Tudo Esto E Fado

[talktooloose]

We got back on Saturday night from Portugal. Our bags, as of this morning, were at JFK in New York. We are hopeful of a reunion.

More soon, but in the meantime, watch some amazing Portuguese Fado music.

Comments

[painglass.livejournal.com]

Welcome back and good luck reuniting with your wayward baggage! Can't wait to see pictures!

Did you have a good time?

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Excellent, excellent time.

Updates and photos to follow.

[kuriadalmatia.livejournal.com]

Welcome back! I leave for Lisbon next Sunday for work and will be gone until the 21st. I have a few days to myself and I've gone through a few tour books.

So... recommendations? Restaurants?

cheers!

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Thank you muchly. I will send you a list of things to see if you desire.

Lisbon is an amazing city.

[kuriadalmatia.livejournal.com]

I love lists! I was planning on visiting Se, Castelo de Sao Jorge and Museu Naciuonal de Arte Antigua. Our hotel is near the Parque Eduardo VII, which I believe is in the Amoreiras district. The Praca Marques de Pombal is nearby.

I love your photos with the ragged edging and the curving. I have a new camera that I can't wait to use.

Cheers!

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Our hotel was beside the Se, like the wall of the Se was about 20 feet from our balcony.

I highly recommend (HIGHLY!) the Gulbenkian Museum which is right near your hotel. It's like a compact version of the Met in New York. Far smaller, but every piece is exquisite and the layout of the building is wonderful. Excellent (if pricey) cafeteria in it, too.

The area near you is the more modern and, in my opinion, the less interesting part, as opposed to the areas nearer the Se and the Castello. Walking around the narrow, twisting hilly streets in those areas, (Alfama, for instance) is wonderful. And there are myriad Fado bars in Alfama where you sit outside for dinner and get serenaded.

My photo was taken from a Miradouro at the edge of Bairro Alto. It's sort of the opposite side of the valley from the Castello (which you can see in my pic, as well as the Se. The Se is the cube of old brick towards the right on my pic).


I don't know if you're into Catholic things (some of you Catholics are and some run), my favourite church is also near that Miradouro and is called the Saint Roch Church. It is incredibly ornate but not garrish like others with that much gold. Lovely.

If you have a day off, go to Sintra. It is just a 45 minute train from Rossio station. Once there, my favourite of the many castles are the Castello da Pena and the Moorish Castle.

I don't know how your foot is doing, but you can do A LOT of hilly walking on cobblestones in Lisbon and a lot of climbing in Sintra. Get a sense of the lay of the land before you go if you have trouble. In Sintra, buses can take you up the hills. We walked up and down until we were exhausted!

Here's a note: when you sit down at a restaurant, they start putting appetizers in front of you. Usually it's bread and goat cheese, sometimes shrimp, fish croquettes. NONE OF THESE ARE FREE. They are listed in the menu as the first items so if you don't want any, leave them alone. If you do, many are cheap and yummy.

If you want a small beer, ask for an "Imperial" which is something like a half-pint.

When you say "obrigado" (thank you), don't overstress the last syllable. It's almost non-existent. "o-bri-GAD (uh)...." Just listen to them say it. There's actually a fair bit of English around.

[talktooloose.livejournal.com]

Oh! Also, go to Martim Moriz metro station and take the #28 tram. This is a beautiful and thrilling ride through tight, turning streets. The tram gets very crowded in the middle of the journey, so start at the metro and make sure you have a seat or you won't see anything.

You don't have to go all the way to Prazeres, but if you do, there is a wonderful cemetery with fabulous mausoleums.