Wednesday, December 14, 2011
I have almost neglected my blog!
Hubby is very active in his own blog and he kept on encouraging me to have my own blog. "Why don't you have your personal blog? It is so fun you know??" That's what he kept telling me. Oh yes!!! I have had a blog before, this blog, I almost forgot about it. I recalled the reason I became passive. I was pregnant. It all stops when I saw the 2 lines on the kit. Now when I read back my previous posts. I realize that it wasn't finish. There is still another station I didn't blog - Madrid. In fact, I still plan to blog all other places that I have visited before. I hope my excitement won't just fade up easily like last time. :P
Thursday, October 7, 2010
13th - 15th September 2010 Lisbon & Sintra of Portugal
5 of us extended our trip further to Lisbon, Portugal. Arrived Portugal at night, and we quickly hopped into a taxi to the hostel that we booked in advance.
Hostel: Next Hostel
Website: http://www.nexthostel.com/find_us.html
Rates: €30 (2 nites - 6 bedded dorm)
This is my first experience staying in a dorm but I am very lucky to have the whole room with 6 beds of peoples that I know. We were supposed to travel in a group of 6. One of us couldn't make it due to work arrangement, but she still pay for the bed as she can get back the reimbursement from the company. So we have no stranger in our room at all. The bed room is clean and spacious, just that there is no room service on the next day. The shared bathroom is also better than my expectation. It is clean with good water pressure.
Day 1:
The day starts with a simple breakfast provided by the hostel - Toast with jam and butter, cereals with milk and coffee.
Our destination of the day is to Sintra.
Sintra is both a town and a municipality in the Lisbon Coast region of Portugal. Its spectacular setting, 28km from Lisbon houses a Royal Palace, used by generations of Portuguese royalty prior to the 1910 revolution. The surrounding hills are surmounted by the remains of the Moorish Castle and by the nineteenth-century Pena Palace. Historic Sintra is an heritage patrimony sight declared by UNESCO. The Estoril coast is often considered to be part of the Lisbon coast, which includes Cascais, Lisbon, Sintra, and other nearby municipalities.
We walked to the Rossio Station from our hostel, and purchased the ticket direct to Sintra. If I don't remember wrongly the journey takes estimated 20mins.
Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros): One of the highlights of Sintra not to be missed. Ruins of a castle built by the Moors from the 9th century onwards. Apparently, when Cascais was under the rule of Sintra, a huge fire would be lit here annually to remind the people of Cascais that the Moorish Castle is there to protect them.
Had a good lunch of the local Portuguese food. (Clockwise from top: Bacalhau a Bras, Pizza, Sardinhas Assadas (Grilled sardines) and Omelette with fries (for my vegetarian friend))
(Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacalhau_%C3%A0_Br%C3%A1s)
Leaving Sintra in the evening and arrived Lisbon for our next destination - The Santa Justa Lift
The Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa) ,also called Carmo Lift (Elevador do Carmo, is a lift in the city of Lisbon situated at the end of Rua de Santa Justa. It connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo (Carmo Square.)
The Santa Justa Lift was designed by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard, an engineer born in Porto to French parents. Construction began in 1900 and was finished in 1902; originally powered by steam, it was converted to electrical operation in 1907.
The iron lift is 45 metres tall and is decorated in neogothic style, with a different pattern on each storey. The top storey is reached by helicoidal staircases and has a terrace that offers views of Lisbon Castle, the Rossio Square and the Baixa neighbourhood. There are two lift cages, each with a wooden interior and accommodation for a maximum of 20 passengers.
The lift has become a tourist attraction in Lisbon as, among the urban lifts in Lisbon, Santa Justa is the only vertical one. Others, including Elevador da Glória and Elevador da Lavra, are more like funiculars that help climb the slopes of Lisbon.
(Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Justa_Lift)
Day 2:
We went to Belem District on this day. Taking Tram 15 from downtown heading to Jeronimos Monastery, Discoveries Monument and the Belem Tower.
UNESCO says...
Jeronimos Monastery was declared a World Heritage monument because: "Standing at the entrance to Lisbon harbour, the Monastery of the Hieronymites - construction of which began in 1502 - exemplifies Portuguese art at its best."
The Jeronimos Monastery is the most impressive symbol of Portugal's power and wealth during the Age of Discovery. King Manuel I built it in 1502 on the site of a hermitage founded by Prince Henry the Navigator, where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal in prayer before leaving for India. It was built to commemorate Vasco Da Gama's voyage and to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for its success. Vasco da Gama's tomb was placed inside by the entrance, as was the tomb of poet Luis de Camões, author of the epic The Lusiads in which he glorifies the triumphs of Da Gama and his compatriots. Other great figures in Portuguese history are also entombed here, like King Manuel and King Sebastião, and poets Fernando Pessoa and Alexandre Herculano.
