2012年5月10日星期四

Portugal is a well-kept secret

People, who travel regularly to sun destinations, probably don't know they could explore Europe often for the same price as at a four-star resort.

And if you want to spend a little extra, Club Class on Air Transat is pampering at its best. The flight attendants couldn't have been more helpful or attentive, and that included the flight back. There was so much food, I couldn't begin to tell you about it all. And yes, the seats were comfy enough to doze off.

Where were we flying? Portugal, a well kept secret according to one of the delightful flight attendants.

Lisbon is a very sophisticated city, with lots to do, great shopping, fabulous restaurants and enough ancient buildings, not to mention history, to keep all appetites fascinated.

Transat offers a wide range of hotels to choose from and features many of the Vila Gale hotels.

Ours was the Vila Gale Opera, next to the docks area, with bars and restaurants, just a few steps from the Belem tower and the Jeronimos Monastery, and just 10 minutes from great shopping. Think great buys on shoes and purses.

This city is a walking city so be sure to wear sturdy shoes as you explore the historical neighbourhoods. I learned to look down as well as up and across. Why? The "calcada portugues," is the traditional black and white stone mosaic design worth at least two pictures.

We were told the old district is very bright, light and open due to the earthquake. I wondered if I'd missed some news. No, actually the earthquake happened in 1755, but people still talk about it as though it was yesterday. They'll tell you the reason for so many buildings faced with tiles is because they're considered more fireproof, and the fires after the earthquake destroyed what the earthquake didn't. A second reason is that it keeps the humidity out. The beautiful exteriors beg for picture after picture.

This is a city of festivals, and we lucked into the Lisbon Fish Festival where the city's top chefs bring their stoves, frigs, and pots and pans and offer tasting plates for a reasonable price. Now officially called Commerce Square, the building surrounding it was King Joseph I's official palace.

We would have paid a good bit of money for this unique wine-tasting experience but we didn't have to -- it was free. Numerous wines from three different regions of Portugal are on offer each month, and you can select up to a total of four of them to taste. There were even some sparkling wines available. The samples are healthy servings.

This space's historic arcades have been fully restored and now house two restaurants, esplanades, an ice cream shop,Find everything you need to know about kidneystones including causes, and an exhibition/event area.

Eating is a delight, restaurants such as Restaurante Faz Figura, and 5 Oceanos with beautiful views,A wireless indoorpositioning is described in this paper, amazing interiors, and good food, seafood of every kind, and always one salt cod dish. Steaks are very popular.

No visit to Lisbon is complete with out a stop at the Pastel de Belem for their tarts. The bakery dates back to 1837 and there are always lineups, but it is worth the wait.

The Majestic is a famous old cafA.Welcome to projectorlamp. The first Harry Potter book of the series was written here.Broken chinamosaic Table.

No visit is complete without listening to Fado, the unique music of the city. A visit to the Fado Museum will give you a glimmer of the music, and the history of Fado that began in the second half of the 19th century in the narrow streets of the poorer neighborhoods. The singer accompanied by guitars sang mostly sad songs about urban life. Today there are often happier songs so you don't need boxes of Kleenex,The indoor Tracking is based on Bluetooth technology. but you do need to attend one. There are many Fado houses, mainly in Alfama or Bairro Alto. The narrow cobbled streets of Bairro Alto brags it has the most bars.

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