Galápos Beach and Bond's Arrábida

Lately, every time I go to Portugal, I end up having my last vacation's day in Galápos, a beautiful beach nearby Setúbal, a city located on the northern bank of the Sado River estuary, approximately 40 km south of Lisbon.

From Férias Portugal 2012

Galápos is situated in Arrábida Natural Park. That means we are next to the sea surrounded by hills and trees. A very nice place to go.

From Férias Portugal 2012

A stretch of road in Arrábida Natural Park was the scenery where Tracy Bond - played by Diana Rigg - is shot dead by Irma Bunt - played by Ilse Steppat - in a drive-by shooting at the end of the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service  (1969).



Arrábida 's and Galápo's beauty made me forget for a time my worries with my cat.
I arrived in the NL very sad since the veterinary had told my husband - during my stay in Portugal - that probably our beloved cat would only live for a couple of weeks more. Knowing that, my husband presented me with this pretty bouquet of flowers.How sweet is that? :-)

From Férias Portugal 2012

Meanwhile, Fofinho is still with us. :-) He has been a brave cat!
Last week, I went again with him to the veterinary. Some blood tests were done and more exams will follow next week. Let's see how it goes....

From Beira Gare to Santini

A day with my dear friend C. in Lisbon and Cascais

I and my friend C. met in the beautiful Neo-Manueline Rossio Railway Station (Estação do Rossio) in Lisbon. Our meeting place was not chosen by chance.You see, I wanted to go to the restaurant in front, the Beira Gare, to eat a simple Bifana. While waiting for my dear friend, I was happy to see that the Beira Gare was still open and full of customers. I was afraid that due to the economical crisis this picturesque restaurant would have closed its doors. But no, Beira Gare was still alive and kicking.

From Férias Portugal 2012

Beira Gare's Bifana, is really, really delicious and considered by many the best in Lisbon! A Bifana is a sandwich of pork fried in garlic and white wine and served in a heated bread. I simply love it!! And it is so cheap: 2.40€!!! Can you believe it?! Give it a try if you go to Lisbon!

After our lunch we walked until the Cais do Sodré railway station where we took the train to Cascais. For a half hour we enjoyed the Tagus River and then the Atlantic Ocean amazing views. Arriving in Cascais railway station, we went to the beach nearby, Praia da Conceição. After enjoying a splendid sunny afternoon there, we went finally to Santini for a delicious ice-cream.
In this photo, my friend C. is holding my mango and strawberry ice-cream. Looks yummy, don't you think?

From Férias Portugal 2012

Santini ice-salon opened its doors in 1949 in Cascais. Soon became well-known for the quality of its ice-creams. The European Royal families living in exile in Cascais - from Spain and Italy among others - soon became Attílio Santini's customers and developed a friendly relationship with him and his family. Along the years going to Santini to eat an ice-cream became a delicious tradition when in Cascais.

Lisbon, Parque das Nações

Welcome to the Parque das Nações!

This lively leisure, commercial, and residential area of Lisbon is beautifully located next to the River Tagus Estuary. The Expo '98 World Exhibition was held here after a huge recovering process of the area during the 1990s . "The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future" was the theme of  Expo '98. The aim: to commemorate the 500 years of Portuguese discoveries.
In the photo below, Gil, the mascot of Expo '98. The name was chosen in honor of the Portuguese navigator Gil Eanes, who, in 1434, sailed beyond Cape Bojador in Africa, until then impassable.

From Férias Portugal 2012

This is one of the several volcano fountains in the park

From Férias Portugal 2012

Love it!

From Férias Portugal 2012

One of my favorite Parque das Nações spots: The Water Gardens ( Jardins da Água )

From Férias Portugal 2012

Lisbon Oceanarium (Oceanário de Lisboa), the largest indoor Aquarium in Europe, designed by Peter Chermayeff, the same architect of Osaka Oceanarium, the largest aquarium in the world.  In the photo below, Vasco, the Lisbon's Oceanarium mascot.

