Things to do in Porto and Lisbon

[RichB]

Entirely on a whim, and as I've never visited Portugal before, I've booked a cheap city break trip which takes in these 2 cites, I'll have rail travel between them and 3 nights in each.

I actually don't know very much about them and have a pretty open mind so wondering if anyone here has any suggestions for must sees, things to do, places to eat/drink, live music places etc....

Lets have them...

[HackneyRF]

Sintra is a good day trip out of Lisbon. Old Moorish settlement. Very pretty.
Not been to Porto, but about half way up Coimbra is a nice town to visit.
The train ride up was great.
Have fun.

[datdad]

Rich, if you are to look around Lisbon the old area of Alfama is a good wander.
For the drinker the Port Insititute is an interesting visit & is in an interesting building.
Anywhere in the old city is great to wander around we felt.
When traveling to Oporto you might have a look outside the carriage window at the station before Oporto (Nova Gaia??) & see the huge sheds of the Port & Wine 'makers' along the valley. Its a dipso's dream when I last saw it. There seems to a theme for my thoughts about the place, I'll stop. Have a great trip.

[RichB]

Good suggestions, thanks.

We need to look into some day trips n tours or I'll spend the whole time on the sauce!:cool:

Keep em coming

[mossy]

Had a train trip up the Duoro from Porto. Lazy train it was. Pace of life up the valley drops off the scale. Very scenic.

[RichB]

A bit of a rainy day here but entirely by chance came across a shop of a chap who restores and repairs vintage valve radios. Spent a happy half hour in here listening to some of them and the old beogram system.

Took a few pics and his business card to share with you.

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s468/richbritton/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0723.jpg (http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/richbritton/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0723.jpg.html)

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s468/richbritton/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0724.jpg (http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/richbritton/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0724.jpg.html)

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s468/richbritton/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0725.jpg (http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/richbritton/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0725.jpg.html)

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s468/richbritton/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0726.jpg (http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/richbritton/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0726.jpg.html)

[StanleyB]

A bit of a rainy day here but entirely by chance came across a shop of a chap who restores and repairs vintage valve radios. Spent a happy half hour in here listening to some of them and the old beogram system.

Took a few pics and his business card to share with you.

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/s468/richbritton/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0723.jpg (http://s1053.photobucket.com/user/richbritton/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0723.jpg.html)
I had one of those Grundig shortwave radios as shown in the top left of the picture. It kept me busy music wise for nearly two decades, before I finally got into internet music with Napster.

[jollyfix]

Happy Birthday Rich,what time do the Bars open? Have a good one.:birthday:

[RichB]

Happy Birthday Rich,what time do the Bars open? Have a good one.:birthday:

Cheers Dave, think we did most of our celebrating last night, partaking of the Super Bock generously. Deciphering the various tapas menus became difficult so we ended up in a curry house for some spinach paneer and more Lisbon lager.

Heading out to Sintra today for more sightseeing.

[Ali Tait]

Happy birthday mate!

[RichB]

Happy birthday mate!

Obrigado Snr Ali.:)

[Marco]

Happy Burpers, Rich! :birthday:

Sounds like you're having a great time... Chicken Piri Piri should also be on the menu at some point, as in Portugal that should be awesome! :eek:

Enjoy :cool:

Marco.

P.S Love the old radios... My fav is the brown wooden one in the centre of the window, on top of the Grundig box.

[struth]

:cocktail::laugh:

[RichB]

Happy Burpers, Rich! :birthday:

Sounds like you're having a great time... Chicken Piri Piri should also be on the menu at some point, as in Portugal that should be awesome! :eek:

Enjoy :cool:

Marco.

P.S Love the old radios... My fav is the brown wooden one in the centre of the window, on top of the Grundig box.

On yes, we found an excellent BBQ place in Porto. Pedro dos Frangos. Family run restaurant where they were cooking chicken, piglet, fish on coals in what appeared to be a shop front. Venturing in we were directed to a simply laid out restaurant upstairs where we took in a couple of large beers, a nice tomato salad, a whole roast chicken and a mountain of fries. The bill with tip was 23 euros and we were stuffed. They had a house hot sauce too. I've put my normal vegetarianism on hold here as they don't really get it, when in Rome lol.

As with all the European cities we've visited you find the best food and bars away from the main drags and this place was in a slightly dilapidated area. Overall I found Porto v reasonable for food and drink and would recommend it highly.

You can tell times gave been tough for the Portuguese recently though, a lot of side effects of austerity visible. Coming to Lisbon like any capital city you see all the signs of affluence, looks like the regions have been harder hit. Isn't that often the way.

There was a beautiful walnut radiogram in the shop the fella had restored with el84s, new speakers and beautiful cabinet work. I enquired as to the price, and he wanted 1700euros. I'd have had it if I had somewhere to put it. Shipping might be pricey too.