Total Eclipse : A pictorial review of the Tradewinds Transatlantic crossing 2015

[scubacruiserx2]

Absolutely beautiful church! Too bad the line for the monastary was so long.

 

Yeah , Europe does have some amazing churches , but it's really hard to capture their full size . When I look at the photos , it seems to be so much smaller than it really is . While we didn't see the monastery or ride in the carriage , we were really glad later when we saw the countryside and the rest of the tour . The tour was a nice balance of city /country , and the guide did a good job . :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

Great photos again, love the one of the cart lady smiling, it could be used as a postcard.:D

 

Many thanks again Mic . With her quick to smile personality , she was a pleasure to photograph . The most difficult photos for me to take is with people , as I tend to be somewhat introverted . But again , to take better photos , find better subject matter , and she was a natural and did most the work , while I just held the camera and pushed the button . ;)

[scubacruiserx2]

Our next stop was very close and you can see the monastery and church in the distance

 

 

 

The Monument to the Discoveries

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padrão_dos_Descobrimentos

 

 

 

Facing East toward the bridge

 

 

 

 

Facing West toward the ocean

 

 

 

Next stop , the Belem Tower :

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belém_Tower

 

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Oops , I forgot this photo at the Monument . I loved seeing the little mom and pop businesses all around Europe . The people enjoyed what they were doing with an entrepreneurial spirit . It reminds me of the old days , when I was a kid , and we used to see this kind of freedom and spirit in the US , and when making money wasn't the main thing .

 

 

 

Our next point of interest was the casino in Estoril , which we circled . This was, during WW II , where Ian Fleming was inspired to write Casino Royale , thus beginning the James Bond series .

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casino_Estoril

 

 

A little further along , we stopped here , next to the ocean

 

 

 

 

There was a natural arch here

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some beautiful homes

 

 

 

A pretty area , on the way , to the fishing village of Cascais

 

 

[MicCanberra]

I agree that I also find landscapes easier than people, it seems lighting and getting a natural pose form the person seems to make it much harder to get a great picture.:D

[Gracie115]

Your pictures remind me once again of how pretty that whole part of Portugal was, the natural arch, the meadows, the homes, the castles...... I want to go back!!!!:D

[scubacruiserx2]

Your pictures remind me once again of how pretty that whole part of Portugal was, the natural arch, the meadows, the homes, the castles...... I want to go back!!!!:D

 

We're really glad that you put this tour together , as we had no idea about the countryside . We enjoyed the city on our first TA , but it was special to get outside and see the beaches and cliffs . This is why Pat liked our first TA , there is so much to see and such great variety . And through cruising , we have found many place that we returned to , and in some cases , stayed for awhile . :) :D

Edited July 6, 2015 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Cascais was not what I imagined a fishing village to be . Perhaps at one time , but more a beach resort area now .

 

 

 

Our van is behind the bus . It was a holiday weekend , so many of the locals go to the beach , where a volleyball game was in full session .

 

 

 

And there is a concrete pier with lots of traps and small fishing boats in the bay .

 

 

 

 

I wanted to take a wide angle shot , so overlapping 4 photos , and later in the computer , a program fuses them together . Here's the shot before editing .

 

 

 

 

The edited photo

 

 

 

And a view from the pier .

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

There's a square there , with an Irish pub !

 

 

 

 

 

And a merry go round , with people enjoying life .

 

 

 

But it was time to go . Here's the walk back to the van .

 

[MicCanberra]

I really like all the patterns in the pavers for the side walks, plazas and squares, I can see where places like Rio got there inspiration.:D

[Gracie115]

I really like all the patterns in the pavers for the side walks, plazas and squares, I can see where places like Rio got there inspiration.:D

 

Everything was just so "pretty" there...very appealing....the streets, buildings...meadows with wonderful fragrant flowers.....such a pretty part of the country..

