Companion Itinerary:
-Newark Airport
-Lisbon Airport
-Alfama
Departures and Arrival: Travel Goals Portugal
When we travel, I find that I spend a lot of mental energy playing endless versions of “how to beat the airline” in my head. It starts with trying to decide which flights to pick and which ticket options we need. I only have a few requirements: the tickets must be affordable, we need to…
Companion Itinerary:
-Walk through Alfama
–The number 28 tram of Lisbon
–Graça, Lisbon
-Saga Graça Restaurant
-Miradouro das Portas do Sol (Lisboa)
First Encounters: Travel Goals Portugal
After a quick shower and change of clothes, we are off to enjoy the city. Well, if I am being honest, we are out walking around to keep ourselves awake. We have found that if we can stay awake the first day until evening in our new location that there is no jet lag. So…
Companion Itinerary:
-Walk through Alfama
–Praça do Comércio (Terreiro do Paço)
–Arco da Rua Augusta
-Nosolo Itália Restaurant
–Lisboa Story Centre
– Igrezia de Santa Maria Madalena
–Santa Justa Lift
–The Fantastic World of The Portuguese Sardine
–Praça Martim Moniz
-Graca
-Jardim da Cerca da Graca
-miradouro dos barrow
–Pingo Doce | O supermercado
A Walk Through Lisbon: Travel Goals Portugal
The air is crisp and cool when we leave the apartment. Already feeling accomplished as we finally figure out how to use the light in the stairwell and manage to find the electric release latch on the door to the street, we walk with confidence into the unknown. That is short lived. When you walk…
Companion Itinerary:
–Belém, Lisbon
–Jerónimos Monastery
–Maritime Museum
–The Belem Dock
-Portugália Cervejaria Belém Restaurant
–Monument of the Discoveries
–Miradouro da Graça
–A Mourisca
Journey to Belem: Travel Goals Portugal
The journey to Belem, the birthplace of Portuguese exploration, begins with a little exploration of our own. The walk through Alfama had fewer mistakes and backtracks than our walk yesterday. We celebrate our progress. It is now time to conquer the bus system. We look for the 728 bus stop and with some assistance from…
Companion Itinerary:
–Alfama
–Feira da Ladra (Flea Market)
Inside the Fiera da Ladro or How We Make Out Like A Bandit at the Thieves Market: Travel Goals Portugal
It is Saturday morning and we make a slow start. We wander up the hill toward Sao Vicente da Fora and immediately notice an increase in pedestrian traffic. Every seems to converging in the alley that flanks the monastery. Trying hard not to be flattened by the endless parade of tuk tuks, we follow the…
Companion Itinerary:
–Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
-Alfama
-Graca
–Vasco da Gama Bridge
–National Pantheon
-Antù Alfama Restaurant
Patron Saints and National Heroes: Travel Goals Portugal
An afternoon visit to Sao Vicente seems to be a relaxing compliment to our morning visit to the market, so we trek back up the hill to the monastery. Tuk tuks line the area in front of the church and we carefully make our way to the entrance and pay the five euro fee. We…
Companion Itinerary:
–Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
-GROUND BURGER – São Sebastião
–Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves House-Museum
Museum Overload: Travel Goals Portugal
Today we ride the metro for the first time. It is clean and bright. I wish for the millionth time that my city would embrace public transportation, but probably not in my lifetime. Midwesterner’s have a lifelong love affair with their automobiles that precludes discussion of public transportation options. We exit the metro station into…
Companion Itinerary:
-Alfama Walk
–Castelo de São Jorge
–Lisbon Cathedral
-Market Shopping in the Praca
Of Castles and Cathedrals: Travel Goals Portugal
Today we set out to find a castle. Castelo Sao Jorge casts a shadow over Lisbon. It is only a few blocks from our apartment (supposedly). Yet we have been in town for several days and have yet to see its walls except from afar. And in those instances it seems very, very far away.…
Companion Itinerary:
–National Tile Museum
-Madre de Deus Convent
-Santa Apolónia Station
-Marie Blachère SANTA APOLONIA Restaurant
–National Military Museum
Beauty and Destruction: Travel Goals Portugal
The Museu National do Azulejo is not much to look at from the outside. Looks can be deceiving. The inside of the museum is a treasure chest. Tiles from across Portuguese history are on display in the rooms of this former convent. Beauty awaits at every turn. Tiles in colorful scenes from the Bible line…
Companion Itinerary:
-Train from Lisbon to Sintra
–National Palace of Sintra
-Gardens of the Sintra’s National Palace
-Loja do Vinho
-Shopping in Sintra
–Quinta da Regaleira
-Initiation Well
-Regaleira Tower
A Short Train Ride to Fairytales: Travel Goals Portugal
Standing on a train platform and waiting with anticipation, we are alert for the train to Sintra to arrive. I check and re-check that we are on platform three. It doesn’t make the train come any faster. Once the train arrives, we select our seats near the large windows and in view of the display…
