O Viajem
Trip Start
Oct 07, 2006
1
2
18
Trip End
Oct 15, 2006
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Miami Springs,
Florida,
United States
Friday, October 6, 2006
The Iberia flight to Europe leaves Miami at 5:00pm. It departs half an hour late. The check-in in Miami is a laborious as ever, hence the delay in departure. Surprisingly enough, we actually arrive in Madrid three-quarters of an hour late. Could it be that the jet stream was against us? The flight was as comfortable as coach class can be, but the in-flight entertainment was not up to standard, the film "Lake House" was hardly viewable. Food filling, but hardly exciting.
In spite of the late arrival, we were in plenty of time for our 9:30 am connection to Lisbon. We are surprised with Madrid's Barajas Airport. Last time we had been there it struck us as rather provincial. Since then, it has turned into a world class facility. Very impressive.
Our Lisbon flight is also half an hour late, but the 1 hour 15 minute flight is uneventful. We had not realised that there is a one-hour time difference between Spain and Portugal, back to GMT.
Arrival in Lisbon is at 10:15am and we have been recommended to take the Aerobus airport shuttle bus. It's just € 3.00 for the ride, and it includes a full day use of all surface transportation in Lisbon, including trams, lifts and funiculars. Seems like a good deal. The bus drops us off just a couple of blocks from the hotel, and with our efficient wheeled suitcases, it's no effort at all to cross the main avenue and enter the pedestrian streets to the Residêncial Florescente.
Our lodging Residêncial Florescente
On the Praça Restauradores just across from our hotel they are preparing for a children's concert, in the theatre right opposite us "Cat's" is on the programme and just up the street is the stage version of "The Sound of Music". Regrettably, unlike Buenos Aires, we won't have time for cultural performances this trip. 
View upstairs (or downstairs)
We check into our hotel, and get a room right away. It's a charming choice, unbeatable location right in the middle of everything. Highly recommended with clean and comfortable rooms and an excellent buffet continental breakfast the next morning. Cost of one night's accommodation, just US$ 63.06. 
