Beijinhos de Portugal!

Serge and I went to Portugal for a few nights shortly after we got back from London.  We stayed in Aveiro, which is a really pretty town, known as the Venice of Portugal, in reference to all of the man-made canals throughout the city.  We checked out the town, shopped, and went to a movie, which we were excited to learn are all shown in English with Portuguese subtitles!  It's the little things from home, like English in the movies that we miss so much!  We also went to the beach in Aveiro, and it was neat to watch the sunset from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean!  We took the train up to Porto, the town where Port wine is made, for a few nights and had a great time there as well, sightseeing, wine tasting, and floating down the Douro on a river cruise.

The Portuguese Venice

Serge enjoying a Sagres (naturally!) in Aveiro

the other side of the Atlantic!

 Aveiro Lighthouse at Barra Beach

A moliceiro boat filled with tourists floating down the canal outside our hotel

Trying the local fare, a Franceshina at Capa Negro II in Porto - Now that's a sandwich!

Holding on for dear life as our bus zipped around Porto

I really can't tell the difference between myself and the angel :-)

Statue of Prince Henry the Navigator

Rio Douro

Festive streets of Porto

Vila Nova de Gaia in the background

Ponte Dom Luís I

Looking down from Dom Luís I Bridge at all those steps we just climbed!

on the bridge

Ribeira down below

Porto looks like a postcard!

Making our way through the windy streets to the wine cellars

With a name like Cockburn's, it has to be good!

Errr rrrreee eeerrr rrrreee eerrr!

 On to the next cave!

Sandeman Winery

Croft Winery

Taking a tour of Croft

That's a lot of barrels!

Kinda spooky in there!

Tasting a White at Offley Forrester

And a Tawny at Sandeman

Time for a Port cocktail!

Ruby, Tawny, Vintage, Late Bottled Vintage, White, Rosé - You name it, we tasted it...

Aaaaand we probably never will again! :-)

Our favorite, Porto Cálem

More festive streets

Camouflage Serge - I love this picture!

Porto skyline at night

Bright and early at Cais de Gaia for our river cruise

This was probably hour 2 on the Douro, after our fancy breakfast of rolls and Tang, when we started thinking, "Hmm what the heck are we supposed to do on this boat with all these lovely people for the next 5 hours?!"

So we did what we always do when we're in a strange situation (which happens very often living in a foreign country!) - We laughed!! :-D

at the winery in Régua

We made it! :-)

back in Porto on the cable car

Beijinhos de Portugal! :-)

Rocking Out in London!

Serge and I spent a few nights in London shortly after I got back from the US.  We went to two concerts, The Avett Brothers at Shepherd's Bush Empire and Kings of Leon at Hyde Park, and also spent some time sightseeing.  It was Serge's first time being in an English-speaking country in over 8 months, so that was nice!  And it made for a much easier transition back for me! :-) We really loved London!  The concerts were awesome, the people were super nice and friendly, and even though the weather isn't great and everything is crazy expensive (our movie tickets were $50!), we would love to go back again some time soon!

We <3 Nando's! 

Sangria, Peri-Peri Chicken, mashed sweet potatoes = YUM!

It was pouring down rain when we first arrived in London, so we bought an umbrella, but it was also really windy, so the darn thing kept flipping upside down.  I spent our first hour in the hotel blow-drying my hair, jeans, shoes, everything! :-)

We're on our way to see the Avett Brothers play!

A water closet for dogs, ah how proper!

Walking through Holland Park, trying to avoid the mud!

Pretty streets!

Holland Park Mews

Shepherd's Bush Empire

The Avett Brothers!!

Outside our hotel, which we really liked!

Just making a quick phone call 

Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens

Hey, I know a girl named Ellis A.W! :-)

Hyde Park

Got my wellies on, bring on the mud!

Zac Brown Band!

Candy break :-)

Kings of Leon!

What a great concert!

Buckingham Palace

Kate & William... I mean Serge outside the gates :-)

Westminster Abbey

The Sanctuary

North Entrance

Big Ben

and again

Victoria Tower at the Palace of Westminster

London Eye and the River Thames

Serge thinks it's hilarious how far away from the horse I am, but the sign says the horses may kick or bite, and I'm not a fan of being kicked nor bitten by a horse! :-)

A woman was celebrating her birthday at The Devonshire Arms and brought a homemade cake.  She went around asking everyone at the pub if they wanted a piece.  It was so sweet; I couldn't say no! :-)