Sheeesh!

"Would you like to leave a tip?" That innocent looking little sentence appears on every credit card machine and at every check out in the USA whether you've bought a full blown meal or simply an ice cream. Your choice, 20% 25% and in some cases 30% and then of course the little bit at the bottom that says plus tax. By the time you're done, what initially looked like a reasonably priced coffee or a meal has jumped in price by about 30% or more. That was the USA and I can tell you, we are loving the Azores. Two coffees, two bacon and egg rolls and one freshly squeezed orange juice. Yours for €10.50 no tip required.

As for the marina; five nights for our tennis court sized catamaran.... €110, one night in the USA, minimum $155 plus tax. In West Palm Beach, the Marina was $8.50 per foot for us, that's over $400 per night. You can get a pretty nice hotel in New York, Paris or London for less than that. And, you don't need to bring your own bed, towels, linen and shower. Or leave a tip.

Much as we enjoyed the USA it really is fabulous and well worth the effort of 10 days and nights at sea to get back to cobbled streets, culture and some serious history. Of which, I am something of a buff so you can look forward to some interesting and informative anecdotes over the next few months.

Meanwhile, we are off for a coffee and a pastel de nata, the rather scrumptious Portuguese tart. All yours for just €2.