Wandering Shannon Posts

  • The Time When Everything Went Wrong

    September 21, 2022 Sometimes you check into a hotel, or in my case, a tiny studio apartment, and everything seems to go wrong.I finally reached my apartment building in Lisbon and pushed the buzzer for reception. No answer. I tried again. No answer. Then I remembered that there was a phone number with the confirmation.… Read more

  • Coimbra, Portugal: Gluten-Free Gastronomic Delights!

    September 16, 2022 One of the great things about travel is the unexpected surprises. I have traveled throughout Spain several times, but for some reason, I never spent time in Portugal. I guess it’s just that magical attraction of Spain that kept me coming back. Last spring, I decided to retire early from teaching and… Read more

  • Last Day in Porto

    September 12, 2022 What a week it has been here in Porto! It’s always nice when something exceeds expectations, and Porto certainly has. I have been charmed by the city since my driver dropped me off a week ago. My little studio apartment is in an ideal location, and I’ve had fun cooking in my… Read more

  • A Perfect Day in Porto

    September 11, 2022 Today was a good day, despite being September 11th. Back home, the smoke from forest fires is thick and so harmful that some people are staying in. I have beautiful clear skies here. So much to be grateful for! It’s Sunday, so I got up and went to Mass. Okay, I didn’t… Read more

  • Last Bus Day in Porto

    September 10, 2022 Yet another day of excessive walking. I knew it going in. I used my last bonus day on the tourist bus to ride to the city park. It was not nearly as impressive as Serralves, but I’m glad I experienced it. Seeing the locals out and about, walking and riding bikes was… Read more

  • Walking Through Porto

    September 9, 2022 Porto, Day Three: Another walk-until-you-drop kind of day! I decided to get to some of the tourist sights nearby. I got lucky and arrived at the Palacio de Bolsa at 10:40, just in time for the 11:00 tour in English. The tour guide was fantastic, and the building was magnificent! I even… Read more