THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND LISBON PART II (Inc Portugal)
May 23rd, 2006 | 08:32 AM
#341
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 890
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I received an email from Becky, as below
"Hi there,
I hope you don't mind me emailing you, but i was looking for some helpful advice. I am arriving in Lisbon a week from Monday with a friend. We arrive Monday night around 6pm. We have to be in the Algarve on Thursday afternoon around 2 ish. Any helpful information of what we can do in that limited amount of time in Lisbon. We have a car so i would like to go for a drive somewhere. Thoughts? Recommendations please??"
Here's my reply -
"Hi Becky, how are you?
Thanks for emailing, certainly no worries at all for me hearing from someone new. So off hand, no calender close by you are here from 5-8th inclusive, at least in Lisbon. Giving you the Tues and Wed as full days? Obviously the drive to Algarve will take in the region of 4 hours +/- so plan nothing for Thursday morning other than a late breakfast.
Where are you staying, how old are you, and what are your interests?
For instance if staying in the centre of town then Monday night I'd recommend strolling through Bairo Alto and dipping into a few bars, some beer, a spot of Fado, a nice dinner.
Tuesday perhaps take the tram to Belem and do all the places mentioned in the thread. Perhaps Tuesday night take the metro to Oriente and explore the old Expo site with it's bars casino and restaurants.
Wednesday make it the Lisbon day, take the tourist tram, walk through Alfama and the castle area, enjoy downtown? There's not much time to do a car trip anywhere if you want some time in the Lisbon area.
Re driving to Algarve if you could arrive later and leave real early perhaps stop in Evora en route for a late breakfast?
Anyway, send me a few more details and I can perhaps plan something more definitive.
Speak soon and take care,
Matt"
Anyone else care to add anything? Other ideas? Lobo?
"Hi there,
I hope you don't mind me emailing you, but i was looking for some helpful advice. I am arriving in Lisbon a week from Monday with a friend. We arrive Monday night around 6pm. We have to be in the Algarve on Thursday afternoon around 2 ish. Any helpful information of what we can do in that limited amount of time in Lisbon. We have a car so i would like to go for a drive somewhere. Thoughts? Recommendations please??"
Here's my reply -
"Hi Becky, how are you?
Thanks for emailing, certainly no worries at all for me hearing from someone new. So off hand, no calender close by you are here from 5-8th inclusive, at least in Lisbon. Giving you the Tues and Wed as full days? Obviously the drive to Algarve will take in the region of 4 hours +/- so plan nothing for Thursday morning other than a late breakfast.
Where are you staying, how old are you, and what are your interests?
For instance if staying in the centre of town then Monday night I'd recommend strolling through Bairo Alto and dipping into a few bars, some beer, a spot of Fado, a nice dinner.
Tuesday perhaps take the tram to Belem and do all the places mentioned in the thread. Perhaps Tuesday night take the metro to Oriente and explore the old Expo site with it's bars casino and restaurants.
Wednesday make it the Lisbon day, take the tourist tram, walk through Alfama and the castle area, enjoy downtown? There's not much time to do a car trip anywhere if you want some time in the Lisbon area.
Re driving to Algarve if you could arrive later and leave real early perhaps stop in Evora en route for a late breakfast?
Anyway, send me a few more details and I can perhaps plan something more definitive.
Speak soon and take care,
Matt"
Anyone else care to add anything? Other ideas? Lobo?
May 23rd, 2006 | 08:40 AM
#342
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
Hiya mitzyli,
Sorry for my tardy reply...
Regarding the LDC meeting, Lobo and I will be delighted to host you and whomever comes with you, let us know your plans for those days and we can look at a nice place to eat. Of all the restaraunts thus far Adega das Gravatas has been my favourite though a bit out the way. Tonight Lobo and I are off to sample Patio das Memorias in preperation for Saturday night.
I'll cut and paste some links to walking tours from the old thread, and perhaps if anyone here can chime in on their experiences. Or if you let me know what things you are interested in we could come up with a walking plan? Let me know.
Matt
Sorry for my tardy reply...
Regarding the LDC meeting, Lobo and I will be delighted to host you and whomever comes with you, let us know your plans for those days and we can look at a nice place to eat. Of all the restaraunts thus far Adega das Gravatas has been my favourite though a bit out the way. Tonight Lobo and I are off to sample Patio das Memorias in preperation for Saturday night.
