Our First Date: From the Cruise Ship to Madeira Island…Romance in Portugal: Steam Rooms, Ocean Views, and My Racing Heart
“Two strangers from opposite sides of the world—an American grandmother and a Kiwi with a guitar—on their very first date in Portugal, with the Atlantic sparkling at our feet.”
A magical day on Madeira Island that set the tone for everything to come.
Our very first date didn’t happen in America, and it didn’t happen in New Zealand. It happened in Portugal—on the beautiful Madeira Island, off the coast of Africa in the Atlantic Ocean.
We had only just met on the cruise ship, and my heart was pounding. Could this really be happening? A grandmother from America, a man from New Zealand, both in a brand-new culture, beginning something neither of us expected.
A Spa by the Sea
That day, Tony and I visited a luxurious spa that overlooked the Atlantic Ocean. Imagine pools with water shimmering like diamonds, steam rooms that melted away every care, and terraces where the sea stretched endlessly before us. It was like the earth itself was giving us permission to pause and breathe.
We wandered between steam, saunas, and soothing pools, talking and laughing, two people just beginning to discover one another. Everything felt new, romantic, and full of possibility.
A Lunch Over the Atlantic
Afterward, we sat down for lunch overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The breeze was gentle, the food rich and flavorful, and the company unforgettable. Portugal has a way of making you feel at home—warm people, soulful food, and a culture where family, community, and simple joys mean everything.
A Taste of Portugal
Portugal is known for its fado music—haunting and beautiful songs that carry centuries of emotion. It’s also a land of rich traditions: fresh seafood grilled to perfection, sweet custard pastries called pastéis de nata, terraced vineyards growing the famous Madeira wine, and streets filled with colorful tiles that tell stories of history and faith.
The Portuguese lifestyle is slower, more intentional. Meals are savored, conversations are valued, and love is celebrated not in big gestures, but in everyday beauty. Being there—with Tony—felt like stepping into a storybook.
The Spark
It wasn’t just the spa. It wasn’t just the lunch or the view. It was him. His laughter. His accent. The way he made me feel seen.
That day in Madeira, Portugal, something deeper began. The kind of connection you can’t plan for and can’t explain. Just a spark, undeniable and unforgettable.
💖 Grandma Wendy Reflection
Sometimes love shows up in the most unexpected places—a cruise ship, an island you’ve never been to, or even a ride down a glass elevator overlooking the ocean.
That day in Portugal, with BoozeBug by my side, I realized that life isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment—it’s about taking chances, opening your heart, and savoring the view.
Love doesn’t ask for permission. It just blooms—like sunshine on the waves, like laughter in the air, like two hearts learning to beat in rhythm.
So if you’re waiting for a sign, this is it: don’t be afraid of new beginnings.—
With love & joy,
Grandma Wendy 🐞
