THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND LISBON

Old Mar 5th, 2006, 10:09 AM
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Welcome Alawes
I like "Parreirinha de Alfama" http://www.pai.pt/detail.asp?lang=pt...27039054080048 click mapa for map. Combine it with sightseeing from Miradouro Santa Luzia, a walk trough Alfama streets. Parreirinha is in the base of Alfama hill and impossible to get lost. Just do line of sight navigation, it's impossible to get lost. Sé (cathedral) is also a nearby spot. You should arrive for dinner by 8:30 pm. Don't forget you shouldn't talk during performance.
Parreirinha is a tiny place and overbooks easily. If you decide to go there, call in advance or then ask the hotel staff to do that for you.
Authentic Fado houses are tiny places because the artist's voice must be heard without amplification to give the intimistic touch.
My email is [email protected] Feel free to send any queries.
50 steps away from Parreirinha there is Fado Museum, but I don't want you to get a fado overdose.
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 10:38 AM
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I need to do some work or I will not be going anywhere. I have spent the whole day, reading and rereading this post. This there something wrong with Me?
Anyway, we are there only 2 1/2 days.
Plan to take tram around city to get feel. We are thinking Torre de Belem and Sao Jeronimo Monastery. Maybe a day to ourselves to Sintra, just take a train out and walk around.
My husband is big time surfer, what are waves like now? We might have to return in the summer with whole family.
I think I might need a dinner suggestion for area around hotel for Thursday night, it will be early night. We need to leave London around 6am, so we will be tired.
Of course, need shopping time. We are definitely not there long enough.
Wasn't British Airways smart...their promotion was 2 free nights in London. We had originally planned 5 nights in Lisbon. But now the English get our pounds.
I am still lucky to be going, so I can't complain. Can we make reservations on Thursday for Parreirinha de Alfama for Friday or Saturday night. Should I do it from here today?
Thanks a lot
Ann
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 11:58 AM
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Matt's first post of this row has enough suggestions for 2,5 weeks.
I don't see any place interesting to have dinner nearby the hotel. I'd suggest Cervejaria Trindade (Chiado area) for 1st day. Arrive there by 7 pm to avoid waiting for a table. You may get there walking down the street and then catching the elevador (funicular) to the heart of Chiado. When returning you may either take the metro or a taxi. Taxis are plenty and cheap. Metro station is very near the hotel door.
The shoping area I recommend is Baixa (Rua Augusta and surrounding streets).
If you go to Belem, don't forget Pasteis de Belem, Coches Museum and possibly restaurant "A Picanha" that I mentioned in another post.
Calling Parreirinha on the day of arrival is more than enough. You don't need to call from home.
Seetheworld, I was pulling your collective legs
Matt, I understand you have 3 good reasons to stay home We have plenty of time to start our Lisbon's dining club
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 12:38 PM
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Hurray - my PC works again. No more sharing the LAPTOP! So bring on the emails and dinner invitations!

Matt
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 01:04 PM
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My favourite Portuguese Soup:

Caldo Verde - shredded cabbage soup. Make sure to order it as a starter - but for now here's the recipe...

Boil 600 grams of potatoes, a large onion, and a couple of cloves of garlic with pinch of sea salt in about 1 1/2 litres of water. When well cooked add a generous splash of olive oil and blitz with a food processor or hand blender. Into the puree add a medium sized shredded cabbage/kale and simmer adding a sliced chouriço sausage. When the shredded cabbage is cooked through serve. Simple. With corn bread (broa) and a glass of red. (In fact my wife's grandfather used to pour half a glass of red wine into the soup and stir in - I don't know if that was his tradition or that of Beira Baixa.)

Now who can take a guess at my favourite main meal?

Matt
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 01:18 PM
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The secrets of the black pig?
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 01:42 PM
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lobo_mau. I found your restaurant in Estremoz (Adega Isaias). But I am a little confused as the book made it seem as if it was only open on Monday and Tuesday 12:00-14:00 and 20:00-22:30. Does this seem corrent to you?
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 01:43 PM
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Mi recently emailed a question about what to do in a swift 2 day visit to Lisbon and how to get here from Algeciras, Spain: I can advise a little re Lisbon but transport from Southern Spain to Lisbon I don't know. Anyway, here is my suggestion...(perhaps someone may suggest a better itinerary?)

