Sorry for the late blogging, peeps.
We caught a train from Porto to Lisbon. Why wouldn't you? Only takes about 3 hours of comfortable first class travel at around 300 kph most of the way.
The trip seemed to go much faster as we got into a conversation with two other Australians sitting in the seats opposite. Barry and Jim were also ex primary school teachers just like Jackie and the common ground became very evident very quickly. They had just finished the Camino a couple of days earlier and were rattling around Portugal to fill in some time before flying back to Melbourne. They had so many interesting stories about the places, people and events they encountered on the Camino is was just great to listen to.
Our accomodation is in the old Baixa/Chiado area of Lisbon. The streets are really lanes and meander and twist their way up and down some very steep slopes. This is one very hilly town. The hotel is situated in a very unattractive street, but don't let that fool you. Opening the front door presents you with a very attractive reception lobby and what is referred to as a living room. And it is a living room too, with a particularly tasteful decor of complimentary colours and furniture, with artworks sort of nonchalantly placed here and there. The indoor pool and ferns is the piece-de resistance in my option and staff just couldn't be nicer. I haven't been here long, but I know I'm going to remember it and them fondly.
We caught a train from Porto to Lisbon. Why wouldn't you? Only takes about 3 hours of comfortable first class travel at around 300 kph most of the way.
The trip seemed to go much faster as we got into a conversation with two other Australians sitting in the seats opposite. Barry and Jim were also ex primary school teachers just like Jackie and the common ground became very evident very quickly. They had just finished the Camino a couple of days earlier and were rattling around Portugal to fill in some time before flying back to Melbourne. They had so many interesting stories about the places, people and events they encountered on the Camino is was just great to listen to.
Our accomodation is in the old Baixa/Chiado area of Lisbon. The streets are really lanes and meander and twist their way up and down some very steep slopes. This is one very hilly town. The hotel is situated in a very unattractive street, but don't let that fool you. Opening the front door presents you with a very attractive reception lobby and what is referred to as a living room. And it is a living room too, with a particularly tasteful decor of complimentary colours and furniture, with artworks sort of nonchalantly placed here and there. The indoor pool and ferns is the piece-de resistance in my option and staff just couldn't be nicer. I haven't been here long, but I know I'm going to remember it and them fondly.
Our Portuguese train from Porto to Lisbon.
Another 300 kph flyer. Don't the Europeans know how to make a slow train?
Now here is a snappy means of locomotion.
Snapped this as someone was picking up someone at Lisbon Apollonia station car park.
Jackie checking out in indoor pool and landscaping at our accomodation.
Wonderful.
The view from our window of the street outside.
Bleech on the outside, an absolute oasis in the inside.
Where are the Pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts) Tony... I hope you had some for me :) pics look amazing glad you are both having an amazing time. Safe travels lana
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