa de Alentejo, a former casino
turned restaurant and rental hall

We would have passed by the doorway... but our tour guide opened the door and led us to a beautiful exotic space, reminiscent of more romantic times.

Guards outside the royal palace

Careful! Brave visitors can climb
for the view in the Santa Justa Elevator

The traditional Lisbon 
tile sidewalks

The grand finale, wine and food await!

A lively cheerful atmosphere
where the someliers are friends

So many delicious wines,
so little time

The wine neck is sliced off,
not uncorked

We learned all about chorizo
and sausages

These are just a sampling of the wonderful sights and history we experienced.  I suggest that you contact  yourfriendinlisbon.com to experience your own special day.  The entire four-hour experience including all food and drinks came to about 120 Euros for two people.  Definitely reasonable and worthwhile.

The Azores' Awesome São Miguel

EUROPE'S EMERALD ISLAND

  Ponta Delgada seen from our ship.  

I'll bet you never considered a special trip to the Azores.  It just happens when it’s on your cruise itinerary.  For myself and a travel mate, it was a delightful accident.  Looking for green adventures and enticing, affordable gourmet dining?  I had one glorious day on São Miguel, the largest of the Azorean islands.  Thanks to Trip Advisor, a friend and I found top recommendation for azoreantours.com, a small business run by local Gary Travassos.  His comfortable Mercedes van had plenty of room for seven passengers.  Gary is very professional, organized, well informed and with a good sense of humor.* His van was parked as planned only a five minute walk from our ship.

  No glamour or exciting shopping, but excellent wines, cheeses and seafood.  Local architecture is basic white with windows trimmed in black stone or paint. The Azores is nine remote volcanic islands largely ignored until the 19^th century.  Located in the Atlantic west of Portugal, the islands and culture are Portuguese with a strategic port location and rich land that is chiefly agricultural. Total population for all the islands is about 250,000.  No crowds here! Since this was not a place know for shopping or walking (it’s literally untouched by tourism) a private tour seemed a good option.  São Paolo was our first stop after six days at sea from Fort Lauderdale on the Celebrity Equinox.

Roadside view of the Seven Cities lakes

Hiking opportunities are limitless, with perfect weather, vistas and countless hiking trails. Thick green washes across the land leading to views of pristine landscape punctuated with hills, mountains, lakes, craters and more.  Every mile there was a new reason for a moment of awe.  We found areas reminiscent of Ireland (deep greens and stone fences), Hawaiian primeval forests (ferns, exotic flowers and hot springs), Caribbean palm trees, majestic stone cliffs and fresh breezes. The forest and mountain paths were smoothly worn. Then dip under a waterfall and soak in a hot pool.  When done, gather your friends for a gourmet meal at budget prices.

Front window view as we leave Ponta Delgada

The local grocery has excellent 
wines at hard-to-believe low prices

  

Artisan wines and cheeses are readily available (we paid $6.00 for an excellent bottle of Port wine and  about $8 for 1/2 lb, 200 grams, of Sao Jorge, a famous local cheese. A generous fresh seafood dinner will cost about same as a good lunch in the USA.  The culture, cuisine and dialect of each island is distinct enough so that a return trip brings new surprises and variety.  São Miguel is a good place to start.

Our five-hour tour began from where the ship docked, in the main city of Ponta Degada.  Never did we feel like guide Gary was giving a lecture. He explained the geography and abbreviated history, plus local information. We were able to exit our Mercedes van at every stop so we could wander and take photos.  São Paolo’s climate is perfect for hiking and outdoor activities.  There are no winter freezes or sweltering summer days although the winds can be a bit nippy. Temperatures are such that there no air conditioning is needed and the heating method is mostly by fireplace.  

Working donkeys are largely phased out but we were lucky to catch this one along the way.

 Hiking opportunities are limitless, with perfect weather, vistas and countless hiking trails. Thick green washes across the land leading to views of pristine landscape punctuated with hills, mountains, lakes, craters and more.  Every mile there was a new reason for a moment of awe.  We found areas reminiscent of Ireland (deep greens and stone fences), Hawaiian primeval forests (ferns, exotic flowers and hot springs), Caribbean palm trees, majestic stone cliffs and fresh breezes. The forest and mountain paths were smoothly worn. Then dip under a waterfall and soak in a hot pool.  When done, gather your friends for a gourmet meal at budget prices.

Our first stop - the awesome cliff view from 
Vigia da Baleia, the whale lookout

Our five-hour tour began from where the ship docked, in the main city of Ponta Delgada. Guide Gary Travaso knew plants and culture. He explained the geography and abbreviated history, plus local information. We left our Mercedes van at every stop so we could wander and take photos.  São Paolo’s climate is perfect for hiking and outdoor activities.  There are no winter
freezes or sweltering summer days although the winds can be a bit nippy. Temperatures are fairly even so no air conditioning is needed and the heating method is mostly by fireplace.

This little snack bar along 
the way had full 

entrees for under $8.00,
 fresh coffee 

$1.25 along with 
beers under $2.00

Time for his 
morning coffee

Many houses feature a tile plaque, often religious. This one roughly reads "if 10 men envy my home, they should work as hard..."

Might as well enjoy

blending in with the 

many cows found 

walking the roads.

The uncle of our tour guide seen working on
his farm along with his wife and a helper. 
There is no AC and fireplaces heat their home.

Most of the population
does some form of farming

The big landlord lives here

Ferns, woods and exotic plants surround us

View of Fire Lake, named for the time it reflected the volcanic fires.

Lake of the Seven Cities.  It's easy to guess why.

    

Every Scenic area has a placard for guidance

The black volcanic rock produces a rich agricultural soil

High unemployment rates and diminished commercial fishing have hit this fishing village

This local teenager uses newspaper in  his pants legs for cheap protection from chaffing

Driving through one of the larger Villages  (Above and below)

Octopus stew made with potatoes is the most popular lunch here. 

Main course with a drink and sopa, only six euros

Time for the local lunch stop.  The menu has mostly local seafood along with sandwiches

Visitors enjoy floating in hot
springs and hiking through 
 the exotic foilage

Civilized changing rooms are provided.  What a welcome surprise!

Back to civilization and the traditional mosaic streets of Ponta Delgada

Our tour ends in the main church plaza.  Tomorrow penitents will circle on their knees while medics
stand by during a major religious holiday

The town's own gourmet waterfront Red Lobster restaurant with (what else?) all sorts of local seafood

Complete your invigorating day with an inexpensive but quality wine.  These are just some of the local and Portuguese wines on a nearby grocery store shelf.  
Grab some cheese and enjoy before boarding 
your ship docked ten minutes away.

Your author nabbing her perfect shot