Jim_Iain Live Blog - Infinity B2B - Carribbean and East Bound TA

[Von & John]

19 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

We had a wonderful time in Madeira and saw so much more than I could imagine.  One of the most beautiful, clean and well maintained Islands we have ever visited. 

 

We loved our visit to Madeira in 2015!!!

On that trip we also enjoyed Santa Cruz de Tenerife & Arrecife - both in the Canary Islands...

We also enjoyed Granada - but arrived on a Sunday in February & much was closed...

Enjoy the rest of your trip!

 

We would love to go back to the area & spend a week or two!!

 

Edited May 2, 2019 by Von & John

[upwarduk]

13 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

We drove up a steep hill and with a toot of a horn someone came out of guard house and opened a gate to Fort Saint-Joseph.     It guards the harbor of Funchal and was opened in 1614.   It has been a Military facility until recently when it was opened to the public and houses a small bar and museum. 

 

 

Thank you for the above information. We have never visited Fort Saint Joseph.

Something to put on the to do list. The photos from the Fort are amazing.

[Jim_Iain]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Last night was rather rough seas with swells of about 10-12 feet.  They closed deck 4 due to a he sea conditions. 

 

We had a relatively early dinner (8:30) last Night as we had an early tour.  

 

Infinity arrived  at 06:00 and we were cleared  by 7:15.  Our tour meeting time was 7:45-7:59 and were happy everyone was on time.  The bus is a 30 passenger van and they have 16-18 on each bus. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

The guide re-arranged out tour so our first stop will be Sintra so we will be the first to visit the Pena Palace.  

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

We were lucky and were the first to visit the castle.   The guide had wireless hearing devices so it was easy to hear.  Tickets and tram bus tickets were purchased for us and were included in the tour.   By the time we left there were thousand in line to get in. 

 

Hope I don’t overload with pictures. We have free high speed WiFi in the bus. 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

[Jim_Iain]

The lines were really building up as we left the palace. 

 

 

 

 

[Jim_Iain]

Old town  Sintrais as our first stop where we had 45 minutes of free time to grab some lunch and a drink. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cascais was our next stop for a 1/2 mile walk.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2019 by Jim_Iain

[Mr. Boston]

Beautiful photographs Jim.  Thanks so much for sharing them.  I'm enjoying the sunshine in them as I sit through another gray, cool, drizzly day waiting for the spring that doesn't seem to want to arrive this year!

[mrsgoggins]

Lovely photos of Sintra and Cascais.  Delightful places.  We stayed 4 nights at Cascais two years ago and just love the area.  Thanks for the memories.

Edited May 2, 2019 by mrsgoggins

[hcat]

Really appreciate the beautiful photos...thank you,  

Looks like beach weather...for some!

What did you have for lunch?

Edited May 2, 2019 by hcat

[Beachlover1989]

Wonderful pictures!  Makes me so excited to take that same tour in September!  It sounds like it was handled well and I hope they take us to Sintra and the Pena Palace first like they did you.  Thank you so much for sharing!  Did you end up having lunch?  Just wondering how many euros we might need for that day.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

I love it when guides make intelligent decisions like that!  One of the benefits of private tours.

[parrothead33]

Beautiful photos and a great review.  Thanks for taking the time to do it.

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, Mr. Boston said:

Beautiful photographs Jim.  Thanks so much for sharing them.  I'm enjoying the sunshine in them as I sit through another gray, cool, drizzly day waiting for the spring that doesn't seem to want to arrive this year!

 

Glad you are enjoying as much as we are.   You definitely couldn't ask for nicer weather.  Tomorrow is projected for 74F in Cadez which sounds nice.  

[Jim_Iain]

3 hours ago, mrsgoggins said:

Lovely photos of Sintra and Cascais.  Delightful places.  We stayed 4 nights at Cascais two years ago and just love the area.  Thanks for the memories.

It was our first visit to Sintra and Cascais.    It was fare more beautiful than any picture I could take. 

 

3 hours ago, hcat said:

Really appreciate the beautiful photos...thank you,  

Looks like beach weather...for some!

What did you have for lunch?

 

Definitely beach weather.   I think the high Temperature was 94F (34.4C).    We had a wonderful sandwich in Sintra.   It looked like a panini with ham, tomato and cheese.   When I took the first bite it was extremely flaky  so guess it was made with a puff pastry.   We had 45 minutes on our own and it was just the perfect size lunch.  

 

At our last stop our guide bought us warm "Pasetis de Nata".     A wonderful custard tart.   The undisputed master of making them is Confeitaria de Belem.   The line in front must have had 500 people in it but the guides have a special entrance and can purchase them without waiting in the long lines.

 

3 hours ago, Beachlover1989 said:

Wonderful pictures!  Makes me so excited to take that same tour in September!  It sounds like it was handled well and I hope they take us to Sintra and the Pena Palace first like they did you.  Thank you so much for sharing!  Did you end up having lunch?  Just wondering how many euros we might need for that day.

 

Spanish Day Tours is very much recommended.   I wish you could get our guide, Ricardo.   He is very passionate about his job and the day flew by.  

 

Among other things the bus was equipped with High Speed Internet and each seat had 2 USB ports for charging your devices.

 

 

21 minutes ago, parrothead33 said:

Beautiful photos and a great review.  Thanks for taking the time to do it.

 

Thanks for joining in our adventure.   

Edited May 2, 2019 by Jim_Iain

[Jim_Iain]

To finish off our day we visited Igreja de Sao Domingos. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2019 by Jim_Iain

[24acorns]

Photos from today look amazing. 

I did similar tour with X some years ago and saw only a fraction of your day, wish I had known Spain Day Tours then. 

So enjoying following along on your travels, never thought if a TA but this itinerary has made me think.

 

I have a question re Infinity, I was last on Infinity in 2013, shortly after a refit but the general appearance was still not that great and seemed quite dark and shabby in many areas, can I ask what you think some 6 years later? 

[GeorgesGal]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Glad you are enjoying as much as we are.   You definitely couldn't ask for nicer weather.  Tomorrow is projected for 74F in Cadez which sounds nice.  

 

Jim-Iain, thank you so much for taking me back a couple of years to our tour of the Pena Palace and Sintra!  What a fabulous place that is.  Many happy memories....

[h20cruzer]

16 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

WOW just  gorgeous 

[mac3835]

Beautiful beautiful pictures.  Thank you so much for taking us along on your trip!

[tce40]

Your photographs are amazing!  May I ask what kind of camera you're using?  So happy you had such nice weather so far.

[BoofromCO]

 

The “Pasetis de Nata” in Confeitaria de Belem are a must!  My husband is Portuguese and he knows they are the best.  Fortunately for me he gets himself and me in quite easily he must know the backdoor!!  We try and try again to make our own but as you know nothing beats the real thing.  Enjoying your adventure!

[Jim_Iain]

8 hours ago, tce40 said:

Your photographs are amazing!  May I ask what kind of camera you're using?  So happy you had such nice weather so far.

 

I wish I had a nice 35mm camera along but have given up lugging it along and been shooting on my IPhone XS Max.