Travel – Page 2 – WANDERLUST FAMILY ADVENTURE

Trip Itinerary – Madeira/Portugal/Turkey 2020

August 29, 2020 Joseph Candora Asia, Cappadocia, England, Europe, Istanbul, Itinerary, Lisbon, London, Madeira, Portugal, Travel, Turkey

This itinerary is for Rita’s Trip to Portugal and England to finalize her British Immigration status. Since she has to be in Europe for several weeks to update her documents she will be squeezing in some additional travel destinations while there.

Boston, Massachusetts to Coimbra, Portugal via Lisbon
The itinerary for this section of the trip can be found here. Flight from Lisbon to Madeira.

Madeira

Cristiano Ronaldo Madeira International Airport

CR7 Museu
Trophies and displays concerning the great footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. The museums website here will give you directions and ticket information.

Laurisilva of Madeira (Unesco World Heritage Site)
On the north-facing slopes, covering an area of 15,000 hectares corresponding to 20% of the Island, the primitive forest of Madeira has survived five centuries of human intervention. Having virtually disappeared from the European continent, it preserves its subtropical characteristics, forming the largest and best preserved laurel forest in the Atlantic islands. The site is located within Madeira’s National Park information of which can be found here.

Levada of Madeira
In Madeira, the levadas originated out of the necessity of bringing large amounts of water from the west and northwest of the island to the drier southeast, which is more conducive to habitation and agriculture, such as sugar cane production. They were used in the past also by women to wash clothes in areas where running water to homes was not available. The idea of this style of water channel was brought to Portugal by the Moors during the time of al-Andalus. Many of the levadas can be seen on short or long hikes, information for these trails can be found here.

Funchal Car Rental Information

Hotel Aqua Natura (Porto Moniz) Hotel information is here or you can book through Hotels.com

The Lava Swimming Pools at Porto Moniz
Information for the pools can be found here

Achadas Da Cruz Cable Car
Superb views over the lush green of Porto Moniz from the cabin of the Achadas da Cruz cable car – open everyday between 08:00 – 12:00 h and 13:00 -18:00 h!

Footpath to Achadas Da Cruz
A footpath also zigzags down. However, venturing down the 470m near vertical drop requires a serious condition! The path is a mixture of earth and sand. Information on the hiking trail can be found here. It is a two and 1/2 hour strenuous hike.
After drive back to Funchal catch return flight to Lisbon and in Lisbon board your flight to London England.
After immigration business is complete in London board your flight to Istanbul, Turkey.

Istanbul, Turkey

Sura Hagia Sophia Hotel

Hagia Sophia
Sign up for Istanbul Tourist Pass here, it will give you free access to many of the sites in Istanbul. Four 21 Euros it is a great deal as each attraction is 17 euros without the pass.

Blue Mosque

Basilica Cistern

Topkapi Palace
Also free with your Istanbul Tourist Pass

Grand Bazaar

Bosphorus Cruise
Book your 1/2 day lunch cruise with hotel pickup from Viator here

Cappadocia
Viatour Istanbul to Cappadocia with balloon ride. Get ticket information here

Return home Istanbul to Boston

Trip Itinerary – Coimbra, Portugal

August 23, 2020 Joseph Candora England, Europe, Itinerary, Lisbon, London, Portugal, Travel, Trip Preparation

This is a itinerary for a trip Rita has to take to take care of some personal business in Portugal and London.

9/12. Saturday
08:45 pm. Flight to Lisbon

9/13 Sunday
09:00 am. Arrive Lisbon
H:MM am. Train to Coimbra (TBD)
H:MM. pm. Arrive Coimbra
H:MM. pm. Check in hotel Oslo Coimbra (TBD)
H:MM. pm. Free Afternoon / Evening Coimbra

9/14 Monday
06:00 am. Breakfast at Hotel Oslo Coimbra
08:30 am. Loja do Cidadão (Cartão do Cidadão/ Cartao do Cidadao)
10:00 am. Cafe Santa Cruz
10:40. am. Igreja Santa Cruz (Monasterio)
11:30. pm. Se Velha
01:00. pm. Lunch – free pick (TBD)
08:30. pm. Fado ao Centro Restaurante/Fado Live Music
10:00. pm. Return to Hotel Oslo Coimbra

09/15 Tuesday
07:00.am. Breakfast at hotel
10:00.am. Arco de Armadina
09:00.am. Jardim Botanico (picnic)
12:00.am. Santa Clara Bridge for pictures of city
12:30.pm. Restaurant Italiano
02:00.pm. 90 minute tour of Coimbra University and Joanina Library
04:00.pm. Parade Manuel Braga (relax and people watch)
05:00.pm. World Needs Cafe
07:00.pm. Return to hotel

