What to do ?
 

<BR> I will be going to Lisbon and my brother in law recommends that I go to southern Spain. I was thinking of going to Seville . Any thoughts? I am open. What about the bull fights, flamingo dancing, shopping and so on. I will be driving from Lisbon probably to Seville unless there is a better idea since we wont have much time. Just a long weekend so come you travel pro's. Help Please! <BR>Something romantic for me and my wife!!!!! <BR>Maybe stay in a castle if there is one in the area.... <BR> <BR>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- <BR>

Flamingo Dancing...lol

Any specific reason why you are flying into Lisbon? If you want to visit Spain and you only have a long weekend, why not fly directly into Spain? And, are you flying in and out of Lisbon? If so, you will spend the whole time driving. Also, it's flamenco not flamingo. Please try to do some research. <BR> <BR>:-)

Hello - I think if you are going for only a long weekend, there is plenty in Lisbon and around that can keep you occupied. If you want a trip out of the city environs (and I would suugest at most one trip), look into Evora, an old small town with a great (romantic) parador to stay in.

I think this query was meant as a joke, a.k.a. a troll. Did you fall for it? Same dumb question was posted a few days ago, some nice person suggested reposting with a more precise topic, like mentioning Lisbon or Seville, but instead it was reposted in pristine oh-come-now form.

If poster above is correct, "[email protected]" needs to seriously get a life! Idiot....

1. The reason I am flying to Lisbon is cause there was a $ 331.00 r/t special. <BR>2. forgive me on the spelling of flamenco . oh boy <BR>3. if you dont have anything helpful keep stupid remarks to yourself,and why would you be afraid to use your real e-mail. Now thats pretty stupid. Have you even gone away on an impulse? <BR> <BR>4. And for the drive to Seville its only a few hundred miles, and sometimes <BR>the drive to a location can be the best part of the trip. <BR> <BR>5.Seems I have the life because I dont leave moronic remarks on someone elses question's ....... <BR> <BR>6. This is part of my research thank you very much. <BR> <BR>Howard I want to thank you for your comment. It was the only response that was of substance. Now the reason I am going to Spain is cause I asked my brother in law who is from Portugal and he made the suggestion to me. But maybe I will consider part of your comment.But yes for the most part I dont want to be in a big city. Since I come from NY.

"flamingo " dancing. <BR>What is the problem? <BR>What do you think all those pink flamingos do at night, when we aren't around? <BR>John, <BR>Why not just stay in Lisbon, or take a small side trip, as Howard suggested. <BR>If you are flying into portugal, stay and see it. Esp. if you only have a long weekend.Do Spain another time. <BR>A good friend went last autumn , with her family.She loved Lisbon and the surrounding areas. <BR>(her husband is a comic book illustrator, and he was invited to a large convention to speak, how's that for a business trip?!) <BR>

actually, I agree with Nancy. I like the idea of flamingo dancing. it sounds very colorful. <BR> <BR>go John! spontaneous trips are great.

There's a lovely flamingo preserve on the Algarve. Why not see it while in Portugal, and see nature's dancers at work and play?

eek!

Hi, John <BR>My husband and I made the trip from Lisbon to Seville two years ago. It was a long trip by car. There is much more to do in Portugal than just Lisbon. I actually prefer going to Sintra and the coast nearby and then north from there. We saw many more interesting places than during that trek across Portugal and Spain. <BR>You will find some beautiful Pousada's in the Sintra area. <BR> <BR>And other areas in Spain are more scenic than this route. <BR>Personally, if I had to do it over again, I would skip the trip to Seville, give Portugal my best and look to Spain for another trip. <BR>

Now we are talking . This is what the site was supposed to do. Now I have some questions . What is the Sintra area? and what is it noted for? and what is a parador ?

<BR> I do agree with more or less everybody else. I tend to think you should stay in Portugal and so have some time to relish your stay. And Lisbon is indeed a major town, but not a megapolis. And it has more of a little town athmosphere (I can't help...I like Lisbon). <BR> <BR> I'd support Evora, too. It's a charming town, with several interesting monuments,and, since you were interested in them, even bullfights, IIRC. And instead of Flamenco, you'll be able to enjoy Fado...Less spectacular but very moving.

JOhn, <BR> <BR>A parador is a converted castle or manor house. I think a lot of times they may have historical significance, but I am not sure. someone correct me? <BR> <BR>I think that the govt (or SOMEONE in charge) wanted to have less expensive, charming & beautiful hotels - probably to attract more tourists (I mean this in a good way - it sounds like a wonderful idea! Imagine if Newport RI converted all those mansions into charming B&Bs for instance...) <BR> <BR>check out www.parador.es <BR>

Dancing with Flamingoes? Yeah, Kevin Costner was great in that! <BR> <BR>John, we're not poking fun AT you. The mental image is just really, really funny. I laughed out loud when I read that.

