So… I’m just prepping up for my next Tour, Portugal & the Douro, and this time, for the first time in a while, I’m working with British Clients rather than Americans. This is going to be something of a culture shock – I’ll need to adapt my style back to my own market. We shall be travelling in Europe, not “Yurp” and we shall be travelling all the way there by rail.
I’ve taken this Tour twice before, but, thanks to COVID, not for several years, so I need to do some work getting ready. It is however, one of my favourite Yurpean Tours. Portugal is a lovely country. The Anglo-Portuguese Alliance is the oldest in the world, dating from 1386 and during that time the two countries have never waged war against each other, nor have they participated in wars on opposite sides as independent states. They are our Bestest Buddies. Whoops! Remember who I’m working for… They are our Best Friends, I should say.
In addition to the spectacular cities of Porto & Lisbon, Port Wine tastings, Private Tram rides that we shall be enjoying in Portugal on this 15 day Tour, we have stops en-route in the beautiful Spanish cities of Salamanca and San Sebastián. We also have a 1 night layover in Valladolid, where I have never been, unsurprisingly since it is well off the Tourist path. The Plaza Mayor of Valladolid is the first great plaza in Spain, leading directly to many others, including that of Salamanca.
I’m departing early Sunday morning and I will be posting daily (or near-daily) photos and updates on the Great Rail Journeys Facebook and Instagram pages, and then sharing them to my own timeline. Follow me round – this may be the Tour for you next season in 2026?
We have a Free Day/Night in Lisbon and I am going to be sneaking off to a Fado Bar (unless some of my clients want to join me) for an evening of Fado. Can’t tell you why, but I have a thing for this style of music. There’s a sadness and soulfulness that cuts through to me. It’s safe to say that it isn’t for everybody, but if you’re interested (and you should be), here’s the very best Fado voice of all time, Amália Rodrigues
TimOnTheTrain 