Typing this out on the road to Lisbon for the third and final stage of this vakay (one week vacations suck). As mentioned, shit is about to get a lot more crowded.
Wednesday was our activity day, aka the day we get our money's worth out of this hotel. We started the morning of course with another amazing breakfast, during which we hoarded bread and meats for lunch sandwiches later. Take that QdV! We rented three bikes (and when I say rent, I mean they were included in the cost), strapped on our helmets (not) and hit the road into town. Sharing the road with cars is not something I enjoy in DC let alone on skinny windy roads in the rolling hills of Portugal - but the good news is that I'm writing this so obviously we survived.
We didn't really have a destination or plan in mind, but after crossing the river we were able to follow some signs to a Quinta. We also decided there couldn't be a better time to film ourselves for a music video (to come). We missed the start of the tasting and tour by about 4 minutes, so instead we bought a bottle to enjoy later on in the ride. We attempted to make our way to a couple other places, but they were either closed or up a ridiculous hill that we lost interest in. In all, a 15k bike ride in blazing heat up and down hills -- and it was awesome.
We returned to QdV, ate our illicit sandwiches in our individual hammocks (Girl dipped in the pool to wash off sweat, while Liza and I just laid And stared at the scenery, until it was time to get our kayaks! Liza had mentioned kayaking on Tuesday while we were out wine tasting and my response was "not gonna happen." I had done so much research into this trip and none of it said "daily kayak rentals.". Well, joke on me because we noticed a picture of kYKing on the hotel activities menu, and even though it wasn't listed. They sure as shit hooked us up (for 3e).
To get to the kayaks we had to follow a path through the vines down to the water. After a 10 minute detour at the Monster of Florence's shed, we found our destination, and piled into a three person kayak with the wine we had purchased in the morning. We didn't really go anywhere but in circles thanks to Girl's rump steering, but it was still highly enjoyable. After a few hours we hiked back up to the top of the hill and took about a 15 minute dip in the pool to cool off before it was time for our wine tour and tasting at our own farm.
Now is when I get serious. Have you ever had Portuguese wine? Not port, wine? If not, your missing out. They don't make your typical Sav Blancs or Pinots or whatever -- they grown about 30-40 varieties of grape and blend them. Thats why you've never heard of a Portogallo variety. Instead they are all designated by the region of the country they are grown in, and word to the wise - they are amazing. Most wines are aged in French barrels, but the ports are straight up Portugal. It is actually very touching the pride they have in this industry. Weeeeee. Also, by some amazing accident, the best port we had was from our own vineyard. Weeeeee again.
We had 9 pm dinner reservations, and 3 hours to kill, so what better way to spend it than wine on the patio in our chairs overlooking the valley. When we ran out, they brought more. It was amazing. Another moment, much like swimming in the medi last year where I can't imagine more joy.
For dinner we hit Douro In, highly recommended. We split a goat cheese gratin on a grilled pineapple; grilled octopus with chicory green and potatoes; and duck magenet with more gratin and an orange sauce. Then we split a chocolate chocolate lava cake with tangerine sorbet that reminded me of chili's. Liza had a hot flash, so she went upstairs and ordered us some ports, and we closed out the night with a police pullover at a check point, a final bottle of wine, and a robe pyramid. Yessir.
Typing this out on the road to Lisbon for the third and final stage of this vakay (one week vacations suck). As mentioned, shit is about to get a lot more crowded.
Wednesday was our activity day, aka the day we get our money's worth out of this hotel. We started the morning of course with another amazing breakfast, during which we hoarded bread and meats for lunch sandwiches later. Take that QdV! We rented three bikes (and when I say rent, I mean they were included in the cost), strapped on our helmets (not) and hit the road into town. Sharing the road with cars is not something I enjoy in DC let alone on skinny windy roads in the rolling hills of Portugal - but the good news is that I'm writing this so obviously we survived.
We didn't really have a destination or plan in mind, but after crossing the river we were able to follow some signs to a Quinta. We also decided there couldn't be a better time to film ourselves for a music video (to come). We missed the start of the tasting and tour by about 4 minutes, so instead we bought a bottle to enjoy later on in the ride. We attempted to make our way to a couple other places, but they were either closed or up a ridiculous hill that we lost interest in. In all, a 15k bike ride in blazing heat up and down hills -- and it was awesome.
We returned to QdV, ate our illicit sandwiches in our individual hammocks (Girl dipped in the pool to wash off sweat, while Liza and I just laid And stared at the scenery, until it was time to get our kayaks! Liza had mentioned kayaking on Tuesday while we were out wine tasting and my response was "not gonna happen." I had done so much research into this trip and none of it said "daily kayak rentals.". Well, joke on me because we noticed a picture of kYKing on the hotel activities menu, and even though it wasn't listed. They sure as shit hooked us up (for 3e).
To get to the kayaks we had to follow a path through the vines down to the water. After a 10 minute detour at the Monster of Florence's shed, we found our destination, and piled into a three person kayak with the wine we had purchased in the morning. We didn't really go anywhere but in circles thanks to Girl's rump steering, but it was still highly enjoyable. After a few hours we hiked back up to the top of the hill and took about a 15 minute dip in the pool to cool off before it was time for our wine tour and tasting at our own farm.
Now is when I get serious. Have you ever had Portuguese wine? Not port, wine? If not, your missing out. They don't make your typical Sav Blancs or Pinots or whatever -- they grown about 30-40 varieties of grape and blend them. Thats why you've never heard of a Portogallo variety. Instead they are all designated by the region of the country they are grown in, and word to the wise - they are amazing. Most wines are aged in French barrels, but the ports are straight up Portugal. It is actually very touching the pride they have in this industry. Weeeeee. Also, by some amazing accident, the best port we had was from our own vineyard. Weeeeee again.
We had 9 pm dinner reservations, and 3 hours to kill, so what better way to spend it than wine on the patio in our chairs overlooking the valley. When we ran out, they brought more. It was amazing. Another moment, much like swimming in the medi last year where I can't imagine more joy.
For dinner we hit Douro In, highly recommended. We split a goat cheese gratin on a grilled pineapple; grilled octopus with chicory green and potatoes; and duck magenet with more gratin and an orange sauce. Then we split a chocolate chocolate lava cake with tangerine sorbet that reminded me of chili's. Liza had a hot flash, so she went upstairs and ordered us some ports, and we closed out the night with a police pullover at a check point, a final bottle of wine, and a robe pyramid. Yessir.
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