girlonthego

Hi all,
My husband and I are headed to Portugal and Spain in September.
We have two nights in Lisbon.
2 nights in Caiscas
1 night in Fatima
5 nights in Barcelona.

So far starting backwards in Barcelona:
Arriving at night, next morning:
Thursarc Guell with tour at 11am, Tapas and wine tour starting at 5pm-10pm
Fri: 10:15 at La Sagrada Familia with passion tower. 9:30pm Flamenco show at Palau de musica
Sat: Thinking of possibly doing a tour to Girona/La Costa Brava
Sun: Fat tire Bike tour of city at 11am
Mon: Shop during the day? Fly at night

Fatima: We are going to the vigil for the 100th anniversary which should have things. We arrive on the 12th.

Cascais: I think we will spend a day in Sintra and then check into our hotel in Cascais and spend day two at the beach and relax.

Lisbon. Not sure what to do. Day one I will wing, but day two would love some suggestions. I was thinking of doing a food/walking tour?

We are not aquarium or museum people. Picasso is not my favorite artist. We are not huge shoppers either. More just sightseeing and learning the history of where we are.

Suggestions? Thanks! Favorite restaurants? I would appreciate it!

girlonthego

We are Americans in our early 50s. First time in Portugal and Spain.
We are also flying home through Zurich (been once) and are seeing the Rolling stones (husband's favorite band of all time ) while there.

IMDonehere

Unless religion is important to you, I would skip Fatima.

kimhe

Great flamenco shows in the Palau, but I hope you have tickets for either Sept 7 or 29, those nights will most likely be outstanding with some of the finest flamenco dancers in the world on stage: http://www.palaumusica.cat/en/los-fa...s-amaya_490261

Karime Amaya is the grand-niese of the greatest flamenco dancer in history, Carmen Amaya from Barcelona (1913/17-1963). Her career is taking off now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CklXLAvSIyc

El Farru, the younger brother of world famous Farruquito and IMO better, together with flamenco guitar legend Paco de Lucía. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrxGsksJusU

Both Karime Amaya and Farru dance regularly in Tablao Cordobés, right on Las Ramblas, one of the finest flamenco restaurants in the country: http://flamenco-barcelona.es/

girlonthego

Kimhe, unfortunately we have tickets on the 15th . I am sure it will still be a good show since it will be my first flamenco show

kimhe

Arte Flamenco on the 15th will be an excellent intro to the beautiful and powerful flamenco art. The show will take you on a journey through eight of the flamenco styles, and here's a little teaser. Could be a memorable night in a spectacular theater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PwG9b_V1rc

kimhe

... and after the show, I can very much recommend to wind down with a glass or a bite in Els Quatre Gats (The four cats) from 1897, 150 meters from the Palau. Used to be the hangout of Picasso and friends (Picasso had his first exhibition here when he was 17), the composer Isaac Albéniz, artists and intellectuals, and also Gaudí was a regular guest here. Full of Barcelona modernisme history in the walls and a very special atmosphere: http://www.4gats.com/en/historia/

suec1

I did note that you say you are not museum people.....but we really did enjoy the tile museum in Lisbon. It's fun just to ride the trolley around in Lisbon or the commercail HOHO trolley. Do be careful of pickpocets on public transportation - in both big cities!

girlonthego

Muchas gracias kimhe! I will check out the four cats!

suec1, I actually was looking at the tile museum as something to see! lol.
DH's brother has his own tile business. Have you done any of the food tours like taste of lisboa? Or the segways? We have never ridden a segway, but I thought that might be fun. I hear it is hilly, so we will skip the bikes in Lisbon.

On the pickpocket thing, I plan to lock everything up in the hotel safe and just take small money and one card. I have a bra safe for the card. Also, I will not even bother to carry a purse while sightseeing.
Just have to get to the hotel without getting robbed

suec1

We have friends that did the food tour in Lisbon - they did like it. We ate a dive near the tile museum - I think it was called the Taxi Driver Cafe? but we thought it was great. When you leave the tile museum, go to the right, walking along the main road. I had wanted to get whole roasted fish for our lunch but did not have any certain place in mind but as we were walking we could smell something good - then we saw smoke coming from a chimney and found a small cafe set into a building. We each had fresh fish with olive oil, lemon and salt with a bit of the typical (sad?) salad and beer and wine for 16E. YUM!

I can recommend two restaurants in Cascais - 5 Sentidos (Casa do Largo) - this is fairly elegant and then Restaurant B & B - much more casual and somewhat limited menu but very good fresh fish. I loved Cascais - can't wait to go back.

kimhe

And of course a fantastic food scene in Barcelona, 22 Michelin star restaurants as well as fabulous tapas bars and no fuss local atmosphere places.

But should I recommend just one restaurant experience in Barcelona, it must be emblematic Set Portes (Seven doors) from 1826. An institution in town, great traditional dishes and old world atmosphere. Go for lunch on Sunday or after 9pm in the evening, then the place is boiling. https://7portes.com/en/

I must always have the Arroz caldó here (a local and more liquid variant of a seafood paella). http://www.foodspotting.com/places/1...73-arroz-caldo

This video from the 175th anniversary of 7 Portes in 2011 gives you an idea: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujDIsGzDO38

girlonthego

Thanks suec and kimhe!

I just booked the 5 Sentidos and I applied for a reservation at the 7 portes!

docdan1

Good recommendations.

docdan1

Sorry, how are you getting from Lisbon to Barcelona?

girlonthego

We are flying from Lisbon to Barcelona.

We are renting a car in Lisbon and driving to Sintra/Cascais and to Fatima and returning car at the airport.

Lisbon_Eagle

Considering that Lisbon is partially on shore, you will have no problem riding a bike... i actually recommend this.