Page 59 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023 LISBON EDITION

Sailing The Tagus River

Taking a ferry is a good inexpensive way to cruise
the Tagus river. But we found a much more inter-
esting and fun way to enjoy this busy waterway
that flows into the Atlantic here. We spent a glo-
rious summer evening on a classic ketch sailboat,
enjoying splendid views of the city and a brilliant
sunset while sipping wine and snacking on local
cheeses.
Sunset river cruises are a popular pastime
among visitors and locals. During our stay, we
eyed some of the commercial big-name tours that
left from the nearby ferry center.. Too often they
looked crowded and uncomfortable - 40 or more
guests with no room for everyone to sit. Plus,
they stressed there would be ONE welcome drink
and a SMALL snack. No thanks.
After much searching, we found a cruise that
got our attention with the promise of free-flow-
ing wine. We also liked photos of the beautiful
classic Ketch sailboat with happy passengers - no
more than 12. It was reasonably priced at $45
per person, about the same or less than the oth-
ers. We booked Furanai Sailboat Tours for what
turned out to be one of the hottest days of our
stay, when river breezes were a welcome anti-
dote to the heat.
We made the right decision. The boat was
clean and well maintained. The seats were com-
fortable, with room for a little folding table to
hold plates of cheese and charcuterie. And as
promised, the wine, white or rose, was cold, deli-
cious, and poured throughout the two-plus-hour
cruise.
There were only six guests, and we were fortu-
nate to have two amiable Londoners to share the
fun with. The evening was perfect with a soft cool
breeze and calm waters. Landmarks and the Lis-
bon skyline were in clear view as we sailed from
Belem under the iconic 25 April Bridge to the
cruise port and back. It was fun to think of great
explorers like Vasco da Gama plying these same
waters centuries ago.
But best of all, our captain and first mate re-
galed us with stories, answered many questions,
and positioned the boat perfectly for stunning
sunset shots. Wine notwithstanding, it was a bril-
liant Lisbon evening,
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