June 16, 2018 Saturday
We were the only ones from the group joining FPG Insurance Company’s incentive tour to Lisbon who left on June 15. Most of them would be arriving on the morning of June 17 the start of the tour. FPG president Ramon Dimacali and his ageless wife Susan Dimacali were coming from Madrid while the others were leaving Manila a day later. Susan had been traveling around Europe with her nephew and sister for two weeks prior to her vacation in Madrid. I described her as ageless because every year sya pabata ng pabatang tingnan, ako naman patanda ng patanda. I forgot to ask her if she was a former beauty queen.
It was a long walk from gate to gate at the Istanbul airport. There were throngs of passengers and this is one of the busiest airports I’ve seen in terms of number of passengers crowding the terminal.
This airport is huge and it has lots of shops. You can spend your travel allowance even before you reach your destination.
No I didn’t go inside.
We walked past the Turkish lounge and I didn’t want to walk a kilometer to go back and walk again going to the gate. We just stayed at the cramped food court. My daughter and I were so happy seeing Popeyes.
Edmund just bought coffee from the food court. He didn’t want to eat, busog daw sya. I think it was more like naguguluhan sya. Ang sikip kasi ang daming tao.
The plane from Istanbul to Lisbon was a lot smaller. The business class didn’t seem different from the economy section. The seats looked the same in size.
My daughter gave this Aesop hand cream to encourage me to apply lotion on my hands. She was successful kasi I loved the smell, rosemary, ang bangu-bango. I really hate applying lotion but I do it this time for two reasons- to please my daughter and to smell the cream’s rosemary scent.
Refreshing lemon mint drink
The flight was 4 hours and a half. We boarded at 6 am I think that’s why the food served was for breakfast. I wasn’t excited to eat.
The freshly squeezed orange juice was naturally sweet and delicious.
I told my husband we’ve been eating for almost a day so when we reach Lisbon at noon time, we would not eat anymore for lunch kasi busog pa ako.
The cheese omelet and mushrooms were good but I was hoping for some meat like sausage, ham or bacon.
Baked cheese pastry
The flight was generally smooth although there were occasional bumps and mild turbulence. I wished the crew’s pro-active announcements were clearer. Minsan kasi ang bilis ng salita hindi ko maintindihan. Puro na lang “ano daw?”
Aerial view of Lisbon (Lisboa)
Landed in Lisbon. The weather was gorgeous. We took the bus again from the tarmac.
Ang sarap pag merong taga bitbit ng maleta.
They didn’t allow me to either carry or push any luggage. Sarap!
Welcome to Lisbon. And where’s my name? I couldn’t find my name yun pala I was standing right in front of it.
Cynthia Nakpil of Asia Travel, the tour coordinator for this Lisbon trip arranged for our airport pick up for Euro 35 to be given to the limo driver.
It was a big BMW. Edmund didn’t think our 3 luggage would fit in the trunk. They did. Plus my white carry on.
It was a short ride to the city.
First impression of the city was not a wow.
It was more like a hmmm.
We passed by what looked like plates! Biglang nabuhay ang dugo ko.
Plates nga ba? O o nga! Lisbon here I come!
