Before we planned this trip I began a course in horticulture, learning about plant biology, the soil environment and garden establishment. Once I realised I might miss my final exams I decided to make a special trip back to London in the middle of our tour to finish what I’d started. It was also the perfect excuse to see friends one last time.
Finally a whole week off the bikes! Shelley spends some of it jetting back to London while Baden finds things to do in Lisbon like feeding his face and listening to stories. We wrap up our final week in Portugal. You will be rewarded with some more stunning photography when you click through to this post.
Clockwise from top left: On the aquaduct. View from below the aquaduct. Our house and host in Lisbon. Nuno Libório & José Branco from LisbonStorySailors.pt. Miguel Clarinha, Manager at Pasteis de Belem.
We made it to Lisbon and the end of the European leg of our cycle tour. We celebrate with red wine, sardines and fado. On the way we check out the King’s playground in Sintra and dine out on breakfast for What’s in the Pot?
Clockwise from top: Arrival at Praca do Comercio, Views from Sintra’s hills, Sintra or Disneyland? Sardines on the grill in Alfama.
The Rise and Fall of Great Powers
Tom Rachman
Here’s another book I’ve just finished and liked. I’m partly putting these up here for anyone interested and as a record for myself in future!
Sun, sand and sardines in the 11th episode of the How Are You? Where Are You? podcast recorded in Peniche on the western tip of Portugal. After riding down the Atlantic coast from Porto, we discuss our small diversion in-land to the historic university of Coimbra and take you out on the town for a sardine dinner.
Clockwise from top: View of Peniche harbour. Terry the Hilleberg Nallo 3GT tent. Grilled sardines. Lipton cocktail drinks (no alcohol). What's in the Pot ingredients. Clarim soap - tried and true since 1956.
Welcome to our tenth episode and it’s all about the river. We traveled along the Douro river from Pocinho all the way to the Atlantic Ocean and the beautiful city of Porto at the mouth of the river. (Click here for more photos)
Anti-clockwise from top left: We arrive upriver. View from road. Train from Regua to Pocinho. Baden struggles to offload the bikes.
There are lots of times this style of travel is everything you dream it might be…liberating, challenging, flexible and the best way to spend time with local people. Then you meet someone who seems to embody the spirit of it in a way that makes your trip feel super organised and almost clinical.
Episode nine of the How Are You? Where Are You? podcast comes to you from the banks of the Rio Tamega in Northern Portugal. We discuss the changing dynamics of our trip as we find ourselves with more time on our hands in this wonderful country and What’s in the Pot is brought to you from a creepy campground.