Sao Jorge Castle

Just back from a wonderful trip to Lisbon and to the seaside coast on the Atlantic. Lisbon is an amazing city with wide tree-lined avenues and also narrow, steep cobblestone streets and everything in between. Start your visit of Lisbon from the top. Go up to the Saõ Jorge Castle a 16th century fortification. From here you will have a breathtaking view of the city.

Lisbon is very modern – see the Expo ’98 area of town with beautiful skyscrapers, shopping malls, museums. an aquarium, and a cable car that will take you along the Tagus river. Lisbon is also very old and traditional. Visit the Bélem tower and re-live the years of Portugal’s discoveries.

The public transportation is fantastic: subway lines are quick and modern, the buses will move you through the city and the trams will give you an enjoyable and scenic ride. Take one of the “elevador ” or funiculars up the steep streets or the Elevador de Santa Justa (which is a real gothic-style elevator). Taxis are also very affordable, so after a long day, take one back to your hotel and relax your feet.

There is plenty to see and do in Lisbon, but don’t miss the Tile Museum – the famous “Azulejos” are housed here in various forms, motives and colors including a panoramic title representation of the city of Portugal in around 1742 before the great earthquake of 1755.

Right under the huge red bridge “25th of April” you will find the “Docas” or Docks. Come here for dinner, a little shopping or for late night entertainment.

What a wonderful way to start off the day! My sister Jean and I took a walk on the seaside boardwalk from the town of Estoril to Cascais. It is about a 3 km. walk and pleasant exercise with a light Atlantic breeze. Along the walk you can stop at one of the little caffès for a cool drink. As we walked along the boardwalk we could see that several places were setting up their little tables for lunch, but we kept walking.

Our hotel was in Estoril, with a gorgeous view of the sea, a distant view of Cascais and a magnificant view of the hotel’s pool and park below as well as the Estoril Casino. Hotel Estoril Palacio, a luxury 5 star hotel, was built in the 1930′s and completely renovated in 2006 and it is full of intriguing history. During World War II, with Portugal’s neutrality, Hotel Palacio Estoril was home to various royalty, and was also frequented by spies. Later, these stories of intrigue and espionage inspired various famous books and films. Ian Flemming, for example, spent much time here getting ideas for his books. The hotel, in fact, provided a stage for the James Bond movie, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”. You can even get the “James Bond Martini – stirred not shaken” at the hotel bar.

At the end of the boardwalk, you arrive at the beach in Cascais. It must have been a school outing day, because we saw two groups of happy young pre-school children jaunting along. One group of children were dressed in white and had light grey feathers on their arms! The other group, all with green sun-hats, were making their way back to school after a run on the beach.

Cascais, formerly a quaint fishing village, became a popular resort favored by European nobility and kings in the early 20th century. Today it is a colorful cosmopolitan town with elegant cobblestone pedestrian streets, fashionable shops, and fantastic little restaurants and bars. Cascais, just a 20 min. drive from Lisbon is also an elegant suburb with luxurious villas and seaside residences.

Yes, I know it is hard to believe but you CAN get great food at an airport restaurant. I have to admit it, I was amazed.  Good food, a pleasant server, and a relaxing environment. “Where” ?  you ask, at Houlihan’s Boston International Airport – International Terminal E.  You are probably asking why I was so amazed about the food. I have to admit, after a week of less than healthy food: Applebbees, Friendly’s, Piccadilly, Olive Garden, Dunkin Doughnuts, Starbucks, etc. it was a great change to have something that was NOT fried and or topped with a creamy sauce.  I had a simple meal: grilled sirloin steak with a lettuce wedge topped with walnuts  and some freshly cooked vegetables.  It was the perfect meal before take-off.

What are your experiences with food when traveling?  Do you eat sensibly or just choose with your “eyes”. ?

At home I always try to eat balanced meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables, protein and fibers. When I travel, I find this more difficult.  or maybe it is just an excuse to eat “junk” food.

One of the most spectacular times of the year is fall, especially in New England.  Nature really tries its best to impress and each year we wait to see just how spectacular it can be.  This is Boston’s Common a kind of sweet oasis in the center of a bustling city.  You can come here to relax, read, watch the squirrels gathering their last acorns before winter and just “listen” to the silence of nature as it prepares for the long cold winter.

Don’t miss next year’s  Fall in New England Tour in October 2010. We tour the states of  Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts, ending up in an exclusive resort in the Birkshires to relax and be pampered.  Does this sound like your idea of a getaway vacation?  JOIN US in the fun and meet some wonderful like-minded women.