Lisbon 19 July tickets?

[blue_bird]

Blue_Bird, I have an apology to make, when I asked you how far it was from Belem to Alges I thought that you said 5Km! ..but in fact I now see it was 5m......(is that 5 minutes?.. by train)

Yes New Zelander, 5 minutes by train from Belem station to Algés, but if the meet will be at "Irish Bar" at Cais do Sodré all fans can catch the train in this station (Cais do Sodré)...for all foreigners take a look in a day before) at Alfama (daylight) and Bairro Alto at night(lots of Restaurants , Bars, etc...) Old Lisbon.

[NewZealander]

Ola Blue Bird,Muito obrigado, and now at the Irish pub for those staying in town there is only one train ride. Believe me I will be out and about investigating all of those lovely waterfront places on the few days before...I see there are bikes to hire there somewhere... so by Saturday..I may even be on crutches!!. ...Seriously I think you mentioned that you may or may not be coming with someone special, well whoever you are with it would be nice to see you....we need to balance the English speakers with some good Portuguese!...we are arriving in your town and taking over your Irish Pub ..Perhaps we will see you?,..I need to learn some more Portuguese...
And now it is Friday evening, after work drinking time here as you have not even started your day ...a nice Central Otago Pinot Gris...I really cant wait to come try your vino verde...adeus.. for now

[Vivamus]

On Sunday we will head for the Algarve.. Looking forward to going back. We were in Praia da Rocha and I think we would like to go back there, so if there is anywhere you can recommend that would be great. Also what is the best way to get from Lisbon to there, Bus or train ??

Sorry for the lateness in replying- Normally, I'd recommend the train, because it's a nicer trip, and the coach can be very tiring in the heat and stops loads (except when you need a pee break), etc., but I just noticed that there isn't a station at Praia da Rocha, so the coach would take you there directly. All the info at: http://www.rede-expressos.pt Unfortunately, there's no English version for that site, but if you click on 'Horarios' (It then says you need Internet Explorer, but it's working fine for me with Firefox), there should be a drop down menu to the left where you can input your departure & destination (check the box for 'Ida e Volta' for return journeys), and then click on the arrow & 'Horario' and all the relevant info should pop up. You can then buy the tickets online or click on 'Postos de Venda' on that site, then specify Lisboa; but I'm sure the front desk at your hotel could point you in the right direction.

As for Praia da Rocha, I haven't been there in AGES, so I'm afraid I can't help you out there, but it's not like there's a shortage of things to do! When were you last there? ...It is quite built up of late, but that's true of the whole area, really.

In Lisbon itself, and I realise I've posted this before, I find this to be a great general information site in English:
http://www.golisbon.com

and, personally, it's worth it just popping in here one night for a drink & a look at the fabulous building:
http://www.casadoalentejo.pt (It won't let you in through the English version, but you can have a look at the pretty pictures anyway.)

There are other links at another thread, which I stupidly started somewhere deep, deep in the bowels of the forum where everyone was bound to miss it:

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=11121

Happy travels, everyone!

[NewZealander]

Well now Vivamus have you talked that "creating others' dreams" husband of yours into chancing another meal at the Irish pub.?..Perhaps tell him that now the Irish are coming it would not be complete without a Scotsman! ...what are those jokes about Scots, Irish, and Kiwis??...oh well I guess there are 20 days left to convince him its not about the food but the company. ..(I thought the menu you posted looked not bad for something quick)...bye

[MFL]

Thank you all for the help,
I think I have everything worked out.
All is set,
Is it too early to pack ????


See you all on the 19th.

[Vivamus]

Is it too early to pack ????

According to my mother, it's NEVER too early to pack.

In other news:

OK, I cave: I had a little "discussion" with my Reluctant Cohenite partner, and "we've" decided to go to the Irish bar, for the conviviality, if not the food. So, could we maybe reiterate what time this would be for, and each of us post the list of people coming, and add our names, so that we know who's coming & can then make a rezzie if we have to, i.e.:

NewZealander
Luis (+ how many? -help a girl out here)
St. Theresa + Partner
MFL + Partner (Is your son coming to dinner as well?)
Vivamus + Partner

....and that's the limit of my listing abilities. Anyone in contact with Magda? Or catwhiskers, who started the original thread?

In the interim, I leave you with a little Portuguese content from Cohen himself, for those of you who may not be familiar with this poem:

[scroll down about half a page, poem's in English]
http://canhoto-da-alma.blogspot.com/

I use that "...the Empire has withered/ To half a peninsula" line ALL the time (at which point Ken usually points out that it's actually far under half, but he knows nothing of POETIC LICENSE, sheesh).

