River cruising on the Douro in Portugal is a magical experience. There's something special about the towns and villages along its banks. It's different than cruising the Rhine, Danube, or Rhone. It's a different pace, a different way of life, something inexplicably affirming about it. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to a first time river cruiser (unless you are a wine fan, in which case put it at the top of the list), but if you've cruised the other European rivers, you'll want to experience the Douro difference.
I was impressed with the new ship - it still had that new ship smell - and the commitment to service that Avalon Waterways provides. The Alegria has fewer cabins than other ships sailing the Douro, and it makes a difference. Beds in every cabin face the window. It makes a difference, as we quickly learned.
I'll have a full review of the ship and itinerary coming up (I always allow a little time post trip to process and confirm my opinions). If you're interested in cruising with Avalon, they've made a special discount offer to readers of my blog and newsletter. Scroll down to find it at the bottom of this newsletter.
We're sticking close to home for the next few weeks. It's time to explore a few things in Washington State, as well as to get some stories edited and published. I don't know why the editing takes so much longer than the writing!
Till next time --
Mary Jo & Tony
Have You Read:
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Visit These 10 Amazing Museums in Little Rock, Arkansas
Delve into history, fire up your curiosity, explore creative works of art! You can do it all – and more – in the museums in Little Rock, Arkansas. Whether you’re a history buff, a budding scientist, or an art enthusiast, Little Rock’s museums have plenty to keep you engaged.
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Review: Royal Clipper Sailing the Windward Islands
Turquoise waters and pristine beaches, coral reefs and the rhythmic sway of palm trees, lilting patois and new discoveries – the diversity of the Caribbean islands make for a diverse Caribbean cruise experience. Try a tall ship sailing experience onboard the Royal Clipper. We loved it!
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Cruising to Alaska on Holland America Westerdam
It's Alaska cruise season, and we highly recommend Holland America for visiting our 49th state. Cruising to Alaska for a look at the glaciers and mountain ranges ranks high on a lot of bucket lists. We've cruised to Alaska twice, and are planning a return trip for this season.
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Here's what else is going on:
Traveling: Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, Mt. Vernon
I lived in Skagit County until I started high school and tulips were just not a thing. Sure, there were family-owned flower farms, but there wasn't a festival and other than an occasional drive by, it wasn't a big deal.
Fast forward a couple decades, and long after I graduated high school, and the festival became a weekend event. Today, the festival spans the month of April and is the largest tulip festival in the United States by acreage of tulips, numbers of farms, and days of blooms. Washington State grows more tulips than any other state.
Finally, 40 years after the start of the festival, we'll be heading up to Skagit Valley to check out the color. I'm really looking forward to it.
Reading: The Guest by B.A. Paris
Iris and Gabriel have just arrived home from a make-or-break holiday. But a shock awaits them. One of their closest friends, Laure, is in their house. The atmosphere quickly becomes tense as she oversteps again and again: sleeping in their bed, wearing Iris' clothes, even rearranging the furniture. Soon, secrets from all their pasts will unravel, some more dangerous than they could have known.
I was ready for a psychological thriller, and I picked up this book because i enjoyed previous books by the author. This one was a bit of a disappointment to me. While the twists and turns of the plot kept me guessing, I'm not sure how much of it was an inventive story and how much was the unreliable narrator obfuscating facts and details. I didn't love it. It was a quick read, so I'm ready to move on to a more compelling choice.
If you missed the link to my 7th annual travel reading challenge, here's another chance. The list of new prompts, 30 in total - 24 basic and 6 advanced - can be found here. Join in! This is also where I keep track of what I've read for the year.
Watching: Masters of the Air (Apple TV)
We're getting ready to start this WWII era series this week. The nine-episode limited series focus on a WWII Air Force bomber unit. From Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the comparison with Band of Brothers is inevitable.
Listening: Hamilton Soundtrack
I'm not sure why this one has grabbed me the last couple weeks, but between "My Shot" and "You'll Be Back" earworms (a song stuck in the brain) it's well and truly embedded. The musical will return to Seattle as part of the 2024-25 Broadway at the Paramount season.
In the Glass: 2017 Domaine Carneros Brut (California sparkling)
We've been tasting some new wines, and when we find something interesting, different, or worthy of being added to our cellar, I'll be sharing it here. We opened this bottle of sparkling (we received it as a Christmas gift) for a little mini-celebration of a business accomplishment. We wanted something a little more special than our inexpensive, everyday sparkling, but something that wouldn't break the bank.
Tasting notes: Lovely aromas of pear, golden apple, honeycomb, lemon zest and brioche lead to a very round palate and a long silky finish.
We thought: Light and refreshing. We found stronger notes of green apple and pear, with only a bit of lemon. A little sweet at first sip, but nice acidity rounded it out with just a hint of toast on the finish.
Served with a charcuterie board. Price: around $36 (our pricing is based on Washington State availability, your prices will vary).
Heads in Beds: Hilton Porto Gaia (Porto, Portugal)
We're privileged to be able to stay in some fantastic hotels when we travel. Sometimes they're luxurious, sometimes in a fabulous location, and other times just quirky and fun. We'll share some of our finds with you in our newsletter and let you know how you can book them as well.
I headed to Porto (Portugal) a day earlier than the Avalon cruise departed and stayed at the Hilton Porto Gaia. it was a lovely hotel, just a short walk from the waterfront and the dozens of restaurants, cafes, and shops that dot the water's edge. It's a very reasonably priced option for a stay in Porto, and I'd book there for a return trip. Learn more about the hotel and pricing here.
SPONSOR: Avalon Waterways
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Book an 2024-25 Avalon cruise and save an additional $100 with the promo code MJTRAVEL.
