Let Yourself Bloom in Portugal
By Margarita Hirpetian
Let Yourself Bloom in Portugal
By Margarita Hirpetian
AmaWaterways indulges every food and wine lover’s dream with its vivid itineraries along the Douro River.
Have you ever tasted your way through a country? It’s one of the most exciting, and nourishing, ways to discover a new place. And during the springtime? Oh, the beauty you’ll see. Vibrant vineyards serve as a stunning backdrop on AmaWaterways’ Enticing Douro and Flavors of Portugal & Spain itineraries cruising in the spring months. Discover the many wonders of this fertile land, one of the world’s oldest demarcated regions for winemaking, as you sip and taste your way along the tranquil, sparkling Douro River.
Spring Has Sprung
Immerse yourself in the magic of cruising Portugal’s Douro Valley with AmaWaterways in the spring as you bask in the sunshine and enjoy the season’s pleasant temperatures along the river. With the verdant countryside blooming all around you, spring is the perfect time for hiking and biking tours, celebrating traditional holidays like Easter and Passover, and enjoying seasonal, locally grown produce with your meals.
Give your legs a workout with a nearly 700-step hike up the gorgeous Holy Staircase in Lamego, with the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios and its stunning baroque architecture awaiting you at the very top. A less challenging hike in Porto leads you to the extraordinary Pinhão train station known for its hand-painted blue and white azulejo tiles that depict the history and heritage of the town in exquisite detail. Azulejo tiles have been produced for 500 years and are often found on the exteriors of structures like churches and palaces.
“With the verdant countryside blooming all around you, spring is the perfect time for hiking and biking tours.”
Elsewhere in the Douro Valley, world-class vineyards serving famous Port wine, a sweet, fortified wine invented in the region, dot the rolling hills, with some wine cellars dating all the way back to the 18th century. Quintas (wine estates) can be found everywhere, and AmaWaterways makes sure guests understand the significance of these impressive estates with a special onshore meal. While you indulge in popular Portuguese fare like “bacalhau” (salt cod), “arroz de pato” (duck rice), and “caldo verde” (kale soup), your hosts regale you with stories of living and working in this magnificent place. You are exactly where you’re meant to be.
Swirl, Smell, Sip
Ah, wine, one of humanity’s greatest creations. What would we do without it? AmaWaterways’ Celebration of Wine itineraries are hosted by a passionate wine professional who leads tastings, accompanies guests on select onshore experiences to explore vineyards and cellars, participates in curating special food and wine pairings for onboard dinners, and facilitates interactive discussions on wine and winemaking—it’s a wine lover’s dream come true. Swirl, smell and sip a variety of regional wines paired with local cheeses and fruits while journeying through the very landscapes from whence they are born, simultaneously taking in the culture and history of the country. This is the beauty of gastronomy, and what adds extra flavor to your travels (literally and figuratively).
“Swirl, smell and sip a variety of regional wines paired with local cheeses and fruits.”
FYI: Port wine boasts a distinctive winemaking method that includes early interruption of the wine’s fermentation process with wine spirit. This is what gives Port its elevated sweetness, bold taste and aroma, higher alcohol content, and lush, fruity flavor. Drink up and feel your taste buds tingle at the delicious hints of blackberry, raspberry, caramel, and cinnamon, and don’t hesitate to bite into some classic Portuguese pastries like pastel de nata, a creamy and flaky egg custard creation with a caramelized top that is as addictive as potato chips—you can’t have just one!
Mmm, this is the sweet life.
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Jessika's enduring passion for travel began on Pine Island in South Florida, where the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico and later the majestic mountains of Wyoming instilled in her a love for exploring new horizons. Growing up near Yellowstone National Park fueled her adventurous spirit, embracing places others dream of visiting. Her journey commenced in 2001 with Cody Trolley Tours, sharing the charm of her hometown in Wyoming.
Her career took a transformative turn in 2010 with Holland America Line, where she thrived as a Librarian, Travel Guide, and Assistant Shore Excursion Manager, traveling across all seven continents, and visiting nearly seventy countries. Meeting her Dutch husband, Marcel, along the way, Jessika embraced life on land and at sea, driven by a shared passion for cultural immersion and exploration.
By 2024, Jessika embraced her role as a Travel Advisor, with a focus on world cruise travel. She revels in crafting seamless back-to-back itineraries for retirees and s ...