A New Travelling Experience

This is the seventh time weve taken this trip, and usually it is pretty much something that needs to be endured to get to the other side! The trip this time was two legs, 17 hours to Dubai and then 8 hours to Lisbon,with a two hour stopover in Dubai. We had decided when planning for this trip that we were getting a bit long in the tooth for 17 hour trips in Economy Class. The air travel does knock you around a bit and then takes the edge off the first few days of the holiday.

So we decided to try Emirates Business class. Having now had the flight experience it was a very good call. The Auckland /Dubai leg on the A380 aircraft could be described simply as "a great experience" or more truthfully 17 hours of OTT pampering. It all started with our limo pickup from home.

The business class seating module is like your own little world. Good storage space, great entertainment systems, and,best of all, a seat that becomes a flat, full length bed. 

The food, wine,and inflight service couldn't be faulted. There was even a great lounge bar providing drinks and nibbles between meal services. We did visit a couple of times; the preferred drink was OJ, and the selection of food and nibbles was great.

The place was very convivial and we had a long chat to Brendon McCullum, who was on his way to the UK for, he said a " bit of an event". I realised later that it was the Ashes series against Australia. He is now England's Head Cricket coach. An event indeed!!Choco and Vikki who we will be canal boating with again in a couple of weeks, head to Lords after canal boating to watch the event.

For the 8 hour Dubai /Lisbon leg we changed to a 777- 300 ER. Business class is not as highly spec'd in this aircraft, but the food, wine and service was again impeccable.Lunch was Duck confit followed by Beef tenderloin. 

So, decision made and tested, we'll be travelling this way again for sure. 

I think they parked us in the boondocks at Lisbon airport, the walk seemed like at least 1.5 km, but the bags were instantly available, we walked rapidly into the EU, in the "Nothing to Declare " channel. Jose our Emirates Limo driver was waiting, a 100 m walk to the carpark, and then we were on our way, thankful we weren't having to do too much walking with baggage in the 30 degree heat.

Getting access to the apartment wasn't a particularly smooth operation from our 'Euro Centric" hosts. But we got there eventually. The apartment is modern and well furnished, the neighbourhood is old city grungy, but rail, Metro and some of the sightseeing we want to do is close by.

The biggest challenge is the stairs. Our driver dropped us off at the bottom of the pedestrianised road where our apartment is and the actual apartment is at the top of that road. So we had to lug the bags up a big flight of stairs then up and up the road to No 80. Can you spot me at the bottom of the stairs?

Once in, there are two flights of precipitously steep stairs to Anda 2 (our second storey apartment.) Great cardio!!!

We did our usual familiarisation walk around the neighbourhood, found Rossio station, a very grand affair, where we catch a train to Sintra in a few days time, and yes, we can easily walk there with our luggage. All downhill.

Lots of spectacular views like seeing San Jorge Castle in the background: that's Saturday's experience!

We had a cheap and cheerful local eating experience on our first night in town. 

Then early to bed. I managed to get to 8 00 pm, Ann about 9 00, but here we are up and about on Friday morning feeling thoroughly rested and what is even better. Pretty quickly into great shape after our 32 hours travelling to get here.