The trip up and back on the Viking Hemming was a real delight. We started with an overnight stay in Portugal and we enjoyed strolling the streets and finding little places to eat. We even took in a local flea market selling all kinds of items. Upon boarding the Hemming we were treated like honored guests the meals and crushing experience was wonderful. The sights along the river truly take you back to the Roman Empire with the terraced hill side full of grapevines and olive trees.

We enjoyed stopping at local sites and hearing the music of Portugal (fado). We found the stop at the Universidad De Coimbra to be inspiring and to see the library and its old books and architure dazzling. But the treat was a stop at a local restaurant with a very professional fado group of three men outstanding.

Of course along the way we stopped at port storage sites and tasted their products. We sample port from the big producers to the small in even trying Favaito in a small cooperative town and meeting the look alike of Mr. Bean. Read more