09/16 Wednesday
09:15.am. Conservatoria Registro Civil Coimbra (passport)
11:00.am. Car rental – destination Porto
01:00.pm. Lunch in Porto
02:30.pm. Check into Porto Hotel (TBD)
03:00.pm. Free day in Porto

09/17 Thursday

H:MM am. Loja do Cidadão
H:MM am. TBD
H:Mm pm. TBD

MM/DD “D-day” (TBD)
H:MM am. Flight to London
H:MM pm. Check in Hotel London (TBD)
H:MM pm. Apply Settlement

MM/DD D-day + 7 days
H:MM. am TBD
H:MM. pm. Flight to Boston

Renting a Flat in London, England

August 23, 2020 Joseph Candora Architecture, Bridges, Castle, Cemetery, Church/Cathedral, England, Europe, Events/Festivals, Fort/Fortification, Historic Sites, London, Memorials, Museums, Rivers, Statue / Sculpture, Travel, UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The best way to really experience a city or country is to live in it, the next best thing is to get away from the tourist type of accommodation. With this in mind I decided to rent a flat in London for a month to truly get a feel of the city. Along with my father and young nephew we took the ferry across the channel from my home base in Germany and made our way by train to Victoria Station. Our flat was less than a mile from this main hub so we set out and met the renter who gave us our keys along with some sage advise. This was long before the days of Air B&B so the rental was arranged through magazine advertisements, snail mail and the telephone. The two bedroom flat was clean and most importantly conveniently located to shops and Victoria Station.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The best part about the flat was that in between Victoria Station and the flat the short walk brought us past a bakery, a green grocer, a butcher shop and a corner market. We were able to stop and pick up food and cook dinner each night in the flat. The month in town gave us ample time to fully appreciate each venue and historic site. Click on the links below for a more comprehensive post for each attraction.
If you like museums London has some of the best in the world. The British Museum has the actual Rosetta Stone on display! as well as the Elgin Marbles and Egyptian mummies.

The Natural History Museum has extensive displays highlighting the natural world and because of the age of the museum also has items of historical significance like some of Darwin‘s collection from his voyage on the Beagle.

For a more whimsical experience try Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.

You can experience living collections at the London Zoo,

and Kew Gardens.

The pigeons are no longer as prevalent at Trafalgar Square but it is still an interesting stop.

If you want “human wildlife” catch the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace.

Historical buildings abound many of them drenched in the history of England and the western world. There’s Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament,

Westminster Abbey,

The Tower of London,

and Tower Bridge.

If shopping is your thing go no farther than Harrods.

Just traveling around town there are interesting sights on every corner.

If you have the time allotment available there is no better experience than “living” in the city you are visiting.

London England – Four Day Itinerary

August 19, 2020 Joseph Candora England, Europe, Itinerary, London, Travel

Outlined below is a four day itinerary for a visit to the capital of the United Kingdom, London. Once your travel plans and dates of travel are firm I would suggest you make reservations and book tickets as some attractions can sell out or otherwise be unavailable. I have included links to tickets whenever possible.

Day 1

Arrive in London and get a birds-eye view of the city on the giant ferris wheel The London Eye. Get your tickets here. If going by car look here.
Continue on your orientation tour of the city with a sightseeing excursion on one of London’s famous double decker buses. These tours can be geared towards your interests; history, royals, family or views. Tickets.
Trafalgar Square is a nice free attraction and an interesting stop even if the pigeons are gone.
With your orientation of the city complete check into your hotel and relax before dinner tonight. Make your reservations to St. John Restaurant here. St John was founded by master chef Fergus Henderson and is one of London’s premier eating establishments.

Day 2

Start your second day with a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kew Gardens. Kew Gardens is a botanic garden in southwest London that houses the “largest and most diverse botanical and mycological collections in the world”. You can prebook your tickets here. Parking if traveling by car here. After a quintessential English lunch of fish and chips or at a London Pub relax before your booked Theater performance tonight. London Theater is world renowned and there are shows to meet any interest from Shakespeare to Musical Theater. You can choose your show and book your tickets here.

Day 3

Tour of Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey. The Abbey is open to tourists even though it is an active place of worship. Visiting hours and ticket information can be found here. A stroll through the Abbey’s many tombs and memorials is like going through a Who’s Who of English and even world history. After lunch a trip to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum where you can mingle with celebrities and historical figures. Tickets are available here. There is no car parking at the site but if you are traveling by car you can look here for options.

