Travels Past & Future

25/04/2026 - Porto - Bookshops, Hills, Towers and Bridges. We explored Porto today, starting off with a 9.00am booking at Livaria Lello, the magical bookshop that inspired JK Rowling's moving staircase in the Harry Potter books. It truly is magnificent. Kim booked our spot and made sure she got Gold tickets. We arrived 1/2 hour before our allotted time (Opening Time) and were second into the store, which meant we got a photo on the stairs without anyone else in view.  5 minutes later to store was full. After soaking in the experience, we each bought a book for the value of our ticket and headed out the door. Next we visited Torres dos Clerigos. Julie decided her knee wouldn't like the 225 stair climb to the top of the tower, so she stayed in the park and people watched. The rest of us ascended the tower and the views of Porto were spectacular.  The climb back down was tricky as we had to navigate the people on their way up. Lunch by the river at a Cafe, and we were off aga...

Friday, 24 April 2026 – From Lisbon to Porto: Castles, Miracles, and a Chapel in the Sea Today we finally headed to Porto. Alison had the brilliant idea months ago to book a private tour from Lisbon to Porto, and it turned out to be the best decision. Our driver, João, picked us up at 9:00 am, and we slipped out of the city, leaving the morning rush behind. The scars of the storm Driving north, we couldn't help notice the pine forests. Many looked brutally harvested, but the truth was worse. A cyclonic storm tore through here a couple of months ago, flattening homes, villages, and vast swaths of trees. The ones still standing are permanently bent—eerie sentinels of what came through. Petrol watch €2.13 per litre. Back home in Australia, we grumble at $2.65. Perspective is a funny thing. First stop: Óbidos We entered through the Porta da Vila, a tiled gateway into a 12th-century medieval hilltop town (because of course it's on a hilltop). Our first order of business? Gin...

Thursday, 23 April 2026 - Exploring Lisbon After a simple but perfect breakfast of croissants with butter and jam from the supermarket, we set out for a full day exploring Lisbon. Our walk began along Rua Augusta, where the street is lined with restaurants and outdoor seating with a variety of food - lucky we had breakfast. At the end of the street stands the impressive Arco da Rua Augusta, which opens into the vast Praça do Comércio. The square stretches out toward the river and is home to the grand equestrian statue of King José I, giving the whole space a sense of history and scale. From there, we began the steady climb uphill to the Igreja de Santo António de Lisboa, the birthplace of Saint Anthony. Not far away, we visited Lisbon Cathedral, where we received our first stamp in our pilgrim credencial—a small but meaningful milestone. By then, we were ready for a treat, so we stopped for ice cream before heading downhill toward the Tagus River, where cruise ships quietly lined t...

Tuesday 21 April 2026. Today's the day. We were up and ready to go to the airport. We all arrived at Alison's place on Monday afternoon.  Checked our luggage and wondered why our bags were so heavy. It couldn't have been the lollies, muesli bars and chocolate. Gary told us we were leaving at 9.30am so we would be ready, but we didn't need to leave until 10.30am . We were all ready at 9.30 so off we went to the airport. We checked in with no line up, took the photo at the Sydney airport sign and went through scanning with no trouble at all. Lunch at the airport near our gate so we didn't have to sit on those waiting gate seats and we were on our way. Premium Economy was definitely worth the cost.  7 and a half hours to Singapore,  1.5 hours waiting for our next flight, 13hrs 10 minutes to London so we tried to sleep,  then 1.5 hours waiting for our flight to Lisbon.  We bought a smoothie or coffee. Did you know that my Enhlush pounds from 7 years ago were to...

Why We're Lacing Up Our Boots for the Camino All Over Again In May 2024, to celebrate a milestone Sixtieth birthday, 2 of my sisters, Kim and Alison, and I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. We walked a 275km stretch of the Camino Francés, from León or specifically the small town of Hospital de Órbigo, all the way to the majestic Santiago de Compostela. When we finally arrived, I was running on empty, even the fumes were running out. We had averaged about 16km a day, with three rest days sprinkled in to give our bodies a break. And I mean *real* rest days. One of them, I’m pretty sure I slept straight through. Looking back, the walk was a beautiful paradox. It was exhausting, yet exhilarating. It was hard and strenuous, but also peaceful in a way I’d never experienced. The sense of achievement when we finally completed it was immense. But in the moment? I was just tired. My poor sister Alison bore the brunt of my struggles. She’d walk a couple of kilometres, then patiently sa...

Conquering the Women’s Fitness Adventures Hiking Skills Weekend This past weekend, I completed the Women’s Fitness Adventures Hiking Skills Course—and let me tell you, it was equal parts exhilarating and exhausting!   Friday Night: Meet & Greet The adventure kicked off with a social dinner at the Bull & Bush in Medowie. Fourteen of us gathered, including our instructor, Jane. The group was a mix of women from all over—Newcastle, Port Stephens, Central Coast, Sydney, Gunnedah, Tamworth, Mackay,  100km northeast of Perth! It was amazing swapping stories and getting to know everyone before the real work began.   Saturday: Gear Talk & Bulahdelah Mountain Saturday morning, we assembled at the Mercure in Williamtown and were introduced to Shane, our local guide. Then came a deep dive into hiking gear. And wow—there’s so much to consider! From boots and socks to gaiters, rain gear, gloves, and even the right underwear (yes, really), we covered it all. ...

A Leisurely Farewell: Winding Down and Wrapping Up Our Adventure After two weeks of early mornings and non-stop exploration, today was all about slowing down and savoring our final moments. Thanks to a late checkout, we got to enjoy another blissful sleep-in and a leisurely breakfast—a rare treat after so many days on the go.   With no major plans for the day, we took the opportunity to relax, read, and make sure our bags were packed and ready to go. Of course, we also attempted the impossible: trying to squeeze the heavenly Sheridan bed and pillows into our luggage. Spoiler alert—it didn’t quite work out, but a girl can dream, right?   We checked out at noon, and our bus arrived just before 1:00 pm to whisk us away. About half an hour into the journey, we made a quick pit stop at a service center before continuing on to Earls Regent hotel in Negombo. There, we spent a few hours unwinding by the pool, sipping on refresh...