Last day, Impressions, thoughts about the trip

Here it is October 25th and I am just now doing the final entry for this trip. Perhaps that will be okay since time will have allowed my impressions to gel and I'll have some perspective on the trip. It is always hard to say good bye and have the trip end. We are like a little family during the 11 days we are traveling together. I feel like I am in a bubble, a very happy bubble where cares and worries stay on the outside of the bubble. I can't do anything about them so I can just stay in the present and enjoy each day of the trip as it comes with every day holding unexpected surprises and pleasures. It is not as hard to say goodbye to this group because I know we will be seeing them again. 

We have breakfast together in the hotel dining room. It is packed with tour bus groups when we go in but then clears out. It is a fabulous breakfast. Philipp sits with Dave and me so we have one last chance to visit with him. He is going to see if he can arrange for the bus to come a little later since none of us are going home today. He tells us later that it will come at 3:00. We walk around a little and have lunch with Kathy and John, Susan, and Trisha. Of course, I enjoyed seeing Philipp again. I also enjoyed getting to know Luis Pagado, one of our Portuguese leaders. He is a smart, articulate, knowledgable person who knows his history of Portugal and presented it well to us. 

He so obviously loves his country and wanted to share it with us. 

The ride back to Lisbon takes about three hours. I enjoy my final looks at the landscape we have just passed through on our bikes. I have learned so much about Portugal and would recommend coming here to anyone. The people are very friendly, the food delicious, lots of English is spoken, cost is economical compared to other Western European countries, and it has such a rich history.

We have a final dinner at our favorite little restaurant near our hotel, As Velhas (meaning "two old women"). We are a group of 8 - Kathy and John, Dave and me, Sarah and Thomas, Susan, and Trisha. The proprietress is friendly and attentive and comes by our table frequently. In response to our questions, she tells us the history of this restaurant which has been in her family for several generations. It is a very nice time and a good way to end the trip. 

I will say goodbye for now. It has been a wonderful time.