Blogs from Portugal, Europe - page 9

Having been here once before, I can tell you that Portugal is a very underrated place to visit. The weather is great, the food is both hearty and interesting, the wines are inventive, and the people are friendly. Portugal is pricier than a super cheap getaway to the Southern United States, but compared to the rest of Europe, it's very economical, which is one reason why so many Americans are retiring here. With the dollar about even to the euro, you can expect to pay around $75 for a mid-range hotel and $20 for a three-course meal with drinks. That's quite a bargain for some of the world's best cuisine. One fact I did not know: Portugal has the oldest (1139) borders in Europe. Portugal is situated at the south-west point of Europe and also includes ... read more

In my previous visits here, the focus was either on seafood, or local, family-owned restaurants. But Portuguese food is quite rich, varied, and distinct. Simple grilled fish is always a great option. Meat dishes tend to be slow cooked. And of course, Portuguese wine is a big deal here. Much like other countries on the Mediterranean, olive oil is also a big part of cooking and their culture. I distinctly remember the quality of the cheeses and bread on my previous visits. And no meal is ever complete without the famous custard tart, pastel de nata, and a cup of expresso. But salted cod is the "national" dish, even though most of it comes from Norway these days. Bacalhau has its origin in the days before refrigeration, as a means of preserving fish. About 25,000 tons ... read more

My last visit to Lisboa, or Lisbon was right after 9-11. I spent most of my time in Portugal playing golf on the Algarve, and just a few nights is Lisboa. I hope to learn more about this very underrated city and country during my visit. One thing I learned on my first trip: Do not try to use Spanish, in hopes that the Portuguese will understand. English works better! Lisboa is the capital with just over half a million residents, though the city seems much bigger to me. In fact, the metro area is closer to 3 million people. Lisboa's urban area is the largest in the EU and continues to grow each year. Yet Lisboa only gets about 140,000 tourists annually. The city boasts 290 days of sunshine annually! Seafood is a big deal ... read more

Perhaps you already heard some fado and did not know it. Fado is a type of singing that originated officially in the 1820s, though its origins may extend further. This type of singing is known for its melodious, melancholy, and expressive style. In fado, the musician will sing about the hard realities of everyday life, with a balance of resignation and hopefulness that a resolution to its torments can still occur. The Portuguese word, "saudade" best describes the longing or feeling of loss. The loss is generally permanent and long term. The fado singer is often accompanied by one or two twelve strong guitars, one or two violas, and a small 8 strong bass. From Portugal Online: There are two basic styles of fado: Lisbon Lisbon fado is the more well-known of the two styles. This ... read more

Spending a few days in Lisbon with me, this is what my mum wanted to do for her 80th birthday. We had booked flights from Stuttgart. So, I caught a train to Stuttgart and we left from there together two days later, on the 2ndof November. Our flight was at 9:40 am. I had heard all the horror stories of crowded airports in the aftermath of the Corona pandemic, with passengers having to stand in line at check-in and at security control for hours. Thus, I wanted to be at the airport three hours in before our departure, meaning we had to leave my mum’s place at 6 in the morning. It was an early morning for both of us, and we were pleasantly surprised by a very well-organised airport in Stuttgart: almost no waiting time ... read more