I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to Portugal on a Familiarization Trip (FAM) in November 2008. I had been to Portugal many years ago and always wanted to return so when the opportunity to go on this escorted FAM presented itself I didn’t hesitate to join and it was well worth the trip. Portugal is one of the most affordable places in Western Europe to visit. Portugal shares borders in the north and the east with Spain and to the south and west there is the Atlantic Ocean. Portugal is divided into provinces and I had the opportunity to visit a few of them. We flew into Faro, the capital of the Algarve province, from where we started our trip.

We spent a week in Beirut, Lebanon which is known as the Paris of the Middle East. Beirut is a vibrant and exciting city to visit. The Cornish, a boardwalk that runs for miles along the city and beside the Mediterranean, is a great place for a stroll and to people watch. Beirut has many boutiques that offer the latest fashions. The restaurants have some of the best Middle Eastern & European food we have ever had. The Jeitta Grotto is one of the most impressive limestone caverns in the world and after seeing it we can attest that it is spectacular and well worth visiting. We visited Byblos which was founded more than 7000 years ago and is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. It was a very impressive city to visit and wander through the ruins and market.

We conducted our business seminar on a Royal Caribbean ship the Grandeur Of The Seas. We sailed out of New Orleans and took advantage of the location by spending two days in the “Big Easy”. New Orleans has been named one of the worlds best destination cities of 2008. It has a vibrant, rich, diverse culture and traditions. New Orleans is irresistible, vibrant and fun; it hums during the day and sings at night.

“The Big Easy” invites you in on the celebration of this unique city during any of the many festivals and events. You can party during Mardi Gras or stroll down Bourbon Street enjoying the sounds of the blues. We did just that, and enjoyed some great Jazz in the various establishments. One of the people in our group was so thrilled with New Orleans she has returned to spend a couple of weeks on her honeymoon.

We did a barge cruise on the beautiful burgundy canal in France.
27 October - 5 November 2005

We spent two nights in Paris, 7 days and 6 nights cruising on the deluxe Litote Barge, returned by highspeed train from Dijon to Paris and spent another night in Paris before returning to Canada. We enjoyed sightseeing on a comfortable coach with guided tours. Use of bicycles and two nights hotel in Paris.
The Litote only holds 20 passengers so we were the only people on the barge. If you would like to discuss a trip on a barge in Europe for yourself or a group of friends contact me and I will be happy to share my experiences with you and to help plan your barge adventure.