[MicCanberra]

Everything was just so "pretty" there...very appealing....the streets, buildings...meadows with wonderful fragrant flowers.....such a pretty part of the country..

 

One day, I will get there, it just won't be in the next couple of years.:D

[scubacruiserx2]

I really like all the patterns in the pavers for the side walks, plazas and squares, I can see where places like Rio got there inspiration.:D

 

We haven't been to Rio yet but is seems that the Portuguese are excellent with their tile making and use of tile . Many of the buildings use it on the exterior , especially in the old town . We would love to bring some home , but it's very heavy .

 

 

 

 

One day, I will get there, it just won't be in the next couple of years.

 

 

 

All in good time :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

Everything was just so "pretty" there...very appealing....the streets, buildings...meadows with wonderful fragrant flowers.....such a pretty part of the country..

 

Some of the reasons that we love those Spring TA's . :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

The next couple of stops were my favorite in Portugal .The first one was a surfing beach .

 

 

 

 

DW took this photo of a young lady waxing up before going out . I enjoyed many years surfing but - wetsuits Brrr . I'm from Florida .

 

 

 

Cabo da Roca is the western most point of Portugal and the continental Europe .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabo_da_Roca

 

It is breathtakingly beautiful to see and photograph . Our guide warned us about getting too close to the edge of the 300' sheer cliffs . Like that's gonna stop us . We were on a mission !

 

 

Most of the people went here , to the monument . They look looked like lemmings in the distance , contemplating their demise .

 

 

 

Here's some of the invasive ground cover discussed in the article .

 

 

 

 

Hanging on for dear life !

 

 

[bananavan]

This is giving me a great feeling for our similar T/A on the Eclipse next April.

I cannot seem to find mention of the tour contact for this one in Portugal. I would love to look into setting up a tour.

Thanks for the lovely photo tour.

[Gracie115]

This is giving me a great feeling for our similar T/A on the Eclipse next April.

I cannot seem to find mention of the tour contact for this one in Portugal. I would love to look into setting up a tour.

Thanks for the lovely photo tour.

 

Hi- The name of the tour company was Inside Lisbon. Here's their website info:

 

http://www.insidelisbon.com

 

I booked it for all of us, they were very easy to work with and had good prices too. Hope that helps.

Edited July 7, 2015 by Gracie115

[scubacruiserx2]

Hi- The name of the tour company was Inside Lisbon. Here's their website info:

 

http://www.insidelisbon.com

 

I booked it for all of us, they were very easy to work with and had good prices too. Hope that helps.

 

Thanks Gracie , couldn't remember their name . :confused:

[scubacruiserx2]

Flowers and people on the edge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A picture perfect cliff !

 

 

 

 

 

The views were hypnotic , I couldn't drag myself away

 

 

 

 

 

But I finally did , toward the monument and the others .

 

 

[MicCanberra]

Fantastic contrast of the flowers in the foreground and the cliffs at the rear. A lovely place. :D

A bit worrying about people getting too close to the cliff edge though.:eek:

[midwestchick]

Gorgeous pictures. Breathtaking views.

[Gracie115]

I LOVED this stop on the tour....the flowers weren't only beautiful but had the most wonderful smell.....and the sea below...just a perfect spot....:)

[scubacruiserx2]

Fantastic contrast of the flowers in the foreground and the cliffs at the rear. A lovely place. :D

A bit worrying about people getting too close to the cliff edge though.:eek:

 

Our guide's final warning was about someone from Poland recently sliding down the cliff's edge and having to wait a day or two for rescue because of bad weather . It required a helicopter to remove him . :eek:

[scubacruiserx2]

Gorgeous pictures. Breathtaking views.

 

Thank you , yeah , I wish we had more time to film more of the coastline , but we had other places to see . :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

I LOVED this stop on the tour....the flowers weren't only beautiful but had the most wonderful smell.....and the sea below...just a perfect spot....:)

 

 

 

Our favorite spot on the tour . :) :D