Day 20
So we wake up at 6am lisbon time (1Am Toronto time) hjave quick showers and wait for a cab in the hotel lobby. We get to the train station at 630 have a coffee and snack and wait for our 7:19 train to lisbon.
i have to say taking the train is always worth the first class price difference... there's plenty of room and service is good... I get a paper from the steward and read ... he takes our breakfast orders and within 30 minutes our food arrives. It helps make the 3 hour ride to Lisbon a little smoother especially knowing i'm going to a place i really dislike... That's right i'm still bitching about Lisbon... ever since that bird pooped on me i was in a foul mood about the place and the STENCH!
We make it to Lisbon with plenty of time to spare so we put our baggage in a locker and head out to the Vasco De Gamma shopping centre... we go in almost all the stores and buy nothing... even at H&M where i tried on a few sweaters. we grab some food and decide we should go head to the airport.
We arrive at the airport and check in it only takes like 15 minutes so we think we are great on time... what i didn't know was that european airports on the mainland have much more checkpoints before you make it to your gate to load the plane. I go for smoke and then decide we should head in... my goodness... talk about line ups, we spiraled through the first line in just under an hour.... while we waited a lady fainted behind us and the first aid responders came... it was really hot and one line for the whole terminal... FML... we make it through the line and get split up again there are 8 line ups for the metal detectors... we just waited in line to get into the line we needed to wait again...WTF.
Finally land of the airport gates... we decide to go to duty free and i get a carton of butts. Get some coffee ice cream and chips and make our way... gate 41A... 16.17.18.19. and then 20-65 had to go through customs cause they were international gates... again another spiraling line up SHEESH. 35 mins and we make it through and just in time to grab water before they were calling our boarding... we get on the bus to the plane.... i don't know why, but they could've taxied the plane right to the gate and didn't... we get in our seats Aisle 15 all four seats :) and we make the long 8 hour journey to Pearson.
We arrive and outside is my friends Dave and Brad with my precious puppy moxy in the car waiting to take us home... we load up and drive DT... It's nice to be home. I miss the family and friends i made while i was there.... maybe i'll go back soon... I may continue with the blog a bit more there seems to be alot of people reading it ... so far in 3 weeks i've gotten just under 500 hits. Pretty good and i enjoyed reading your comments and emails... and suggestions for the trip. I'll post some pictures as soon as i go through them... maybe i'll do a slide show thingy with some tunes.
Peace out
B
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Day 19 Algarve 15-9-10
Day 19
Another day in the Algarve, where i did nothing.
I woke up late and missed breakfast... Justin went to use the internet so I went to him and told him I'd be at the beach. I went and got a big bottle of water and 2 tosta mistas ( toasted ham and chesse sandwiches) and a bag of Ketchup chips. After yesterday I learned that i needed to have some kind of food products in order to maintain being at the beach all day... the day was blah... it was cloudy but hot... not humid at all but i was determined to not let that bother me.
It was about 11:30 am when i decided i was in the right spot to stay for the day. I laid my towel down got undress and ate a sandwhich... Dripping with butter... i had a Marlboro and went on my stomach so i can read some of my book which i've been neglecting.
Next thing i know it's about 8pm and i've been on the beach all day. Met Justin at the hotel...showered and went to eat Cruji Coques... AMAZING CRUNCHY PIZZA.
Big Day Tomorrow i have to be up at 530 ... Cab at 6 to catch a train for 7 back to that horrendous place called Lisbon... Next time i write will be from my home... with my baby girl Moxy.
Lots of Love from Portugal
B
PS... i'll be posting pictures of my trip soon.
Another day in the Algarve, where i did nothing.
I woke up late and missed breakfast... Justin went to use the internet so I went to him and told him I'd be at the beach. I went and got a big bottle of water and 2 tosta mistas ( toasted ham and chesse sandwiches) and a bag of Ketchup chips. After yesterday I learned that i needed to have some kind of food products in order to maintain being at the beach all day... the day was blah... it was cloudy but hot... not humid at all but i was determined to not let that bother me.