I'll cut and paste some links to walking tours from the old thread, and perhaps if anyone here can chime in on their experiences. Or if you let me know what things you are interested in we could come up with a walking plan? Let me know.
Matt
May 23rd, 2006 | 03:41 PM
#343
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,260
Likes: 0
Report of tonight's LDC mini-meeting is in progress (in Matt's hands). While dining we were able to negotiate the following:
- Sangria (to drink)
- Pig's ear salad (starter)
- Port wine
And the last but not the least, senhor Jaime (the owner) is singing himself. Apart from this, everything proceeds as smooth as planned.
- Sangria (to drink)
- Pig's ear salad (starter)
- Port wine
And the last but not the least, senhor Jaime (the owner) is singing himself. Apart from this, everything proceeds as smooth as planned.
May 24th, 2006 | 05:59 AM
#345
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
Okay so just a brief note on Saturdays LDC location. (Though I took photos no time yet to upload them - just add those to the "TO DO" list...)
The restaurant is reached via a five minute walk up the hill alongside the botanical gardens. There are some very pretty buildings on route, a nice church and wonderful view to the Ponte 25 Abril.
You enter through a small doorway and the interior opens up into a large dining area: it is made to look like a small patio in old Lisbon, Alfama with antique street lamps and fittings, windows and doors - you'll see what I mean Saturday night. There will be performances by at least 2 fadistas, 1 professional and 1 amateur, (perhaps many more depending on how many drinks Lobo and his wife have...) Of course the fadistas will be accompanied by someone on the viola (acoustic guitar) and guitarra, (the onion shaped fado guitar). Then it leads into various karoake, perhaps some more fado, more drinks, more karoake - ah well, you get the idea. The restaurant has been open 30 years, 5 under the current management.
I'm sure it'll be a good night, and having arranged the red wine sangria it gets even better. There'll be lots of food and drink (and drunks) and a few laughs I'm sure.
Matt
The restaurant is reached via a five minute walk up the hill alongside the botanical gardens. There are some very pretty buildings on route, a nice church and wonderful view to the Ponte 25 Abril.
You enter through a small doorway and the interior opens up into a large dining area: it is made to look like a small patio in old Lisbon, Alfama with antique street lamps and fittings, windows and doors - you'll see what I mean Saturday night. There will be performances by at least 2 fadistas, 1 professional and 1 amateur, (perhaps many more depending on how many drinks Lobo and his wife have...) Of course the fadistas will be accompanied by someone on the viola (acoustic guitar) and guitarra, (the onion shaped fado guitar). Then it leads into various karoake, perhaps some more fado, more drinks, more karoake - ah well, you get the idea. The restaurant has been open 30 years, 5 under the current management.
I'm sure it'll be a good night, and having arranged the red wine sangria it gets even better. There'll be lots of food and drink (and drunks) and a few laughs I'm sure.
Matt
May 24th, 2006 | 06:51 AM
#346
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,260
Likes: 0
A note on the meeting point. Maybe 10 steps away from the newspaper kiosk, there is the green cow of the cow parade. We'll be just near the cow.
Another note: Pasteis de Belem is a meeting point and not a eating point. You don't need to get stuffed with pasteis, because there is plenty to eat (and drink) in the LDC itself.
Another note: Pasteis de Belem is a meeting point and not a eating point. You don't need to get stuffed with pasteis, because there is plenty to eat (and drink) in the LDC itself.
May 24th, 2006 | 01:28 PM
#348
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
A question regarding Fado...
A FESTIVAL OF FADO:
"Castelo de São Jorge recebe a Festa do Fado nos dias 02 (Dulce Pontes), 03 (Mísia), 09 (Maria da Fé
, 10 (Cristina Branco e Rodrigo Leão), 16 (António Chaínho e 1 Week Project), 17 (Joana Amendoeira e Mafalda Veiga), 23 (Aldina Duarte) e 24 (Kátia Guerreiro)."
We will be in the city on the 16 & 17...is it better to get tickets for either of these performances or should we go to one of the other places suggested in the original thread? Thoughts?
