Every once in a while an unplanned opportunity comes along and that is how we ended up in Portugal. We originally planned to go to Minneapolis and Chicago to visit family and the vacation extended to a week in Portugal. Jane called and asked Bob and I if we would like to go with her since Ben and Jake were not going. After about an hour of checking into things like our miles and etc. we called her back with a YES! Jane had to organize a work related sales meeting in Cascais.

What a fantastic opportunity! Not only did we get to spend some additional time with Jane but we got to share an adventure in a place that none of us had been.

We boarded a plane at O'Hare and flew to London and spent the night. To our regret we didn't have enough time to explore London but we did get some much needed rest before continuing to Portugal.

If I had to describe Portugal in one word I would say TILE. There is tile in the streets and sidewalks, tile on the outside of buildings, on the inside of buildings, tile uniquely designed around windows, tile in painted murals and tile everywhere. Much of the tile is painted in blue and white seemingly to be from a Holland influence.

For the next several days I will post photos of Cascais, Lisbon and Sintral Portugal.