It was about 11:30 am when i decided i was in the right spot to stay for the day. I laid my towel down got undress and ate a sandwhich... Dripping with butter... i had a Marlboro and went on my stomach so i can read some of my book which i've been neglecting.
Next thing i know it's about 8pm and i've been on the beach all day. Met Justin at the hotel...showered and went to eat Cruji Coques... AMAZING CRUNCHY PIZZA.
Big Day Tomorrow i have to be up at 530 ... Cab at 6 to catch a train for 7 back to that horrendous place called Lisbon... Next time i write will be from my home... with my baby girl Moxy.
Lots of Love from Portugal
B
PS... i'll be posting pictures of my trip soon.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Day 18 Algarve - 14-9-10
Day 18
I went to the beach by myself. Enjoyed the hot sun and read some of my book... This is a vacation, it's all did!
B
I went to the beach by myself. Enjoyed the hot sun and read some of my book... This is a vacation, it's all did!
B
Day 17 Algarve, Albufeira 13-9-10
Day 17
I wrote the whole blog and then my comuter shutdown before i got to post it... It is unrecoverable. So I guess i'll have to write it again. Short form though.Thankfully Day 18 was very easy to write.
So we started the day by getting up super early to head to the Oriente Subway Station so we can catch the train to Albufeira. We had breakfast at the train station overlooking Vasco DeGamma Shopping Centre as well as on the train itself.
We arrived in Albufeira Algarve and the weater was amazing... and there was no stink. We take a cab to a hotel... little did we know we got a resort... we paid 85 Euro per night at a 4 star Hotel exactly 5 minute walk to the beach, not only that but our room is only accessable from the outside... meaning we don't have to walk through the hotel lobby. Which is a nice little extra since we wont be carrying sand our feet all over the place. We dropped off our bags and went straight to the beach. Breath taking...the waves... the golden sand... and the best part was it smelled like the beach and not an overflowing toilet the way Lisbon does. I will restate that I tried to find Lisbon's beauty and other than the archetecture(also graffiti'd) I dont think Lisbon has anything to offer. Why didnt anyone warn me... they just kept saying its beautiful and that i'd love it. Even the people were ugly except for a few of the tourists.
Algarve...Oh sweet Algarve...dwarfed by the natural beauty of the azores is still beautiful. It is way hotter here which i love. But i do miss my family and friends. I tried to see if i can go back to Pico for a few more days, getting there isn't a problem it's getting home that was sold out. So I guess I'll just have to suck it up and wait it out. Until then i'm going to soak up as much sun as i possibly can, stay away from Caipirinhas and just wind down before i head back to the concrete jungle known as Toronto.
Peace Out
B
I wrote the whole blog and then my comuter shutdown before i got to post it... It is unrecoverable. So I guess i'll have to write it again. Short form though.Thankfully Day 18 was very easy to write.
So we started the day by getting up super early to head to the Oriente Subway Station so we can catch the train to Albufeira. We had breakfast at the train station overlooking Vasco DeGamma Shopping Centre as well as on the train itself.
We arrived in Albufeira Algarve and the weater was amazing... and there was no stink. We take a cab to a hotel... little did we know we got a resort... we paid 85 Euro per night at a 4 star Hotel exactly 5 minute walk to the beach, not only that but our room is only accessable from the outside... meaning we don't have to walk through the hotel lobby. Which is a nice little extra since we wont be carrying sand our feet all over the place. We dropped off our bags and went straight to the beach. Breath taking...the waves... the golden sand... and the best part was it smelled like the beach and not an overflowing toilet the way Lisbon does. I will restate that I tried to find Lisbon's beauty and other than the archetecture(also graffiti'd) I dont think Lisbon has anything to offer. Why didnt anyone warn me... they just kept saying its beautiful and that i'd love it. Even the people were ugly except for a few of the tourists.
