About
Lisbon: After the big earthquake in the 1700's,
the Marquis de Pompal designed and rebuilt Lisbon.
It's a wonderful spread out city, so plan on taking
either the excellent bus or metro system. Subway
riders are rewarded with the bonus of diverse
artworks in the metro station, including ceramic
tiles for which Portugal is renowned. Since the
city is conveniently divided into sections, consider
exploring each as a day trip. Europe's longest
suspension bridge and shopping center are located
here, and wonderful beaches are just an hour outside
the city. You'll hear the term "Fado," which means
fate and refers to a poem. It is written in four-line
free stanzas that is set to music. For a real
definition of "Fado" visit Lisbon's night scene.
Where
to stay: Hotel Fenix This four star
hotel has 123 well-appointed rooms including four
suites. Located in the Marques de Pombal Square
across from the Edward VII Park and in
the center of the business/banking district it
is ideal for tourists or business people. It is
easily accessible to the metro, buses and trains.
Banquet facilities and three conference rooms
are available. Relax in either of the two bars
or enjoy Portuguese and international gourmet
foods in the Restaurant Bodegon.
Where
to eat: One of Portugal's delicacies is freshly
grilled sardines served with olive-oil drizzled
on crusty bread In the Alfama, at the Miradour
Santa Luzia, stop at any of the cafes/bars with
a view. Try Cerca Moura at Largo das Portas
do Sol. Café Martinho da Arcada, Praca do Comercio
3 (01-887-92-59), where the literary have
feasted since 1782. The item to order is cataplana,
clam stew.
Things
to do: Each section of Lisbon can be an adventure
of its own. There is the riverfront area, The
Alfama, the most beautiful and oldest part
of the city that proudly exhibits its Moorish
history. The Rossio District with its 18th-
century facades and mosaic sidewalks is the modern
part of Lisbon. The Chiado District has
just been renovated. The Baixa Quarter
is known for its boutiques, elegance and bohemian
charm. The Bairro Alto is the baroque,
hilltop district. One way to get up there is to
take the Santa Justa elevator on the Rua de
Santa Justa. The Fado houses are wonderful
places to visit during the evening. The Jeronimos
Monastery is found in the Belem District.
The Tower of Belem, located on the Tagus
River is Portugal's classic landmark. Museum choices
are numerous. Visit Gulbenkian Museum and
walk across the park area to the Museo del
Cenro de Arte Modern. A small, enjoyable museum
is Arpad Szenes-Vieira de Silva Foundatin.
The Marionette Museum, the Military Museum, Casa
de Fado e da Guitarra Portuguesa (Museum of Lisbon's
Music and its Guitar) and the (tile) Museum will
appeal to children. Also for children there is
the Jardim Zoologico de Lisboa, Caloust Gulbenkian
Planetarium and the Aquarium Vasco da Gama. The
Parque Eduard VII is large and lovely. It
contains the Botanical Gardens, a man-made
lake with ducks and fish and activities such as
a health center, gym, tennis, and swimming pools.
Boat trips on the Tagus River are available.
Climb to the top of St. Jorge's Castle
(admission free). It was rebuilt in the 1940's
and just renovated. It marks various events in
Portugal's history. Enjoy the medieval village
ruins; see beautiful views of the city and the
suspension bridge. Portugal has its bullfights
too, but unlike in Spain, the bulls aren't killed.
Belem
Tower, Lisbon
Transportation:
Lisbon has various transportation modes. The metro
is extremely convenient. Outdoor metro trains
are another means of getting around. Entering
the metro is like going to a museum. There are
tile works and sculptures; all unique and done
by different artists. It's a "trip" being on the
bus and experiencing the driver negotiate some
extremely narrow streets, especially on the way
to St Jorge's castle and the flea market.
Places
to shop: Visit the large flea market and shop
the adjacent antique stores and food market. The
metro drops you right at the upscale Vasco
de Gama shopping center that is shaped like
a ship. Check out the unique bathrooms. There
is a metro stop at Columbo, the largest shopping
mall in Europe. Each set of escalators has a different
motif. Museum shops are wonderful. In Lisbon one
can purchase artisans wares from all over the
country. Look for brightly colored azulejos
(tiles), Arraiolos carpets, copperware,
crystal, pottery, silver, ceramics, hand-knit
sweaters along with lace and embroideries. For
books Bertand is a chain store in Portugal.
Check out their web site:(http://www.bertrand.pt).
Day
Trips: Take a half-day bus tour out to Sintra,
where Portuguese kings built summer palaces.
This hillside resort with its beautiful vegetation
is only about fifteen miles from Lisbon. Just
outside Lisbon, visit the 18th century Moors
Queling Palace. Delight in the lovely sights
of the ocean, mountains, and narrow roads. Visit
the Villa Palace, (some call it the fairy
tale palace). Some of its ceilings are gorgeous
and unreal. Enjoy the tales of their creation.
The furniture and objects are exquisite. Take
time to appreciate the area and city views from
its balcony. After Sintra continue along to
Cabo da Roca, the western most point of Europe.
A lighthouse is situated on the spot where the
Sintra Mountains join the Atlantic. Winding roads,
a countryside punctuated by sheep and quaint homes
provide picturesque vistas. Head along the coast
through the resort towns of Cascais and Estoril,which
are quite sophisticated and considered to be the
Portuguese Riviera. In the region of Sintra there
is the Archaeological Museum of Odrinhas
where one can see two millennia of stone sculptures.
Tips:
Cabs charge extra for each piece of luggage but
not carry-ons. Subway day passes are available.
Most museums are free. The Lisboa card
will then allow you admission to various museums,
monuments and other places of interest and includes
free transportation around the city. See the Alfama
during the day only for safety sake. Be cautious
of pickpockets. Look for crystal and tableware
factory outlets. Don't forget to get the vouchers
for your V.A. T. (Value Added Tax) when
you shop. The store must give you the stamped
form. You will get back about 10 to 11% of whatever
you spend over 11,000 escudos. Bring the form
and receipts to the airport for your reimbursement.
June is when the Festas de Lisboa occurs.
There are three weeks of open-air parties for
everyone. Banking hours are 8:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Weather:
During the summer, days are cool in the a.m. and
p.m. with temperatures in the high 70's and lows
60's. In January the highs are mid 50's and lows
in the upper 40's. In October you'll find highs
in the upper 70's and lows in the 50's. Plan on
mid 50's during the winter months.
Personal
Commentary By Lois Foster Hirt
With
many varied choices of things to see and do, I
really needed more time here. I enjoyed taking
the metro just to view the art in the stations.
Although I couldn¹t bargain with some of the vendors
at the flea market, I loved what I did pick up
there. Standing at the western most point of Europe
was thrilling. Being an avid reader, I found it
a delight coming across something I had read about,
even if it was just a street sign. I tried to
have my picture taken in front of this place just
as a special reminder of the wonderful trip we
had taken.
