… more pix on Google
They’re on the upper floor, before the Duty Free shop. The process is smooth and rather quick. The vendors I purchased from all furnished me with ready-to-file documents. But they still needed to be stamped, which is across the hall. Purchases from Portugal can use the kiosk; those from other countries need to have the documents stamped in person.
I mailed more than two weeks ago, and I still haven’t gotten my refund.
Bistro
A great wine tasting: good wines plus a story.
Michael Carpenter of Redd Collection is the owner of a wine store in Culver City, CA. One day in 2013 he received an order to ship 115 bottles of 2008 Varvaglione “Papale” Primitivo di Manduria. As he sloppily wrote the address, he realized it was the Vatican, home to the Pope, and some cardinals.
Pope Francis (1936-2025) was about to take the helm on March 13, 2013. (As usual, he died on the job. I’m wondering who actually rules the Vatican, toward the end of each Pope?)
The best part was when John, my first pickleball partner, donned a pope robe and came in … oh my!!
We tried four Varvaglione wines:
A wonderful wine tasting
酒好 故事更好
话说加州Culver City一店接到一单115 瓶2008 Varvaglione “Papale” Primitivo di Manduria的单. 店员抄写下地址后 发现 爱嘛 这不是梵蒂冈吗
嗯 是
2013年新教皇Pope Francis 登基
想送点什么给115个主教… 想到这酒
这115瓶也是够折腾的 来自意大利 南方的Varvaglione (酒庄成立于1912年) 在加洲没呆几天就打道回府.
一邻居是酒庄弟弟的娃 安排的这次品酒会
快结束时 临时教皇隆重亮相
· A321neo
· 2E, 5F
Transportes Aéreos Portugueses / Air Portugal is the main carrier of Portugal, Lisbon Airport is its hub. It has been a member of Star Alliance since 2005.
This is the first time that I’ll have to take a bus to board a transatlantic flight. And TAP made it worse by disorganizing the process.
They let nearly everyone come downstairs with the “Premium” group waited for the bus. The line became so zigzagged that the later comers ended up boarding the bus first, which wasn’t their fault.
After a long wait, the buses began to circulate the airport, from our Gate 45A back to 45A: WHAT’s the heck?
“The cleaning isn’t done.” They explained.
Then have us wait by the gate. This was the most ridiculous process I’ve encountered.
Our seats were 2 H and K at booking on the A330-900. They changed the aircraft to A321neo, without the K column. We ended up with 2F and 5F in separate rows. The configuration is: Rows 1, 3, and 5 each have 4 seats (2, 2), and rows 2 and 4 each have 2 seats (1 and 1). On this flight, Row 5 is empty except for one of us. No drinks offered before taking off. Wines are ok, wine glasses are awful, food is so so, except the breads and desserts.
Alameda das Comunidades Portuguesas,
1700-111 Lisboa, Portugal
… more pix on Google NOT posted, Yelp*, reddit
Humberto Delgado Airport, or Lisbon Airport, is TAP‘s hub. it’s raltively close to the Old Town, 4.7 miles (7.7km) from Palace Ludovice in less than 30 minutes, $10.59 on Uber. It’s an orderly and modern airport.
The rating for this airport is poor, but I got through it in a breeze:
The TAP air is somewhat ridiculous.
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Doca de Alcantara Norte, Av. Brasília 352,
1350-352 Lisboa, Portugal
… more pix on Google,
An average museum. I found the information I needed, and my lost visor from their security office: thanks.
Exhibits are decent. Low ceiling. The second and third floors are dark.
Two of their exhibits, the blue bidet and the set of twelve zodiac
Japan has the biggest exhibit area: the entire top floor.
It’s the first time that I found at least two similar exhibits in two musseums, in less a mile (1.5 km) apart: zodiac and blue porcelain bidet.
R. de São Pedro de Alcântara 39,
1250-237 Lisboa, Portugal
… more pix on Google, Yelp*, TA
Palácio Ludovice Wine Experience Hotel, Lisbon (opened 2022) is abeautifully restored mansion-turned-hotel, thoughtfully designed and generally excellent. I would have rated it 5/5 overall, except for a notably poor breakfast experience on one morning.
Ratings
Location: 5/5
Amenities: 5/5
Lobby: 4/5
Room: 4/5
Bed & pillows: 5/5
Bathroom: 4/5
Toiletries: Portus Cale
Towels: 5/5
Shower pressure: 5/5
Breakfast: 1/5 (inconsistent experience)
Restaurant: 5/5
The hotel sits right next to the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. It occupies an entire block, with the surrounding streets—especially Travessa da Cara—coming alive at night.
Our second-floor room featured high ceilings and overlooked the atrium, where the restaurant sits below. The long hanging lights and greenery create a warm, open atmosphere. The room door is heavy and solid, adding to the sense of restoration.
The bathroom is well-finished but slightly limited in counter space. Shower pressure from the handheld unit is excellent, almost strong to a fault. Small details—like the slightly short toilet seat and occasional lingering drip from the faucet—are noticeable but minor.
The gym has a striking vaulted ceiling, though I didn’t use the facilities.
A 5:30pm wine tasting led by a licensed sommelier (limited to 12 guests) was a highlight—informative, intimate, and well-run.
Breakfast is generally very good: buffet selection plus made-to-order eggs. Cappuccinos are served in thick cups or tall glasses, and items like the honeycomb and chia seed pudding stand out.
However, service during our last breakfast on a Saturday fell far below standard—slow, disorganized, and inattentive, with significant delays in both ordering and clearing tables, which detracted sharply from the experience.
Dinner (steelite tableware) and the bar (Riedel stems) were both excellent and consistently well-executed.
Thanks for the afternoon egg tarts!
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20 6 Duplo Pequeno
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https://www.bonvoyage.ireneeng.com/?p=98468
Av. Alfredo Coelho 28,
2705-329 Colares, Portugal
… more pix n videos on Google, Yelp, TA, Insta
We enjoyed a couple of drinks after a thrilling swim in the 100-meter pool. The café is airy and offers a great view of the pool, ocean, and cliff. The service is good. The young woman brought two wines to try: both are good, thanks!
C. de Serrano Jover, 3, Centro,
28015 Madrid, Spain
… more pix on Google
Madrid Marriott Hotel Princesa Plaza has 409 rooms and 14 Suites, without a swimming pool. The lobby has fresh flowers, is well-lit, and well-designed. A fellow traveler mentioned that bus #001 is free and goes to train station Atouch.
The room is comfortable and functional. The long sofa is particularly inviting. The shower water pressure is great. The wine opener is a nice touch.
The toilet paper station toward the back made my waist slimed down by 2″: would be great if it’s in the front, in the narrow space.
A Starbucks is on one end of the building. Carrefour and El Corte Inglés are near by.
Location: 5/5
Amenities: ?
Lobby: 4
Room: 4
Bed n pillow: 4
Bathroom: 5
Toiletries:
Towels: 5
Shower water pressure: 5
Breakfast: 4
Restaurant:
A chipped bowl is used at our meeting.
C. de Ferraz, 1, Moncloa – Aravaca
28008 Madrid
… more pix and videos on
We take a brief tour of the ground after lunch @ Tangchu, and return the next day.
It offers good view of the city, as well as side view of the palace.
This Nubian temple was originally built in the early 2nd century BC, 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Aswan, Egypt. It was gifted to Madrid in 1968 from the Egyptian government, to thank them for participating in the International Campaign to Save the Monuments of Nubia.