Algarve...Oh sweet Algarve...dwarfed by the natural beauty of the azores is still beautiful. It is way hotter here which i love. But i do miss my family and friends. I tried to see if i can go back to Pico for a few more days, getting there isn't a problem it's getting home that was sold out. So I guess I'll just have to suck it up and wait it out. Until then i'm going to soak up as much sun as i possibly can, stay away from Caipirinhas and just wind down before i head back to the concrete jungle known as Toronto.
Peace Out
B
Monday, September 13, 2010
Day 16 - Lisbon 12-9-10
Day 16
So Day 16 is kinda like day 15. Although the weather is exactly what i want. The smell is something that i can seem to get over.
I've heard of people coming to Lisbon my whole life and how much they enjoy it. I'm trying really hard to find that wow factor. The graffiti is a major disappointment all over the place. The food is ok the disco's are worse than a Toronto subway in winter although i'd rather be in the subway. I don't understand why the smell is soooo bad. I've been by the water a few times but I refuse to go in... this part of the ocean is so dirty... what's up with that. My quest on the mainland is to find that wow factor otherwise i will go home disappointed about this part 2 of my trip. Many people told me i would have a great time, where when and how... Maybe part 3 of my trip which starts tomorrow will shed some light as i'll be in the Algarve. Although from what i hear it smells way worse than lisbon... Total Epic Sadness!
Anyway last night i started to write my blog and didn't get the chance to write about my 'adventures' of the Lisbon nightlife. I've read many reviews about how great it is, i'd agree if i was 16 like the other guys that were out. It's a haven for young, abnoxious and hideous looking people. I'm starting to think that i too may be one of these ugly's considering i'm Portuguese myself. The good thing was i could grab a mojito 1/2 litre and walk around with it and hit the bar's which were empty cuz everyone was hanging out on the street. This would be fine, i'm always up for a street party....But remember this smell i've been talking about... well it doesn't go away at night.... in fact it gets worse. The streets end up smelling like urine and vomit cuz the men here are pigs and instead of finding a toilet they feel that they can just whip it out and pee where ever they want. Now if that kind of thing floats your boat then great come to Lisbon otherwise stay clear. At 3 am and 3, 1/5 litre drinks later i realize i need to get some food in my system before we head to the discoteque. Justin and I walk around and around and nothing is open... we end up at McDonalds. We eat from the very limited menu options... thank god a Big Mac still tastes like a Big Mac and the Fries still taste like whatever they hell they are. We get to the club which the internet boasts as being one of the best with 2 floors. All i'm going to say is a Vodka Redbull Costs 12 Euros and i felt like a sardine in a full can.
We get home and Justin goes to sleep... i go check to see what it would cost for me to go back to Pico since i was having such a good time. I should have never left... Lessons Learned!
After a short Cat nap my day is only just begining... I have breakfast at 8 at the B&B I'm staying at. Which was just ok. Take a shower and Justin and I head over to the starbucks we found yesterday and make it to the metro to head to the Oceanarium, I'm ready for excitement here...and we walk around a huge tank a few times so we can see fish that we normally wouldn't see from many different angles. Whoever is writing reviews for these places needs to get smacked on the head. We leave after seeing all the exhibits and i'm proud of some of the video and pics that i was able to take but there was still no wow.
We buy our train tix for tomorrow ... Again no wow.
We pass through the mall... WOW... 120 Euro for some poorly made "designer" clothing.... hardly the wow i was looking for lol.
Then we go to Belem. Which is a town in Lisbon. We get off the Tram right in front of the Monestary of Jeronimo's. The church is old and the archetecture is beautiful. The wow in me is building but quickly fades since we didn't get a chance to continue to see the inner Garden. We hang around a little bit longer to see the un set behind the tower of Belem and go get something to eat.
Went back to the hotel and then slept we have to catch a train at 7
So Day 16 is kinda like day 15. Although the weather is exactly what i want. The smell is something that i can seem to get over.
