People in Lisbon were soooo friendly. Everyone was so helpful, friendly, pleasant and courteous. Two stories to share:

-my husband was setting the self timer on the camera so we could get the landmark in the photo. A lady came up and asked if she could take our photo and we said sure. While she was taking our pic, a man came up to her and asked her if he could take the picture of all 3 of us! So funny!

-I wanted to get my nails done and couldn't seem to find a place so stopped in a beauty supply store. I asked the clerk if she knew of a place, placed a call and told me to come with her. She closed the shop! Took me down the street and up some stairs and for 5euros had them done! Loved it. jk

I agree !
In Madrid, you would not see your camera again. MIne got swiped on Easter Sunday morning one year.

On our last trip we were invited to friend's house for dinner. Going to the house the taxi driver had difficulty finding the address and turned off the meter because he did not want to over charge us. And on the return to our hotel in Baixa a different driver did the same thing when we returned to the hotel because he had difficulty understanding our very poor Portuguese.
I was astounded to say the least.

I have never been to Portugal but in all of my growing up years and most of my adult years I have been so fortunate to know many people from Portugal that settled in the SF/Bay Area. Elderly people, middle age people and the young ones that were born here but grew up in homes with the traditional Portuguese customs. Lovely, kind, well mannered and very welcoming people. They all helped make my life joyous. And needless to say the foods they served and the wine they made in their cellars were ambrosia!

Several Italians friends in Italy love to vacation in Portugal due to the lovely country and the Portuguese people.

Thank you jan47ete, you have made my day! It started with your message here about the friendliness of the Portuguese people, because I'm going to Portugal in late February as a solo traveler and have never been before. (It's my 18th trip to Europe I think but never to Portugal.)

And then I read your message on another thread about the apartment you stayed at while in Lisbon, and that's the apartment I have rented for 8 days while I am there! How lucky! The apartment looks so beautiful in the photos and it's offered at such a great price that it's almost too much to believe, so it's nice to hear that it really lives up to the photos and that you enjoyed it and the neighborhood it's in.

Thank you so much for sharing. If you have any other tips about the neighborhood (restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, bars, etc) I would love to hear it. Obrigada and Happy New Year!

LunaBella

The Portuguese people are at once morose and friendly.

LunaBella- you will love it. Exiting the apt, one block to the right is the tram going into the city center and the apt is between 2 #28 tram stops coming "home". I stop at the farther one about 50 feet from the apt so I can stop at the bakery.

apt was all set up with spices, "Tide", and of course, when renters leave, leave misc items behind as we did.

Grocery is out the apt to the left. Go down the hill about 2 blocks and turn left and it is on the right hand side.

Do you need any maps, books, etc. jk

Hi jan47ete, I think I'm all set as I got a few travel books for Christmas and I'm now up to two books on Portugal, one on Lisbon (replete with maps), and two separate maps! I have been poring over all of them and, with the help of Google Maps, feel like I have now walked all over Lisbon! Very fun. Can't wait to actually to be able to go inside all of the places I've "walked" by on the internet though.

Thanks again for your notes on the apartment, I just showed the online photos of the place to a friend and she says it looks like the perfect spot!

I've been to Lisbon a few times - although I usually stay in Caparica by the sea and a short trip away by bus and ferry.
I agree the people are VERY friendly ! It's one of the best places I've been for that !
It really has everything - grand palaces and tiny streets. I love the little trams in the higher parts of town - but beware pickpockets !!
Don't forget to try the Port, LunaBella - and it DOES go with ice-cream - it surprised me too - but it does !

Question for Charlie_M: Do you think they have port ice cream? That sounds like the perfect combination!

Also the apartment jan47 stayed at is on the tram line for the famous #28, so I look forward to hanging out on the balcony (or wait, balconies, it appears there are three...what an embarrassment of riches, eh!?) and drinking port and eating ice cream...and maybe throwing in some vinho verde as well as I watch the little trams chug by!

As for the pickpockets, I've heard that Lisbon definitely has its share. I have travelled twice to Spain though in the past 14 months and haven't had a problem (not just because I am lucky though, I am positive it's because they are afraid of me, hah!) so I hope to be adequately prepared for lovely Lisbon.

Hmmm...Caparica! I've never heard of it. Will need to investigate.

Caparica. Only in the Summer otherwise it's not that good.
In the Summer is great, you have some 20 km of sand and sea to walk, to swim, to see people, to buy fresh fish out of the boat and nets of the sailors.
Drink and dinner at sunset.
The best in Portugal for me because of these factors and having Lisbon so near.