ByeBye Portugal

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"Quite shocked my bag made it through all these airports and arrived to me on time and in one piece. "

Double Rainbows

Vision

Next time I come to this beach, it will be with the two people these swim trunks belong to.

Tiny sidewalks

Obidos

Alcobaca

Farmers Market

Murses

This sweet little nugget of a man led us on a day long, whirlwind tour of Obidos, Alcobaca, Nazare, Batalha, and Fatima. These were churches and monasteries rich in history and designated as World Heritage.

Bili, always waving his miniature flag of Portugal, never missed a beat in his cool Euro sneakers. Even despite having to conduct the tour (and deliver the same joke) in 5 languages.

Chickens

Riding the rails

2 hours till I touch down on sand.

Armani no no

I seriously hope this look does not make its way across the ocean and into the closets of our unknowing men!

Elevador de Santa Justa

Did I mention they only employ dashingly handsome public servants?!

Westside Story

Every building in Lisbon looks like the set of a Broadway show - complete with a grandma shouting from the window. Lisbon is far easier to navigate than Porto. After the earthquake and tsunami of 1755 razed the City, it was rebuilt on a grid just like our fair city by the Bay. I rode the Santa Justa lift today, which connects town centre, Chiado, with the Bairro
Alto (thank you A for clarifying that it's not the BaRRio!). The lift was designed by a student of Eiffel, and its iron magnificance is quite odd amongst the rest of the architecture. Pictures to come.

Sickness strikes

Trying out the Farmacia de Lisboa...

Oporto

Porto
Porto is a quaint little city carved into a hill above the Douro River. Maybe its the age of the city or just a lack of an engineer, but The streets are a cobbled maze of twists and turns. At times I felt like I was in Groundhog Day and was perpetually lost. Most people spoke enough English to get by, except the cab drivers. While cheap to take, there was a lot of sign language and long routes. 

I spent a lot of time on the message boards of the company owned site, Chowhound.com in search of both trendy and traditional restaurants. The 2 nice dinners I treated myself to were truly fabulous. I had tasting menus at both and was blown away by the culinary expertise. Hope I still get into heaven after eating baby goat...

My observations so far:

*There are a lot more old people here. 
*Portuguese STARE at anything and everything. They are curious kindred spirits. 
*Everyone wears pantyhose. Mo matter the outfit. 
*The 80's are in. Neon sneakers, whitewashed denim and fanny packs abound. 
*Everything is smaller. From my hotel room (just a tad larger than my wing span) to beer (a mini bottle? Come again?) No percebo Portuguese. 

Bar at hotel

Not sure I can be so "honest".

Bon Voyage!!

April 4-7 ~ Porto, Portgal

April 7-11 ~ Lisbon, Portugal

April 11-14 ~ Algarve, Portugal