I've heard of people coming to Lisbon my whole life and how much they enjoy it. I'm trying really hard to find that wow factor. The graffiti is a major disappointment all over the place. The food is ok the disco's are worse than a Toronto subway in winter although i'd rather be in the subway. I don't understand why the smell is soooo bad. I've been by the water a few times but I refuse to go in... this part of the ocean is so dirty... what's up with that. My quest on the mainland is to find that wow factor otherwise i will go home disappointed about this part 2 of my trip. Many people told me i would have a great time, where when and how... Maybe part 3 of my trip which starts tomorrow will shed some light as i'll be in the Algarve. Although from what i hear it smells way worse than lisbon... Total Epic Sadness!
Anyway last night i started to write my blog and didn't get the chance to write about my 'adventures' of the Lisbon nightlife. I've read many reviews about how great it is, i'd agree if i was 16 like the other guys that were out. It's a haven for young, abnoxious and hideous looking people. I'm starting to think that i too may be one of these ugly's considering i'm Portuguese myself. The good thing was i could grab a mojito 1/2 litre and walk around with it and hit the bar's which were empty cuz everyone was hanging out on the street. This would be fine, i'm always up for a street party....But remember this smell i've been talking about... well it doesn't go away at night.... in fact it gets worse. The streets end up smelling like urine and vomit cuz the men here are pigs and instead of finding a toilet they feel that they can just whip it out and pee where ever they want. Now if that kind of thing floats your boat then great come to Lisbon otherwise stay clear. At 3 am and 3, 1/5 litre drinks later i realize i need to get some food in my system before we head to the discoteque. Justin and I walk around and around and nothing is open... we end up at McDonalds. We eat from the very limited menu options... thank god a Big Mac still tastes like a Big Mac and the Fries still taste like whatever they hell they are. We get to the club which the internet boasts as being one of the best with 2 floors. All i'm going to say is a Vodka Redbull Costs 12 Euros and i felt like a sardine in a full can.
We get home and Justin goes to sleep... i go check to see what it would cost for me to go back to Pico since i was having such a good time. I should have never left... Lessons Learned!
After a short Cat nap my day is only just begining... I have breakfast at 8 at the B&B I'm staying at. Which was just ok. Take a shower and Justin and I head over to the starbucks we found yesterday and make it to the metro to head to the Oceanarium, I'm ready for excitement here...and we walk around a huge tank a few times so we can see fish that we normally wouldn't see from many different angles. Whoever is writing reviews for these places needs to get smacked on the head. We leave after seeing all the exhibits and i'm proud of some of the video and pics that i was able to take but there was still no wow.
We buy our train tix for tomorrow ... Again no wow.
We pass through the mall... WOW... 120 Euro for some poorly made "designer" clothing.... hardly the wow i was looking for lol.
Then we go to Belem. Which is a town in Lisbon. We get off the Tram right in front of the Monestary of Jeronimo's. The church is old and the archetecture is beautiful. The wow in me is building but quickly fades since we didn't get a chance to continue to see the inner Garden. We hang around a little bit longer to see the un set behind the tower of Belem and go get something to eat.
Went back to the hotel and then slept we have to catch a train at 7
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Day 15 In Lisbon 11-9-10
Day 15 - Lisbon
So today was very sad.We left the island of Pico and came to lisbon. What made it sad was having to say goodbyes, especially my grandmother.
We were at the airport by 10am and the Diana and Cristina met us there. Also my aunt Paula and Renata showed up to say farewell.
The flight to Lisbon was not bad at all and the view from the plane was overwhelming. It kinda dwarf's Toronto by a long shot. We checked in to the Lisbon Dream Guesthouse and realized there was only one queen bed for our room we are taking it for the night since i'm sure there will hardly be any sleep with the lineup we have planned for tonight and be switching rooms in the morning. We got set up with the buzz code and internet access right away and without any setbacks we decided to make a trip and get aquainted with the city.