Belem Tower was declared a World Heritage monument because: "It is a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world."
Built in 1515 as a fortress to guard the entrance to Lisbon's harbor, the Belem Tower was the starting point for many of the voyages of discovery, and for the sailors it was the last sight of their homeland.
It is a monument to Portugal's Age of Discovery, often serving as a symbol of the country, and UNESCO has listed it as a World Heritage monument.
Hostel: Next Hostel
Website: http://www.nexthostel.com/find_us.html
Rates: €30 (2 nites - 6 bedded dorm)
| Address: Avenida Almirante Reis, 4 - 5th floor, 1150-017 Lisboa,Portugal |
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| actual photo taken by us |
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| photo from the hostel website |
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| photo from the hostel website |
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| photo from the hostel website |
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| photo from the hostel website |
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| actual photo taken by us |
Day 1:
The day starts with a simple breakfast provided by the hostel - Toast with jam and butter, cereals with milk and coffee.
Our destination of the day is to Sintra.
Sintra is both a town and a municipality in the Lisbon Coast region of Portugal. Its spectacular setting, 28km from Lisbon houses a Royal Palace, used by generations of Portuguese royalty prior to the 1910 revolution. The surrounding hills are surmounted by the remains of the Moorish Castle and by the nineteenth-century Pena Palace. Historic Sintra is an heritage patrimony sight declared by UNESCO. The Estoril coast is often considered to be part of the Lisbon coast, which includes Cascais, Lisbon, Sintra, and other nearby municipalities.
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| Departure time 9.31 to Sintra |
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| @ Rossio Station |
We walked to the Rossio Station from our hostel, and purchased the ticket direct to Sintra. If I don't remember wrongly the journey takes estimated 20mins.
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| Ticket for the feeder bus |
We took the circular 434 bus route to the Palácio da Pena, the Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish castle) and other sights. Tickets are only €4.60 and can be used for the whole day.
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| One of the stop by the feeder bus |
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| Try Ginjinha here - which is a favourite liqueur of many Portuguese and a typical drink in Sintra |
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| Palácio da Pena |
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| Palácio da Pena |
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| The carving on the wall of the castle |
Moorish Castle (Castelo dos Mouros): One of the highlights of Sintra not to be missed. Ruins of a castle built by the Moors from the 9th century onwards. Apparently, when Cascais was under the rule of Sintra, a huge fire would be lit here annually to remind the people of Cascais that the Moorish Castle is there to protect them.
(Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacalhau_%C3%A0_Br%C3%A1s)
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| The last pic in Sintra while waiting for the bus to fetch us to the train station ;) |
The Santa Justa Lift (Elevador de Santa Justa) ,also called Carmo Lift (Elevador do Carmo, is a lift in the city of Lisbon situated at the end of Rua de Santa Justa. It connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo (Carmo Square.)
The Santa Justa Lift was designed by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard, an engineer born in Porto to French parents. Construction began in 1900 and was finished in 1902; originally powered by steam, it was converted to electrical operation in 1907.
The iron lift is 45 metres tall and is decorated in neogothic style, with a different pattern on each storey. The top storey is reached by helicoidal staircases and has a terrace that offers views of Lisbon Castle, the Rossio Square and the Baixa neighbourhood. There are two lift cages, each with a wooden interior and accommodation for a maximum of 20 passengers.
The lift has become a tourist attraction in Lisbon as, among the urban lifts in Lisbon, Santa Justa is the only vertical one. Others, including Elevador da Glória and Elevador da Lavra, are more like funiculars that help climb the slopes of Lisbon.
(Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Justa_Lift)
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| the view from the roof top of the lift |
We went to Belem District on this day. Taking Tram 15 from downtown heading to Jeronimos Monastery, Discoveries Monument and the Belem Tower.
Jeronimos Monastery
Jeronimos Monastery was declared a World Heritage monument because:
The Jeronimos Monastery is the most impressive symbol of Portugal's power and wealth during the Age of Discovery. King Manuel I built it in 1502 on the site of a hermitage founded by Prince Henry the Navigator, where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal in prayer before leaving for India. It was built to commemorate Vasco Da Gama's voyage and to give thanks to the Virgin Mary for its success. Vasco da Gama's tomb was placed inside by the entrance, as was the tomb of poet Luis de Camões, author of the epic The Lusiads in which he glorifies the triumphs of Da Gama and his compatriots. Other great figures in Portuguese history are also entombed here, like King Manuel and King Sebastião, and poets Fernando Pessoa and Alexandre Herculano.
