Thank you Tiago! I would like to go back sometime, so I will keep your suggestions in mind! I think often of Portugal, and the kind and friendly people we encountered there. (I also have fond memories of the great wine and great food!)pp

Hello, Peppermintpatti -

It's me, Deb Kleber, from VisitingPortugal.com

We just said goodbye to the loveliest family who stayed at Casa Pátria... Thanks to the recommendation in your trip reports.

In fact, we've had a steady stream of Fodor's guests since you and others began writing about us. And what fun people you all are!

(For anyone else thinking of staying with us in Lisbon, please mention "Fodor's" when you first enquire. You'll be glad you did. )

So... my New Year Resolution is to "give back" to all our new-found Fodor Friends, by joining this forum to share our love of Lisbon and Portugal, her charming people and places.

Happy New Year, PMPatti, and thank you again for your kind words!

Beijinhos,
Deb Kleber / VisitingPortugal

Patti, I share your fondness for Portugal. Your trip report made me want to stroll down Lisbon's Avenida da Liberdade, walk the hilly streets of the Alfama, drive through the Alentenjo, and gaze at cork trees while munching on Pasteis de Belem.

Hi Deb! You are so very welcome. I am glad others were able to enjoy your kind hospitality. And........ in case you are wondering which of your guests we were--we were the family whose daughter left her cell phone in the safe, that your kind husband so generously dropped off to us at the end of our trip. We remember Portugal, and all its lovely people with great fondness! Hope the new year brings you much health, happiness, and prosperity! pp

And to boots, thank you for your kind remarks on my trip report. We hope to come back to Portugal someday. All the best to you too in the new year. Warm regards form the USA,pp

Just putting final touches on our May, 2010 3 week trip to Portugal. I was reading Tiago-T comments last year about the must see places. Does anyone know where the fogotten villages of xisto are actually located and how to get there?? We will have a rental car. Also where in Sintra do we find "Quinta de Monserrate"? Both sound very interesting.

Hi,

I did a short post a while back on a weekend trip to the schist villages -- http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-try-lousa.cfm

We used Lousa as our base, which was a good choice. It's a beautiful area. We also stayed in the pousada at Vila Pouca da Beira, which was nice enough, lots of beautiful walks right from the premises.

The quinta de Monserrate is a former British magnate's summer home, now being refurbished by the Sintra government (or some government preservation agency). It is administered by the same agency that is in charge of the Pena Palace, the Castle of the Moors, and the Convent of the Capuchos. There is a good website describing all four of the parks, in English, too: http://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/

We really like Monserrate, it is a beautiful spot and the grounds are not huge like the Pena Palace, but there are many wooded paths, past waterfalls, running brooks, etc. And the house is staffed by the actual preservationists, so you really hear a lot about the job of restoring it and see the work in progress. When I last visited (last June, I think), the library was almost done and they were moving on to other rooms. The website has information ono how to get there, there are several public transit options.

Most tourists to Sintra visit the Pena Palace and the Castle of the Moors, but the other two are well worth it, very uncrowded (at least up till now).

I think both Monserrate and the Schist villages are terrific destinations. Laurie

saving this excellent report that I just came across in my meandering through the forums..

I haven't had a chance to read the whole report yet, but I will! We're in the planning stages of a September visit. I'm very intrigued by your mention of the apartment you rented in Porto - the one on the choose Portugal website. That link doesn't work now....any idea if they have this apartment posted on another site?
Thanks in advance for your help!

stormydog, did you notice that this trip was in 2008?

Great trip report, thank you!! I'm currently planning my trip for June to Portugal as well for 12 days! Your trip report helps!

Did you find Lagos/Algarve as pretty as the pictures or was it too crowded in June?

Thanks!