Companion Itinerary:
–National Museum of Ancient Art
-Jardim 9 de Abril
–Estrela, Lisbon
–Estrela Basilica
-Flor da Estrela Cafe
–Jardim da Estrela
–The number 28 tram of Lisbon
-Praça Comercio
–Graça, Lisbon
-Miradouro da Graça
–A MOURISCA, Lisbon – Graça & São Vicente Restaurant
–Miradouro das Portas do Sol Viewpoint, Lisbon
Lost in Lisbon: Travel Goals Portugal
We start the day with confidence as we no longer feel lost in Alfama. We don’t know all the roads but we can identify landmarks that keep us moving along the rabbit warren of streets with at least some confidence we will end up near the river and reasonably close to our destination. We even…
Companion Itinerary:
–Cais do Sodré, Lisbon
–Lisbon Baixa
–Chiado
–Santa Justa Lift
–MNAC: Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea do Chiado
-Shopping in Chiado
-Chiado McDonald’s
–Minigolf Lisbon
-Tagus River Walk
–Carmo Convent Ruins and Museum, Lisbon
-Basilica of Our Lady of the Martyrs
-O Carvoeiro Alfama Restaurant
When Your Train is Going Nowhere: Travel Goals Portugal
We get up early and head to the train station for a trip to the seaside. I have maps on my phone and lists of things to do. We enter the Cais Sodre station and notice that the gates to the train platform are open. The trains aren’t running. A quick translation of the schedules…
Companion Itinerary:
–Restauradores Square
–Palácio Foz
–Ascensor da Glória
–Miradouro de S. Pedro de Alcântara
–Igreja de São Roque
–São Roque Museum
–BOTANICAL GARDEN, Lisbon
–National Museum of Natural History and Science | ULisboa
-Alfama Walk
Hills to Climb: Travel Goals Portugal
There is a train strike in Portugal. Any plans to venture out of Lisbon are on hold. Because we are in town for a month, we don’t feel much pressure. The day will unfold as it will. We take the metro to Restauradores and try to find Foz Palace. From the outside it looks like…
Companion Itinerary:
–Belém, Lisbon
–National Coach Museum
–Lisbon Tropical Botanical Garden
–Belém Palace
–MAAT
–Passeio Marítimo de Belém
Cinderella in Wonderland: Travel Goals Portugal
As a little girl, I read countless fairytales. Cinderella going to a ball in a carriage made from a pumpkin requires imagination. The carriages in the Museu dos Coches are beyond imagination. I walk around the fantastical creations in disbelief. Kings and queens used these rolling masterpieces to make a grand entrance. I don’t know…
Companion Itinerary:
–Lisbon Zoo (Jardim Zoological)
–National Museum of Music
Ado at the Zoo: Travel Goals Portugal
I love zoos. When I was a kid, my parents would take us to the zoo for the whole day. St. Louis has a world class zoo. It is free and available to everyone in order to promote conservation and love of animals. As an adult, I still visit the St. Louis zoo as often…
Companion Itinerary:
–Time Out Market Lisboa
-Crush Doughnuts
-Bica – R. S. Paulo
–Miradouro de Santa Catarina
–Pharmacy Museum
–Geological Museum
–São Bento Palace Parliament
-Trobadores Medieval Tavern
–Miradouro das Portas do Sol Viewpoint, Lisbon
Everyday Gourmet: Travel Goals Portugal
Gourmet: high quality and/or rarity, crafted to deliver exquisite taste and presented in a pleasing fashion. Thus begins our daily adventure. We have no destination in mind other than to seek out high quality experiences and/or rarities. Our first stop is the market. I am disappointed that there aren’t a lot of stalls. We give…
Companion Itinerary:
-Ferry from Terreiro do Paço to Cacilhas
–Cacilhas
–Christ the King (Almada)
-Cacilhas Lighthouse
-O Túnel Restaurant
-Church of Our Lady of the Good Success (Cacilhas)
-Escultura do Pescador Walk along the dock (R. do Ginjal 72)
–Elevador Panorâmico da Boca do Vento
–Almada Walk
–D. Fernando II e Glória Frigate
Over the River: Travel Goals Portugal
Over the river…. The Ponte de 25 Abril bridge goes over the river….. the Christo Rei stands vigil over the river…..the best seafood is over the river….. Today is finally time to head over the river. We head to the ferry docks and marvel once again at how affordable and accessible public transportation is in…
Companion Itinerary:
-Train from Lisbon to Cascais
—Estoril
–Casino Estoril
–Cascais
–Citadel of Cascais
-Praia do Guincho Beach
–Castro Guimarães Museum Cascais
–Museum of the Sea, Cascais
-Casa das Histórias Paula Rego
–Town Museum – Cascais
-O’Neill’s Irish Pub
-Historico Centro Shopping
-Cascais Visitor Center
Valentine Adventure: Travel Goals Portugal
February 14th arrived a little cooler and cloudy for Portugal. Valentine’s Day is usually like that. . . a lot of hype about a cold day in the “F” month. This day, however, we finally got to take a train to Cascais. The seaside beckoned out the windows of the train as we moved along…
Companion Itinerary:
-Bus from Lisbon to Queluz
–Queluz, Portugal
–National Palace and Gardens of Queluz
