Pinhão, Portugal – April 22

Once again our sail in the morning was only about an hour to our next location of Pinhão. This is the first time we were actually docked in a small town. We had a walking tour of the town stopping at the train station to see the decorations of the tile murals. Then we were on our own to wander. Tauck had a clever option for us. We had a map of the town, we had 3 colored poker chips and the map had 3 colored stars. If we went to the colored stars we got treats. One was chocolate cake and choice of drinks. A second was hotdogs and beer. The third was port wine and chocolates.

Since the town was right on the convergence of the Pinhão River and the Douro we had some nice riverside areas to walk along.

After lunch we got to go to an Oil Museum. It was an old place where they used to make olive oil. They had all the old equipment and told us how it used to be made. They now produce the olive oil and wines at another facility. It takes 5 to 8 liters of olives to make 1 liter of oil. It was high up in the hills above the town and the views were amazing. The road was very narrow and twisty and turny. We had to go in vans because the big coaches could not do this road.

Then in the evening we had a “roaring ‘20s” party to celebrate Tauck’s 100th birthday and my 79th. Not planned for me but nice to have a big celebration on my birthday. After dinner they turned the lounge into a disco and we danced and even the crew came to join the party. It was fun.

And on to more adventure in the morning. Thanks to all who contacted me with birthday wishes and greetings.