Lobo: thanks for the confirmation of Berna hotel. I guess I will keep it. How bad could it be for only 1 night anyway? Can anyone recommend a hotel in Ericeira? I am thinking that since we will be coming from Fatima in the evening and wont go to Sintra until the next day, we don't need to stay overnight near Sintra. We could pick somewhere in between. I have done a little research on Ericeira and it looks nice but would like to stay at a small inexpensive place instead of the Vila Gale which seems to be the big expensive hotel in the area. We would like to be near the ocean though. thanks for any suggestions you can give.

Now, I want pictures of you guys all singing Karaoke.

Maybe better pictures than an audiotape!

7pm at the kiosk. From there, it's 500 meters of walk to the Pateo da Memoria. I think it's a good apetite opener.
I'll ride my car with those less enthusiastic about walking.
Some notes:
1. Pateo da Memoria= Memory courtyard (This name comes from Memoria Church, nearby)
2. Fado ethics: Don't never, ever, ever talk or chat while fado singers are performing. I don't advise taking children to fado houses, because it's difficult for them to maintain discipline. Even if you don't have a clue about what the singer is singing, it's a signal of politeness to listen carefully.

Do be do be do, dah dah dah dah dah - in tune to Strangers in the night... Oh boy you really don't want to hear (see) me singing. But well, after a few glasses of vinho tinto I'll be as good as Elvis ;-)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Matt_from_England has left the building...

lobo - thank you for your suggestions on my itinerary. I definitly want to see Arraiolos so I'll do that along with Monsaraz on my second day as you suggest. Do you think it would be worth stopping in Elvas on the way to Marvao (along with Estremoz) on the third day - or do you think it's not worth bothering with?

And are you saying that Ericeira is also not bothering with since I'm planning on going to Nazare? I wanted to see a couple of costal vifllages.

Any one else have any input on my trip plans?

You know I quite like Ericeira, it's where the Royal family fled from the uprising in the early 20th C but I'll leave Lobo to talk more about how the Portuguese RF were shot...

There is a pretty chapel right on top of the cliffs and the old town is very nice, lots of little coffee shops on the square to sit in a pass the time.

Matt

King Charles and the royal prince were killed in 1908 in the northeastern corner of Terreiro do Paço (Commerce Square). The other son, king Manuel II was the last king of Portugal and fled from Ericeira in 1910 to an exile in England.
But as I said before, Ericeira is the place where king Sebastian is due to disembark in a misty morning to get rid off the Philippes and restore the glory of the old empire. But Philippes are gone a long ago, and the Portuguese keep waiting for king Sebastian. Anyway, considering that he disappeared in 1578 with the age of 18, he shouln't be in a very good shape if he returns in 2006...

Hi, Isabel,
I'll throw in my two cents, even though you get expert advice here. I think Ericeira has a very pretty fishing village core, surrounded by lots of modern development, but once you're inside the old town you won't notice it. The main square has a bakery that had a line of about 50 people one Sunday when we visited, waiting for a cinnamon-y cake-y pastry whose name I forget. Yum. Nearby on the cliffs you can stop and watch many paragliders (I think that's their name)navigate the air currents above the water. Another coastal town further up the coast that I would recommend is Peniche. It has an old prison that used to house political prisoners in the Salazar era and it has been turned into a museum. You can visit some cells, see many personal effects, it's very interesting. And from Peniche, boats leave in the summer to the Isle of Berlenga, which I have never been able to visit, but which I hear is a wildlife paradise. Just a cafe or two, nothing else.

About your other questions, I like Elvas (I think I remember a quite imposing pillary there), but I like Monsaraz and Estremoz more. I've been to some really nice produce and locally made goods markets in Estremoz, and I think the town has a nice feel to it. If you're into antiques, the town of Borba, not very far away, has streets lined with antique shops. So many places to go! L.

RobertSmyth:

The route via secondary roads that 1reynold1 gave you is almost exactly the trip we took. It was fantastic.

The stone towns are very unique...Sortelha was awesome and almost a little creepy. When we were inside the old town, we never saw another live person.

We also loved the Pousada at Belmonte.

Okay Lobo, make that 2 more for the LDC on the 27th: here's an email I received from Cindy Chan - I'm sure she reads the threads...

"Thanks for getting back to me! Jason (my boyfriend) and I would love to come to your dining club on the 27th - we will be in Lisbon that night. We're leaving the 20th of this month for Portugal - Will you send me the details for the evening - restaurant name, directions, contact info before then? Thank you for inviting us - we're definitely looking forward to it!

Sincerely,
Cindy"

So what that makes it 12 now? Somewhat daunting no? No! The more the merrier ;-) It won't matter too much because with the fado there won't be much talking and by the time it comes to Karoake we'll all be drunk anyway and all the ice will have melted hours ago. Now who gets to hold up the umbrella and sign "Lisbon Dining Club members"...

And so dinner tomorrow: Come to our place for about 7.30 - I'll book a table and we'll all go from here - I'll be bringing the tribe so it'll have to be 2 cars.

Matt

Hi! I have enjoyed following this thread and Part 1 as well as we are visiting Lisbon in October for the first time. I wish we would have been there for the LDC; it sounds like a lot of fun!

I'm sure I will have questions later on.

Thanks Matt, Lobo and all for the interesting read.

Judi. We are going to be there in October. Maybe Lobo and Matt can have a LDC experience with us.

It would be rude not to!

And welcome Judi to the chaos that is my life and this thread. You're certainly in the company of some characters here!

Matt

Thanks, Matt. I would be honored to join the cast of characters!;-)

We go to Nerja, Spain every year for two weeks and add an additional week to explore another region. This will be our first trip to Portugal and we have decided to spend the week in Lisbon. I'm sure we will return to visit other areas.

It looks as if we will be in Lisbon on 3 Oct and leave on 10 Oct. Sher, will you be there during that time?

Unless someone has a better idea we plan to fly into Lisbon and then take a bus to Malaga and on to Nerja. It is a long ride on an overnight bus. Otherwise we have to fly back to Madrid and then on to Malaga which is an expensive endeavor.

Geez Judy. We will arrive on October 15 and leave on Octtober 28. Only the last four days will be in Lisbon.
Maybe next time.

So far, we have:
Matt+Liz
Lobo+Loba
Nancy1652+1
Ladylyn915+1
Bailey6325+1
Cindy+Jason

Matt, I already have a tentative menu and budget. I'd like to discuss it tomorrow.
The owner says that the most difficult task of his life was to persuade a French group to sing Fado and he did it. He believes that it should be possible to achieve the same with LDC members. :-)
I've seen the list of karaoke songs available, quite impressive.

Yes Lobo but it's obviously quite clear from your responses on another thread that you haven't got a damn clue what you are talking about. So from now on please be quiet and let the more knowledgable amongst us discuss Lisbon please...



;-)

Lobo- I sent you an email on Wednesday with info on how to reach us. Did you get it? Also, I think I need a little help with directions. I looked on the Carris site and it looks like it will take 102 minutes to get from Cascais to Belem Can this be right? If so, maybe we will just take a taxi. Any idea how much that might be? And, otherwise what would you suggest?
thanks

Lyn