-Retiro do Palácio Restaurant
The Road Less Traveled Leads Us to Queluz: Travel Goals Portugal
While officially in the middle of a train strike, we head to Rossio station full of hope. There appear to be at least some trains running. We have decided to visit Queluz, Portugal. It is close enough that if we have to find an alternative route home, we will be able. Queluz is not an…
Companion Itinerary:
–Parque do Monteiro-Mor
–National Costume Museum
–National Museum of Theatre and Dance
–Church of St. John the Baptist (Igreja de São João Batista) with Saint Brigid’s Skull
–Avenida da Liberdade
-Street Market Shopping on the Avenida
Piddling At The Park: Travel Goals Portugal
Some days you just need to piddle. I am an expert piddler. Before you get concerned, let me define piddling. To piddle is to stay busy doing nothing in particular. You set about your day doing things that catch your interest, but that are not particularly useful or productive. Piddling is best done at a…
Companion Itinerary:
-Train and Bus from Lisbon to Mafra
–Mafra, Portugal
–Palace of Mafra
-Basilica of Our Lady and Saint Anthony of Mafra
Mafra,Built on a Hope and a Prayer: Travel Goals Portugal
Mafra Palace is enormous. I don’t actually have an adequate word to describe how big it is. King John V made a vow to build a monastery if his wife had a child. The building, now a UNESCO world heritage site, was built to honor the vow of hopes and prayers for Princess Barbara. Construction…
Companion Itinerary:
-Train from Lisbon to Sintra
–Sintra, Portugal
–Sintra Tuk Tuk
–Park and National Palace of Pena – Sintra
–Moorish Castle
–Palace Cafeteria and Restaurant
Crowded (Why the Peña Palace Was a Pain): Travel Goals Portugal
I was so looking forward to our return to Sintra. Our last visit was relaxing and I was charmed by the old town. This trip I felt more prepared and was determined to hire a tuck tuck. I braced myself for the rush of drivers and tour operators that accost you when you exit the…
Companion Itinerary:
–Lisbon
–Tagus River Walk
Down by the Riverside: Travel Goals Portugal
In the evening, the air is different. A breeze moves in and the sailboats head upriver. In the approaching sunset, a faint glow emanates from behind the clouds. The light shifts subtly, and a chill descends on the riverside. It is calm by the river. People laugh and talk. Lovers hold hands as they watch…
Companion Itinerary:
-Train from Lisbon to Tomar
–Tomar
–Tomar Castle
–Convent of Christ in Tomar
-Church of Santa Maria do Olival
In Search of the Order of Christ: Travel Goals Portugal
Templar knights…the very words evoke images of adventure and piety. The warrior priests who vow to take back and defend the holy land against the infidels are the stuff of legends. With my head full of images from books and film, we took the train to Tomar. Tomar was a city built as a Templar…
Companion Itinerary:
–Parque das Nações
–Gare do Oriente
–Telecabine Lisboa
–Oceanário de Lisboa
-Restaurante Chimarrão
-Lince Iberico – Bordalo II
– Centro Vasco de Gama Mall Lisbon
–Santa Apolónia railway station
-Alfama Walk
Acting Like Children: Travel Goals: Travel Goals Portugal
I love a good park. Parque das Nacoes was created in 1998 as the site of the Lisbon World Exposition. It is a large modern park along the banks of the Tagus. After several failed attempts to exit the Oriente metro, we eventually found our way to the central section of the park. We had…
Companion Itinerary:
-Ferry and Train from Lisbon to Setubal
–Setúbal
–TROIA Beach
–Monastery of Jesus of Setúbal
-McDonald’s Setubal Centro
-Dolphin Bay Golfinhos em Setúbal
-Museum of Archaeology & Ethnography of the District of Setúbal
-Casa do Corpo Santo
-Setubal shopping and walking
–Casa do Turismo
Sea and Sanctuary: Travel Goals Portugal
Setúbal is an ancient seaside town. Nearby is Troia beach, where the Greeks may have landed so very long ago. It is certain that the Romans were here. Archeological remains show human settlement thousands of years prior to the birth of Christ. Throughout the centuries the sea has been a source of sustenance and a…
Companion Itinerary:
–Lisbon
–Fronteira Palace
Class: Travel Goals Portugal
The Palacio Fronteira was an interesting stop on a lazy day. We are not usually guided tour fans. (We prefer a self paced visit.) So with some hesitation, we joined the guided group and entered the house of a man who was raised to nobility due his service to the king on the battlefield. The…
Companion Itinerary:
–Lisbon
–Feira da Ladra (Flea Market)
-Museum of the Orient
–Alfama
–Castelo de São Jorge –
–LX Factory
Every Day Is A Good Day, Some Are Just Better Than Others: Travel Goals Portugal
Not every travel experience can be exceptional. In fact, if you are really open to new experiences you are bound to have some that are not to your liking. But as my friend Tom says, “every day is a good day, some are just better than others”. This expression sums up my travel philosophy. Try…
Prisoner of Hopes 