My first reaction, on foot, was moderately good... within 15 minutes of leaving the hotel i got shat on by a pidgeon. Some of you will say it's good luck but it's not you that got shit on. As we continued around the city i noticed that this city has an infestation of pidgeon even more than i've seen in Toronto. We walked into a classy hotel with shit on my shoulder and back pack strap and made my way to the bathroom to clean up. At this point i'm so not impressed. I clean up and thankfully for the blow dryers i was able to leave as if nothing happened to one of my favorite shirts.
We walk down Russio and over to an esplanade and we have some delicious treats. Natas and queijadas. GUESS WHAT!!!???!!! STARBUCKS. Venti Americano i say and i proudly make my way around dt Lisbon coffee in hand. Justin and walk around snapping pictures every once in a while. and i have to say in about a 30 minute walk i was offered Hash, Cocaine and Pot about a dozen times for sale of course. I kindly declined and continued on my merry way. Now prior to coming to Lisbon i had high expectations and still do. As most of you know i'm a very difficult person to please. We sat for a bit watching some skateboarders failed attempts at ollying off a raised platform. We didn't even make to the water and there was a horrible stench. I have never smelled anything like it's. It's worse than Spadina and Dundas(Toronto's Chinatown) on a hot summers day. When we finally got to the water i totally understood why. There were like a million fish schooling around on the shoreline... and it was just disgusting.
At this point the sun is setting and i manage to take a few good pictures thankfully they are not scratch and sniff...i almost regret leaving the beautiful island of Pico to come here.
Before posting this blog i though i should give this city another chance. I'm not all that impressed.
So today was very sad.We left the island of Pico and came to lisbon. What made it sad was having to say goodbyes, especially my grandmother.
We were at the airport by 10am and the Diana and Cristina met us there. Also my aunt Paula and Renata showed up to say farewell.
The flight to Lisbon was not bad at all and the view from the plane was overwhelming. It kinda dwarf's Toronto by a long shot. We checked in to the Lisbon Dream Guesthouse and realized there was only one queen bed for our room we are taking it for the night since i'm sure there will hardly be any sleep with the lineup we have planned for tonight and be switching rooms in the morning. We got set up with the buzz code and internet access right away and without any setbacks we decided to make a trip and get aquainted with the city.
My first reaction, on foot, was moderately good... within 15 minutes of leaving the hotel i got shat on by a pidgeon. Some of you will say it's good luck but it's not you that got shit on. As we continued around the city i noticed that this city has an infestation of pidgeon even more than i've seen in Toronto. We walked into a classy hotel with shit on my shoulder and back pack strap and made my way to the bathroom to clean up. At this point i'm so not impressed. I clean up and thankfully for the blow dryers i was able to leave as if nothing happened to one of my favorite shirts.
We walk down Russio and over to an esplanade and we have some delicious treats. Natas and queijadas. GUESS WHAT!!!???!!! STARBUCKS. Venti Americano i say and i proudly make my way around dt Lisbon coffee in hand. Justin and walk around snapping pictures every once in a while. and i have to say in about a 30 minute walk i was offered Hash, Cocaine and Pot about a dozen times for sale of course. I kindly declined and continued on my merry way. Now prior to coming to Lisbon i had high expectations and still do. As most of you know i'm a very difficult person to please. We sat for a bit watching some skateboarders failed attempts at ollying off a raised platform. We didn't even make to the water and there was a horrible stench. I have never smelled anything like it's. It's worse than Spadina and Dundas(Toronto's Chinatown) on a hot summers day. When we finally got to the water i totally understood why. There were like a million fish schooling around on the shoreline... and it was just disgusting.
At this point the sun is setting and i manage to take a few good pictures thankfully they are not scratch and sniff...i almost regret leaving the beautiful island of Pico to come here.
Before posting this blog i though i should give this city another chance. I'm not all that impressed.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Day 14 in Pico 10-9-10
Day 14
So I've just finished packing we were going to go to the disco but i'm not really feeling up to it.
The day started off with us driving to Madalena to a place called Dark. It's a little cafe/restolounge bar all rolled into one... Diogo and I played pool while justin and my mother waited for food. The food was edible but nowhere as good as the other food i've been eating.
