Tram 28: Lisbon, Portugal

     As I had foreseen, I have not done a good job keeping up with last years resolution, keeping my blog up to date, and here we are, almost one year later.

     Day and I did go to San Francisco to visit friends in January. The trip was good, we had not seen K & J since they had moved out there and a visit was long over due. They were great hosts and great tour guides, although I would have liked to spend more time admiring the Golden Gate Bridge, which was, magnificent. The trip was just a long weekend, so just enough time to see a few sites and visit with friends, all the more reason to go back.

     In April, we went to Portugal, with K & J again. If you are a traveler and Portugal is not on your list, it should be! By far, one of my favorite places thus far. Traveling can be stressful, four people traveling together could be horrific.Traveling with K & J is never stressful, they are easy travel companions, with little needs or wants. K calls to say, "we are going to Portugal, are you guys in?" Well, Day and I can never turn down a vacation, so off to Portugal, with no agenda other than, we will be in Lisbon. Of course, there were things we each wanted to see or do, but we were all happy to meander around Lisbon, explore, and sooner or later with little effort, we would get to do and see the things we each wanted.

     A vacation soon becomes a distant memory, there are always pictures, or blogs :) or in my case one single memory or event that defines your trip. That brings me to, Tram 28.

     Lisbon has a great public transportation system, trains, subway, buses, funiculars and the trolleys. For five or six euros a day, you have unlimited access to; the trains, subways, buses, funiculars and the trolley. I know what you are thinking, what is a funicular. You could click on the link, or simply put, a funicular is a trolley that goes up the hill and down the hill.

     Tram 28 was the real highlight of the trip though. Tram 28 is a trolley car in Lisbon center, that follows a specific route. Tram 28 is popular with locals and tourists, and is the star of Lisbon. 

   
     I had suggested we get a Lisboa Card, a pass that you can load any number of days on, for unlimited public transportation. Where to find these cards was a little unclear, and was the topic of a number of discussions. I suggested asking someone, which was ignored, silly me. Well one morning we set out on foot, in the rain, to explore and find something to do in the rain. It wasn't to long before we all saw how silly this was. Soon enough, we all grew a little irritable, K with J, J with K, I was poking the tiger and Day was silent, hoping nothing would escalate. "Are we going to walk around in the rain all day," someone would  ask. "Lets jump on the trolley," I would throw out there. "Oh that's right, we don't have any passes." Poking the tiger is one of my many gifts, this went on for a while before we saw how silly this was, and decided to call it a day and go back to our apartment. Once at the apartment K & J retired to their room, I am assuming to have a discussion. Day was feeling a little bad also, and decided to find a hair salon to get her hair straightened, not my idea of a fun time, but given the events this morning, whatever makes my wife happy. So off we went in search of a salon and found one quick enough, Espaco Brasil. She didn't speak Portuguese and he didn't speak English, but he understood straighten, and to work he went. My wife was loving life, big huge smile plastered on her face, me taking pics and some good looking Portuguese guy straightening her hair. Well, did you know, once your hair has been straightened, it can't get wet, and it was raining.

     So I was sent out on a mission, find my wife an umbrella. I walked up down the streets of Lisbon in search of an umbrella and along the way, I stopped at the subway and there, a kiosk for the elusive Lisboa Card. Easy enough, swipe your card, enter the number of days you want on your card, and off you go. Unlimited use of public transportation at your finger tips. I could not wait to gloat, but before I could, there was still the umbrella. I found a little store, picked out two umbrellas and went to pay with my card. The store keeper, did is best to explain to me in his broken English (which is way better than my Portuguese) they do not take credit cards. I had no cash and told him I would be right back with cash, he motioned me to take the umbrellas with me because it was raining. Well that is trusting, and refreshing. I took my new umbrellas to the apartment, got the cash, and back to the store to pay this very nice man, grateful for his trust and kindness. Back to the salon I went, with my wife's new umbrella and a cheery attitude.

     There she is, straight hair, new umbrella, and a smile from ear to ear on the streets of Lisbon. The highlight of the day and the trip though, was the Lisboa Card, which we used the rest of the trip with ease and pleasure. All day, every day, we would jump on and off Tram 28, an old time trolley car. This is the same transportation locals would use, so you did not feel like a tourist, but part of Lisbon. We had unlimited use of the subway, which we used and the train we took to Sintra, and of course the trolleys, what a great deal. Tram 28, was the highlight of the Lisbon though and the day in the rain is full of memories I will cherish for a long time.



   
    

Bare boating

     Bare boating is when you rent a boat with no captain or crew, you are, the captain and crew. We have done this four times, and are planning a bare boat trip to the British Virgin Islands this August. This will be our 3rd trip to the BVI's, needless to say, we love it there. If the idea of bareboating interest you, check out the Moorings.

     So anyhow, we have done this 4 times and are about to do this our fifth time. Our first time was in the Florida Keys. I believe we found a boat in Marathon, the Pagan Star, a piece of junk, cockroach infested boat with an old fat grouchy owner. I mention the owner being fat and grouchy, only because, over the years, I have gotten fatter and grouchier myself, at the time it struck me as funny, and now here I am. My wife had once mentioned, she remembered when we first met, I had broad shoulders, big arms and a six pack, and that was what caught her eye. My response, "how's that working out for you now baby?" Anyhow, boating for much of the time is uneventful, with a few memorable moments, and the Pagan Star did not disappoint.