[NewZealander]

ha ha..hooray then!...I was also thinking Vivamus about your vegetarian options, is it in an area of any other eating places..perhaps we sneak out somewhere and get you a vegetarian "something"...Timing would also need to be in relation to the train timetable??..But I guess I can hear the Lisbon folks now laughing at the country girl who often knows here that there is often an hours wait for any sort of bus service, the trains only carry freight these days...hence I am destroying the planet and (with fuel prices rising)my bank balance with constantly running a vehicle...

So Count me as one please. (I guess it would be good to alert them to numbers, does anyone from Lisbon know if we would need to book?)

Presumeably the trains in the area run out towards Casias on a very regular basis??..would we need to be at Alges by say 8.30 at the latest??...

[Vivamus]

OMG, nooo! Don't complicate things at this point! We were nearly there!

Naw, they have salads- I'll be fine. And actually, their menu's more veggie-friendly than a lot of trad Portuguese places.

I shouldn't think that we'll need to book, given how early we're thinking of being there, but I still think it'll be nice to know roughly how big our group will be.

OK, so....Are we thinking like 5 pm (I openly admit I'll be taking a taxi from there to the gig. I know. I am evil and clearly hate the planet.)?

[NewZealander]

I'll probably be along at about 6pm..I have something else (outdoors) planned for the afternoon, if it happens it will end on me getting there about 6....and as for the transport, you're right, lets sort it at the time, a few shared taxis may be just as convenient and perhaps not too much in cost??...

[st theresa]

Hi Vivamus and Nzlander
Glad to hear you will also be at the pub V, although...I am sure by 6:00 I will be starting to hyperventilate with wanting to get there--and near the front... what time do the gates open? Ok I can do this ... breathe.....
again..... I should be unwound from my busy work schedule by then. Summer has finally come to Edmonton--so beautiful this year with amazingly , no mosquitoes so far. I am in heaven already, and Portugal will continue the trend I am sure. I have watched so many of the you tube videos of the concert that I am afraid there will be no surprises, but one never knows. Meeting you lot will be a bit surprising I am sure.

[NewZealander]

Speaking of hyperventilating, Im now going to be disrespectful of all you Northern Hemisphere people..about 10 years ago in NZ the government passed a law that said there was to be no smoking in bars, cafes, governement workplaces...anywhere indoors really....There was a huge outcry as all the pubs who did not have garden bars had to build little smoking alcoves for their patrons outdoors....So now when we go anywhere indoors to eat or drink ..its smoke free ...and in fact now the country has welcomed it with wonder..So what actually seems to happen to me if Im too long in a room of smoke is that my eyes begin to run ... I guess I was judging how long we might be there indoors..along with my need to be seeing absolutely everything in town before I moved on the next morning.....so.... I am flexible on that time....its still early days..and yes St Theresa the pile of work is getting bigger! not less...So once its decided the time we will move on to Alges I will make sure I arrive in time to at least be sociable!..cheers everyone see you soon, the sun is actually shining here this morning.. (through the frost and ice!)...

[MFL]

Im now going to be disrespectful of all you Northern Hemisphere people..about 10 years ago in NZ the government passed a law that said there was to be no smoking in bars, cafes, governement workplaces...anywhere indoors really....

Emm There has been a smoking ban in Ireland for about 5 years now... I think most countries have it now.. You should be ok.

Give us a time and we will be there, My son will join us for dinner, so thats MFL, Mr MFL and Master MFL..

[nickw]

Do Irish bars around the world comply with Irish laws on smoking or local ones? I think smoking in bars and restaurants is still permitted in Portugal.

[MFL]

Do Irish bars around the world comply with Irish laws on smoking or local ones? I think smoking in bars and restaurants is still permitted in Portugal.

I think the smoking ban was brought in in Portugal last year....

[NewZealander]

oh sheez!..certainly dont want to make it seem to be a reason why Im not arriving on time ..Id forgotten actually about Ireland, we have friends here whose son coaches and plays in one of the rugby teams, Ireland is their second home...Sorry guys..it is good though isnt it,eating in a clear atmosphere ...
So anyway there is always a door to outside for one soft kiwi who might feel tight in the chest in the smoke!...(Actually my reaction to it was a very good thing as a teenager on hockey trips trying a fag in the back of the bus....I never was enamoured enough to take up the habit.).... ..Ha ha I must have other vices eh

We'll see...in the meantime did someone say the gates open at 7.30. Was there an outdoor concert in Ireland??...what time did you all need to get there for a good spot?...