Day Seven - Lisbon, Portugal; Cork and Wine Tour

Day Seven - Lisbon, Portugal; Cork and Wine Tour - May 15, 2025

May 25, 2025

FUN FACT: Portugal is the world's leading producer of cork. The country is responsible for over 60% of the world's cork exports and holds a quarter of the world's cork oak area. A major producer in the Alentejo region, Portugal is known for its sustainable cork harvesting practices. The Portuguese company Corticeira Amorim is the world's largest producer and distributor of cork.

Why does Portugal make so much cork? The Cork Oak (Quercus suber), the tree that provides this resource, found its home in Portugal and today is spread across the south of the country creating the largest cork oak area in the world.

Joe thought of this tour because he was aware of this "cork" fact. He was feeling better and joined us this day. This was called a Cork and Wine Tour. Our guides were Joao and Miguel.

Cork Tree

Cork factory

Lots of items made from cork

Humorous cork tour guide

I wanted to buy this, but it was only for "show."

The tour included some walking that took us past this Roman Temple that was 2000 years old. This is the biggest Roman Temple in Portugal. We got a nice group photo here too.

Us 2025

Us with our guides

This tour included a stop at the Chapel of Bones. I had to say I was intrigued when I read this on the itinerary. It seems the story goes like this. It was built in the 17th century at the initiative of three Franciscan monks, so that locals could reflect on the transience of life and to get a clear allegory of death. More than five thousand bones and skulls adorn its walls, ceiling and columns of this chapel, all sourced from the city's cemeteries.

Apparently also the cemeteries were full so they dug up bodies and used those bones for the chapel. It was crazy.

At the entrance is a sign in Portuguese that says
We the bones that are here, for yours we are waiting.

From here we headed to Lunch at Adega Tipica Vinho E Noz. Not sure we would have ever found this place had we not been with local guides. The food was delicious. Octopus was tried and believe me it was much better than the octopus I tried in Colorado Springs at a Korean restaurant once. This octopus was very tender. Octopus was on almost all the menus at the meals we ate out in Portugal.

After all of this was the wine tasting. Another bit of a walk and we were there. I feel like there were 6 or 7 flights.

Suffice it to say, I think we all slept on the way back to the hotel - well maybe not Matt, but the rest of us did. It was a great day together and a great day to get a "feel" for the countries uniqueness.

We decided on a restaurant close by but very uphill (think San Francisco) not far from our hotel. Funny - but noone really wanted wine tonight. lol. We ate together and then headed back to our rooms to get ready for our flights home the next day. Kennedy was enjoying herself so much as it was her first time in Europe, she extended her stay until Sunday - the rest of us were leaving Portugal on Friday (tomorrow).