Lisbon to Rome to Vancouver in Three Days

8 August 2026 – Our last day at sea, since our 14 day cruise ends tomorrow in Lisbon, Portugal.  The Mediterranean had been like a lake during our entire cruise, extremely calm and placid.  We could tell when we arrived at the Atlantic Ocean, there was definitely much more wave action going on around us!  Nothing major, but after the Mediterranean we could all feel it!

Mostly we packed, organized, and then read.  Not much else to do.

 

9 August 2026 – Lisbon, Portugal – J left early to catch her morning flight, I got off the ship right about 9 AM which was the final deadline for disembarkation.  There were loooooong zigzagging lines of people departing the ship (since we all had to show our cards to ensure we left), and an equally long line waiting for taxis.  But eventually I caught a cab and headed to the airport. 

It took me a little while to find the terminal I needed.  And then there was a long line through a maze of stanchions and those retractable belts.  But some airport guy came over to me and moved the belt to let me through a side shortcut, then put me at the front of the line!  I asked if this was because I was old – he smiled and said no, I didn’t need to walk that much, it was because I was wearing a mask.  I told him I wore the mask because I have asthma – he smiled again and said that was why I shouldn’t have to walk so much!

Well, another kind man indicated I should go in front of him to the inspector – I told him I thought the man let me through because I’m old.  He smiled and said no, it’s because I’m pretty.  I just laughed – you’ve got to love the gallantry and flirtation of European men, especially as I just turned 72!

I’m not sure if this was the normal craziness at the Lisbon airport, or just our flight – the gate wasn’t announced until 2:10 PM for our 3:05 PM flight!  Then the agent at the gate seemed baffled by the whole thing – he kept looking at the sign announcing the flight, typing into his computer, looking at the sign again.  This went on for quite a while.  Finally he had everyone line up, checked ID and tickets, and then sent us down the jetway – when ended in stairs to the outside!  Yes, we were put on buses, and driven to what seemed like another airfield entirely!  Possibly another terminal, but it was very far from the place where we all started!

Oh well, here we come, Roma!  (All the photos here are from Lisbon.)

 

10 August 2026 – Roma, Italia – I’m spending a day and two nights at a hotel not far from the airport (Fiumicino, also known as Leonardo da Vinci airport). 

Just had one of the best brekkies ever, Italian style!  Fabulous cappuccino, all sorts of croissants (called coronetta here) - some filled with cream, some chocolate, some jam, some fruit.  Two kinds of yogurt, all sorts of toppings like nuts, muesli, granola, trail mix.  Breads, cheeses, hams, other processed meats.  Eggs, bacon, sausage, salads, pancakes, cakes, and my personal fave, crostata di marmalata – kind of a shortbread crust bottom, marmalade filling, and more crust as a lattice on top.  Molto delicioso!

I had “frutti di bosca” yogurt - mixed berries from the forest, supposedly. Topped with walnuts, almonds, and dry oatmeal because there were some fruit bits in the muesli that were questionable.  Fruit salad (no mango).  And my slice of crostata.  Also two cappuccinos.  YUM!

Plus a nice Italian man did some translating for me with the breakfast lady re the fruit - I noticed he had two words in Hebrew tattooed on his arm.  So I asked, because you know, I was wondering if he was a member of the tribe.  I think not, they were two words representing two levels in the Kabbalah - one being keter, crown, being the highest level of enlightenment.  The other being something that means foundation - as in the foundation upon which one builds everything else.  We had a nice little discussion - he was definitely a quirky guy!

I’ve done my laundry, had my shower and brekkie, and plan to just take a day to relax and get back into non-vacation mode.  Thus far it looks like my flight is on time, but we all know how that goes.  So I’m just sorting paperwork from the trip and cruise, typing up my daily notes into blog posts, and decompressing.  I’m enjoying a day of anonymity to regroup.

I was so full from breakfast, I skipped lunch.  Dinner at the Mercure was just as delicious as breakfast, even if the offerings weren’t as extensive.  I had the ricotta and spinach ravioli, served with barely warmed yellow grape tomatoes, and semi-melted burrata cheese on top – OMG to die for meal!  I also had the amazing dark chocolate “truffa” – the chocolate gelato ball covered in dark chocolate and a dollop of sauce, and re-frozen.  It looks like a black truffle, hence the name.  So rich I could only eat half of it – that hardly ever happens with gelato!

And that’s today’s news from Italia!

 

11 August 2026 – Flying from London Heathrow to Vancouver BC – I have to add that we seem to be flying over Greenland, or possibly Iceland.  I have no idea, but there are snow-dusted hills and trees, and glaciers reaching down to icy blue-white waters!  How thrilling!  I’ve never been to either country, but now I think that may be the next adventure!!!