Trip to Lisbon, Portugal June 27-July 6/7, 2013
We are a couple of weeks away from traveling to Portugal and Bruce and I are
working on a slate of festivities and I wanted at least to get some basic information
to you to help you plan.
 Weather is Lisbon should be in the 80’s during the day and low 60's in the
evening
 It is a walking city with many hills so bring comfortable shoes. High heels
do not work well on the Mosaic stone sidewalks.
There are a number of common ingredients in Portuguese Food including olive
oil, pork, meats/ fish rice, potatoes salad and pastries, but there is only one main
staple food….BREAD. It is always served and always fresh.
Beef is okay and several of the outdoor cafes serve steak with an egg however the
fresh fish is always preferred.
The national dish is bacalhau – salted cod cooked 100's of different ways.
Soups are excellent with Caldo Verde a specialty almost always available (Collard
greens and potatoes) http://leitesculinaria.com/7580/recipes-portuguese-kalesoup-caldo-verde.html).
Considered by many to be Portugal’s national dish, Caldo Verde is found
everywhere—in the dining rooms of Lisbon’s most luxurious hotels to the
humblest of country homes. The simplest restaurants for me are most enjoyable
with Bom Jardin a grilled chicken place being one of our favorites.
Tap water is safe to drink but it may take an adjustment so bottled water is
preferred. Available with and without gas (con gas, sem gas)
Travel Tips - Currency, ATM machines, credit cards and tipping (5-10%) You can
exchange money in the bank or you can withdraw money from any ATM –Multibanco
Either way there is a service charge but the ATM charge is a bit less
Accommodations
Avenida Dom Carlos I, 99 (4th floor)
Tel (011) 351 218 252 463. Street map Location near Lapa and Barrio Alto
Everyone will stay here with exception of Bruce and Marie
Sleeping accommodations 3/4 bedrooms - includes 1 master Queen, 2 twins, Sofa
bed. Also there is a small office with sofa that converts to bed. 2 bathrooms
Rua Professor Branco Rodrigues, 26 (1st floor left)
Tel no. (011) 351 213 425 748
Marie and Bruce will stay here. This apartment is a rental and has been in the
family since 1915.
The neighborhood is called Praca das Flores
Av D Carlos to Rua Professor Branco Rodrigues is about a 10-minute walk.
Arrive in Lisbon Friday, June 28 at 8:20 am (Flt UA 64)
I have arranged for a van to pick us all up at the airport and take us to the
apartment Van/Taxi service. Airport is about 20 minutes to the both apartments.
After we arrive and settle in, we can go to the local bodega type stores in the area
or to the big supermarket Jumbo/Pao de Azucar in the Amoreiras Shopping
Center a 10 min taxi ride from the apartment.
At some point we all should go to the open food market Ribeira Market, which
sells everything from fish to flowers. The best time to go is before 8 am, not to be
missed.
We can head downtown to my families favorite chicken joint Bonjardim a simple
place for rotisserie chicken, spinach, french fries and of course the popular
Portuguese green wine. (Vinho Verde)
Following lunch we could try some Ginja and stop in for dessert and coffee in one
of the oldest cafes in Lisbon National Pasteleria
This will be a great end to our first day in Lisbon
Tuesday July 2, 2012 @ 9:00 am
We are confirmed for the Side Car Tour Motorcycle sidecar tour to Sintra on
Tuesday, July 2, 2013.
http://www.golisbon.com/portugal/cities/sintra.html
Mark and Jenny will not be going on this trip however you should decide sooner
than later if you both want to go since it is selling out quickly for July. I highly
recommend going. We will watch Elias when you go.
The tour to Estoril, Cascais and Sintra is a full day. We will tour Estoril, Cascais ,
Sintra and the western most point on the continent of Europe, tip of Cabo de Roca.
Sintra is a storybook town with Castles and
Palaces http://www.gogobot.com/sintra-portugal--things_to_do
Sintra's lush hills and valleys were once the summer residence of Portuguese kings
and aristocrats, its late medieval palace the greatest expression of royal wealth
and power. In the 18th and 19th centuries English travelers, poets, and writers—
including an enthusiastic Lord Byron—were drawn by the area's beauty.
We will have a picnic lunch in one of Sintra's beautiful parks.
