And as said many times, the road warrior goes into Europe and this time Portugal. This was a memorable trip done by friends and by car!! Lovely one two punch of Portugal, that is Porto and Lisbon! Hope you enjoy it as I ,and thanks for reading me over the years! I will do this one on my black and white series of posts! Except have a picture of the hotel not elsewhere in my blog.
Another short but wonderful trip to a very nice country still a lot to find out about it, this is Portugal. I know it well as I speak fluent Portuguese and grew up in their communities, my oldest son’s godfather is from Faro. In all ,I have written a bit on it in previous trips, see posts.
This time, I took my flight from Nantes to Porto on Easyjet, first time using it , ok but still will go for the bigger name airlines thereafter ,just me. I landed a bit late, and went out easy taking a taxi for 17,25 euros to my hotel in the center in Boavista. The ride was nice and even if there are cheaper ways to reach the center, if you can, take the taxi. Nice guy on the ride very talkative, and I was complemented on my Portuguese !!!
The hotel was right by Boavista, nice area, the Fénix hotel , bear in mine there is another Fenix next door call Tuela ,3 stars. I was on the Fénix Porto which is 4 stars ::) webpage: https://www.hfhotels.com/en/hotels-en/oporto/
All they said is true, big rooms and bathroom, nice views over the city, and centrally located to see many. I went by the Casa da Mùsica, a nice center. Here it is home to the Orquestra Nacional do Porto, Orquestra Barroca ,and the Remix Ensemble. Many musical events for all tastes (see post with picture).
As I wandered around the Rotunda da Boavista, you can see the Casa da Mùsica and the wonderful Obelisk of the Portuguese fight vs the French imperial invaders ::) It is ,also call by locals the square or Praça de Mouzinho de Albuquerque. It is 45 meters or 148 feet high and highly decorated on four sides with events in the history of Portugal. (see post)
The shopping Cidade do Porto , is just around the corner from the hotel, and you have several high end stores here. It has been preserved by modifiying several aspects of it after its construction in the 1990’s. You have now several stores and restaurants such as Pizza Hut ,McDonald’s etc and four floor all name as Piso Lazer (-1), Bom Sucesso (0), Gonçalo Sampaio (1), and Mouzinho de Alburquerque(2). It’s an alternative to kill some time in the city, but I won’t make it into a shopping center per se, that I am used to. (see post)
In the back of the shopping center , there is a nice small Chapel, Capela de Nossa Senhora do Bom Sucesso, it dates from 1748, last renovated in 2005. It is done in a rectangular shape with two story façade. Stone staircase that give access to the balcony. Neo Classical in the façade with a portal with tympanum curved interrupted by windows. (see post)
The hightligh of my stayed in this area, was the Mercado de Bom Sucesso market. This is just turning right from hotel on about 100 meters, excellent ambiance, great food, and friendly staffs with full of locals. (see post). I went here for a tour walk around one night as had friends picking me up, and then came back to eat a wonderful seafood rice and scallops on shell with a good local red wine for less than 14€ , this was at the Mariscaria Bom Sucesso. webpage of mercado on restaurant in portuguese: https://www.mercadobomsucesso.pt/lojas/mariscaria-bom-sucesso/
Of course, the market is more than just restaurant, bars and seafood stands, there is also some shopping stores and souvenirs of local craft inside. Worth a visit on any given night. Yes!!!
Then, took the road a bit, and stop by the vinyards of Bairrada in near Murtede, while having lunch at the wonderful local restaurant Cabana do Pastor ( priest’s cabin). Had a great pourco preto with chorizos here and more local red wine to kill for. This is the black feet pigs famous in the region. Being so local , there is no webpage but addresse : Rua Estaçao 5, 3060-407, Murtede, and their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cabana.dopastor/
Coming back to Lisbon ,even for a day was great. I was able to stayed in one of my favorite hotels in the city, for the food ,service, and location. The hotel was the Radisson Blu at Campo Grande; just wonderful facilities, great service, excellent food (try that pourco preto and chorizo again with red wine sublime). webpage: https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-lisbon
I actually left Lisbon for Nantes on Transavia the next day with a free navette bus from hotel to airport! Then, at Nantes airport got into my car for the final drive home (1h30).
Another great stop in Portugal, and always enjoyable. You know the other country in the Iberian peninsula, land of conquistadores, and great food/wine as well as the Fado music genre,and nice beaches. Hope you enjoy the brief tour of Lisbon and Porto!
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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