Sounds like an action packed trip, my recommendations then for Sintra and Lisbon:

For Sintra you must now take the train from Entre Campos (Post this question on the thread - Lobo Mau is best to answer but I think somewhere in there is the train details) Don't go to Sintra on Monday (If that is one of your days) because I think Pena Palace will be closed. At the top of the mountain you must visit Pena Palace, the gardens (park) and Moorish Castle. In the village itself just walk through the streets and visit the coffee shops which Lobo recommends.

For Lisbon on the other day I would do this. Coffee and breakfast in Baixa and go up the Elevador Santa Justa take the tourist tram (the old quarter route) red tram from Praca do Commercio. In the afternoon catch the train from Cias do Sodre to Belem and visit Geronimos Monestary (Mosteiro Geronimos) Tor de Belem and monument to the discoveries. Have a couple of Pasteis de Belem in the famous coffee shop wich can easily be found more or less opposite Mcdonalds. In the evening go to Bairo Alto for drinks and the nightlife. That will be a great days touring and give you a nice insight into Lisbon I think.

Re from Spain to Portugal I don't know, post on the thread, Someone might know the answer. I'll put up your questions and my responses and hopefully someone else might chip in too.

Take care and feel free to email me anytime,

Matt

So welcome Mi - hope that we'll see you here soon adding to the thread.
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 01:53 PM
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It certainly aint secrets of the black pig...
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 02:03 PM
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Sher, what kind of book are you reading??? I guess the guy who wrote it had too much red This site http://viajar.clix.pt/pt/cmr3237.php?t=1&lg=en# says it is closed on Sundays. It makes much more sense. If it makes you more confident, I may confirm with them
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 02:31 PM
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My first list of foods. Needless to say that my preference increases from the begining to the end of the post
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Safe food: Picanha (Brazilian BBQ), bitoque (small steak, egg and liberty fries), febras grelhadas (grilled meat), bife (steak), secrets of black pig, bifinhos de espadarte (boneless swordfish), entrecosto, filetes de pescada (boneless pieces of fried fish), big mac, pizza hut
So-So food: arroz de marisco (rice with shellfish), carne de porco alentejana (pork&clams), bacalhau com natas (cod fish and cream), caldeirada (stew of several fish), any grilled fish
Disgusting food: cozido a portuguesa (french pot au feu), feijoada (beans and pork meat), dobrada (tripe), pork maxilar bones, pig feet, pig ears
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my criteria to fill: whatever I love, I included in "disgusting food". Then I asked to my teenager son if he likes, whatever he said "yes", I included in the "safe food". The remaining are the "so-so food"
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 02:34 PM
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Don't be a coward Lobo - translate Segredos do Porco Preto, and I don't mean the literal...
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 02:49 PM
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A black pig is a pig that happens to be black. It is native to the Alentejo region, is grown almost exclusively with "bolotas", the fruit of "azinheira" tree.
It has a part called "lombo" (pork loin). The side parts of the pork loin are sliced, grilled and they are called "secretos de porco preto". (secrets of black pig).
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 02:54 PM
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I'm glad you cleared that up - I always thought it was testicles! Now I might actually try some next time I see them on a menu! LOL ;-) ;-) ;-)
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 03:09 PM
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lobo_mau. I am sure the book was just mistaken. I cannot remember which guide book it was, I have looked at dozens.
No need to check with them. I take your word for it.
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 03:10 PM
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Testicles are called "tubaros". I think that it's possible to find but it's not a common food in Portugal, and never find in a restaurant menu.
I was told they can be juicy, but I've never tried myself.
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 03:11 PM
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Yeah, Sher, me too - I'm taking Lobos word that secrets of the black pig are not deep fried testicles...
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 03:27 PM
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It's not a good policy to trust somebody who calls himself big bad wolf
But, since my doctor said I have acid uric slightly high and I should avoid young meats, I adopted PC practices, became vegetarian and I have everyday the 5 o'clock tea with grandmother.
Ok, it's becoming late and tomorrow is a working day. Feel free to email [email protected]
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Old Mar 5th, 2006, 03:30 PM
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Actually, I have had deep fried testicles. They didn't make much of an impression except for my dining companions who were disappointed by my reaction when they told me what I was actually eating.
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Old Mar 6th, 2006, 02:30 AM
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Sher, it's confirmed. Closed at Sundays and holydays. dinner period from 7:15pm to 10:00 pm. tel: 268322318.
My advice for any restaurant in any part of Portugal: go early. Locals have lunch by 1pm and dinner by 8pm. That said, if you go 45 minutes in advance you got better service and (likely) no waiting time.
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