the_lisbon_connection blog

Picture credit: www.cvilarpics.tumblr.com   This was my second time in the infamous Amsterdam . My first time there was in March 2013, and as we arrived the first thing anyone told us was “hey, welcome to the north pole. It’s the coldest month of March since 1920 something”. Jackpot! This time around was much better weather…not great if you consider that I am travelling from 30 degrees in Lisbon, but definitely better! So here are a few points on Amsterdam and Zaanse Schans the lovely place with the Windmills. Here are a few FAQ from my friends about Amsterdam: Public transport/trams On both trips I used the tram only three times. Twice to get to the hotel with the bags and another time to get a TerraVision bus stop to get to Brussels from a further part of town. I guess this depends on how much you enjoy walking and, where your hotel/hostal is. This time we were in Munk Hotel in Achtergracht Street and the other time I was near Leidseplein which was also...

Day 1 – Adventure begins! My friend Joana, who is quite a citizen of the world (having lived in São Paulo, Scotland, and New York in the past few years) is now living in Dublin! Since I went to visit her, there will be no reviews on where to stay - Joana is simply a fantastic host! In terms of Dublin and the nearby areas, there is plenty to discuss…and an urge to go again! First of all if you are travelling from Lisbon you can fly Air Lingus or/and Ryanair and have a cheap ticket if you avoid high season and book in advance. From the airport to central city just take the turquoise buses ( 10€ return). As I arrived a little bit after lunch hour, we grabbed some delicious sandwiches to go at a place smartly called Lunch and headed out to eat outside at Trinity College lawn fields, whereas most students were also soaking the fleeting sun. We spent the afternoon just walking around town with a little few shopping stops – check out Avoca, a very cool store with Irish made stuf...

This past week my mother and I had the opportunity to check this year's World Press Photo awards in Lisbon at Museu da Eletricidade . From Malaysia airline's crash destructions, sports photojournalism, to a photographer who decided to use a drone to photograph American daily activities from above, this exhibition compiles a set of powerful testaments of lives surrounding us. Sometimes lives and situations which we ignored or others we knew about but never really looked in that perspective. A circus monkey terrified as he watches his trainer coming his way; an Iranian mother holding her long missing son's clothes; a picture taken from above of a very full boat which has been trafficking desperate refugees into Europe across the Mediterranean sea; a collection of moments in the life of  a woman/ mother/ daughter with AIDS and the red picture of a Christmas ornament factory worker in China are some of the works still vivid in my mind. To complete these amazing ...

Brunch at Chef Nino - Lx Factory Brunch is such a lovely invention! In Portugal brunch is done a special way!  There will be no mimosas and eggs are an option, not a rule! Still it’s quite amazing to get everybody together for a late breakfast/ light lunch altogether. I normally go with friends and we just love to sit around, take our time trying all the delicious options, enjoying the good company and the chance to catch up with everything that’s been going on in each other’s lives. Yesterday I tried another great Brunch in Lisbon! This time in LX Factory! I had been to Café da Fábrica about a year or so ago on a beautiful summer day. This time we tried Chef Nino’s brunch. They don’t accept reservations and the place is quite small, so the best way to get a table is to be there right when it opens at 12:30. We arrived a little past one and had to wait around 20minutes but the staff is very nice, they will keep your phone number and give you a call whenever the table be...

Movie to get you inspired: Woody Allan’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona! La Pedrera roof top Been twice to  Barcelona  and had a blast both times! If you want to go in the summer book in advance and stay in the city. We were allured into staying near the beach area by the Costa   Dorada which made us have to drive for 30 minutes every day to get to town. It was okay, because we stayed a week and managed to combine beach time, the city and even a trip to PortAventura. But this specific beach area was more a parents, kids and dogs destination, nothing to die for and I would not recommend it unless you are going with your family and on a budget! Barcelona on the other hand is amazing! The red tourist bus ride around town is a great option for you to get an overall sight of the many things to see in Barcelona (and some history intel as well). You can buy a day pass which gives you access to three different roots that cover different interesting areas – even the Barça...

Last weekend we paid a visit to the Invicta , as portuguese like to call it. Porto for us, Oporto for everybody else! Even though it was cold and rainy we manage to have a great time! These were the high points: Rua das Flores , the urban art that has been done in the buildings which are being renovated, and the electrical boxes are a different type of art fun to see. Also many cool restaurants and cafes have open. Explore the old city, from  Sé  down to  Ribeirinha  and get  a nice view of the old little alleys and streets of Porto. A stroll alongside the Ribeirinha and Gaia , great place for pictures and beautiful view of the city. To complete the scenery cross the beautiful Ponte de São Luis (the one resembling the Eiffel Tower) to Gaia (I recommend crossing the bridge on top and head back on the bottom part – both views are wonderful). In Gaia you can go to the Caves for free, where they explain all the process of making P...

Comme Ça  – loved this place! The food, the decoration, the crowd, the waiters and the live music which made our dinner so pleasant. The concept is fun, all dishes cost 12€ served with potatoes in the oven and a mixed salad and it’s enough for two people to share. We had the rosbife in a mushroom soup and the little stakes with herbs sauce, all of it delicious! Ohh and a nice bottle of João Pires (Portuguese white wine which has a little taste of moscatel, a sweet Portuguese liquor!)