A FESTIVAL OF FADO:
"Castelo de São Jorge recebe a Festa do Fado nos dias 02 (Dulce Pontes), 03 (Mísia), 09 (Maria da Fé
, 10 (Cristina Branco e Rodrigo Leão), 16 (António Chaínho e 1 Week Project), 17 (Joana Amendoeira e Mafalda Veiga), 23 (Aldina Duarte) e 24 (Kátia Guerreiro)."We will be in the city on the 16 & 17...is it better to get tickets for either of these performances or should we go to one of the other places suggested in the original thread? Thoughts?
May 25th, 2006 | 01:54 AM
#349
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 890
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Hello Lily,
Well the 16th is probably more true to fado with Antonio Chainho
http://www.antoniochainho.com/ENG/index.html
I'm sure that this night will be the best bet if you want to see some fado in beautiful surroundings and I speak of course only for myself here but why not let's make it another LDC night out as we are doing with Barb on the 2nd June? Dinner first on the approach to the castle a nice slow walk up and take our seats around 9.30... just a thought. Obviously we'll have a better idea of how the concert might be after the Dulce Pontes one of June 2nd.
Let me know.
Matt
Well the 16th is probably more true to fado with Antonio Chainho
http://www.antoniochainho.com/ENG/index.html
I'm sure that this night will be the best bet if you want to see some fado in beautiful surroundings and I speak of course only for myself here but why not let's make it another LDC night out as we are doing with Barb on the 2nd June? Dinner first on the approach to the castle a nice slow walk up and take our seats around 9.30... just a thought. Obviously we'll have a better idea of how the concert might be after the Dulce Pontes one of June 2nd.
Let me know.
Matt
May 25th, 2006 | 08:05 AM
#352
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Matt...Lobo...Sher...have any of you been horseback riding on the beach? 19 June is our anniversary and I'd like to spend a leisurely day at the beach, but also do something "special" besides eat/sightsee (we'll be in the Sintra-Cascais-Estoril area). I've found some places where you can ride for a couple of hours, but I didn't know if they are worth it or if it's lame (like it can be in the states). Any recommendations? By the way, we will have a car at this point of our trip, so if there is a different area that's better, I'm up for suggestions. Thanks!
May 25th, 2006 | 01:08 PM
#353
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
FINALLY THE PORTO REPORT.
(Part 1)
<i>This trip report is to be broken down into various parts as and when I have time to compile the photographs.</i>
On a hot afternoon I arrived at Stª Apolonia Station in order to catch the Alfa Pendular train to Porto.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/1.jpg
The station is approximately ten minutes walk from Praça do Commercio and one can take a taxi or bus easily if with luggage but I was travelling light - notebook pen cameras and change of clothing. I arrived an hour before my train was due to depart and there is a large ticket office as you enter the main doors on the left. A single 2nd class ticket to Porto Campanha costs 27 euros and seats are allocated so state whether you want a window or aisle seat, which side of the train you want (for the best views I think the left) and whether you want you seat facing foward or backwards in relation to direction of travel.
You can catch one of two types of train to Porto, the Intercidades
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...0trains/11.jpg
Which takes longer, stops at more stations and is a little cheaper, or the ALFA PENDULAR
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/2.jpg
which only stops at Oriente, Coimbra - B, Aveiro, Vila Nova de Gaia and Porto Campanha. The difference between the two is quite obvious.
I was lucky enough to be invited into the cab to sit alongside the driver for the journey giving me a vastly different perspective of the trip than usual.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/3.jpg
It certainly makes a change seeing familiar stations from this viewpoint: here we are pulling into Oriente, that of the EXPO 98 site.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/4.jpg
Once out of the station the train is a high speed express which reaches a top speed of 220 KPH on the newer stretches of line:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/5.jpg
and slowly is the whole route to Porto being renewed. However various stretches of the line still have lower speed limits imposed as you run between the houses of small villages:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/6.jpg
One of the details from this angle you wouldn't see normally is the old ladies who control the level crossings:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/7.jpg
They stand beside the barriers with an orange baton to let the driver know there are no problems and to proceed. A two tone blast of the horn and we are quickly past them.