Even though Lisbon sits atop seven hills, it is simple to navigate. The streets are
laid out on a simple grid and transportation includes buses, trams, as well as an
underground train. Here are some places to explore awhile in Lisbon:
1/2 DAY
A good way to learn about Lisbon (past and present) is to take a 2-3 hr. walking
tour Old Lisbon Walking tour. This would be best to do the first full day
There are 2 main squares in the center of Lisbon Rossio and Restauradores
Rossio is one of the main squares in Lisbon. Its official name is "Praca Dom Pedro
IV". Long ago it was used as cattle market, public execution place, bullfight arena
and carnival ground. In the middle of this square a tall column with a statue of king
Pedro IV is located. The Dona Maria II National Theatre, various cafes, shops and
some restaurants, surrounds it.
Santa Justa Elevator –An n Eiffel tower like landmark overlooking the city built in
1902. The elevator takes 20 passengers from Baixa (lower) to Bairro Alto.
Once off the lift you will see CARMO CONVENT founded in 1389.
Portugal's Parliament - The original building of São Bento Palace was erected as a
convent in 1598, but was later renovated as an enormous
White neoclassical building to become today's Portuguese Parliament.
Full Day
 Monastery de Jeronimos
 Pasteis de Belem - The best traditional custard dessert - Pasteis de Nata must try!
 Contemporary Art Museum – Berardo.
 Coach Museum
1/2 DAY TRIP
Alfama (see video) is the oldest part of Lisbon spared from the 1755 earthquake
that destroyed most of the city. The Castle of Saint George is located in
Alfama. Take the trolley Tram 28 and let the attached Alfama walking tour be
your guide
Fado museum The Fado Museum explains the evolution and the passion behind
Portugal's famous musical expression with audiovisual presentations, multilingual
information panels, and musical archives.
KID FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS
 Aquarium Represents the eco systems of Antarctica, Indian ocean and
Atlantic and Pacific
 Science and Technology Museum
 Puppet museum
 Zoo -2000 animals, 364 specifies, rare white lion; dolphin and sea lion show,
pelican feeding session
Day Trip to the Beach
The closest beach is in Estoril and is a 30 min train ride from Lisbon. The fact that
it is so easy to reach by train, and right behind it and across from Europe's biggest
Casino doesn’t help, but it should still be your starting point for a search for a calm
spot by the Atlantic.
Walking west past the bars you’ll eventually find plenty of sand and calmer waters
all for yourself and just may end up following the pleasant boardwalk all the way
to Cascais.
Restaurants
10 most famous Portuguese foods
There are excellent choices of restaurants in Lisbon
To name a few...
A great restaurant is an alehouse with Portuguese Cuisine Recommended by
Ruth's friend. Cervejaria Ramiro
Antigo-1-de-maio Time out Lisbon says if you go to one restaurant go here. It is a
small restaurant in Bairro Alto- great whole fish
http://nyti.ms/YgFLyB
http://origami.com.pt/contactos/
XL - everyone enjoys its superb soufflés
SHOPPING
 Shop and walk around Chiado
 Barrio Alto and Chiado – shopping and night party mecca
 Barrio Alto –Bairro Alto is always full of surprises. Lisbon’s irreverent
bohemian quarter is known for its offbeat collection of bars, restaurants and
nightclubs and hip stores
Vista Allegra - (Chiado) Vista Alegre has been one of the world's most famous
names for fine porcelain since the company was founded in 1824. In addition to
the porcelain, this shop also sells crystal with traditional and modern designs. Cork Store - (Bairro Alto) Sophisticated and distinctive design pieces (furniture and
fashion accessories) made with Portugal's most-exported product: cork. Glove Store (Chiado) probable record holder for “world’s smallest shop”, enter
one at a time for a trip to the 1920s and exclusive perfectly fitted hand-made
gloves.\BruceBuyingglovesinLuvaRuadeCarmoLisbon
Hat Store (Rossio) great hat store opened in 1886
Museums
Gulbenkien Museum – one of the world's great museums and one of Europe's
unsung treasures.
Berardo Museum- one of the world's most acclaimed modern art collections, with
works by Warhol, Picasso, Dali, Duchamp, Magritte, Miró, Bacon, Jackson Pollock,
Jeff Koons, among otherhttp://mnazulejo.imc-ip.pt/enFado museum The Fado Museum explains the evolution and the passion behind
Portugal's famous music with audiovisual presentations, multilingual information
panels, and musical archives.
Decorative-arts-museum This brilliant museum gives a picture of aristocratic life in
the 18th and 19th centuries
Puppet museum Lovely collection of puppets from around the world (near apt)
Tile museum -An ancient art form in a lavish old convent.
Jewish History
http://www.gpsmycity.com/tours/self-guided-jewish-places-tour-of-lisbon3677.html
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Lisbon.html