The month of May is upon us, and while the usual anticipation of the end of school and start of summer certainly feels different this year, we hope the warmer weather, sunny skies and colorful blooms are helping you fight the stay-at-home blues. Restrictions around the country are starting to lift and so are our spirits here at Cruise Dreams. We’re beginning to receive encouraging signs that cruise lines and resorts may be open for business as early as this fall.
As you ponder where your next journey might take you, this week we explore Portugal – an often-missed hidden gem. Let’s discover Portugal along with the Douro River Valley. Discovery is defined as “the act of finding something that had not been known before.” Travel is full of discoveries. New experiences. Different cultures. Beautiful vistas. Historical connections. Remarkable architecture. Delicious cuisines. Awe-inspiring art. That’s why discovering the wonders of
Portugal and the Douro River Valley
is the focus of one of our
Trips of a Lifetime 2021
. Check out our latest blog for a glimpse of what we have planned for this one-of-a-kind,
all-inclusive river cruise adventure, May 13-23, 2021.
Waves to you and smooth sailings again soon,
Kim
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REDISCOVER THE JOY OF
PUZZLES
Have you jumped on the puzzle bandwagon?
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Looking for things to do indoors to lessen anxiety and keep the brain sharp has sparked people all over the world to turn to an old pastime – the beloved jigsaw puzzle. The prime minister of Australia even designated doing jigsaw puzzles as essential, giving citizens permission to leave home to purchase them.
This week
WE'RE GIVING AWAY TWO PUZZLES
that showcase the beautiful, colorful scenery of Portugal.
After watching the TRAM RIDE video below, email your answer to this question and you'll be entered in our drawing to receive a Portuguese-inspired puzzle!
Deadline to enter is Monday, May 11, 2020 at 5:00 pm.
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A TRAM RIDE THROUGH LISBON...from your sofa
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Being stuck at home doesn’t mean you can’t visit other cities – or even revisit ones you’ve been to before.
Whether you want to see a bit of what Lisbon has to offer or just want to reminisce, join us on this tram journey through the historical neighborhoods of the "City of Light." Trams are an ideal way to explore some of Lisbon’s most interesting historical and architectural heritage sites.
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Night Train to Lisbon
follows Raimund Gregorius, a 57-year-old Classics scholar, on a journey that takes him across Europe. Abandoning his job and his life and travelling with a dusty old book as his talisman, he heads for Lisbon in search of clues to the life of the book's Portuguese author, Amadeu de Prado. As he gets swept up in his quest, he finds that the journey is also one of self-discovery, as he reencounters all the decisions he has made - and not made - in his life, and faces the roads not traveled.
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FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT
PORTUGAL
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1.
Over 236 million people world-wide are native Portuguese speakers.
Portuguese is the official language of 9 countries, including Portugal, Brazil, Cape Verde, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Principe, Sao Tome, and Equatorial Guinea. Portuguese is also spoken in Goa (India), Macao, and East Timor.
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2.
Port wine is Portugal’s most famous export and its national drink.
Port wine is a sweet, red fortified wine, produced exclusively in Portugal’s UNESCO-listed Douro Valley. The area is the third oldest protected wine region in the world, and its production became very popular with the English in the 18th century.
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3.
The oldest bookstore in the world is in Portugal’s capital.
Established in 1732, Bertrand bookshop, located in Lisbon, is the world's oldest operating bookshop. Although it was destroyed in the great Lisbon earthquake of 1755, it was moved to the very location it still occupies in 1773.
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“One of Portugal’s favorite national dishes is bacalhau. Versions of this dish are enjoyed everywhere from Italy and Africa to Scandinavia, where it is known as lutefisk. Bacalhau is a must-taste for any visitor to Portugal.”
– Gerard Van Helvoort,
Culinary Director, Uniworld
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INGREDIENTS:
- 2 lbs (900 g) salt cod, soaked
- 2 large onions, sliced
- 6 Tbsp (85 g) butter
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 3 large potatoes
- Black pepper to taste
- 2 Tbsp (20 g) breadcrumbs
- 10 green olives, pitted
- 10 black olives, pitted
- 4 large eggs, hard-cooked
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves, chopped
- 2–4 Tbsp wine vinegar to taste
- 2–4 Tbsp olive oil to taste
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INSTRUCTIONS:
Soak the dried cod in cold water for about 24 hours, or until completely moistened. Change the water several times; drain thoroughly.
Put the cod into a saucepan with cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until fish is tender. Drain; skin and bone the fish. Flake with a fork into large pieces.
Sauté the onions in half the butter until they are tender and golden, then add the garlic. Boil the unpeeled potatoes in salted water. Once tender, remove from the heat and refresh in cold running water. Remove potato skins and slice into 1/4-inch (6-mm) pieces.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 1 1/2-qt (1 1/2-L) casserole dish with the remaining butter. Arrange a layer of half the potatoes, then half the cod, then half the onions. Sprinkle with a little pepper and repeat layering. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over the top layer.
Bake for 15 minutes, or until heated through and lightly browned. Before serving, garnish with olives and eggs, and sprinkle with parsley. Serve with wine vinegar and oil in cruets and pepper on the side.
Credit: R
ecipe from
U
niworld
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Discover Portugal
BOGGLE CHALLENGE
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Boggle uses a four-by-four grid of letter tiles. Print a copy of this page for each player. Set a timer for 2 minutes. Each player searches for words that can be made by joining connecting letters in any direction, without repeating any tile. The players write their words on their paper, and once the timer runs out, they assign values to each word based on the length, where:
3 or 4 letters (1 Point)
5 letters (2 Points)
6 letters (3 Points)
7 letters (5 Points)
8+ letters (11 Points)
Whoever gets the most points, wins!
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