PORTO

We started our last full day (Palm Sunday) on the Viking Hemming with our daily Covid spit.  After breakfast I, but not Betty, joined a 3.5 hour walking tour of the old city of Porto.  This is a lovely city, and both of us were looking forward to our four days on our own to explore.  Note the blue tiles on the inside of the railway station.

When we went to the restaurant for dinner, we were surprised by how empty it was.  Covid had struck the boat and over half the passengers had either tested positive or shared a bed with someone who had.  We thought we might have been lucky but later that night a knock on the door dashed out hopes.  Although Betty's results were negative, mine were positive.

In the morning (Monday) we were put in a van and transported to a hotel somewhere on the Douro River.  My interpretation of Portuguese law is that we will be locked in our room for at least 7 days.  We have no real idea of when we shall return to Canada.  Betty will miss her pre-surgery appointments and perhaps miss the surgery itself.

Viking Cruises is putting us up in a very nice hotel and paying the bill, including room service for meals and wine. I expect to spend a long seven days reading chick novels that Betty had downloaded on her e-reader.

Tomorrow (April 12) Betty will be "celebrating" something ending in a zero.  I did manage to grab a bottle of Champagne (the French stuff) from the boat as we were escorted off.  I am sure Betty would appreciate reading any e-mails you might care to send her.  bs.johnson@ns.sympatico.ca