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LISBON - STAY FOR LESS "EURO"

LISBON, Capital of Portugal, is situated on the Atlantic coast of Western Europe. The City is on the steep hills of the North bank of the Tagus Estuary. This was the home of the original "Golden" travellers who set out from Belem in the 15/16C & discovered the New World. Since the devastating earthquake of 1755 the City centre Baixa is essentially 18th C with the hilly, narrow streets of Alfama & Bairro on either side. The construction of the Ponte 25 de Abril Bridge in 1966, inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the City has expanded to the other bank & Outra Banda. GB checked it out 2002 & despite its unique history & white /black mosaic pavements & roads found the City, except Belem, uninspiring & untidy!

ACCOMMODATION (only one hostel in City ???)

Pousada de Juventude YHA at Rue Andrade Corvo 46, Sald anha, 1050 - 009 (North of central Baxia next to Parque Eduardo V11) tele 21 353 2696 - E 12.50 single, breakfast, sheets & lockers. No self - cater but pre ordered meals served, lounge/ TV room on 6th floor ( basic), conference room, decent bar (but music noisy) serves drinks on a large sunbathing patio in summer.Reasonably central but lacks personality, reception closes at 1200 - Metro Picoas

Out of City - Casa da Juventude YHA at Rue de Mosca vide 47 - 101, 1998 (at the Parque das Nacoes, the former 1998 Expo site, 5 miles North) tele 21 892 0890 - from E10 singles, buffet breakfast, open lockers & excellent shower/ wash rooms Good self - service kitchen lounge/ TV area, games room & outside roof patio. It's a long way out of central Lisbon & using the Metro it takes at least one hour to get there - Metro Oriente

FOOD - For self catering snacks is well provided at the Lisbon hostel at a branch of Pingo Doce in Rue Tomas Ribeiro & for more range a visit to the large supermarket basement of El Corte Ingles at Avenida Antonio & the snack bars where the Tapas, Sopa, Pizza & Gelatas counters are a treat , to the Centro Vasco da Gama, Parque das Nacoes near hostel Casa, has a huge Continente hypermarket, again in the basement
Port, the national known fortified wine, dates from the 17 C when British merchants doctored the wine of the northern Douro region with brandy to stop it souring in transit. Over the years methods of maturing & blending were refined; Croft was one of the first shippers.

TRAVELLING AROUND - busses, trams & funiculars accept the same tickets & can be bought on board. 95c single but discounted ones ( 2 for 1)can be bought from the various Carris kiosks around the City centre. Trams ( electricos) are one of the most pleasant ways of sightseeing albeit in a limited area, along the river to Belem & around the hilly parts of Lisbon. Two types of tram operate the charming pre WW1 models & the longer newer sleeker ones; use #12, 15 & 28 for cheaper fares.The Metro has 4 lines (Red M) tickets are sold from station machines are 60c single, or a caderneta 10 E 4.65 or E 1.40 day. The tickets must be validated in the " obliterador" at entrances before you board - system operates 0630 till 0100 each day

"FREE" SIGHTS TO SEE

1. Castelo de Sao Jorge - a Moorish Castle, transformed in the 1930's, tranquil gardens & great views
2. The Se - Lisbons's greatest Cathedral, Romanesque building lit by a beautiful Rose Window
3. Monument to Discoveries -on Belem waterfront reps.500th death of Henry the Navigator
4. Torrede Belem (1521) - was a beacon for navigators returning from the Indies & the New World
5. Mosteiro dos Jeronimos - a magnificent 16 C monastery, finest example of Portuguese Manueline
6. Elevator de Santa Justa - built at the turn of the C it's a wrought iron lift with delicate filigree
7. Mercardo Ribeira - traditional market downstairs, local crafts & restaurant up but see stair tiles
8. Rossio - lively square is a social focal point in Baixa has neo classical buildings & roast chestnuts
9. Rue da Trindade, Bairro Alto - unique tile décor façade of this house features allegorical figures
10. Parque Eduardo - refreshing open area at top of Avenida Liberdade with great views over Lisbon

CHARGE SIGHTS NOT TO MISS

1. Museu Calouste Gulbenkian - holds a stunning collection of art bequeathed by the m/millionaire
2. Museu Nacional do Azulejo - housed in the cloisters of a Convent it traces the history of tiles

(Henry (Africa 1434)Vasco (Indies 1498) Pedro (Brazil 1500)Magellan (Globe 1522) Calam & Lisa)