David, you should have been here!!! Matt, do we have anything arranged for September in our agenda? I don't think so and 19 to 22 sounds good

hi all

Here we are in Portugal!!!

We satyed in Aveiro on night one and had a great fish meal and watched football - Potugal vs Germany on a big screen outside while drinking beer. Great first night!

Now we are staying near Nazare with a wonderful view over the town. Spent two days visiting monestaries, churches, caves... Wow it has only been 2 days!

Tomorrow we move on to Sintra, then Lisbon. Your reports are something else as usual Matt even though I have not looked at all the photos as I am on the hotel computers.

I will eventually write a real report but want everyone to know it is so wonderful here. Cell phone, rental car so far all is well!

Can`t wait to meet up with you guys for the LDC and concert Friday. I will email you my cell number and I have yours so we can make arrangements.

Barb

Matt,in your next trip to Douro, I suggest, to travelling in the Historical Train. The Historical Train runs on the Régua-Pinhão-Tua route and back every Saturday from 20 May to 7 October 2006.
http://www.cp.pt/cp/displayPage.do?v...RD&lang=en.
You can go to Régua by boat, from Porto. This is the best company of cruises on the river Douro:
www.douroazul.com

Hi there,

I'm brand new to this, and this is my first post. I'll be going to Spain & Portugal in September with a group. At the end of the trip, I'm taking 3 days on my own in Lisbon. By then, I will have seen the top "tourist" spots. Any suggestions for easy day trips from Lisbon toward the South of Portugal?

Matt, Great pictures and report. Next trip definitely has to include this area. The football players were Portugese, but DH doesn't remember their names - only that they played excellent golf! Both lived in Cascais and one played for Sintra, not sure about the other one. Sorry.

I will have to get some help to post pictures. As soon as my daughter shows up, I'll post some.

Matt, Sher and Lobo -
Thanks for your responses regarding Wifi. I really appreciate your knowledge!
Lobo - I have a laptop with a pcmcia linksys card for wireless access. I use it mainly in my home with wireless hub. Is this the type of card that will work with ptwifi? If so, does that mean that i would download software onto my computer to have to login their network? Or when I hit a hotspot it would prompt me? - Or if i cannot use this card, would I have to purchase a special type of PCMCIA card from ptwifi?
Im sorry for all these questions, but I am a beginner when it comes to this type of networking and I just want to make sure i have the right product/service before I get there! Thanks so much!
Josey

jose&robin
I don't think you have to download anything to your computer. If your PCMCIA is standard, it should work everywhere. Standard means compliant with any type of 802.11 network. When you are home and ask for "available wireless networks" the computer gives you a list including your domestic network, some neighbours, some Internet providers, etc.
Do exactly the same in the Algarve. If you receive indication; "ptwifi", select this network and after opening the browser you will be prompted with "username/password screen". To be recognized as a valid user you must have previously purchased a voucher. This can be done online from any PC connected to the Internet.
In the Algarve, the ptwifi hotspots are located in Alcoutim, Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Tavira, Sao Bras de Alportel, Olhao, Faro Loule, Albufeira, Silves, Portimao and Lagos. If you are outside these towns, you shouldn't be able to pick up ptwifi network. If you are, it's likely, but not guaranted.
Besides ptwifi there are other wireless internet providers, but until you arrive on site, you don't know exactly which carriers are available in your rented appartment.
I din't want to look pessimistic. Locals use 3G computer cards with flat rate subscription. These cards use the GSM network, but I don't think you can use this back home and the investment for a short period of time is high.

Lobo:

I know I should have been there. Between last night and this morning I've re-read every one of the LDC reports (for the umpteenth time!) and I think I should have been at <b><u>every one of them</u></b> !

My wife gave me (us) this trip to Portugal as a fiftieth birthday present and I've had a lot of fun doing the necessary 'research' for planning.

We aren't generally into tourist types of things; we much prefer good food and conversation with locals. Neither of us speaks Portugese (although I do have a 'semi' -half sister from Portugal). Her sister lives in Porto and her parents live in Moimenta Da Beira which is, I believe, about two hours east and south of Porto. We'll definitely spend some time in Porto but given the length of our stay (9 days on the ground) I doubt if we'll make it to Moimenta Da Beira this time.

