"TOUR PORTUGAL" - TRAVEL OPPORTUNITY- OCTOBER 19-31, 2018 SPONSORED BY THE SARASOTA WORLD AFFAIRS COUNCIL $2900 + AIRFARE FOR A GROUP OF JUST 20 PEOPLE 12 DAYS, 11 NIGHTS EMAIL: lynnepartington@hotmail.com to sign up and for additional information October 19, Friday Departure Miami to Lisbon non-stop flight. Departure 4:15 p.m. Arrival 5:20 a.m. TAP Airline Flight TP224 October 20, Saturday Arrival in Lisbon. Private coach airport transfer to hotel (TBA) Drop off bags at hotel. (Check in at hotel typically only after 2 p.m.) Private coach orientation of Lisbon until check in time (Hop on Hop off where relevant) Lunch at individual's discretion at Time Out Market (a food hall where 35 kiosk restaurants can be found. 5 of Lisbon's best chefs have restaurants at this location). 2 p.m. Check in at hotel. Rest and Relaxation 6 p.m. Group Welcome in Hotel Lobby with Tour Directors Michael Baum, Ricardo Pereira, and Tour Leader Lynne Partington. Short walk to early dinner. 7:30-9:30 Group Welcome Dinner. Location TBA October 21, Sunday Welcome to Historic Lisbon 9:00 a.m. Portugalma/SWAC meet at hotel lobby after breakfast Walking tour throughout Lisbon neighborhoods (Chiado, Sao Roque, Principe Real, Barrio Alto) Lunch on your own with recommendations from Portugalma 2:00 p.m. Meet for traditional Lisbon Tram ride towards the Lisbon Cathedral (Se). Visit the Cathedral, Castelo Sao Jorge, and the Alfama Neighborhood. 5:00 p.m. Stop for a glass of wine at the Fado Museum 6:30 p.m. Walk towards the Praca de Commercio Square. Enter Rua August Arch for scenic photographic opportunity at top of the arch. Entrance fee included
Dinner recommendations by Portugalma Tour Directors and return on to hotel on your own after public transportation orientation. October 22, Monday 9:00 a.m. Depart hotel after breakfast by private coach to Belem. 10:00 a.m. Exploration of Belem's historic monuments (including Belem Tower and Sao Jeronimo Monastery) with onsite lecture with local expert. 12:00 Lunch on your own at LX Factory (an urban market with workspaces, unique shops, and restaurants) Free Afternoon to explore on your own with options suggested by Portugalma Option 1: Royal Carriage Museum MAAT- Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology CCB and the Bernardo Collection of Contemporary Art Option 2: Museum of Ancient Art (includes 16 th C. Japanese Folding Screens) Option 3: Visit the Garden of Estrela and the Basilica of Estrela on the way back to hotel 8:00 p.m. Group meets for dinner (included). Venue TBA October 23, Tuesday Portugal's Silver Coast: Cascais, Guincho, Adraga, and Sintra 9:00 a.m. Depart hotel after breakfast via private coach 10:00 a.m. Brief walking tour of Cascais after drive along Lisbon's coastal road (Marginal) where the Tagus river meets Atlantic Ocean. 11:30 a.m. Following a coffee stop in Cascais, depart for scenic Guincho Beach and drive along the cliffs toward Cabo da Roca, (western Europe's most western point). 12:45 p.m. Arrive for a group lunch (included) at Adraga Beach seafood restaurant, one of Portugal's finest. 3:00 p.m. Depart for Sintra's Moorish Castle (strenuous walking on stone steps) with alternative option to visit the National Palace 5:30 p.m. Tea and Local Pastries in city of Sintra 7:45 p.m. Arrival at Hotel. Dinner on your own with suggestions by Portugalma Tour Directors October 24, Wednesday
