lobo_mau

Barb, if you like old industrial revolution machinery, you will most likelly enjoy "Central Tejo" or "Museum of Electricity". This Museum was the first power plant of Lisbon, commisioned to feed the tram system. It's in Belem, near all the attractions.
I've never referred because this is not the "cup of tea" of most visitors.

ladylyn915

Thought I posted, but I don't see it.--hope it doesn't show up twice....
Lobo- I'm packing for our trip - we leave on Friday. The weather channel web site is predicting showers and cool temps for next week only 20-21C
Can you tell me what the local forcast is for next Monday- Wed?

Thanks
Lyn

lobo_mau

A nice photo of aqueduct over Alcantara Valley:

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/photo95263.htm

This link refers to Mãe de Água as a castle surrounded by water. I don't know what it means as it surely is a water reservoir.

http://www.planetware.com/lisbon/aqu...p-lisb-aal.htm

If you want to see the Aqueduct from a distance, the spot is Calçada da Quintinha in Campolide. It's possible to walk from Parque Eduardo VII to Amoreiras and from Amoreiras to Campolide. A good spot to observe the Aqueduct and a lot of Lisbon is "Parque da Serafina" kindergarden and park in Monsanto forest, but you can't walk there. A taxi or a rented car is needed. It's a good leisure and relaxing point, with a outstanding view over Lisbon.
It is also possible to walk inside the Aqueduct itself in guided tours. If you wish I can try to collect more information about this possibility.

Barb65

Lobo once again you are a wealth of information and web sites. The Central Tejo does sound like our kind of museum. One of our favorites is the Trolley Car museum in San Francisco! We are strange.

And thanks for the directions to the best places to view the aquaduct. A tour may be more than we need at this point, I see they are limited to only certain times.

We definately will need to return soon as our 2 full days in Lisbon are not going to be enough!

lobo_mau

Campo Pequeno Bullring re-opens today. The stucture, 112 years old was closed 5 years ago, because of it's state of degradation, with some parts in risk of collapse.
After 5 years of intensive works, it's now opened to the public.
The figures are impressive:
- 2,144 sq meters of restaurants
- 829 sq meters of snack bars
- 21 elevators
- 7,000 sq meters of shopping areas
- 16 restaurants and coffee shops (in commercial galery)
- 1,250 parking places
- 8 cinemas with 1,480 seats
- 1 bullfight museum
- 8,000 seats in the main show room

See the pictures in:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/printthread.php?t=181838

It's very centraly located (av Republica) and I think it will become a new center for cultural and artistic activities.

Sarasara, it's the next block from Hotel Berna.

lobo_mau

lady, the local service only forecasts up to 3 days.
For longer predictions, I use http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/POXX0016.html and it says showers and mild temperature.

ladylyn915

Thanks Lobo,

That's what I saw as well.
I was hoping you had a better "crystal ball" that said 24C and sunny. Oh well. We'll pack an umbrella..... See you for the LDC on the 27th

Barb65

any bulls in that bullring?

lobo_mau

Yes, there are. The season opens tomorrow, and the "corrida" is sold out. Except for the bulls, there is little relation with Spanish style bullfights.
There are no "matadores" but "cavaleiros" and "forcados". "Cavaleiros" are horse riding bullfighters and "forcados" are the suicidal squad who hold the bull with bare hands. Whatever you might thing about the event, these events are displays of fine courage and horsemanship.
Portuguese bullfights are divided in "corrida à antiga portuguesa" and "corrida de gala à antiga portuguesa". The later is very nice to see, because half of the time is occupied with 18th century cerimonials. The former has a lighter extent of cerimonials.
This is a "cavaleiro": http://vitor-ribeiro.com/Fotos/index.htm
Notice that the bull represents 500 kg of letal force. Only a perfect team work between man and horse let them to remain alive. In their movement, everything has to be syncronized to the tenth of a second. A "cavaleiro" beyond the spot lights has a hard live, because he/she practices daily from morning to night.
These are "forcados": http://forcadosdemontemor.com/galeria_detail.php?nID=13 The photos speak for themselves.