Day 4

A full day packed with history starts with The Tower of London and a visit to the crown jewels. Tickets needed to the Tower and the crown Jewels can be obtained here. When you finish your tour of the tower take a stroll across Tower Bridge. An interesting change of pace is the London Dungeon. The London Dungeon is a tourist attraction along London’s South Bank which recreates various gory and macabre historical events in a gallows humour style. It uses a mixture of live actors, special effects and rides. Tickets here. Spend your final afternoon in London at the British Museum. The museum has a collection of some of the most iconic historical items you have read ever read about. See in person The Elgin Marbles, The Rosetta Stone and Egyptian Mummies. Best of all admission to the museum is free!

Day 5

A visit to Harrod’s Department Store. This is not just any store but an attraction well worth your visit. Be sure to check out the food section where you will see such exotic fare as seagull eggs (sadly only available during the spring). Your tour is complete, say goodbye to London.

Alaska Road Trip

August 12, 2020 Joseph Candora Alaska, Alberta, Architecture, Attractions, Beaches, Bridges, British Columbia, Camping, Canada, Canoeing, Farms/Zoos/Aquariums, Hiking, Historic Sites, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Lake/Pond, Manitoba, Memorials, Minnesota, Montana, Mountain, Museums, National Parks Service, New England, New York, North America, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Quebec, Rivers, Road Trips, Saskatchewan, Scenic Drives, South Dakota, State Parks, Travel, United States, Vermont, Waterfalls, Wildlife, Wyoming, Yukon

Sometimes when bad things happen you can turn them into experiences of a lifetime. I was relatively young when the plant I was working at as Quality Supervisor shut its doors after over 100 years of operation. I took my severance package and seeing that I was not tied down to returning at a given time I packed up the van and headed to Alaska from my home in New England. I took my elderly parents with me since they had both recently retired paying them back for all of the family trips they took us kids on when we were young. We headed north up through Vermont passing over the border to Montreal. You can click the links for more in depth posts on each attraction. In Quebec we picked up the Trans Canada Highway and headed west averaging 600 miles per day.

Ontario brought us to the north shore of Lake Superior.

We entered Manitoba stopping for the night in Winnipeg before passing the longitudinal center of Canada.

Saskatchewan and the open plains are next up.

Into Alberta and a visit to the West Edmonton Mall.

Heading north out of Edmonton we finally made our way to the Alaska Highway. The highway starts at mile zero in Dawson Creek British Columbia.

Ranging rivers, mosquito infested forests and many trading post style shops like the “Trappers Den” highlight the start of the trip.

Summit Lake Provincial Campground was one of the best sites on the trip even though it was quite cold, at least no mosquitos!

At milepost 613 is Watson Lake, Yukon Territory with its signpost forest.

Whitehorse, Yukon is a spot for car repairs or upgrades before heading deeper into the wilderness.

The SS Klondike National Historic Site and the canyon are nice visits.

Passing the Northern Beaver Post Kluane National Park offers expansive views.

Into Alaska and the end of the Alaska Highway at Delta Junction and then on our way to Tok where a meal of caribou sausage and salmon chowder in a bread bowl was our welcome to the state.

Making our way down state passing Wrangell- St. Elias National Park to Valdez.

Heading north and west we went through Anchorage and down to Homer and Chugach State Park.

Back north brings us to Denali National Park.

We visited Fairbanks and after a short detour up the haul road towards Barrow we headed back via the Top of the World Highway.

Coming to the Yukon River you board a ferry across to Dawson City, Yukon.

Back through Kluane we took the South Klondike Highway towards Carcross, The Carcross Desert, Emerald Lake, Bove Island,the Venus Mill and back into Alaska to Skagway.

Instead of repeating the route south along the Alaska Highway we took the Cassiar Highway south. We passed by Bear Glacier and made our way to the charming communities of Stewart, British Columbia and Hyder Alaska.

We turned east heading into Jasper National Park in Alberta,

and then along the glacier highway to Banff National Park.

Out of the parks and back into the plains by Calgary.

Back into the United States brings us to Glacier National Park with its Going to the Sun Road and Many Glacier Region.

Further south is the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site.

Heading towards the western entrance to Yellowstone National Park we passed by Earthquake Lake.

The highlights of Yellowstone include The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and its waterfalls,

Old Faithful,

numerous other Geothermal features,

but most of all the wildlife. Having just returned from Alaska the wildlife viewing here is even more spectacular.

Grand Teton National Park was just a short jaunt south of Yellowstone.

Continuing east were stops at Wind Cave National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and The Crazy Horse Memorial.

Badlands National Park was next on the agenda. This again was one of my mother’s favorite parks as it was a setting of many of her historical fiction novels she liked to read.

Into Minnesota with a stop at Pipestone National Monument.

Down to Iowa and Effigy Mounds National Monument.

Some heavy miles going east we made one final stop at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.

A visit to my aunt and uncle in Cohoes, New York and then home. It was good to see New England and home after many months on the road but the memories of the trip will last a life time. My parents would both pass in a few years and I was glad I could give them this trip in their final years.