Living Loving Lisboa: Lindsay on Location
Portugal is one of the hottest locations and on everyone’s list right now. So I headed for my next Lindsay on Location to Portugal to find out why!
It did not take me long to find out why. Portugal has everything. It is the most affordable country in Western Europe. It has 300 days of sunshine a year. The 3rd safest country in the world. It also has the culture, beaches, food, and of course wine. What else do you need? Americans are booking flights for vacations and making plans to stay forever. Portugal’s cost of living is low and the quality of life is high. They say that a couple can live in Portugal for under $30,000 a year. It is also the first time in 30 years that the Euro and the Usd is almost equal.
Portugal is what we all need right now. Everyone is looking for a change of pace, scenery and a new adventure.
Lisbon- All roads in Portugal lead to Lisbon. The capital has a little something for everyone. Walk for hours around the tiny winding roads to discover the lookout points, the famous Arch, and endless outdoor cafe’s. The wine is almost as cheap as water, so take advantage and try some of their varieties. Portugal has 26 different wine regions. I was blown away at how delicous they all were and only 3 euros a glass.
Sintra- Is only 30 minutes from the bustling city of Lisbon. But you really feel like you are a wold away. The city is a protected UNESCO world heritage site. The city has more palaces and castels per square meter than anywhere else in the world. Because of its micoclimate King’s would builid their palaces and calstels there so they could escape the summer heat and stay cooler in the mountains. This is a perfect day trip from Lisbon. Make sure to check out as many castles as you can, and do it in style on a TukTuk.
Porto- A few hours north of Lisbon this costal town has so much charm. Full of colors, cobble stone streets, and of course Port. Port wine is from the 17th century and is made in the Douro Valley and barreled just over the bridge from Port. Port wine is fortified wine with an alcohol level of 20%. So make sure you sip slow. But I really grew to love and appreceiate the wine. We even got to try wine that was 150 years old. Every corner of this town feels like an instagram posts. Every building is covered in colorful or the blue and white tiles. I could walk around the streets for days looking at them all. The tiles date back to the 13th century. They say they used the blue and white tiles a lot because blue means power and wealth. The two most famous are the Porto Cathedral and the Sao Bento train station.
Stay:
Tivoli Lisbon- Located in the heart of downtown Lisbon. This was the perfect location for us to explore the city. The rooms are spacious with top amenities. Do not miss out on the rooftop bar and restaurant. The food, the drinks, and the view are some of the best in the city. We also took advantage of the gym and was very impressed with their buffet breakfast.
Tivoli Palacio de Seteais in Sintra- Have you ever wanted to stay in a palace? You can, and I did! We stayed at Tivoli de Seteasi in Sintra for only one night, but we made that night count. The palace was built in 1786. And they have managed to keep so many of the original designs and furnishings. I loved that hand painted walls and ceilings and the lounge beds by the pool People travel in just to dine at their top rated restaurant. Make sure to have a drink before dinner on the errace overlooking the lemon trees.
The palace feels like you are floating in the clouds. And one thing is for sure, you will not want to leave.
Dom Pedro- Past presidents and also celebrities have stayed in this hotel. Set up perfectly for business travel just outside the huslte of the downtown area. They also have a great breakfast that is included in your stay.
What to do/eat/see
Fado Music has been a part of Portugal’s culture since 1820’s. The music is beautiful full of drama and passion. It is simiar to folk music. It is telling stories of the past and the love that was lost and found.
Boat Tour: I always say to see a new place by water. We took the yellow bus boat which leaves from downtown Lisbon that takes you on a 2 hour ride down the water all the way to the Tower of Belm. You hae the option to hop off and grab the next boat or keep riding. You also get to use that same tickets for any of the busses or trams in town.
Eat- You have to try Pastel de Nata. This is the number one pastry in Portugal. It was created 300 years ago by Monks. They would startch their clothes with egg whites. They didn’t want to waste anything so they needed to find something to do with the egg yolks. So they baked pastries. They are so delicious and can’t be missed. Also eat and try all the seafood. They have so many options. I had sardines from the can, I ate anchovies, tuna cooked everyway, and enjoyed their number one fish cod. They say that have 365 ways to cook cod.