Best of Lisbon, Portugal

 

Must-See Neighbourhoods:

Chiado

Príncipe Real

Bairro Alto

Avenida de Liberdade

Alfama

Belém

Must-See Sights:

Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara (Chiado and Príncipe Real)

Castelo de São Jorge (Alfama)

Praça do Comércio (Baixa)

Mosteiro do Jerónimos (Belém)

Best Beaches:

Praia da Conceição and Praia do Tamariz, Estoril (30 minutes from Lisbon)

Praia do Guincho, near Sintra (45 minutes from Lisbon)

Best Rooftop Bars:

PARK (one of the best rooftops in town – great for a “sunset drink”!)

The Bairro Alto Hotel (in the centre of Chiado)

Best Restaurants / Foodie Spots:

Cantinho do Avillez

Mini BAR

Enoteca De Belem

Bica do Sapato

Cervejaria do Bairro (great for seafood dishes and beer)

Caso de Pasto (in Cais do Sodré)

Mercado do Peixe (the best for fish)

Nunes Real Marisqueira

Mercado da Ribeira (the market down by the train station near the seafront)

O Poleiro (very traditional, out of the city centre)

Cervejaria Ramiro

Best Custard Tart Joints

(Yeah it’s a thing – Pastel de Nata)

Pasteis de Belem

(That’s a happy face)

 

[Photos: joint effort between me and Vicki Brand]

[Recommendations thanks to Ioannis Loizou and Diana Marques]

Losing

Don’t make me say the words

No forevers, just for nows

I’m not losing myself in somebody else

No patience for false vows

 

Stop those eyes locking with mine

Your hand is too heavy on my chest

Only one can be saved from the firing line

I need an empty bed; I need some rest

 

Love me

And leave me

I’ve run out of love and lies

And I’m too tired for feigned goodbyes

 

Go on – step out into the sun

Go have fun, become someone

 

 

Best of Rome, Italy

The Tiber (the third longest river in Italy)

Vatican City (Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel)

Be warned; it’s really hot in August. And there’s no air-con in the Vatican. You’d think the pope might have made the effort but nope.

The Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus

Although when it’s over 40 degrees, there’s not much hopping off.

The Colosseum

The Trevi Fountain (make sure it’s not closed; I was not amused)