lreynold1 - thanks for your input. I would like to try to see both Ericeira and Elvas, and will probably have time to do them, just trying to get priorities in case I run out of time. It's hard to tell how long it actually takes to go from one town to the next, park, etc.

The distances I'm planning for each day are not that great, but you never know how long it will take to find places, find parking, etc. How well marked are the secondary roads in Portugal - compared to say, Italy or France? How easy is it to find parking on the outskirts of the small towns?

Ladylyn. I received, but let me answer here.
Please see http://www.cp.pt (it has an English version). Insert "cascais" in the origin place and "belem" in the destination. setect the calendar day "et voilá".
From hotel to Cascais railways station it's very easy. If you have rooms facing the Ocean, you'll see the train station just on the other side of the street. The most challenging activity should be crossing the street, but if you head a few meters into Cascais, you'll have pedestrians crossings with traffic lights.
There are no Cascais/Belem direct trains. You should take one to Alges and other from Alges to Belem. The cost is 1,5 euros/person and the total duration should be around 40 minutes or so, including both trains.
Trains leave Cascais each 20 minutes.
If you don't feel confortable with changing trains, you could always stop in Alges or Cais do Sodre (terminal stations) and take a taxi from there to Pasteis de Belem. Either option is much less expensive than the whole taxi ride. Stopping in Cais do Sodre or Alges has another advantage, because the ride is all in the Lisbon's urban area, the cost is much more transparent since you pay what's in the taximeter.
From Belem station to Pasteis de Belem, you must cross the road following an aerial pedestrians bridge and walking 200 meters more or less. If you take a taxi for the last portion, you'll be delivered just to the pasteis place.
For budgetary purposes consider Alges or Cais to Sodre to Belem in the range or 20 euros, while Cascais to Belem should be in the range of 150 euros.
The CP staff in Cascais is very familiar with foreigners, and I'm sure they will assist you.
As a last resource if nothing of the above works, call me and ask for help (I'm confident that this won't happen)

Some words of advice for LDC members:
1. Pasteis de Belem is a meeting point, not a eating point. Don't be stuffed with pasteis, because there's a lot to eat in LDC meeting itself.
2. The negotiated fixed price is 27.5 euros (all included). This is more than in the last LDCs, but the others didn't have the entertainment factor. IMHO the price is fair.
3. White drinks (whiskeys and similar) are not included.
4. schedule light for the next morning, because the owner starts to invite people to leave the place only at 1.30 am.
5. debit cards welcome, but credit cards not accepted. Maybe it's better to carry some cash.

Sounds fantastic, Lobo! Thanks for organizing.

Now Lobo I expect a real feast for that... and talking of feasting, are you ready for tonight's curry experience? Make sure you leave some toilet rolls in the fridge overnight for morning ablutions!

See you in an hour or two.

Ideas of activities to do in pasteis de belem area, while waiting for the LDC
1. Jardim Tropical (tropical garden) closes at 5pm. Excellent for relax - there is an entrance fee (I don't remeber how much).
2. Jerónimos Monastery - the masterpiece of Manuelino
3. Opened garden between pasteis and CCB - usually it has a "useless things" market, funny to watch. Sometimes has groups of folklore dancers.
4. Museu dos Coches - Like it or hate it, you won't find equal in the the world
5. Museu de Marinha (Navy Museum)
6. CCB (conference and exposition center)
7. Belem tower - the most photographed and monument of Portugal and ex-libris - sometimes in Fodors homepage. It's possible to visit the interior, but IMHO it's quite disappointing, just empty stone walls. Inside less interesting than outside.
8. Monument to discorveries (it's a 20th century thing, 5 centuries less old than neighbours Belem Tower and Jeronimos. It marks a symbolic point of departure of Vasco da Gama to India and Pedro A. Cabral to Brazil. Colombus' caravel stayed there for a technical stop after 1st voyage to America, before heading south Spain.

The order is by distance from Pasteis de Belem.
And the last but not the least. After the block in front of pasteis de belem there is some grass (direction to the river). While there uncover because it's a holy place. In fact a group of young adults and teenagers, kicked a soccer ball there on the 28th February 1904 and by the end they decided to found Benfica.

Matt, I'm on the way. Prepare your camera and notes book for this mini LDC meeting.

