A Return to Portugal in 2013!

How could I possibly get more than half way through a year and not have a trip planned for the next year?  Well, that had to be rectified...STAT!

A visit to Portugal 24 years ago, when I was a fresh-faced college student, on spring break left me with wonderful memories of a beautiful and friendly country.  When mom suggested a visit to this often overlooked European country I did not hesitate to say "Hell Yes"!  How could I say no to a country that produces vino verde and port wine!

This trip will be a journey back to my wanderlust beginnings and what better way to see Portugal than on a Rick Steves 2 week tour ( http://tours.ricksteves.com/tours/spain-portugal/portugal ).  Afterall, it was an entry in the 1989 Rick Steve's Europe Through the Back Door guidebook that opened my eyes to Portugal.

As a study abroad college junior in Montreaux, Switzerland I got it into my head that I really wanted to spend spring break in Spain and Portugal.   My research began with the Rick Steves guidebook (I wish I still had that copy, heck, it might have been worth something now!) and when I got to the section on Portugal, Lisbon, Sintra and Evora really jumped out at me.  Who knows why, maybe I thought it was exotic.  After reading the book I could not get the town of Evora out of my mind and my quest to visit there began. 

I remember my college days adventure to Portugal fondly, from the train ride through Spain to the arrival at one of the Lisbon train stations (at the time I had no idea the city had 3 stations!  I guess my research back then wasn't as detailed as now!) to the pensione I stayed at and the wonderfully delicious and inexpensive food...ahhhhh the memories!

So, as I booked the mid-May 2013 tour dates with Rick Steves, I smiled happily and felt fortunate to be able to plan another travel adventure!