The Scenic Arrabida National Park and Palmela Castle 9:00 a.m. After check out, depart hotel by private coach for Setubal 10:00 a.m. Visit the fish market at Setubal 10:45 a.m. Depart for Arrabida National Park scenic drive with several stops for photos 12:30 p.m Arrive at a local sheep cheese farm and artisanal factory for a hands on workshop making Azeitao cheese. Lunch (included) pron the estate 4:00 p.m. Arrival and check in at the historic Pousada de Palmela (Formerly a Convent of the Order of Santiago, nestled in a medieval castle, the Pousada of Palmela has retained its majesty and the dignity of its former use, while offering luxurious accommodation. The cloisters remain intact within the surrounding gallery and are now used as a haven of peace and tranquility for guests). 7:00 p.m. Group dinner at the Pousada de Palmela October 25, Thursday Evora and the Alentejo Cork Forest Landscape 9:30 a.m. Private coach departs for Evora 10:30 a.m. Visit the Portuguese Stonehenge Almendres Cromolechs Megalithic Complex (The excavation of the site unearthed a series of both megalithic and neolithic construction phases; Almendres I 6000 BC (Early Neolithic), Almendres II 5000 BC (Middle Neolithic), and Almendres III 4000 BC (Late Neolithic). 11:45 a.m. Arrive in Evora. Check in to the Olive Hotel Lunch on your own with recommendations by Portugalma Tour Directors 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Guided walking tour of UNESCO World Heritage City of Evora Dinner on your own with recommendations by Portugalma Tour Directors October 26, Friday Monsaraz & Alqueva: Europe's largest manmade reservoir 9:30 a.m. Depart by private coach for Reguengos to visit a women's coop that produces Alentejo wool carpets 11:00 a.m. Tour of the Esporao Winery and Tasting 1:00 p.m. Group lunch (included) at Adega do Cachete 3:00 p.m. Arrive at Monsaraz (a historic hilltop village, one of the oldest in Portugal) 6:00 p.m. Arrive back in Evora Free evening with dinner on your own with recommendations by Portugalma staff October 27, Saturday
Obidos Village 9:00 a.m. Depart for Obidos Medieval Village 12:00 p.m. Arrive in Obidos and check in at Literary Man Boutique Hostel (The Literary Man Óbidos hotel is the biggest literary hotel in the world! The huge library includes different books distributed worldwide by thematic collections: an absolute dream for all book lovers!) Located next to the Óbidos Castle, this former convent, converted into a hotel in 1965, definitely kept its original charm. Free afternoon and evening to explore Obidos on your own with dinner on your own with recommendations by Portugalma Tour Directors October 28, Sunday Coimbra, the University City 9:00 a.m. Depart after check out for Coimbra 11:00 a.m. Arrival in Coimbra. Guided walking tour of the University. (The University of Coimbra is a public university established in 1290 in Lisbon, was moved permanently to its current location in 1537, being one of the oldest universities in continuous operation in the world and the oldest university of Portugal) 12:30 p.m. Free time for lunch and time to explore the city center 3:00 p.m. Depart for Porto 4:30 p.m. Welcome Cocktail at Gaia/Porto Scenic Overlook 6:30 p.m. Check in at hotel in Porto 8:00 p.m. Group dinner (included) TBA October 29, Monday Porto: Voted European Best Destination 2017 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Expert guided tour of historic Porto. With its Medieval architecture, it's defining Dom Luis I Bridge (designed by the engineer and disciple of Gustave Eiffel, Teófilo Seyrig) and Art Nouveau cafes, there's something for everyone) Lunch on your own with recommendations by Portugalma Staff. Afternoon options (details by Portugalma staff) for group participants include: Option 1: Serralves Museum Option 2: Casa da Musica Option 3: Bus takes group for driving tour of the coast with a stop at Siza's Tea House Option 4: Short cruise (one hour) on the Douro River Option 5: Free afternoon and evening
Dinner on your own with recommendations by Portugalma October 30, Tuesday Return to Lisbon Free morning in Porto Transfer by private coach after lunch to Lisbon Check into Lisbon Hotel Free afternoon 8:00 p.m. Group Fado Farewell Dinner (included) October 31, Wednesday Group transfer by private coach to airport TPP (Portuguese Aire) Flight 223 Departure 10:50 to Miami. Arrives in Miami at 4:15 p.m.