Belem Tower
UNESCO says...
Built in 1515 as a fortress to guard the entrance to Lisbon's harbor, the Belem Tower was the starting point for many of the voyages of discovery, and for the sailors it was the last sight of their homeland.
It is a monument to Portugal's Age of Discovery, often serving as a symbol of the country, and UNESCO has listed it as a World Heritage monument.
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| Discoveries Monument |
Across from Jeronimos Monastery, reached via an underpass by its gardens, is the Discoveries Monument, built on the north bank of the Tagus River in 1960 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of Prince Henry the Navigator.
It represents a three-sailed ship ready to depart, with sculptures of important historical figures such as King Manuel I carrying an armillary sphere, poet Camões holding verses from The Lusiads, Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Cabral, and several other notable Portuguese explorers, crusaders, monks, cartographers, and cosmographers, following Prince Henry the Navigator at the prow holding a small vessel. The only female is queen Felipa of Lancaster, mother of Henry the navigator, the brain of the discoveries. The pavement in front of the monument is decorated with a mosaic that was offered by the South African government in 1960, representing a compass with the map of the world charting the routes taken by the Portuguese explorers.
It represents a three-sailed ship ready to depart, with sculptures of important historical figures such as King Manuel I carrying an armillary sphere, poet Camões holding verses from The Lusiads, Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Cabral, and several other notable Portuguese explorers, crusaders, monks, cartographers, and cosmographers, following Prince Henry the Navigator at the prow holding a small vessel. The only female is queen Felipa of Lancaster, mother of Henry the navigator, the brain of the discoveries. The pavement in front of the monument is decorated with a mosaic that was offered by the South African government in 1960, representing a compass with the map of the world charting the routes taken by the Portuguese explorers.
Belém's main street is Rua de Belém, in which there is a 160-year-old pastry shop, at which can be purchased one of the famous pastel de Belém (plural: pastéis de Belém) - custard tarts made with flaky pastry.
It is believed that pastéis de natas was created before the 18th century by Catholic nuns at the Jerónimos Monastery (Portuguese: Mosteiro dos Jerónimos) of Belém, in Lisbon.The Casa Pastéis de Belém in Lisbon was the first place outside the convent selling the original creamy dessert, after the monastery was closed in 1820s, and there they are called pastéis de Belém, after the name of the area and its famous bakery. Since 1837, locals have gone there to get them warm out of the oven and sprinkled with the cinnamon and powdered sugar. These are very popular, with tourists literally waiting hours for them.
The End......................... ^_^
8th - 13th September : Company trip a.k.a. gathering in Barcelona
My 3rd gathering with my company and the destination is Barcelona.
Itineraries planned by the travel agent hired by company:
Day 1:
06:55 - 09:55 KL1665 Amsterdam - Barcelona
Since we are the first batch to arrive, after check-in and the day is still early, we head directly to the town center for sightseeing and some shopping. We went by Metro line towards station: Catalunya.
La Pedrera (Casa Mila), Hosts a large exposition of Gaudi works, covering Sagrada Familia and Casa Batlio, not only La Pedrera itself. The exposition is a good place to start your exploration of Gaudi; it reveals many hidden details for the art novice. Entrance: approximately €10
After a long walk around the city, we headed back to the hotel and get ready for our dinner.
19:30: Transfer to restaurant
20:00: Dinner at Costa Gallega
Passeig de Gracia, 71
08008 Barcelona
Tel: +34 932 153 141
This fancy, 400-seat restaurant is famous with locals for its fresh seafood. Step in and tast their wide range of tapas or the even wider array of dried hams from the slick snack bar. A drink from the well-stocked wine racks, or a good ol' mug of beer goes well with anything on the menu here. Most patrons seem to take to the glossy interiors and the super-fast service—the place is full on any given day!
Day 2:
09:30 Full day meeting with collegues from other locations - Groningen, Stavanger, Houston, Aberdeen, Trondheim
Since the meeting ends at around 4pm and we still have plenty of time before the dinner, we decided to walk to the harbour nearby
19:30: Transfer to dinner
20:00: Dinner at Restaurant Mont juic El Xalet
The restaurant Montjuïc El Xalet, unique in Barcelona, is placed on the emblematic mountain of Montjuïc, called the ‘Jewish Mount’, at the 31 of Miramar Avenue. With its spectacular views of Barcelona, the restaurant, which was inaugurated in 2004, is located next to the swimming pools of the 1992 Olympic Games, and in front of the funicular and the singular telepheric that carries to the top of the mountain and to Montjuïc’s castle.
Torres is one of the biggest and most modern winery in the Penedès area. They are well known in Norway for the Torres Coronas wine with the ox hanging on the bottle neck. In addition to this, they produce many other good wines.