We left and went to pick up my sisters contact lenses...so Sarah if your reading this I didnt forget...and my mother bought me a pair of Rayban's.
We went to my sisters god-fathers house and said some goodbyes not before getting some places advice on places to hang out in Lisbon where we'll be tomorrow.
We came home and i had some fresh cheese to munch on and after drove over to my grandparents house on my dad's side alone. It was a little emotional considering i don't know when and if i'll see them again. It was really nice though. She gave me a wine kozy and a tray cover all knit in that algora type thread that she did herself... She wished me a good trip and i was on my way.
When i got home Diana and Cristina were there to get their nails done... they didn't realize that we were going out to dinner. We invited them to come along since there was no way my mom was going to be doing anyone's nails this night. It was nice to have the people that i enjoyed being with the most on this trip come along for my last meal in Pico and was it ever the meal. I don't think i ever had such a good piece of Cod Fish the way i did. Justin had the squid which he seems to really enjoy as well. The restaurant wasn't like any other one we had been to while we were here. The setting was rustic and the food was great. We left and made our way to the festa do lagido.
There everyone was dancing to the chamarita again and we downed a few beers. The weather today was cold and rainy so it didn't make for an enjoyable time to be outdoors probably the worst weather we've had since i've been here. However the company is what's made it a very good time. I'm going to miss this place... the animals and the peoples and the coffees even though i haven't had an americano in 2 weeks. I can't wait to hit a starbucks i just hope to find one on the mainland.
I'm not going to post any pictures today. I have taken a few but they are memories i'd just rather not share and keep to myself.
So i guess i'll be signing off and the next time I write will be from Lisbon... hopefully the internet will be faster there. So hope you've enjoyed my Pico trip as much as i have even if it's just through this blog.
To the people that i'm leaving behind... I'll see you soon I'm sure. Amigos para sempre!
Ciao
B
So I've just finished packing we were going to go to the disco but i'm not really feeling up to it.
The day started off with us driving to Madalena to a place called Dark. It's a little cafe/restolounge bar all rolled into one... Diogo and I played pool while justin and my mother waited for food. The food was edible but nowhere as good as the other food i've been eating.
We left and went to pick up my sisters contact lenses...so Sarah if your reading this I didnt forget...and my mother bought me a pair of Rayban's.
We went to my sisters god-fathers house and said some goodbyes not before getting some places advice on places to hang out in Lisbon where we'll be tomorrow.
We came home and i had some fresh cheese to munch on and after drove over to my grandparents house on my dad's side alone. It was a little emotional considering i don't know when and if i'll see them again. It was really nice though. She gave me a wine kozy and a tray cover all knit in that algora type thread that she did herself... She wished me a good trip and i was on my way.
When i got home Diana and Cristina were there to get their nails done... they didn't realize that we were going out to dinner. We invited them to come along since there was no way my mom was going to be doing anyone's nails this night. It was nice to have the people that i enjoyed being with the most on this trip come along for my last meal in Pico and was it ever the meal. I don't think i ever had such a good piece of Cod Fish the way i did. Justin had the squid which he seems to really enjoy as well. The restaurant wasn't like any other one we had been to while we were here. The setting was rustic and the food was great. We left and made our way to the festa do lagido.
There everyone was dancing to the chamarita again and we downed a few beers. The weather today was cold and rainy so it didn't make for an enjoyable time to be outdoors probably the worst weather we've had since i've been here. However the company is what's made it a very good time. I'm going to miss this place... the animals and the peoples and the coffees even though i haven't had an americano in 2 weeks. I can't wait to hit a starbucks i just hope to find one on the mainland.
I'm not going to post any pictures today. I have taken a few but they are memories i'd just rather not share and keep to myself.
So i guess i'll be signing off and the next time I write will be from Lisbon... hopefully the internet will be faster there. So hope you've enjoyed my Pico trip as much as i have even if it's just through this blog.
To the people that i'm leaving behind... I'll see you soon I'm sure. Amigos para sempre!
Ciao
B
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