TravelStream™ news feed for member chris_n_tony on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/chris_n_tony en-us Copyright ©2010 TravelPod.com Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:07:57 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1246382479/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1246382479/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1246382479/tpod.html Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:07:57 -0400 chris_n_tony - Portugal 2009

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Porto, Northern Portugal, Portugal

We arrived in Porto in the early evening of Sunday 28 July and got settled into our Pensao (cross between a hostel and hotel - basic, with (small) ensuite bathroom, no breakfast but cleaned & new linen each day. It´s located right in the city centre near the corner of the main shopping street and opposite a metro station which will be handy for catching the train to the airport. I´ts a bit noisy at night as there are a lot of people on the street below and buses and cars running down the street. But it´s okay for the price (just under €40 night). The church opposite (there are churches everywhere in Portugal) our hotel features an azulejos tile scene (see photo).

The Rio Douro runs through the city (it´s actually another city city (Vila Nova de Gaia) on the other (south) side of the river). Porto is pretty hilly but not as bad as Lisbon. Mind you, it´s a really steep walk (climb) from the waterfront (Ribeira) up into the city proper. They have quite a few bridges across the river - the most famous is Ponte de Dom Luis I which featuures in a couple of the photographs.

There aren´t nearly as many African Portugese here but there seems to be a sizeable Indian/Nepalese population. Each evening a bunch of the local boys take over a square and play cricket - they seem to revel in fast bowling and big slogs (maybe they can get the IPL here?). The cricket guys take over from the skateboarders each afternoon. Just over the road from the square is the internet cafe we're using - €0.50/hour which is very reasonable.

Today we got lost trying to find a particular tram that goes to the coast (a suburb called Foz) and thus had a long but enjoyable walk till we eventually found it (but caught the bus instead). We caught the tram back to the city centre and went for afternoon tea at the Majestic Cafe - all very swish. Tomorrow we have an all day excursion booked: upriver by train to Peso da Regua and then downriver on a ´typical´local boat (like those they used to bring wine/port from the vineyards to the warehouses in Vila Nova).

Till next time

Tony and Chris
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Porto, Northern Portugal, Portugal

Well, today is our last day in Portugal. Early tomorrow we leave for 4 days in London before returning home to wet and wintery Perth. We´ve had a great time and would recommend anyone to come to Portugal for a visit.

On Wednesday we took a day trip up the Douro River (up by train & then a 5 hour boat trip back down to Porto. The port wine country is nearly all terraced (started by the Romans) and they vineyards are not allowed (by regulation) to irrigate the vines. On the cruise we got to meet some of the other passengers - some were Portugese by birth but living in South Africa, USA or Brasil. Chris got into a long conversation (in broken Portugese and English) with a local lady who had never done the river trip.

We´ve done some more sightseeing and attempted some shopping (everything is pretty pricey here). The locals don´t earn a lot so we wonder how they get on - a lot of basics in the supermarket are about double the price in Oz tho meat, fish & bread are pretty cheap. And having an expresso and pastry is good value - usually around €1.20 for both (AUD$2.00).

Today we went port wine tasting for a couple of hours including a tour of one company. They explain the process of making port and then you get to have a taste of a couple. Others you have to pay to taste.

So, all in all, it´s been great. We´d love to come back again but there´s Sicily, Croatia, Prague, Turkey, S/west India all in the queue.

Cheers

Chris and Tony
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1246090807/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1246090807/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1246090807/tpod.html Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:04:28 -0400 chris_n_tony - Portugal 2009

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Lisbon, Estremadura, Portugal

On Friday we caught the train from Lisbon to Sintra (a national park located about 30km northwest of Lisbon, towards the Atlantic coast. Casçais is at the bottom of the Sintra highland). There are suburbs all the way along the rail line. It looks like about 90% of the folk here live in apartments as there are very view houses on single lots. BTW - greater Lisbon (including the southern area on the other side of the river) has a population of around 1 million.

There are a number of historical buildings within the Sintra park. We spent time at just two as there is so much steep climbing to do to reach and inspect each place. We bought a hop on-hop off bus ticket to get around. First we spent some time wandering around the town of Sintra and having lunch.

The photo´s are mainly from the Castelo Dos Mouros (Moorish Castle) which dates back to the 9th century and from the Palaçio Nacional da Pena (Pena Palace) where there was originally a monastry (we think) and then the palace as it is was built in the 1840´s.

A footnote re our taste of Portugal - Tony has gotten in the groove of having multiple bicas (expresso) and pasteis de nata (little custard tarts) through the day and Chris is adapting to the local beers (Sagres and Super Bock). We´ve tried a few local versions of main meals - Chris had baby goat & Tony had roasted suckling pig last night. Bon apetite!

Hope all is well for you.

