From bored to passionate and energetic, I have had both extremes in guides this trip. I have booked primarily through Viator and used to be quite satisfied with them. Not so this trip.
The best was a woman through Urban Adventures in Lisbon for the walking tour and Fado show. She was so full of information and one could see she was proud of her heritage/country yet acknowledged that Portugal, as she said it, had a dark period.
Another guide from Lisbon to Sintra and the furthest western point of Europe did double duty. He had both English and French speaking clients so he was talking almost constantly.
I wish all would mike so you can hear them without standing next to them. One note here is that
Some tour guides have such limited repertoire or English skills you cannot ask a complex question. It appears to be related to the amount of training they have; not just English skills.
Without exception all guides arranged by the cruise line were excellent. Too the people were friendlier as a group. Perhaps because we were all on the same ship. Today I attempted to talk with others along the tour and it just did not work out. Nor did my queries to the guide result in a cohesive answer that was beyond what she had already said. Absolutely frustrating and I was ready to wander off on my own.
I have one more event booked for this trip that includes a guide. I am hoping for the best, but then it is a Flamenco show so it cannot be too bad. Plus this one was recommended by a friend who was here in May.
The best was a woman through Urban Adventures in Lisbon for the walking tour and Fado show. She was so full of information and one could see she was proud of her heritage/country yet acknowledged that Portugal, as she said it, had a dark period.
Another guide from Lisbon to Sintra and the furthest western point of Europe did double duty. He had both English and French speaking clients so he was talking almost constantly.
I wish all would mike so you can hear them without standing next to them. One note here is that
Some tour guides have such limited repertoire or English skills you cannot ask a complex question. It appears to be related to the amount of training they have; not just English skills.
Without exception all guides arranged by the cruise line were excellent. Too the people were friendlier as a group. Perhaps because we were all on the same ship. Today I attempted to talk with others along the tour and it just did not work out. Nor did my queries to the guide result in a cohesive answer that was beyond what she had already said. Absolutely frustrating and I was ready to wander off on my own.
I have one more event booked for this trip that includes a guide. I am hoping for the best, but then it is a Flamenco show so it cannot be too bad. Plus this one was recommended by a friend who was here in May.
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