Egg tarts and Flowers. Portugal plus Chelsea.

[drron]

In 3 days time we will be off on our next adventure. All up away for 10 weeks. Mainly because we will be doing our longest cruise at 54 days around the Mediterranean. However I have decided that will have a TR of it's own. As it is so long not as much before and after the cruise as we would usually do.

So for this TR the itinerary is - BNE-SIN. SQ J saver award. Night at the CP Changi.
SIN- FRA. Emirates business class special via DXB. Night at the HGI FRA.
Lufthansa. Paid J FRA-OPO. Will extend my Star Gold to December 24.

In Portugal 2 nights at the IC Porto.
Then pick up a car and 5 days driving.
2 nights at the Vintage hotel Pinhao, Douro.
1 night Praia D'El Rey Marriott Obidos.
1 night Sheraton Cascais.

Then drop the car back in Lisbon and 3 nights at the IC Rua Castilho.

From 28/3 to 21/5 onboard the Silver Moon. Disembark Rome.

Paid BA J FCO - LHR.
4 nights at the Sloane Club Apartments Chelsea. Thank you @MARTINE .
1 day at the Chelsea Flower show.
1 day at RHS Wisley.

Then SQ J saver awards LHR - SIN. night at CP Changi.
Then SQ J saver SIN - BNE and home.

 

[drron]

Well today is the day. Up at 0600. start the day with weight of 82KG. Hoping to limit gain to 2.5Kg.
Our one case wighs 23.3 KG but we needed to have formal wear and cold apparel this time.

Naturally with Mrsdrron we are leaving early at 0930. Probably will have an hours wait before check in opens.

 

[Quickstatus]

23.3 KG

For a 10wk trip?. Impressive.

 

[AIRwin]

Well today is the day.

Wearing green?

 

[Pushka]

Are you doing several back to back cruises? If so, are there many repetitive ports? Sounds simply brilliant. I think you depart London just as we arrive after our cruise through Middle East.

 

[Quickstatus]

LHR - SIN

What day?

 

[drron]

5 back to back cruises. The only repeat ports are the last 3 - Valletta, Giardini Naxos and Sorrento.
44 ports in total. 26 new for us so pretty good.
We leave London on May 25th.

 

[Quickstatus]

I depart CPH on 26/5 arriving in SIN 27th am and SIN-SYD on the evening 27th

 

[drron]

Now ensconced in the Silver Kris lounge and feeling more comfortable.
So back to last night.We thought that having a later pickup would mean a better nights sleep. Very wrong. The hospital decided to ramp the helicopters last night at 0200. That means they hover above our house. Definitely woke us both. Went on for half an hour.

So feeling a little jaded this morning. After a few minutes in the limo remembered that we had left a letter accepting a takeover behind so had to return to pick it up. No problem after that and only a 50 minute wait for checkin to open. So we went and had a coffee. Very few people around. Our plane was already at the gate.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

In the lounge

 

[Katie]

How's @mrs.dr.ron's arm/elbow/shoulder? (The bit that was sore or hurt in Bangkok pictures)

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

How's @mrs.dr.ron's arm/elbow/shoulder? (The bit that was sore or hurt in Bangkok pictures)

It has been a long and slow recovery from the fracture. The orthopaedic surgeon is happy with the result, but my physio is not as I still can't put my left arm up straight. I will continue with her exercises while we travel. I still find a lot of things difficult to do as I am left handed.

 

[drron]

First time that we have been in this lounge for lunch rather than breakfast. A very good, spicy laksa.



A vegetarian curry and a chicken red curry which was bland.





Plus a few other dishes.



The cheese needs a replenishment.


Mrsdrron had a chard from Coldstream Hills. She rarely finds a Chardonnay that she can drink. I had a Fickle Mistress Pinot noir from NZ which was enjoyable.


Out the window noticed this plane being towed away.

 

[drron]

So although the plane had wifi ability and I could connect to it I couldn’t get on to any website including AFF for the whole flight. Always able to do so in the past.

Also in another thread someone was wondering whether SQ had ever had touch screens for their IFE. I can report that they certainly have touch screens as that is what I did for the whole flight.

So to the flight. SQ 236. A350 regional.
Advertised departure 1445 from BNE and arrival 2015 to SIN.
Boarding commenced early at 1420. Slow priority line as some people didn’t even have their passport or BP ready and had to search through their bags.

Push back - 1443. Take off -1504.
Landed -2017. At gate -2023.

The FA at the door told me she loved my pink jacket.

The flight next.

 

[drron]

First the menu and wine list.

 

[henleybeach]

Tuned in with interest! We will be in Porto and Douro Valley in June.
Sounds like you have nailed your back to backs Cruises with so little repetitive Ports

 

[Flyfrequently]

Tuned in with interest! We will be in Porto and Douro Valley in June.
Sounds like you have nailed your back to backs Cruises with so little repetitive Ports

Ditto @henleybeach, Porto in September.

 

[ellen10]

Looking forward to travelling along with you both

 

[BriarFlyer]

Also following with interest because also visiting Portugal in September (snap @Flyfrequently) and not only for the Portugese tarts.

 

[TheRealTMA]

In 3 days time we will be off on our next adventure. All up away for 10 weeks. Mainly because we will be doing our longest cruise at 54 days around the Mediterranean. However I have decided that will have a TR of it's own. As it is so long not as much before and after the cruise as we would usually do.

So for this TR the itinerary is - BNE-SIN. SQ J saver award. Night at the CP Changi.
SIN- FRA. Emirates business class special via DXB. Night at the HGI FRA.
Lufthansa. Paid J FRA-OPO. Will extend my Star Gold to December 24.

In Portugal 2 nights at the IC Porto.
Then pick up a car and 5 days driving.
2 nights at the Vintage hotel Pinhao, Douro.
1 night Praia D'El Rey Marriott Obidos.
1 night Sheraton Cascais.

Then drop the car back in Lisbon and 3 nights at the IC Rua Castilho.

From 28/3 to 21/5 onboard the Silver Moon. Disembark Rome.

Paid BA J FCO - LHR.
4 nights at the Sloane Club Apartments Chelsea. Thank you @MARTINE .
1 day at the Chelsea Flower show.
1 day at RHS Wisley.

Then SQ J saver awards LHR - SIN. night at CP Changi.
Then SQ J saver SIN - BNE and home.

Take some Valium for the terrifying experience of driving over the bridge at Pinhão neat Vintage hotel (excellent hotel) when there’s a truck coming the other way at speed. Maybe go to Six Senses resort for lunch/dinner. Great place.

ps: two hour river cruise from wharf in front of hotel is v good.
Port tour near hotel
Symington Family Estates interesting
and Quinta das Carvalhas offers vineyard tours by the agronomist. Very good.