rosetravels

Estremoz. There was a restaurant there (Gadanha Mercearia) that we still talk about. We were there two years ago. In general we really really liked the Alentejo region. We started in Evora and went on a megalithic tour and then spent the next two weeks pulling over at every megalithic sign. So fun!

And I'd happily spend a week on the Douro. We loved Quinta do Vallado. Loved the towns near there and the landscapes.

Lisbon and Porto were great but I'll return to the Douro and the Alentejo regions. With a week you could visit one.

luz_de_lisboa

PalenQ, the languages are similar in writing, but sound very different. As a very broad generalization, the Portuguese understand Spanish more commonly than the reverse.

Percy, actually you're doing a great job in converting to English. It's very helpful for understanding history (the street where silversmiths were located). You'd make a good tour guide!

But I believe it's counterproductive when giving directions. A map will show Praça do Comercio (aka Terreiro do Paço) rather than Main Commercial Plaza Square. If you are searching for a lookout, you'll have better luck using the word miradouro.

Having said that, you will see a lot of English here. While the Portuguese take great pride in their language, a lot of businesses call themselves Lisbon-this, Lisbon-that. I'm not a fan. Is is really that difficult to say "Lisboa?" I think part of traveling and learning about other cultures is using the local words.

While I'm being picky, out of respect to royalty, his name was Dom João I

bilboburgler

Santiago is whole different place, both for the various Camino (Camini?) that end up here and the whole meditative and historical links that come with them, but also for the shear amount of Catholic imagery that abounds in the place. From my only visit I still have images of flocks of nuns flying by and cheeses shaped like women's breasts in every food shop.

It is just a bit startling!

The local Albarinho wine goes very well with the local unique shellfish.

Dukey1

More "revelations" and ALL of them useful IMO so thanks right off the bat for those.

I was particularly struck by the comment about the churches/cathedrals being "sad and gloomy" as compared to those seen in Italy. I am not in the least disputing this but when we do go I am sure I'll recall that and ask myself if I agree. Even if I DON'T I think the comment is valid, AND useful since it is someone's perspective which must be acknowledged.

"Libon this and Lisbon that..." I understand how it can be offputting and we actually have the same sort of naming over here in Florida with "New York this and New York that."

In terms of the Santiago possibility I'd honestly like to simple be there and take it all in somehow. I realize that July is one of the busiest times but being so close geographically and not going there seems like a mistake.

And Rosetravels, your comment: "...but I'll return to the Douro and the Alentejo regions. With a week you could visit one" prompts me to look into the whole region more closely. Thank you.

Dukey1

I am wondering if one of the day-long wine tours of the Douro would be worthwhile. I think we'd enjoy the scenery more than the wine.

Tabernash2

I thought Lisbon was one of the most photogenic cities we've ever visited.
I took a gazillion photos, just walking in town. There was something so pleasant about Lisbon, that I can't put my finger on. We had glorious weather there, so that would be one contributing factor.

Regarding the Portuguese language, it sounds much different than we expected. It sounds almost eastern European. And words are spoken so much differently than you'd think when you see them in writing. Cascais, sounds like 'cash-kye' (or something like that).

I found a favorite Lisbon photo and will put it up as my profile picture for a while.

Tabernash2

Well, that didn't really work. My city photo was horizontal and didn't work in the round template. So instead, I added a portrait I took of a lady who lived up by the castle. (I asked her permission to take it, and I sent her a copy.). I think she's beautiful.

Percy

Dukey1:

I took three wine tours and that was enough.
It is pretty curving and hilly driving up to some of them.

The Quinta Avelada is the one I liked best because besides the Winery it has very beautiful grounds to walk about in.

This was a half day visit and was good enough.

(Oh and by the way Quinta mean winery ( right luz_de_lisboa )

Here is the Avelada:

https://www.google.ca/search?q=Quint...&bih=672#spf=1


Tabernash2: that lady looks like someone I bumped into also.!
I fully agree , what s not to like about Lisbon.

Dukey1

Thanks to both of you. I think "quinta" might actually mean "estate" but am not certain.