The driver's position is more like that of a pilot with many computer displays in front of him:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/8.jpg
And his hands gently coax speed from the train. The ALFA PENDULAR is a tilting train and as you go round curves the effect of the leaning is more pronounced in the cab - it allows for faster speeds through the curves.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...0trains/10.jpg
Here we are doing the max permitted speed. And of course all the while I'm absorbing everything and was kindly provided with coffee by the catering staff.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/9.jpg
(MORE TO FOLLOW)
(Part 1)
<i>This trip report is to be broken down into various parts as and when I have time to compile the photographs.</i>
On a hot afternoon I arrived at Stª Apolonia Station in order to catch the Alfa Pendular train to Porto.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/1.jpg
The station is approximately ten minutes walk from Praça do Commercio and one can take a taxi or bus easily if with luggage but I was travelling light - notebook pen cameras and change of clothing. I arrived an hour before my train was due to depart and there is a large ticket office as you enter the main doors on the left. A single 2nd class ticket to Porto Campanha costs 27 euros and seats are allocated so state whether you want a window or aisle seat, which side of the train you want (for the best views I think the left) and whether you want you seat facing foward or backwards in relation to direction of travel.
You can catch one of two types of train to Porto, the Intercidades
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...0trains/11.jpg
Which takes longer, stops at more stations and is a little cheaper, or the ALFA PENDULAR
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/2.jpg
which only stops at Oriente, Coimbra - B, Aveiro, Vila Nova de Gaia and Porto Campanha. The difference between the two is quite obvious.
I was lucky enough to be invited into the cab to sit alongside the driver for the journey giving me a vastly different perspective of the trip than usual.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/3.jpg
It certainly makes a change seeing familiar stations from this viewpoint: here we are pulling into Oriente, that of the EXPO 98 site.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/4.jpg
Once out of the station the train is a high speed express which reaches a top speed of 220 KPH on the newer stretches of line:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/5.jpg
and slowly is the whole route to Porto being renewed. However various stretches of the line still have lower speed limits imposed as you run between the houses of small villages:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/6.jpg
One of the details from this angle you wouldn't see normally is the old ladies who control the level crossings:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/7.jpg
They stand beside the barriers with an orange baton to let the driver know there are no problems and to proceed. A two tone blast of the horn and we are quickly past them.
The driver's position is more like that of a pilot with many computer displays in front of him:
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/8.jpg
And his hands gently coax speed from the train. The ALFA PENDULAR is a tilting train and as you go round curves the effect of the leaning is more pronounced in the cab - it allows for faster speeds through the curves.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...0trains/10.jpg
Here we are doing the max permitted speed. And of course all the while I'm absorbing everything and was kindly provided with coffee by the catering staff.
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f3...20trains/9.jpg
(MORE TO FOLLOW)
May 26th, 2006 | 08:21 AM
#356
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
Lobo, I can confirm 2 more coming:
<i>"Ok, sign us in. Saturday, 7 pm pasteis de Belem. Have room for one more? I can't leave Sofia (my wife) home alone ;-)"</i>
So that's Vitor and his wife.
Looking foward to it - I've been through the english karaoke and been driving Lizzy mad playing Bee Gees songs - I hope the American contingent know "Hotel California"!
BTW was that a WOW that Sher hadn't ridden a horse for 40 years? ;-)
<i>"Ok, sign us in. Saturday, 7 pm pasteis de Belem. Have room for one more? I can't leave Sofia (my wife) home alone ;-)"</i>
So that's Vitor and his wife.
Looking foward to it - I've been through the english karaoke and been driving Lizzy mad playing Bee Gees songs - I hope the American contingent know "Hotel California"!
BTW was that a WOW that Sher hadn't ridden a horse for 40 years? ;-)
May 26th, 2006 | 03:02 PM
#360
Original Poster
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
Okay so I've spoken with Jen, Gregg hasn't felt well since touch down but should all be okay they'll still be at the LDC tomorrow night. Lizzy and I will be catching the 6.30pm Trafaria - Belem ferry so meet up at scheduled time and place. Hopefully we'll be able to sort cabs out at the end of the night - worst case scenario we get to Cais do Sodre and catch the vampire's ferry back to Cacilhas in the wee hours... Not sure about Cindy no contact - wait and see but I make it at least 12 persons.
Okay, bed is calling - Matthew, Matthew...
Okay, bed is calling - Matthew, Matthew...