     We were just off the coast of Key West, moored at Pelican Shoals for the night. Pelican Shoals is a small spit of land no bigger than half the size of a football field, but it had a mooring (a buoy anchored to the ocean floor you can tie your boat to) so it seemed like a safe place to spend the night, considering the rough seas. We all went to bed, and later that night I woke to get some water or something, and saw lights outside our window. I didn't think much of it, maybe it was the Coast Guard checking on us to see if we were alright, I went back to bed without giving it another thought. Well wouldn't you know it, we woke up the next morning to find 50 or more Cubans on Pelican Shoals! Apparently if you are a refugee and make it to American soil, even if it is just Pelican Shoals, you cannot be deported without due process, if you are still in a boat, out you go. That is the difference between "feet wet" or "feet dry." So, we enjoyed our breakfast to the sights and sounds of the Coast Guard picking up 50 or more Cuban refugees from Pelican Shoals, personally, I hope they are all still here, enjoying the freedoms we all take for granted.

    After the Keys, a trip to the BVI's, the Bahamas and back to the BVI's the following years.

I believe this is our boat from 2008 BVI trip, "My Last Penny."

     So, there is a little on bare boating, I will have more on bare boating in August! In an effort to entice my friends to join us on our trip to the BVI's this year, I wrote this on an events page on Facebook, maybe it will entice you:

     Fellow Pirates of the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands and all its' bounty, waits to be plundered and pillaged by the motliest crew of discontents and zealots ever to be had. By day, we will discover and explore secluded sun kissed beaches, until our nearly naked bodies are the color of bronze and the scent of exotic oils. At night, our crew of Buccaneers will eat and drink grog at The Willy T, Foxys and The Soggy Dollar until we are fat and happy. A world class spa awaits the Wenches at Peter Island, for a chance to pamper yourselves, as you so richly deserve. We will sail the same waters, explore the same islands as our predecessors, Capt. Norman, Sir Francis Drake, Capt. William Kidd and "Black Sam" Bellamy once did. Who amongst us can say "no" to such adventure, surely not me, and I believe not you. So, let us gather once again as friends, and the great whore that is the  British Virgin Islands, will suckle us, until we are fat and happy and can suckle no more. The Trade winds are speaking to us my friends, and they are saying, "Adventure is worthwhile in itself." (to much???)

Try it, you'll like it. Happy boating!

My perfect wife

     My wife is perfect. She doesn't have one bad vice, and when we argue, she never yells or swears, it's really rather annoying. She is the perfect little traveler, always has been. Other than the airport, she is never stressed, irritated or annoyed when traveling. She unwinds and get into vacation mode almost instantly, and is content to sit for hours, anywhere, with a book. (You see, annoying, right?) I am the opposite, I have gotten a lot better though, but it has taken a long time. And over the years my wife has become the perfect travel companion. Now I am not sure she'd say the same of me, but I am trying baby! Over the years I have learned one thing. Our trip is considerably more enjoyable if, I shut my mouth, and do what she says, especially on travel day.

Cotytto

     Cotytto is the Thracian goddess of debauchery, she is also my friend's 47ft. Grand Banks yacht. I don't remember the year he bought her, I think it was 2007. It doesn't matter, what is important, is every year since, we have spent a lot of time on her, and every August since, we have done a weeks long trip aboard Cotytto. For most of the time, a week on a boat is rather uneventful, a chance to spend time with friends, read a book, enjoy the sun on your face and my favorite, nap! But every now and then, a memorable moment. If you go out to Race Point at the Cape, you could go whale watching.

     It is not difficult, just follow a whale watching boat out from Provincetown, make lunch on the way out and enjoy.

     We spent hours watching these magnificent animals, and considered myself to be, the most fortunate man I know. My wife and I have enjoyed a wonderful life together, and look forward to many more years to come. Who among us has sat on a yacht, off the coast of Cape Cod, eating cheese and crackers, drinking wine, while watching whales feed? We should all be so fortunate.

     Martha's Vineyard  is a frequent destination for Cotytto, and a favorite spot is Menemsha Bight just outside the town of Chilmark. Takeout from the Menemsha Fishmarket and a sunset is whats on the menu.

     Surely coming into Boston Harbor has to be on the list of memorable moments for me. No this is not a postcard, I took that picture myself, and it's a great picture if I do say so myself. I missed my calling, and it is not writing. We spent a few days in Boston, doing all the silly touristy things like, the Quincy Market and the Duck Tours, and loved every minute. 

     Without a doubt, the most memorable moment was during our NYC trip. We left Newport, headed towards Long Island and the city. The city was great, we walked around for days, and who could miss Coney Island and a dog from Nathan's.

     But, there are few things more inspiring than bringing a boat through the Verrazano Narrows Waterway, under the bridge and around the point, and standing majesticly before you, Lady Liberty! What an emotional moment this must have been for those immigrating to America! What an emotional moment for me, one that I will not forget.

     Well, there you go, life aboard Cotytto, I cannot wait until August and our next adventure.