Lisbon

[be...@lineone.net]

Going to Lisbon for five nights only. Bearing in mind that we'll be spending
at least one whole day and half the night, if we've the energy, at Expo '98,
what should we not miss? Considering a trip to Sintra on the train and
possibly Cascais. Should we give Estoril a miss this time and is the other
side of the river from the main city of any interest? Also are there any
fishy dishes that a person allergic to seafood ( i.e. the pink variety,
shrimps, prawns etc.) should avoid? And is the tap-water O.K. to drink? Also
- sorry ! - are the mosquitoes bad there in July? - I got very badly bitten
on a trip to Andalucia (seaside) last October - any ideas on repellents? - I
read a report only yesterday that one brand in particular is no use
whatsoever and probably attracts the blighters even more! Finally does anyone
know of any really good reasonably priced restaurant that we shouldn't miss?
Many thanks in advance! - Beth.

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[Helena Monteiro]

Don't miss the place - Belém where you have the Monastery of Jerónimos and
the Tower of Belem + Museu dos Coches (old carriages Museum). On the other
side of the river don't think it will worth visiting for the days you have.

Sintra is unforgivable.

Cascais is a good place you can skip Estoril.

Any small familiar restaurant is a good one you have a lot at Belém but
here don't miss Pastéis de Belém - write it down and show it to someone
where you will be at Jerónimos. It's an old cafe with a specific variety of
pastry called Pastel de Nata - go there and eat it and see the old cafe.

If you have time at night go to the docks there are a lot of restaurants.

Good trip.

Helena Monteiro

be...@lineone.net wrote in article <6jvfq2$i34$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>...

[Helen Gerald]

> Don't miss the place - Belém where you have the Monastery of Jerónimos
and
> the Tower of Belem + Museu dos Coches (old carriages Museum). On the
other
> side of the river don't think it will worth visiting for the days you
have.

While not pretending to know more than someone who lives in Lisbon, It is
worth pointing out that nearly everything in Belem is closed on Mondays, so
pick another day. You can get there in 10 minutes on the train from Cais do
Sodre station, which is on the river bank: go to Praca Comercio, turn right
as you face the water and walk about five minutes. Or I think there is a
tram every day except Sundays. The monastry cloisters are just awesome, and
entry is free on Sunday mornings. Look out for the monument to the
discoveries, which you can go inside, and the Torre de Belem is well worth
a visit.

I crossed the river on the regular (every 10 minutes) and very cheap (150
escudos) ferries, and then went up to Cristo Rei, the statue that you can
see from Lisbon. The mistake I made was to walk, it is further and higher
than it looks, so take the bus. The statue is VERY impressive, and you also
get a good view of the 25 April bridge from it. You can go up the statue
too.

>
> Sintra is unforgivable.

I think you might mean 'unforgettable' - but as I only had four days in
Lisbon I didn't get to Sintra so I don't know!

>
> Cascais is a good place you can skip Estoril.

yes, agree here. 30 minutes on the train from Cais do Sodre.
>
enjoy! Incidentally, everyone appears to speak English, and three other
languages too.

cheers
Helen

[Nuno Tavares]

Hi there! Here are my opinion about the questions that you made:

be...@lineone.net wrote:

> Considering a trip to Sintra on the train and
> possibly Cascais.

Very good choice!

> Should we give Estoril a miss this time and is the other
> side of the river from the main city of any interest?

I think that the other side have more interest than Estoril but if you go to
Cascais you don't miss much time if you give a "jump" to Estoril because it only
takes 5 min. (by car) from one point to other. However, my opinion is that
Estoril doesn't have any interest (the only thing that makes Estoril famous
internationally is the Casino and the Grand Prix, but nothing in sightseeing).In
the other side of the river you shouldn't miss the "Portinho da Arrábida" (it is
about 40 km from Lisbon). For me it is the one of most beautiful sightseeing and
beach of Portugal.You have also to see in the other side, Sesimbra and Costa da
Caparica. Both of them have good beaches and fish.
And that's all for the south side of the river.

> Also are there any
> fishy dishes that a person allergic to seafood ( i.e. the pink variety,
> shrimps, prawns etc.) should avoid?

Sorry, I don't know what you should avoid.

> And is the tap-water O.K. to drink?

The tap-water doesn't offer any danger to the health. Everybody here drinks from
that without any problem because it is desinfected.

>

> Also
> - sorry ! - are the mosquitoes bad there in July? - I got very badly bitten
> on a trip to Andalucia (seaside) last October - any ideas on repellents? - I
> read a report only yesterday that one brand in particular is no use
> whatsoever and probably attracts the blighters even more!

I never had any problem with the mosquitoes in Lisbon. Only at night, we can
found one or another in our bedroom if we let the window open but, nothing that
puts us mad.

> Finally does anyone
> know of any really good reasonably priced restaurant that we shouldn't miss?
> Many thanks in advance! - Beth.
>

There are a lot of restaurants with that description, but i will give you the
name of one that is very,very,very good (expensive too, but only for the wages in

portugal. You shouldn't worry if you came from a north country):"Conventual" in
Lisbon, just ask in your Hotel and they know where it is. (Price for person about

5.000 PTE).

I hope that i was of any helpful for you.
Please enjoy your stay at Lisbon.
Goodbye!

Nuno Tavares