Travel group experience breathtaking UNESCO sites along with local food and culture
Valley denizen Linda Johansen recently returned from one of her many travel adventures with a group of Valley residents exploring the flavors of Portugal and Spain on a tour with Collette, a family-owned travel company that offers worldwide adventures and programs.
Collette offers small exploration tours with a maximum of 24 passengers, which is a more intimate way to travel with your friends and neighbors and offers unique opportunities and adventures on every trip, “making memories that will last a lifetime.” Johansen donates her commission from these travel adventures to various local and non-local nonprofits.
“Our journey was from Sept. 29 to Oct. 14 and was filled with breathtaking UNESCO sites, delicious food and wines, amazing local culture, and lots of fun and adventure traveling through Northern Portugal first and then ending up in Northern Spain in the Basque region,” said Johansen.
“We flew into Lisbon, or Lisboa as the locals refer to it, which is the capital of Portugal, and the next morning set out on a walking and tasting tour of many of the historic neighborhoods and the Praca do Comercio, which is a harbor-facing plaza and one of the biggest squares in all of Europe,” she explained. “We saw the Tower of Belem, which is a UNESCO site and a fortress remaining along the Tagus River, which is also home to the world’s leading pancreatic cancer research institute and hospital. There was lots of activity along the Tagus riverfront and trams or funiculars to get you up the steep hills for more adventures with fabulous cafes and restaurants along the winding hillside.
“We visited Ericeira, a little seaside town and Portuguese fishing village not far from Lisbon that was charming. It is a surfing Mecca and has lovely sandy beaches and is known for its fresh seafood. The weather wasn’t cooperating the day we were there with fog and a very mild misty rain, but it was charming and a place I would be sure to incorporate in my travel plans.”
And there was one more Lisbon-area location that warranted a visit.
“We had additional time to explore the fairy tale and historic village of Sintra and the magical Monserrate Palace and Gardens,” Johansen said. “The gardens were gorgeous as well but a bit challenging to navigate the steep paths, walkways, and bridges in your attempt to finally reach the Palace. What an extraordinary place of beauty in the most serene setting with lush, tropical gardens. It was truly breathtaking.”
The group left Lisbon and headed to Tomar, which is the home of Portugal’s historical jewels, the Templar Castle, and Convent of Christ — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“We explored the octagonal Templar’s Rotunda and were left to imagine the day-to-day life of a warrior monk,” said Johansen. “Our next stop was Porto, which was a 2½-hour drive through the wild pine tree forests.”
Johansen explained that Porto is the second-largest city In Portugal, but rich in culture and UNESCO sites such as the Sao Bento Railway Station, which opened in 1916, and the Bolsa Palace, known as the Stock Exchange Palace, which is a 19th-century Neoclassical masterpiece.
“We also enjoyed a Port wine tasting at the Burmester Cellar, and many of us had the most delicious Portuguese Farm to Table dinner experience that evening in Mindelo, hosted and prepared by a local family. This was truly one of the highlights of the trip,” said Johansen. “Such a delicious home-cooked meal lovingly prepared and served by a lawyer husband, his beautiful and brilliant daughter, and the mother-in-law. We had an incredible evening with great hosts, delicious food and wine, such merriment, and stories, ending with a nightcap, our Danish Skal song to thank them, and lots of sincere hugs goodbye.”
The following day was dedicated to the Minho region, which is the region of green wines and beautiful sites.
“We started our day at the Born Jesus do Monte Sanctuary where we enjoyed lunch overlooking Braga and many of thereligious UNESCO sites,” Johansen continued. “Braga has one of the highest concentrations of churches in Portugal.
“We next set out for the Douro Wine Region for some amazing wine tastings and beautiful scenery as we enjoyed a cruise down the Douro River on the traditional wooden Rabelo boat. We stayed at the Wine House Hotel, some of us in actual large wine vat barrels, which were unique but very challenging to navigate with the space and all our luggage. It was a fun experience, and I’m glad several of us did that, but we don’t need to do that again,” she said emphatically.“We all laughed about the lack of space and climbing over each other as well as our luggage. We had fun there and enjoyed some nightly games of Left Right and Center, gambling for $1 bills. It is a staple on the trips and really fun! We also enjoyed a great cooking class that culminated in a delicious lunch for all of us with traditional Portuguese cuisine. I saw some real potential in our group for ‘cookers!’ We made petiscos, or Portuguese tapas.”
The travelers then left Portugal and headed towards Spain and the famous Rioja Wine Region, tasting wines at the beautiful San Fermin Winery nestled in the center of the Basque country.
“We stayed in the ancient city of Salamanca, which is over 2,000 years old, rich in history and its sandstone architecture. We also toured Pamplona, the capital of the Navarre province and home to the Running of the Bulls,” Johansen said. “It was fascinating, and we were privileged to visit a bullfighter’s private home museum for an incredible tour and talk about bullfighting traditions and controversies, followed by wine tasting and tapas.”
From there it was to the last leg of the trip.
“We finished our tour with three nights in the beautiful San Sebastian, a coastal city that runs along the Bay of Biscay,” said Johansen. “It was stunning, filled with beautiful sites and beachside activities, shopping, and cultural artifacts. This glimmering Spanish coastline is where you can partake in the historical religious pilgrimage called the Camino de Santiago, which is over 500 miles long across France from St. Jean de Port to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
“A dozen of us walked over 8 kilometers along part of the pilgrimage trail called the ‘Camino of Saint James.’ We were told it was a flat walk with breathtaking views. The views were indeed exquisite, but the trail was far from flat. It was steep hills with slippery crushed shell to walk on, but we all survived, ending up in the quaint little villages of Zumaia and Getaria for lunch, beer, and ‘Green’ wine! It was an amazing adventure. Two of my clients stayed and hiked for another eight days along the trail, finishing, and getting a beautiful signed map certificate. It was quite an accomplishment because they hiked almost 25 miles every day! Congratulations to Carla and Jim Colton, our travel‘Super Heroes.’
“Our last adventure was to visit the Basque town of Bilbao and the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum. It is an amazing museum of contemporary design, and the old town of Bilbao is full of historic old churches, festive markets, and large Spanish squares with lots of activity. It was a very fitting end to our incredible journey titled ‘Flavors of Portugal and Spain.’”
The group returned home with the memories of a wonderful trip.
“We arrived home safely and happy to be home in one of the most incredible places to live. As much as we all travel, we are always so happy to come home to this fabulous Valley we all love,” said Johansen.
Johansen stated that her commission from this trip was gifted to the Solvang Lutheran Church, Solvang Senior Center, and Jubilee House in Nicaragua for 120 “at-risk youth” to have computer and life-skill lessons to give them a hand up out of the poverty in which they live.
Future trips available are September 2025 to South America, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay for the day, and ending at Iguassu Falls, listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, for three nights. There is also a February 2026 trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Space is still available.