Matt_from_England

Sounds like a load of old "bull" to me. Personally not a fan of harming animals under the guise of a spectator sport, but the actual Bullring itself is beautiful now that it has been restored with its multiuse. Worth a look round and the gardens in front are cool and shaded on a hot day.

lobo_mau

Virtual tour to Lisbon cow parade, with cow's name, artist, sponsor and location of display:
http://cowparadelisboa.sapo.pt/Default.aspx?tabid=583

Matt_from_England

Well I have returned from my trip north but it all ended rather unexpectedly for me having suffered mild food poisoning on the Sunday night that I arrived in Regua. (Still suffering its aftershocks) This forced me to cancel my trip on the historic train on the Corgo line and I stayed in my darkened hotel room whilst everyone else went and the only trips I made were to and from the bathroom to be sick... It was a very uncomfortable journey back to Lisbon for me.

Details and photos to follow but just as an appeteiser I can honestly say that the trip along the Douro river from Porto Campanha station to Regua is one of the most beautiful and scenic journeys I have ever made, period. The railway follows the river's every bend and most of the time runs right along the bank side. Just, well, mindblowing. The trip from Porto was cheap - making it an appealing day trip for anyone staying in the north of the country.

Now I'm back to lie down again on the sofa and in a day or two I'll download photos and write up a more comprehensive trip report.

Take care

Matt

lobo_mau

That's bad news. I understand it's not a good occasion to invite you for LDC field work. I hope you to recover quick and completely.

Barb65

Matt so sorry to hear of your food poisoning - where should we NOT eat?

But I am looking forward to your photos and our trip to that area in 2+ weeks.

Get well soon.

Lobo I am not sure about the Bull fights. We did go to one in Spain and it was an interesting show - it was the audience that scared me more! I understand the bull does not get killed in Portugal?

But the new bullring itself looks like a place to see. And the cow parade! We have that type of thing here and I have many photos of horses, pandas, etc. So another must to look for.

ladylyn915

Lobo- Love the pics of the Lisbon cow parade. will be on the lookout while we are visiting. A couple of years ago, NYC had cows everywhere-- they are adorable.


Matt, feel better soon!

Lyn
Lyn

travelling_joy

hi - i'm tagging onto this email chain because i know that matt and lobo are lisbon locals and i'm hoping i can ask a quick question (although this may seem strange). btw, i love your comradarie and have dutifully written down many of your suggestions - thx so much!

so! my husband and i have two small children and don't get to travel much anymore. we are travlling to portugal next week (22 - 28) and it is a BIG deal to us. we are going to lisbon (and sintra, caiscais, etc) and when i look at the weather reports it is solid rain. not overcast, not scattered showers, just rain rain rain. now, we are not beach people and we do not need sunshine or even warm weather, but we are walkers (best way to get to know a city!) and love to sit at outside cafes and people watch. is may the rainy season in portugal? i don't want to seem to crazy, but i am actually considering changing our plans to go somehwhere else because i don't know when we'll get a chance to get away again - it could be years! a full week of rain seems rather dismal. are you also seeing similar weather forecasts locally?

lobo_mau

Before I answer, I have to make sure that post #300 is mine

lobo_mau

That's not easy to answer you question. The site I use mostly for weather forecast says there should be showers all over the week.
If you have a long held wish to visit Lisbon, I think that some showers won't make you change your minds. Otoh, if you are driven mostly by the prospects of fair weather, then I think that there are much more interesting places to go.
Whatever you decide, don't forget that there is one LDC meeting in Lisbon Saturday 27th. If you give a chance to us, please let me know, but only if you are sure you'll show up.

lobo_mau

Last update on LDC meeting:
Participants
Matt+Liz
Lobo+Loba
Nancy1652+1
Ladylyn915+1
Bailey6325+1
Cindy+Jason
Vitor
If anybody wants to quit, or changed plans, please let me know, otherwise I'll assume that all the 13 above will show up.
The cost is 27.5 euros/person (all included). Credit cards not welcome.
Meeting point: newspapers kiosk near Pasteis de Belem, 7pm.
Menu: starters, linguiça (Portuguese sausage) grilled with bread, octopus salad, shrimp açorda, turkey steak with mushrooms, rice pudding, camel spit and other sweets, red wine, non-alcoholic drinks, expresso coffee, port wine.
Entertainment activities: fado experience performed by professionals and karaoke led by guest artist Matt_from_England (available musics include Portuguese, Brazilian, Spanish, English and American hits).
Estmated time before we are kicked out the premises, because the owner wants to go sleep: 1:30 to 2:00 am.
After Matt recovers, we are going there for field work.

Matt_from_England

<i>karaoke led by guest artist Matt_from_England</i>
Yes I've just remembered, I have other plans that night...