It takes approx. 1 hours driveing from Barcelona to get to the Torres Winery
Itineraries planned by the travel agent hired by company:
Day 1:
06:55 - 09:55 KL1665 Amsterdam - Barcelona
Since we are the first batch to arrive, after check-in and the day is still early, we head directly to the town center for sightseeing and some shopping. We went by Metro line towards station: Catalunya.
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| Casa Mila |
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| at the roof top of Casa Mila |
19:30: Transfer to restaurant
20:00: Dinner at Costa Gallega
Passeig de Gracia, 71
08008 Barcelona
Tel: +34 932 153 141
This fancy, 400-seat restaurant is famous with locals for its fresh seafood. Step in and tast their wide range of tapas or the even wider array of dried hams from the slick snack bar. A drink from the well-stocked wine racks, or a good ol' mug of beer goes well with anything on the menu here. Most patrons seem to take to the glossy interiors and the super-fast service—the place is full on any given day!
Day 2:
09:30 Full day meeting with collegues from other locations - Groningen, Stavanger, Houston, Aberdeen, Trondheim
Since the meeting ends at around 4pm and we still have plenty of time before the dinner, we decided to walk to the harbour nearby
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| The lunch served on that day in the hotel |
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| Port De Barcelona |
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| there is a flea market next to the harbour |
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| Ticket to go sailing |
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| The only shopping mall in Catalunya that opens in weekend and PH |
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| From the back of the mall |
19:30: Transfer to dinner
20:00: Dinner at Restaurant Mont juic El Xalet
The restaurant Montjuïc El Xalet, unique in Barcelona, is placed on the emblematic mountain of Montjuïc, called the ‘Jewish Mount’, at the 31 of Miramar Avenue. With its spectacular views of Barcelona, the restaurant, which was inaugurated in 2004, is located next to the swimming pools of the 1992 Olympic Games, and in front of the funicular and the singular telepheric that carries to the top of the mountain and to Montjuïc’s castle.
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| Ramone - the driver who sent us to this restaurant |
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| the interior of the restaurant |
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| The view from the restaurant |
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| the swimming pool of 1992 Olympic Games - next to the restaurant |
Day 3:
We were given 3 options for this day.
Option 1: City sightseeing Barcelona
Option 2: Tour to Torres
Option 3: Cycle sightseeing in Barcelona
Since we will have plenty of times to go sightseeing on our own, we decided to choose Option 2- Tour to Torres.
It takes approx. 1 hours driveing from Barcelona to get to the Torres Winery
Next we go back hotel, and upon arrival few of us continues our tour to the most famous spot - The Sagrada Familia.
Sagrada Família. Getting up to the tower by elevator costs €2.5, and believe the signs that tell you that the wait could be 120 minutes to ascend. Previously, it was possible to go up the spiral stairs, but now, they allow you only to get back down. The most impressive thing is to see Sagrada Família at night with lights on, this is the time when you understand why people say that it is built of bones. Entrance costs €12. Get the audio commentary for €4 as it is well worth it. You will gain a much better appreciation of the Sagrada Família. Sagrada Família metro station. At busy times, you would be well-advised to take snacks, refreshments and maybe even a personal music player to pass the time in the queue. As of August 2010, there will be a new service of fast entering. Visitors can buy their tickets at any Servicaixa ATM (part of 'La Caixa' bank, easily recognizable by their blue logo and also because there is one just across the street from the entrance) or servicaixa.com
(info: http://wikitravel.org/en/Barcelona)
OK. Here comes the most exciting part of the entire tour. We were given free VIP seatings ticket to watch FC Barcelona club playing in FC Barcelona stadium!
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| A ticket worth €90!! |
We were sitting so so close to the field!
OK game ended with a disappointing result: FC Barcelona 0 and the opponent - Hercules CF won by entering 2 goals!
20:00: Transfer to dinner
20:30: Dinner at Restaurant Can Travi Nou
The restaurant is situated in an old beautiful farmhouse from the 17th century. Outside you will find an attractive garden.
Day 4: We were supposed to leave to the airport today and since we are extending our trip to Lisbon and Madrid we can still stay till evening for the last minute visit in Barcelona! We headed to La Ramblas.
Las Ramblas, a gorgeous tree-lined pedestrian walkway, the busiest and most lively street of the city. Mostly occupied by tourists, expect to pay higher prices for food and drink. Avoid the groups of people supposedly betting on a game played on a cardboard table, they are thieves. Head off into some of the side streets for a cheaper, more local, and authentic experience of Barcelona.
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| Last meal in Barcelona. We finally tasted Paella as it was not in any menu in the entire trip. |
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