Gray's Academy

Your
journey
begins

“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world, you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life and travel leaves marks on you.”

—Anthony Bourdain

  • Any self respecting wine lover….

    Today I took the train from Porto to the Douro Valley, the renowned wine region of Portugal and the world. The tracks hug the north bank of the river. The train ride is about two hours. I was headed to Ragua. My wonderful team at the Torel Palace in Lisbon did not steer me wrong…

  • I had a dream

    Last night I dreamed that one of the stoners I was in Lisbon with last week showed up at my room in Porto. It was a nightmare. I was so relieved when I woke up and realized it was only a dream. It really is the small things in life that bring us happiness unless…

  • Tall dark, handsome young men

    The young men of Portugal are gorgeous. The old men of Portugal are short and fat. I am going to see if I can figure this one out. Also, the mirrors are all skinny mirrors. I know I am not as thin as I look in the mirrors in my room because I certainly have…

  • Off the grid in Porto

    When asking Siri for directions in Portugal you will look at her proposed route and you will think, that is the long way, Siri. I can look at the map and see a much more direct route. You will be instructed to walk up one of the 5 million hills in Porto and think to…

  • A party of three

    Lisbon, Portugal is where my party of three are spending the week. I love both of these two women and I knew I could toss them together and they would mesh beautifully. Lisbon is a surprise at every turn. the architecture is amazing. There are no ugly buildings, the streets are clean and the sidewalks…