Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
May 2025 - Toronto ON
Lisbon Airport, Portugal
My last weekly post was April 18 as we were leaving for Lisbon! We had a wonderful trip!! Weather wasn't perfect but that didn't stop us. All our flights were smooth and on time or only delayed by minutes. Toronto - Amsterdam - Lisbon - Madeira - Lisbon - Amsterdam - Toronto.
Even though we took a package it was semi-organized so really the time spent with a group (a large one - 46 plus guide and driver) was only 2 half day city tours in Lisbon and Porto and 4 full days touring. The rest of the time we were on our own.
All breakfasts were included at the hotels. One lunch was included in the Douro Valley and we paid for one optional dinner and fado show.
Our daily posts are here:
Day 1 April 18-19 Toronto to Lisbon Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 2 April 20 Lisbon EASTER SUNDAY Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 3 April 21 Lisbon EASTER MONDAY Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 4 April 22 Lisbon City Tour Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 5 April 23 Lisbon– Sintra – Cascais – Lisbon Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 6 April 24 Lisbon – Tomar – Fatima – Batalha – Porto HF Ipanema Hotel
Day 7 April 25 Porto city tour DIA DA LIBERDADE HF Ipanema Hotel
Day 8 April 26 Douro Valley - Porto HF Ipanema Hotel
Day 9 April 27 Porto - Aveiro - Nazare - Obidos - Lisbon Turim Marquês Hotel
Day 10 April 28 - Lisbon - Madeira Orca Praia Hotel
Day 11 April 29 - Madeira Orca Praia Hotel
Day 12 April 30 - Madeira Orca Praia Hotel
Day 13 May 1 - Madeira DIA DO TRABALHADOR Orca Praia Hotel
Day 14 May 2 Madeira - Lisbon Hotel Marquês de Pombal
Saturday we were in Lisbon until 4 PM. It was pouring rain and we had planned to meet up with a cousin and husband, however he had vertigo so we couldn't. We wandered around and found a new sign.
We flew to Amsterdam and spent the night at the Mercure Hotel within the airport. It was not easy to find, no signage except for a tiny HOTEL on a couple of other signs.
Sunday we were up at 7:30 and had breakfast in the KLM lounge before our 11:20 AM flight home, 8 hours. It was a very pleasant flight with plenty of food.
KLM is the oldest airline in the world continuously operating under one name.
We now have our own collection of KLM Delft miniature houses.
Each one depicts a real Dutch building. These unique gifts have been around since the 1950s and are a true collector’s item!
YEAR NUMBER ADDRESS TOWN YEAR BUILT
1972 40 De Rode Hoed (Vrijburg) Keizersgracht 104 Amsterdam 1642
1985 54 Warehouse Frankfort Prinsengracht 773 Amsterdam 1671
1989 58 Herengracht 101 Amsterdam 1871
1994 73 De Posthoorn Dijk 11 Alkmaar 1575
58 40 73 54
We were home by 3:30 PM and whiled away the afternoon trying not to go to bed too early.
Monday
Monday Mural Tucson AZ March 2025
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Jetlag kicked in, it is always worse coming home, probably because you are flying during the day so no sleeping.
I was up at 3:15 John followed at 4. We did have an afternoon nap.
While catching up on our recorded shows, we watched Law and Order Toronto and saw the episode filmed next to our building.
Tuesday we were both up at 5 so the jetlag is getting better.
The handyman arrived to remove the floor under the new water cooler (yes, the one that suddenly arrived the day we were leaving) and an electric plug.
The luggage was unpacked and a couple of loads of laundry were done.
Wednesday John picked up the mail and I can't believe I was selected for jury duty AGAIN! I had done it in June 2023 so I am ineligible (2 years) and returned my forms.
John had his first men's league golf game. I went downtown and got some bargains in Rexall. Picked up a couple of food items in Longo's. Hockey fever is rampant with the second game taking place here in Toronto, Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers tonight. UPDATE Toronto won 4-3!!!!
Thursday it was a beautiful spring day yesterday and today was like winter again. The weather has just been crazy.
We caught the 9:35 bus and walked to St. Lawrence Market. There is a movie shoot taking place on Market St. It was decorated for a Christmas Market with flags saying "London Christmas Market" although the market booths appear to be German. I'm sure they'll be snow scattered around at some point.
The Terminal List Season 2 (Chris Pratt) filming in Toronto, at St Lawrence Market
“We will be filming EXTERIOR scenes on Market Street, between The Esplanade and Front Street
May 7th and 8th from 7pm -7am the following day(s)
WRAP: May 9th from 7am-5pm
Please note we are filming a terrorist attack scene and the aftermath of it on Market St, filming will involve late night SPFX gunfire and explosions with smoke, SPFX will occur until lam on May 7th and 8th overnight.
Late night filming activity and noise will occur past lam to 7am on both filming nights.
Filming will involve background actors running and crowds of approx. 200 people.
Filming will be under the supervision of Toronto Police."
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In the market.
AND I found these, sweet drops, that I had been raving about on our flight home. They were in my salad above.
These small tear shaped peppers originate from the Peruvian Amazon. They have an exceptional taste that balances sweet and sour, making them a great addition to pizza, pasta and salads.
We went back to our old butcher and got steaks, pork butt, roast beef and ground beef.
Then at our favourite fruit and veg stand, asparagus, broccolini, mango, living lettuce, potatoes came to $18 and she said $16, she always does this!
Some funny posters at York and Front for Mother's Day.
Friday and we're both up before 7!!
After a lunch of homemade beef soup we headed to Yorkville for Fleurs de Villes.
Can you see the window cleaner at the top left?
We've had many an outside beverage since January but this is our first at home in Toronto, finally patio season may be here!
But holy $hit, call it sticker shock after Portugal, but really $26 for a glass of wine???? That is 17€, I could buy 4 BOTTLES of wine for that in Portugal. John laughed himself silly.
His pint was $11.
Hockey fever prevails, Toronto are leading 2-0 but are playing the Florida Panthers in Florida tonight, fingers crossed. UPDATE we lost...
COOKING
Saturday LISBON garlic shrimps and fries
Sunday IN TRANSIT KLM
Monday pork chops mashed potatoes and beans
Tuesday spaghetti and homemade (frozen) sauce with cheese buns (frozen)
Wednesday curry chicken
Sunday IN TRANSIT KLM
Monday pork chops mashed potatoes and beans
Tuesday spaghetti and homemade (frozen) sauce with cheese buns (frozen)
Wednesday curry chicken
Thursday chips and eggs (John's request)
Friday steak baked potato and asparagus
WATCHING
With the election of the new pope we decided to watch Conclave. When Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with leading one of the world's most secretive and ancient events, selecting a new Pope, he finds himself at the center of a web of conspiracies and intrigue that could shake the very foundation of the Catholic Church.
READING
I finished Woman on the Ledge which I quite enjoyed. It was gripping from the first page.
I also finished The Women and did not like it. I have never read Kristin Hannah before and now I know why.
I appreciated the history of the Vietnam War. It was fun to read about something that happened in my lifetime. I also loved that the emphasis was on the women who fought in that war, something that I had not thought of before and she shines the lights on these forgotten heroes.
But the romance part of it, yuck, I do not like romance stories. Frankie was so cutesy and California girl predictable that I was embarrassed for her. And no spoilers here, but really?? What a corny ending.
But the romance part of it, yuck, I do not like romance stories. Frankie was so cutesy and California girl predictable that I was embarrassed for her. And no spoilers here, but really?? What a corny ending.
I started Reykjavik.