Tony and Chris
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1246003132/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1246003132/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1246003132/tpod.html Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:13:25 -0400 chris_n_tony - Portugal 2009

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Lisbon, Estremadura, Portugal

For anyone trying to get a sense of where we´re staying the following may be useful: Our apartment is located a couple of kilometres north of the waterfront (Rio Tejo). It´s a bit like living in North Perth - you can walk into the city centre in about 20 minutes or so but it´s way more hilly! BTW, Chris´ankle isn´t too bad so we´ve been able to resume exploring.

The last few days have been cooler thankfully which has made it better for 1/2-day trips and foraging for food at night (finding restaurants not bins!). On Tuesday we found our way to a large Harrods-like department store and then on to a museum near the Marqes de Pombal.On Wednesday we went to the 'beach´at Casçais (near Estoril) - quite picturesque but not much beach!

On Thursday we caught a bus to Obidos, around 70km northwest of Lisbon. It´s a beautiful walled town on the top a hill. Hopefully the photos give you a bit of an idea of the place.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1245685561/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1245685561/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1245685561/tpod.html Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:05:06 -0400 chris_n_tony - Portugal 2009

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Lisbon, Estremadura, Portugal

Hi all,

we've been in Lisbon since Friday afternoon and, boy, has it been hot! 38 yesterday (Sunday). We've got a great 1st floor apertment in downtown Lisbon. There´s a smallish supermarket (mini mecardo) down the street which is handy plus there are a number of buses that go past tho it´s a bit tricky working out which one goes where. The apartment is opposite a park which had a cherry fiesta going on Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights - music, singing & dancing (the locals, not us!)till after midnight. Had a crash day on Saturday - just stayed in the apartment mainly and slept, watched TV, etc.

On Sunday we ventured down to a big square (Martim Monez) and caught a tram for a scenic ride through some of the hilly areas on both sides of the centre. On the way two cars had had a small bingle but it seems like a big deal - both cars were driveable but the ambulance and police attended. The police took umpteen measurements of each car relative to specific locations. The cars blocked the tram track so we were stuck there for about half an hour. Later on, on a hilly coblestoned street Chris lost her footing and ended up on the ground with a sprained ankle and grazed knee. She hobbled down the road a bit till we found a taxi to take us back to our apartment for ice treatment and rest. Today with more rest & some Voltaren it's getting better, so tonight we may go out for dinner somewhere.

We´ve decided to extend our stay in Lisbon till Sunday & then go to Porto. We plan to do a couple of day trips to areas nearby to Lisbon.

I'll add photos to our next entry.

I hope all are well and enjoying winter in WA.

All the best

Tony & Chris
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Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

Our time in Tavira has gone quickly. We´ve enjoyed soaking in the local flavour whilst sitting at our favourite pastelaria (pastry shop but really a cafe) in the Praça Dr. Padinha. We've had fish a few times - Chris has been more adventurous than Tony in this department! On Wednesday we caught the ferry for the short journey to the beach on the Ilha de Tavira. Our first swim in the Atlantic. Lots of smallish waves roll in - not in sets like in Perth but just one wave after another. They weren't good enough to body surf but that didn't stop us from trying.

Friday sees us travelling by train to Faro then changing to the express to Lisbon to our apartment. And then a whole new adventure will start.

We trust all are well back in Perth.


]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1245038400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1245038400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1245038400/tpod.html Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:39:44 -0400 chris_n_tony - Portugal 2009

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Tavira, Algarve, Portugal

Caught the train from Faro to Tavira (about 30 minutes trip) and walked up hill and down dale to finally get to our accommodation. Very hot today and quite humid. The accommodation is quirky (as is the owner), right next to the railway bridge over the river. Trains seem to go past every hour or so but thankfully not all night!

The town is beautiful, lots of buildings seem to date back 100 - 200 years, some are a lot older. Like Faro, most of the town´s centre streets are cobbled, narrow and one-way. We´ve spent Sunday afternoon & evening and Monday just walking around the town, exploring and soaking up the atmosphere. Lots of coffees, pastries and beer. Food and drink is really cheap (expresso $1.10, beers are about $2.20 for a stubby).

We´ve been practising our very limited Portugese - I think we can say about 3 expressions so far! Locals seem to find our efforts amusing! :-)

Adeus
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London, England, United Kingdom

an interesting route from Dubai to London- across the Black Sea to southern Georgia(?) then west across Romania to Gatwick. We wanted a shower and rest so we paid to stay at the airport hotel for 3 hours (day room). Felt good to freshen up ready for our flight with Easyjet to Faro, Portugal.
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Faro, Algarve, Portugal

We've finally made it! Spent the night and next morning in Faro. Saturday night we, went for a walk and found an outdoor bar with quite a few local characters about. Had a couple of beers (Super Bock - seems to be the local beer of choice). Opposite our hotel was a church with a resident stork family on the tower. Lots of narrow cobblestone streets like a maze of one way streets.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1244779200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1244779200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/chris_n_tony/1/1244779200/tpod.html Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:54:39 -0400 chris_n_tony - Portugal 2009

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Dubai, United Arab Emirates

1st leg of trip
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