Tour Leader’s Blog

Our 4 days in the Algarve are coming to an end. Tomorrow we must return to Lisbon as our tour ends on Thursday.

We enjoyed seeing the spectacular rock formations on the western coast. The Portuguese call this the end of the world. Carolyn Yost said it reminded her of some regions of Scandinavia. At Lorne Smith’s suggestion our group sang hymns while looking out to the rocks and the ocean. At Monchique we were at the highest point in Portugal at 3,000 feet above sea level.

Judy Legault and Esther Lewis will return to North America with the beautiful hand-painted pottery from a shop where many local artists sell their work. Tomorrow we visit the world famous Quarteria gypsy market, one of the biggest in the Algarve.

Our trip has been full of many surprises.

Wilmer & Janet Martin.

We are in the Algarve staying at the beautiful Balaia Golf Village at Albufeira. We enjoyed our time in Lisbon, especially our walking tour of the Old town with Elsa our guide. Our noon meal was eaten at an outdoor cafe. Many had the local soup made of cabbage, bean, potato and meat.

Yesterday our noon meal was the famous Portuguese Piri Piri chicken. Lester Weber enjoyed the meal so much that Wilmer brought him Bill and Ruth’s platter so he could enjoy their leftovers.

Grace Sensenig had the best score on the golf course. Some tour members walked from our beautiful Balaia resort to the beach. The clouds were moving in and they saw a rainbow over the ocean. Luckily the rain arrived after the golfers were finished.

~ Wilmer Martin

This morning we saw the sun rise over the first gorge on the Yangtze river. The weather continues to be great! After breakfast our boat stopped and we got on smaller boats to go up the Daning river. We cruised up the river for one hour - seeing wild monkeys on the bamboo and fire bush covered mountainside.

Then we got onto another smaller sampan to cruise down a very small river. High up on the sides of mountains we saw caves and the famous hanging coffins of China. We returned back to our mother ship on time for another great lunch. This afternoon we are cruising through the other two gorges. Alice and Willard Roth led the morning devotional with the Psalm “I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where comes my strength.” How true today!

~ Ed Epp

TourMagination’s first Mystery tour arrived in Lisbon, Portugal. Yesterday we gathered in Newark Liberty Airports Delta check in area and Janet invited the group to guess where we were traveling.

Guesses included Spain, Italy, Bermuda, and three people said Portugal. She said yes Portugal. PORTUGAL. There was a lot of smiles as only Don Driver has visited this country before, and he was there only briefly.

After we checked in at TAP Portugal for flight 104 we reviewed the Mystery tour schedule. Don said “this is going to be much better than I envisioned.” We have tour members are from four states and one Canadian province.

~ Wilmer Martin

Today was a special day. We went to the Chonqing Medical University where Phil and Julie Bender are teaching.

After touring the campus and visiting a local market we participated in a class where we asked and answered questions about ourselves and our impressions of China. We then took six students with us for lunch and a walking tour of old Chongqing. Here is a picture of our group with the students at Old Chongqing.

After a supper we boarded our boat which departs in an hour down the Yangtze River.

What a contrast. Our hotel was in the new neon lit high-rise center of the city with a McDonalds and three Starbucks within a short walk. Old Chongqing and the students gave us a needed glimpse into the real life of most Chinese. The next days will give us a look at the rural and beauty of China.

~ Ed Epp