The captain made a decision yesterday to change our ship's routing for preparation and safety.read more

Cascais Portugal I…read morelove this coastal fishing town. This area of Portugal is much different from Lisbon, the restaurants, shopping, condos and apartments all resides from the small beach and fishing port there. It's off the beaten path of course. I can actually see myself living there, it has everything to accommodate ocean front living. While there we were looking for a spot to have dinner, it was so many establishments to choose from... they the American usual McDonald, Burger King however the choices for local grub seemed endless (if your will to walk). It's a seafood lover haven. We stopped at "Mir" traditional Portuguese Restaurant. We order calamari, garlic shrimp, grilled lamb chops, and Egyptian Tagine. Everything was amazing, came out hot and everything was delicious. Ok, it's hard for foreigners to choose establishments because overseas restaurants solicit on the streets for your business. So, be an adult, take your time and know what you like. Having a great time!!!!

NATURE: When in Cascais make sure that you visit Boca Do Inferno! It's right in the coast and got…read morethe oat beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean ! There were many tourists and the whole area was such a vibe ! Stunning scenery !! Will be back !!

Pretty place, not too much there except a few concession stands and a restaurant. We're there…read moreduring high tide but didn't really see the violent waves crash. Likely will need to go there during rough waves to see that. Not going to fault this place for not putting on a show when I'm not there. I would like to think it would be pretty cool for a bit, but if I can't see myself hanging out there for more than 15 minutes, I think the score is fair.

Tinned fish is popular in Portugal, so I wanted to try some. We stopped at another conserveira, and…read morethis place was more reasonably priced. It has been around since 1930. We went with the Portuguese Sardines in Olive Oil and Stuffed Squid. I haven't tried them yet, but have high hopes...

Personally, I think the visit depends on who you get at the counter. Our first time there, we had a…read moregentleman with salt and pepper hair and glasses, who was super quirky and patient explaining the different fish and varieties. There was clearly a love for the different fish and varieties offered. We bought a lot of tins and ended up going back 2 days later after trying a few. This time, however, the 2 people at the counter completely lacked friendliness. They were only interested in getting through their line. One of the guys couldn't even wrap and tie our properly. Complete 180 from the first visit and not as pleasant. Either way, the fish was quite good and the prices are way more reasonable than Comur and other shops. The first patient associate also explained to us fish with skin/bone is cheapest. Also, the intense flavors (pepper, spicy) are the best!

Outdoor escalators are rather rare across the world so spotting this one and then riding it was a…read morefun experience. Unfortunately, the Escadinhas da Saúde is an "UP" only ride you can't up/down/up to get another easy ride. Completed in 2018 after 18 months of construction, the escalator takes the work out of climbing one of Lisbon's steepest hills and connecting Praça do Martim Moniz and Rua Marquês de Ponte de Lima. The escalator is free to ride and at least today, was in perfect working order. The rest of the climb to either Miradouro da Graça or Castelo de São Jorge, you're on your own though it looks like another escalator is being constructed to Jardim da Graça. This isn't the easiest way to the castle - for that you probably want the 737 bus or the 28E tram. [Review 19061 overall - 254 in Portugal - 30 of 2023.]

At the center of the Praça Luís de Camões and with the trams going past on both sides, the Camões…read moreMonument was unveiled in 1867 and is a statue of Luís de Camões, the national poet, on a lioz limestone pillar. The statue gets pretty well covered by pigeons (please don't feed them) but the steps are a great spot for a rest. Luís Vaz de Camões (c 1524-1580) is concered the Portuguese language's greatest poet, often compared to Shakespeare, Virgil and Dante. The influence of his masterpiece Os Lusíadas is so profound that Portuguese is sometimes called the "language of Camões". The day of his death, 10 June, is Portugal's national day. If you're coming, take the tram instead of climbing the hill. [Review 16640 overall - 155 in Portugal - 151 of 2022.]

The museum is the collection of two contemporary Portuguese artists, Artur Anjos Teixeira…read more(1880-1935) and Pedro Anjos Teixeira (1908-1997). Father and son, respectively. The building was originally built for a waterfall but was converted into a sawmill and finally acquired by the city of Sintra as a depot for city-owned vehicles. In 1976, it was updated and reopened as what is there today, the museum. I did not have the opportunity to visit the indoor museum today but to help me get some culture, they have a dozen or two pieces on public display along the sidewalk of the Volta do Duche that leads from the more touristy areas by the Palácio Nacional de Sintra https://www.yelp.com/biz/palácio-nacional-de-sintra-sintra-2?hrid=-Rpv2keWdbcxWnmuRzD1sQ back to the Sintra Railway Station https://www.yelp.com/biz/sintra-railway-station-sintra?hrid=FzFd6omQFIL8xuX75pLjoA. Many of the pieces are interactive and you can touch, feel and even sit on some of them. See what you like, skip what you don't. Free! [Review 16673 overall - 182 in Portugal - 185 of 2022.]

Located in the roundabout at the center of the Praça do Chile and next to the Arroios metro…read morestation, this is Fernão de Magalhães (1480-1521). He is the Portuguese navigator who led the first circumnavigation of the globe (from 1519 to 1522). You might be more familiar with his anglicized name, Ferdinand Magellan. In 1512, he embarked on the fleet of António de Abreu in search of the discovery of the Moluccas, also known as the Spice Islands. The expedition of Fernão de Magalhães and Elcano was part of the context of the voyages of discovery, represented by personalities such as Christopher Columbus, Bartolomeu Dias, Américo Vespúcio, Balboa, Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares Cabral, among others. This process of maritime expansion was driven by the desire to discover routes that would lead to the Indies in search of spices. He was the first to reach Tierra del Fuego at the southern tip of the American continent, to cross the Strait that now bears his name, and to cross the Pacific Ocean, which he named after him. Ferdinand Magellan was killed in battle at Cebu, in the Philippines. The Magellanic penguin was named after him, as Magellan was the first European to have seen one. Fernão's navigational skills have also been recognized in naming objects associated with astronomy, including the Magellanic Clouds, the lunar craters of Magellan, and the Martian craters of Magellan and NASA 's Magellan space probe. Magellan is also depicted on the famous Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries) in Lisbon harbor https://www.yelp.com/biz/padrão-dos-descobrimentos-lisboa-3?hrid=gQCw9lNKnWmIf6DngrIoAQ. [Review 19007 overall - 205 in Portugal - 2531 of 2022.]