Portugal's Costa del Sol: Cascais

France has its famed Cote d'Azur. Spain has its Costa del Sol.

What makes Portugal's Costa del Sol slightly different is Cascais, once an exclusive high-end resort where the Spanish King went in exile from Franco's dictatorship. No longer exclusive nor outrageously expensive, according to the NY Times. A mere 20 minute drive from Lisbon, Cascais has apparently become a popular weekend destination for Lisboetas. And there is more to it. NY Times would not be NY Times without putting an art spin to this article - which seems to be the theme lately (see Geneva's Collection Privee.) Yes, there are some world-class art and art galleries.

So, if you want to go without paying an arm and a leg for King Juan Carlos' residence, try this fly-and-drive package: Costa do Sol - Cascais. You will pay $545 for round-trip flights (from the aforementioned NY City - air taxes not included,) hotel for 5 nights, and car rental for 6 days.

Royal Gardens of Europe: Gardens for Display

Well, don't worry, I won't provide a detailed account of this chapter because I don't want to get sued, plus it's impossible for me to to speed read the fascinating details. I will let you discover them.

In good blogging, web 2.0 (insert cliche here) fashion, I will instead provide a list. (Listmania!!!)

Versailles - Versailles, France (just outside Paris).

Nymphenburg - Munich, Germany

Palacio de Queluz - Queluz, Portugal

Peterhof - St Petersburg, Russia

Palazzo Reale - Caserta, Italy (near Sorrento, The Amalfi Coast)


Ok, so you could swing a Queluz - Paris - Munich - Italy package, maybe. But you should probably break it into two or three trips. How about Lisbon - Paris and then Paris - Munich? I don't know - ask the experts at European Destinations...

Affordable Lisbon

It takes me longer than I thought to review all the articles in the Affordable Europe series of the NY Times. Today, it's Lisbon time! Quite in a timely manner, after finishing the chapter on Portugal from A Year in the World by Frances Mayes. Just like in the book, we find out about azulejos (the famed Portuguese tile) and fado (with the appropriate warning of not falling for the tourist traps). The book is more detailed than the article on food (quite appropriately). The article seems to think that the Pensãos (inns) are the best way to go about lodging.

I'd say: you haven't seen our list of affordable hotels in Lisbon:

Alif
Almirante
Altis Park
Avenida Park
Barcelona
Borges
Botanico
Le Meridien Park Atlantic
Metropole
Radisson Sas
Residencial Horizonte
Residencial Princesa
Residential Estoril
Suico Atlantico
VIP Berna

As always, you should probably be looking into combining Portugal with another country (Spain is the country of choice).

Book Review: One Year in the World (Portugal chapter)

The second chapter of Frances Mayer's of 'Under the Tuscan Sun' fame 'A Year in the World' is dedicated exclusively to Portugal. Given Portugal's size (slightly smaller than Indiana), it is no wonder the author is rushing through this country a lot faster than through Andalucia (maybe a bit too rushed for my taste).

Nonetheless, I believe it to be a very good depiction of Portugal. And I think I am a rather objective observer, since the closest I ever got to Portugal was by visiting the Western Spanish province of Extremadura, without a doubt the sister region of Portugal's very own Estremadura.

In her quest for the meaning of saudade, fado (traditional Portuguese music), and açordas (bread soup), Frances Mayer starts in Lisbon, then goes on to marble city of Estremoz in the province of Alentejo, Evoramonte, Évora, Obidos, Coimbra, Guimaraes, and Lord Byron's very own adopted city of Sintra on Costa do Sol.

When it comes to lodging in Portugal, I agree with Frances Mayer: she loves pousadas (the equivalent of Spain's paradores - historical/rustic accommodation) . They are truly the best places to stay if you are willing to take the Portuguese plunge.

Also, it seems that France Mayer is a big fan of self-drive itineraries, which is probably the best way to experience a country, provided you have the time. Just remember most cars in Europe have standard transmission, are smaller (which is probably a bliss), and some European roads are particularly narrow.

So, if you are ready to see what Portugal, the country that brought to you Vasco da Gama, Brazil, Capo Verde, and port wine is all about, go ahead.