We are not particularly wine drinkers and whereas I understand the whole vineyard appeal (we enjoyed the experience in New Zealand, for example) I do think a drive and the scenery would be a better fit for us.

I am becoming more and more excited about this whole thing and have come to accept the fact that we do not enjoy every aspect of travel locations in the same manner as do others.

When I go to certain museums, for example, I often head for certain paintings and am totally happy to have done that. Breezing up the stairs at the Rijksmuseum and headed for the "Sampling Officials" and totally bypassing all those other fab works is easy, for example.

However, we've bypassed Portugal for entirely too long in favor of our more usual and totally familiar haunts in Italy and I am determined next year to do this.

I appreciate everyone's recounting experiences.

goddesstogo

Dukey,
This is the response I gave to a recent Lisbon poster.

"I don't know if l. reynolds still posts here but she (he?) has put together an amazing walking tour of Lisbon. I know you said that long walks and steps are a bit of a problem for you but I'm posting this because if you can do any part of it, it's well worth while. My SO and I used it on a 3-day visit to Lisbon in 2010 (so understand that some restaurants, etc, may not be open any longer) and we didn't feel we needed any further guidebooks.

Here you go:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/my-one-or-two-day-walking-tour-of-lisbon.cfm"

Tabernash2

Dukey1, you're reminding me how much we liked Lisbon. I'm jealous!

Dukey1

Actually long walks and steps really aren't an issue (did I say that? if I did the I apologize altho the Husbear could actually DO with a few long walks IMO but that's another conversation).

ANYWAY, thanks for the link which I will take a look at.

goddesstogo

Hi Dukey,
That comment about the long walks and steps was just part of the post for that other thread. It was a concern for the other poster but you can just ignore that part.

Dukey1

No worries. What I like is the thing lists the various sights and then I think one can decide how much or how little to actually see and do.

As you know, there can be a sensory overload factor just as in museums and churches but it's a good resource and thanks again for providing the link.

HelenaFatima

Oh dear! Ok, tourists will be tourists and they like touristing things, but... can, at least, some of them read some books about Portugal?

Percy

This may be good timing but the Travel Section in our Journal has an article on Portugal.!

The author writes that after touring about Lisbon these are the Five Places to make sure you have seen:

1." Clube de Fado:
The legendary Brazilian singer Fafa de Belem has a multi year contract there."

( If you do not know about Fado Music it would be nice to read up on this)

2. "Tower of Belem ( 16 century)

3. Monument to Age of Discovery
Both are UNESCO sites."

4. "National Coach Museum: provides an excellent window into how king and queens got from place to place."

5. Sintra Palace: 18 miles from Lisbon.

Served as a place for Portuguese kings for centuries. There is a room with a ceiling decorated with 136 magpies."


--------------------------------

Make sure you see this room if/when you go there.

Interesting story about the 136 magpies.

Let me tell you about it.

King John I was caught kissing a lady in the courtyard, by his Queen Filipa.

Gossip spread among the 136 ladies in the courtyard.

To stop the women from cackling like magpies, the King had 136 magpies painted on the ceiling in the Ladies Waiting Room.

The magpies are holding ribbons in their beaks with the writing of "Por bem" , and roses.

Por bem means ( for good) and with the roses it signifies The House of Lancaster, back in England, to which Queen Filipa belonged.

Well he had to make up top the queen, she was the one that caught him kissing the girl in the courtyard.

Percy

Definition of quinta
:  a country villa or estate especially in Portugal or Latin America


Yep you're right Dukey1.

PalenQ

And in Lisbon take the antique hill-climbing trams to the Alfama District on a hill - really quaint area, one of few old parts of town still around.

Dukey1

Thanks, Pal, have been watching the YouTube videos of them.

willit

re: the Trams - they were very, very busy at most times of the day (particularly the number 28), but you frequently get two or even three in very close proximity. There is at least one company running private tram tours on the same tracks, and these were significantly less busy.

We were warned several times about the problem with pickpockets - and just up from the apartment found two or three discarded wallets in an alley near one of the main stops.