help from a true New Yorker.
 

Hello

I need some help from a true New Yorker.

I'm working on a website and I need your insight about one expression I want to use. What "See Europe through Lisbon" recalls/means to you".

Just to give you some context, let's say it's about travels.

Thanks a lot!!

Best regards from Portugal

Native NY'er who has been to Lisboa a couple of times but Portugal on numerous occasions. I am not sure what that phrase means.

Do you mean "Start your trip to Europe in Lisbon"?

And you only want advice from only New Yorkers? You don't want Californians, or Texans or Montanans to visit Portugal?

Sorry about that. Is for everyone... Californians, Texans, Montanans... but the focus is New Yorkers

I think this expression has the same meaning everywhere, right?

I'm from New York. The phrase means nothing. New Yorkers don't think of seeing Europe through Lisbon.

Sorry, Rieveld, the phrase has no meaning to me, and apparently to others, many of whom I know are experienced travelers.

What I want to say in the phrase is: your travel to europe (UK, Spain, France...) have passage through Lisbon.

"Start your European trip in Lisbon"

Ok. This is good! Many Thanks for the inputs.

Could you be thinking of a phrase something simllar to "If it's Tuesday it must be Lisbon?". That is a take off on a movie named "If it's Tuesday it must be Belgium! " that made fun of American tourists who bus around spending a day or two in each city and seeing very little along the way.

Native New Yorker unto the 3rd generations. Have been to Lisbon 3 times - once vacation and twice on business - and it's not at all one of my favorite places in europe. Would not return for vacation.

The phrase means to me that Lisbon represents all of europe. I think this is absolutely false and obviously silly. If you mean to start your trip in Lisbon it's not really clear - and doesn't provide any rationale to do so. How can Lisbon represent the Alps, Scandinavia, the UK, France, Italy or central europe?

So you are referring to an advertising phrase. It could be hyperbolic "All travel to Europe starts in Lisbon" or softer, "Start Europe with Lisbon."

These are the subtleties of English.

"See Europe through Lisbon" doesn't have a clear meaning in English. Are you looking for a phrase that expresses the idea that Lisbon is the quintessential European city?

HTtY

Actually, it does make sense.

When the only way to fly to Europe was on a flying boat (before and well into WWII) they went by way of Lisbon, perhaps via the Azores which are the closest landfall to the US on a great circle route and a refueling spot well into the 1950's.

Portugal remained neutral during the war, so brave people could connect in Lisbon for London and vice versa.

So, if you wanted to see Europe, and you wanted to fly, you had to begin in Lisbon.

Why do I know this? The South Carolina writer and war correspondent Ben Robertson, was killed on the way back from London with other correspondents in Lisbon Harbor. He was a distant cousin, and I have read his books and lots about him. Ditto Ernie Pyle, though he flew military flights after we were well in the war.

My aunt flew from the US to Bangkok in 1947 or 1948 on a flying boat, via Egypt, so I presume she also went via Lisbon. She was on her way to to work in the American embassy and went by this route, I think, because the infrastructure in the Pacific was still in a mess and the range of the C-54 was limited.

Oddly, I don't know if this was a PanAm Clipper service and don't have time to look it up. Odd, because my mother worked for Pan Am in their Coral Gables terminal that became the Miami City Hall. But she did PR on the South American routs, and we never talked about Lisbon.

Does that help?

>>Are you looking for a phrase that expresses the idea that Lisbon is the quintessential European city?<<

I think the OP clarified that s/he means more or less 'start your trip in Lisbon' (or at least include Lisbon in your plans).

>>your travel to europe (UK, Spain, France...) have passage through Lisbon.<<

Lisbon, your gateway to Europe

Well actually it's not a gateway since there are few direct flights from the US to Lisbon (I think that's why he wanted New Yorkers). For people from most places they will have to change planes somewhere else in europe to get to Lisbon. The only direct flights I could find are from EWR to Lisbon.

No flights from Boston, Philly, DC, Chicago, Atlanta, etc.

Lisbon was the center of spying intrigue during WWII while Sintra was the home real and faux royalty.