Portugal a tourism magnet

FROM my leisurely days in Tuscany and Madrid, I plunged into Portugal with my daughter and son-in-law. They were on vacation and full of energy which meant intensive sightseeing.

I met them in Lisbon. I was quite surprised by the Lisbon airport due to crowds of people, mostly tourists. With only one exit, it took a while to get out. This was after our plane, Air Portugal, had to park without an airport ramp, and we all had to get into a bus to get to the terminal. So, Air Portugal had to give way to whatever number of planes were ahead. Then the taxi line was almost 45 minutes and that was considered quick because they gave oldies a priority lane. The hotel was downtown, and it took more than 20 minutes to get there. But it cost a modest 14 euros compared to Madrid's 30.