Day 1-2: The Longest Day

Sunday-Monday, October 6-7, 2013

Prescription for a long, tiring day: Up at 4:30 am, finish packing the suitcases, lockup the house and be picked up by the airport shuttle by 8:00. Cool heels for two hours at the airport because 8:00 am was the only shuttle option available. One hour flight to Dallas/Fort Worth airport. Meet up with two of four traveling companions (Tom and Elaine from Dallas) and have lunch while cooling heels for another five (yes, five!) hours at DFW because that's the only flight option available. Ten hour from DFW to Madrid. Cool heels for another five (yes, five!) hours at Madrid airport because that's the only flight option available. One hour flight from Madrid to Lisbon. Arrive in Lisbon approximately 26 hours, and what seems like a million miles, after leaving home with not one cross word between us! Unpack, shower, change clothes, meet up with our other two traveling companions (Ron and Sally from Mobile whose flight was cancelled due to the tropical storm in the Gulf causing them to be re-routed through London) and have dinner. Whew! Just when you think you have all the obstacles overcome, up pops another. Ron and Sally's ATM card would not work at the local ATM machines, so no local money (Euros) to spend. (No one uses travelers checks any more, but when the ATM won't take your card.....) Return to the hotel (more on that later), drop (literally) into bed, and sleep the blissful sleep of the weary traveler. With all of that fun stuff out of the way, we are finally ready to get started with our Bucket List Wanderings...

My traveling companion (and better half) awaiting the flight to DFW.

We arrived early as you can see...

 

Carol and Elaine at DFW awaiting the flight to Madrid.

 

AA-36 preparing for the long DFW-MAD "red-eye" flight.

 

Early morning landfall (a.k.a "feet dry") over the Western Coast of Spain.

 

Olive trees of Catalonia Province, Spain.

Spain is the world's #1 producer of olives and olive oil.

 

Elaine, Tom, and Carol at Madrid International Airport

 

It must be Madrid!

 

Boarding the Iberia Airlines flight to Lisbon.

 

Lisbon from the air.

 

Hotel Britania - Lisbon

 

Our hotel (Hotel Britania-Lisbon) is a 30 room "boutique" Art Deco style hotel in the city center that was built in 1942, and recently re-modeled. It has an interesting history due to the fact it was built during World War II during the German occupation of most of Europe. Portugal did not take sides and was officially "neutral" during World War II, becoming a haven for various nationalities of Europeans and Middle Easterners fleeing the ravages of war. As a result, Lisbon became a haven for spies trying to gain intelligence from these various groups. The Britania Hotel was the scene of elegant social gatherings of the Lisbon elites during that time and was, no doubt, the location of much mystery and intrigue.