No, actually this is not what the site is "supposed to do." It is for sharing of information, but there is no obligation on the part of the readers of YOUR question to spoon feed the most elementary information to you, and you have no special entitlement ot such gentle spoon feeding. Most of us try to know at least a little before asking a question. It is not a "professional" travel inormation source. We're just fellow travellers or curious people.

Wow to the perpetual student again I must say thanks for your wonderful and useless information. I didnt know this was your website. Please forgive me. Sorry to all those that did give helpful information I had to respond to that comment. p.s.I am re-thinking the drive to Spain. Again if it isnt helpful please dont respond . Thank you for those with helpful info......

Do not tell anyone that you are American unless you have to, e.g., because you have to show your passport. Try to learn a little Portuguese before you go. <BR>Go to the library. Look at books with good photos. See what really appeals to you. Then read about the history, culture, and economy of the country and of the region you're planning to visit. Buy a few guidebooks and a good map. If possible take an adult school class in Portuguese, or in Iberian history, or in European travel. Read an etiquette book. Speak quietly whenever you are speaking English. Do not rent a car. These are merely suggestions based on my impressions of you in a few minutes of reading your messages.

John <BR> <BR>check out www.pousadas.pt

I spent a lot of time in spain. In fact at one time even dated a Matador. Seville is so romantic and the King Alphonse hotel is to die for. Unless you have a strong stomach don't do the bull fights. If you are any sort of animal lover it will upset you. Anyhow visit the Alhambra and stay at the Alhambra hotel it is very romantic. Also visit the gypsies in the Sacramonte up in the hills. Be careful but it is great.

Talk about casting one's pearls .......... You all are too too nice to this guy.

Hey look a comment from the peanut gallery. To the person with the name of XXX . You must have alot of time on your hands for those useless bits of information . <BR>Once again for those that did help I thank you . It looks like I will take your suggestion's on staying in a Pousada which seem to be quite nice at least the historical one's.

Is the Europe board getting to be like the <BR> USA board? Heaven help us! <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> A piece of another another thread that sounds like it's about this!!! <BR> <BR> <BR> Author: IMHO ([email protected]) <BR> Date: 2/08/2001, 2:46 pm ET <BR> <BR> Message: There are certain extremely rare times when <BR> someone "deserves" a put-down. The only example I <BR> can think of recently is the guy who was flying in and <BR> out of Lisbon for a weekend, thought he'd go to <BR> southern Spain, wanted to see flamingo {sic} dancing, <BR> and when he received suggestions about Portugal <BR> instead he expected to be spoon fed the most <BR> elementary bits of information like waht is Sintra. and <BR> he was arrogant and brassy and ungrammatical <BR> besides. a real jerk, but people treated him with kis <BR> gloves while other people who are just young or naive or <BR> inexperienced or even just word their question a little <BR> inartfully are ridiculed mercilessly. <BR> <BR> <BR> Author: Optimist ([email protected]) <BR> Date: 2/08/2001, 2:50 pm ET <BR> <BR> Message: A few points: <BR> <BR> 1. I enjoy everyone's little personality quirks. It's neat to <BR> see some people who try to make you laugh, some <BR> who are so serious, some who write with such ease. It <BR> would be boring if we were all the same. I see this as a <BR> community, so I don't mind the diversity of thought and <BR> of approach. <BR> <BR> 2. This board is MUCH better than it was a few months <BR> ago. Let me refresh your memory. In the recent past, <BR> we had endless election threads, the tiresome travel <BR> agent witch hunts, the repetitive pro-registration <BR> threads, we had people posting under other people's <BR> names, and all manner of personal vendettas. Not to <BR> mention the awful format changes. Things had to get <BR> better, and they have, IMHO. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Example of a BAD troll or troll look-alike

He seems for real, unfortunately.

jerk, not troll

I just don't get it guys! <BR>Why is John a jerk, a troll, etc? <BR>He asked a question. <BR>Simple! <BR>John, <BR>So what have you decided? <BR>