Hope the LDC can convene a meeting while we are there ! We arrive on the 19th so I'm wondering whether the 20th would be a better day. Whatever works best for you would be great with us !!!

Looking forward to meeting you all !

Obrigado
David

David
Stay tuned to our thread. We already know your &quot;window of opportunity&quot;. Let's see there are more fodorites in town to set up a exact date (which should be done the lastest by begining of September).
Matt, Lizz, Barb and DH, I believe there are situations in live when we should rely on the hands of experts. Bearing this in my mind, I called a friend and asked him &quot;if I am next Friday in Terreiro do Pa&ccedil;o by 7:00pm and I need to be in the castle by 9:30 pm, what's the best way to fulfil these 2.5 hours?&quot;
He said &quot;You bad wolf, don't worry, because tomorrow I'll email you the most convenient route to arrive there&quot;. Knowing his affection by cold beer and disgusting food, I can just guess the outcome

Hello David, Matt here:

Rest assured we will convene an LDC especially for you, (Actually we don't need an excuse...): in terms of the best food we have eaten, at least so far then Adega das Gravatas holds it. Perhaps we could eat there, (don't forget an old &quot;Kipper&quot; tie) or maybe look at something else involving Fado?

Whatever it will be a great night. And don't forget if in Porto for a couple of days to take a trip out on the Linha do Douro from Porto Campanha station. An unforgettable trip...

Matt

JUNE'S EVENTS DIARY

June 2nd (Friday) Barb and Jim - Fado at the castle. Tickets at my place, meeting at 7pm as arranged.

June 12th (Monday) Festa Stº Antonio. (Please can we have a show of hands who will be joining us this night.) Time and place to meet TBA.

June 16th (Friday) POSSIBLE LDC and Fado in the Castle with Lily - Lily can you give me an indication if you wish to go. Thanks. (I'll post a report on Saturday)

Have I missed anything or anyone out? Also each Thursday and Sunday is fado on the trams, noº 28 between 4 and 6 and 7 and 9pm: get a pass and just stay on the same tram riding the rails back and forth across old Lisboa listening to fado. If anyone is interested in this let me know and we'll arrange to join you with dinner as well...

(Oh and of course not forgetting the nights when I'll be getting drunk watching England play in the World Cup - anyone is free to join me then ;-))

There, that's filling some gaps in my diary.

Matt

Matt, Terreiro do Pa&ccedil;o is a popular designation of Pra&ccedil;a do Com&eacute;rcio.
WOW!!! What an agenda for June
My plans are:
June 2nd (yes)
June 12th (yes)
Join tram 28 (yes)
June 16th (I pass, however I'm available for a coffee if Lily is in town)

I've emailed the editors asking them to remove the post with the huge link - hope they do it: really has cocked up the formatting. If no joy we'll have to start thread # III early.

Matt

getting drunk watching England play in the World Cup --&gt; I pass, too

I don't know what browser are you using, but in my PC with IE, the thread displays nicely.

I'm having to scroll horizontally to see all the text - using Mozilla - I'll try IE.

Matt

The screen width issue isn't one of 'which browser', it's one of resolution. If you set your resolution high enough (like maybe 1600 x 1200) you wont have to scroll horizonally. You might break your nose on the screen trying to read it though !

David

I'm using 1280 by 1024

And two microscopes tied to your head ;-)

Whilst planning my next rail tour I found a site detailing the ALFA PENDULAR train on which I rode to Porto. (Note that this time my link is a reasonable size...)

www.railway-technology.com/projects/alfa/

Some of the dates it mentions are behind schedule but it gives an idea of the train and shows luggage capabilities - though if travelling with valuables you would be most unwise to leave them unattended on the racks at the end of the carraige.

Matt

Matt and Lobo:

So many things to do...clearly not enough time! We will be in Lisboa on 12 June, 15 June (Thurs), 16 June and 18 June (Sun). So, it looks like we have multiple opportunities to experience Fado!

I'm trying to coordinate our schedule with my colleague's family that lives in Lisboa. Once I hear back from them, I will firm up plans with you. However, right now it looks like 12 June is the best time to meet up with you (with a bottle of JD in hand!).

I'm also interested to see your report on Saturday. It will hopefully help me narrow down my Fado choices!

Thanks again for all of the amazing information and time you've invested in researching, reviewing, and reporting. The tourism board should be kissing your feet! We can't wait to get there.