We shall pause in front of the antigo Pharmacia Franco (now a bank) and look up to the windows where the Irmaos catateus lived. Then perhaps dip into the small coffee shop opposite for an imperial - it's the site of where the founders of Sport Lisboa had lunch before siging that document of formation. In fact not far from this location is Portugal's first national stadium and Belenenses old stadium - it's where the greats like Espirito Santo and Vitor Silva would have played for the national team. God isn't it sad that I know crap like this - there's barely room inside my cramped head for important stuff...

Lobo Thank You! Its settled! We will spend the afternoon in Belem seeing the sights. I really appreciate all the information. We will take the train and transfer(we didn't win the last NY Lottery....)I'm sure we will find you. My husband will wear his NY Giants cap!
Lyn

I just ahd a very rude awakening. I don't think I am comfortable traveling back to Cascais by train that late ( or even at 23h00. And again sadly, my budget really can't handle E150 to get back. I'm not sure why, but I thought a taxi ride would be somewhat less. Can you give me some feedback on the trains. How safe are they?

Lyn

Ladylyn, don't worry with return.

Ok Lobo- I'm not worrying (much!) Question though, I looked on Maporama and the driving time is listed at 17 minutes. How could that cost E150? And I thought New York taxi prices were steep.....

For me to come back over the bridge late at night costs in the region of 30 euros. Part of that fare will include the emtpy return and bridge tolls + change of zones. Not that I do it often... But I'm not sure re travelling between Lisbon and Cascais.

I received a reply from the concierge at the hotel. He suggests that we drive. That's probably fine; please let me know where would be the best place to park. thanks

Lyn

I could use some more advice on the Alentejo portion of my July trip. We're arriving in Evora around noon and want to be in Marvao by mid afternoon two days later. I'd like to see several places but am not sure I'll have time so I'd like your opinions on which should be at the top of my list. The towns are Evora, Monsaraz, Arraiolas, Elvas, Estremoz, and Evoramonte. Do you think I'll have time to see them all? If not, which ones do you prefer? I'm really most interested in "atmosphere" of the towns themselves, rather than church or museum interiors or that kind of stuff.

Hi Isabel. The guys should chime in, but until they do. I have been researching this also.
A tour of the area (as suggested by one of my Thomas Cook guides) says that this area is aproximately 245Km - 372 km with detours(some towns not on your list)
It says allow five hours driving time. It also says two to three days should do it. So I think you will be fine.
I have used these Signpost guides before and feel that they are realistic.

This is sort of a circular route they are giving that takes in Monsaraz, Evora Estremoz, Marvoa, Elvas, Redondo and back to Monsaraz.
So at least that gives you an idea of the distances you would expect to cover.
We also sometimes stop in towns for the flavor of the main square and just to sit and have a coffee. We really are not museum people and you can get maxed out if you try to see every church in Portugal.

Hope this helps.

Isabel, I really like Evora, and it has some real character, (and as you know is a UNESCO site). For instance it has the Roman temple to Dianne and the chapel of bones, both of which are worth a visit and even if you don't visit another church in Portugal you can at least say you've been to one made from the skeletons of dead people! You'll find some excellent restaurants there too and fine examples of alentejanon food - I especially like the pork with clams - "Carne de Porco alentejanon" (Sorry my spelling might be a little off.) Unfortuanely I don't know Alentejo as well as I should but one should also consider Castelo de Vide close to Marvao, Borba, Estremoz and Vila Viçousa (spelling Lobo?) which is a beautiful town.

Matt

Talking of food, (and my apologies to those whom this may bore...) Lobo please add one more person to the meal on May 27th - Vitor Nunes, who has provided the excellent railway photographs at

http://victortrains.fotopic.net/

Will be coming up from the Algarve and thus meet up for dinner with the group so now it becomes 13 ;-)

Also we were in Belem today and had an excellent lunch followed by an interesting afternoon - details to follow.

Matt

Thanks Sher and Matt. We're staying in Evora for our first two nights, then Marvao for the third night, so it looks like we might be able to do all those towns in that amount of time. The more research you do, the more interesting places you turn up and the list gets longer and longer. Need some way to make it managable.

Sher, when is your trip? Are you going to do a trip report?

LOL Isabel! That is why I am already planning my second trip to Portugal and we haven't left on the first trip yet! It all sounds just too good to miss.

I have learned so much from these threads and the wonderful, knowledgeable people on them, I definately plan to do a report when we return. Look for it in mid June.