I was surprised to see this thread still growing. Nancy you're always nice, and while I'm not as nice, this thread was the one and only one I've EVER responded to with nastiness. So, since I don't always react this way, I guess I'm a good one to tell you why this guy may bug people. First, he posted the same vague question before. Someone responded, suggesting he re-post with a better title mentioning Lisbon or Seville. Instead, he reposted the same "question" with the same vague clue-free title. That made me think he was feigning stupidity for fun just to see who might be lured into "helping" or snapping. Then, when he started getting nice helpful answers, he replied in a way that suggested he thought he was somehow entitled to "expert" advice from "professional" travellers, and that he was entitled to explanations of every simple little thing he didn't happen to know, presumably because he'd rather not spend the time to read anything and because the "experienced" people here have some sort of moral obligation to serve him, teach him, coddle him, save him from the drudgery of doing any of his own research because their time can't be as valuable as his. His attitude grated on me like no other "inexperienced" traveller's ever has; usually it's the snobs and showoffs I find offensive, and I feel protective toward the inexperienced. I'm neither novice nor expert, but I'd be embarrassed to ask someone to explain what is Sintra and things like that when they were nice enough to suggest it as a place to visit from Lisbon. I usually think too many people on this board are mean to posters who simply haven't traveled as much, or haven't had as much schooling, or are not from such sophisticated areas of the country, or don't express themselves so well. But this person I felt deserved the putdowns, because he seemed to feel everyone here owed him something.

Oh Come On, <BR>Well, I quess I missed part of all this, plus, I do like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. <BR>Believe it or not(sarcasm), some people are just really clueless as to anything, and do need to be spoonfed. <BR>Oh well, <BR>Thanks for calling me nice though!! <BR>At this moment I am harboring evil thoughts; <BR>The power is out, and my 81 yr old mother-in-law is coming over here to stay warm (we heat with wood), and as much as I *love* my M-I-L, the prospect of having a sleepover with her , well...... <BR> <BR>

Nancy <BR>My thoughts are with you! Hope the heat comes on soon! Families are fun aren't they? :) :( :000 <BR>Danna

Danna, <BR>Thanks for the thoughts and wishful thinking! <BR>Power stayed off up there all night , so we did do a sleepover, and I dropped her back off this A.M at 10! <BR>Needless to say, it was a loooongggg evening. <BR>But, as I remind my children, she is family and we will all be old some day&gt; <BR>But, there was a reason why 4 out of 5 of her children moved over 1500 miles away from here! <BR>Going to buy her a generator for her birthday this month! <BR>

Or perhaps you could be out of wood, or "away" next time the power goes out.

Yes, maybe I could tell her that , although it would be impossible for us to be out of wood, with 3+ cord sitting in the yard. <BR>But, as uncomfortable as it might be for us, she is 81 and she is my husband's mom. <BR>But, we are worrying about what to do this summer while we are out of the country for almost 3 weeks. <BR>Trying to get one of the siblings, or grandchildren to come and take a 2 week vacation in our house, to keep an eye on her

That doesn't sound like a "vacation" though it may be necessary. There may be people who do this as a job, either as live-ins for short periods or on an hourly basis -- if she's at the point where she needs some actual care.

From N.J <BR>Thaks for the input but, <BR>My M-I-L has her own house, and still shovels snow, and until moving this year, still tended her woodstove, etc. <BR>It is just that she likes to call on us when she gets lonely, or thinks we have time to run over and fix her mailbox, etc. <BR>So, it would be more that someone would be close by in case of an ER situation (sometimes we need to fetch medicine for her cause of her dizzy spells) cause otherwise someone would have to fly up to VT from Florida , Georgia or Arizonia.(it sure would not be us returning early from our 1st trip to Europe to get her medication!) <BR>Hope that doesn't seem heartless. <BR>If no family up, we will make sure one of her friends knows we are away, and can be a contact. <BR>Having elderly parents is not fun! <BR> But getting older can't be fun either

Sounds like friends, nice neighbors, etc. would be sufficient. I'm sure there are people who wouldn't mind. I have certain elderly friends that I "check on" without being too obvious about it and would do far more if snd when necessary. (They happen to be very likeable people--not sure if this would work if your m-i-l is unpleasant.) I had a real problem with my father once he was in his late 80's/early 90's and hired a very good aide, first for a few hrs, then with increasing hrs up to full time, and finally had to hire live-in. At least he stayed in his own house. <BR> <BR>Good luck. <BR> <BR> In NJ, aka "Oh come now" <BR> <BR>P.S. Is this still a TRAVEL message board? (No one yelled at us yet.)

Help!! SURRAUNDED BY ASSHOLES. Leave this guy alone its just a question.T

The word is "surrOunded", travel boy, and didn't you notice your flamingo man has been forgotten and the conversation is now on to other topics?

Yes Nancy I am staying in Portugal in a pousada as others have recommended. Yes travelman seems there are a lot of a--holes out there. Yes and whats your problem if I want to be spoonfed. Its my trip so butt out if you have nothing useful to add. Again Thank You for those that had useful information. One guy has the nerve to talk about my grammer then spells what as "waht" or kid as "kis" and he calls me a jerk.