From Férias Portugal 2012

In Lisbon's Oceanarium central tank, you will find about 100 species from around the world, including sharks, rays, tuna, barracudas, groupers and moray eels. One of the main attractions is a large Sunfish. Around the main tank, there are four more tanks, representing different world environments: the North Atlantic rocky coast, the Antarctic coastal line, the Temperate Pacific kelp forests and the Tropical Indian coral reefs.

From Férias Portugal 2012

If you want to enjoy the amazing view of the Tagus River and of the largest bridge in Europe - Vasco da Gama Bridge - I strongly recommend you a trip in the Parque das Nações cable car (teleférico).

From Férias Portugal 2012

From Lisboa 2011

Finally, if you want to discover more sights of Lisbon, take your train in Parque das Nações, at Oriente Station (Gare do Oriente). Designed by Santiago Calatrava, it's one of the largest stations in the world.   

In Oriente Station, you'll find a Metro station, a high-speed, commuter and regional train hub and a local, national and international bus station, as well as a shopping center, named after Vasco da Gama, the first European to reach India through the sea (1498).

The view of Gare do Oriente from Vasco da Gama Shopping Center

From Férias Portugal 2012

I have enjoyed a splendid day in Parque das Nações with my goddaughter, her mother and her sister. I'm sure you will enjoy it too, if you want to visit it one day!

Back in 1998, it was like this...Have fun!

Alcochete and the Doces da Vila

Nearby the most important church of Alcochete (the Igreja Matriz),

From Férias Portugal 2012

I have found the delicious toasts and pastries of "Doces da Vila" (Town Sweets)...

From Férias Portugal 2012

My friends took me there telling me that I would enjoy it very much. And so I did! The toasts, for example, are quite and absolutely delicious! Do you see the photo below? Can you believe they call this big toast a half toast?! True!

From Férias Portugal 2012

The quality of the pastry also pleased me very much.The photo below was taken by my friends. On the left side, a pastel de nata, and on the right side, a Doce da Vila. They smelled and tasted really, really good!

From Férias Portugal 2012

If you want to go there, the address is Rua Beato Manuel Rodrigues, nr 9, a street nearby the Miradouro Amália Rodrigues, behind the Igreja Matriz.

I hope you have enjoyed this mini-trip to Alcochete!
If you go there, I'm sure you'll have a splendid day!
A stroll in the morning by the river, taking pictures of the ancient streets and the typical fisherman boats...
A delicious grilled fresh fish in one of the many terraces located in the town's historical center...
A lazy afternoon in the Windmills beach (Praia dos Moinhos)...
An exciting evening in Freeport, the biggest outlet in Europe...
There is plenty to do in Alcochete!
Have fun there!

Alcochete, Lisbon and the Tagus River

Lisbon from the River Tagus South Bank...

Miradouro Amália Rodrigues (belvedere) in the historical town of Alcochete....

From Férias Portugal 2012

Next to the church of Our Lady of Life - for me, the most beautiful corner and turnabout of Setúbal Península....

From Férias Portugal 2012

In the Tagus, some fishing boats...Lisbon behind...

From Férias Portugal 2012

On the right side of the photo, the church of Our Lady of Life. This photo was taken in front of Rossio, a beautiful garden area in Alcochete with a fantastic view of Lisbon...

A very nice place for a stroll in the morning....

From Férias Portugal 2012

or during the sunset...

From Férias Portugal 2012

Lisbon by sunset... and the Ponte Cais (bridge peer) in Alcochete...

From Férias Portugal 2012

I think the biggest boat is Fragata Alcatejo....

From Férias Portugal 2012

Rossio in Alcochete by night...

From Férias Portugal 2012

Holidays in Portugal

I almost wasn't able to go to Portugal last September. My cat Fofinho has been very ill,demanding constant care and attention. This time, we couldn't ask our neighbors to take care of him. Too much work and responsibility...

So, my husband stayed here with him and I managed to go to Portugal  to visit my mother, the family and a couple of  friends.

My mother's health has been worse - she has many difficulties to walk and a lot of pain in her back and legs- and I wanted to spend some time with her and take some measures to make her life easier and comfortable.

I arrived in Portugal very tired since I hadn't been sleeping very much due to my cat's situation. I wasn't feeling very relaxed either, fearing that something might happen to Fofinho while I was in Portugal and my husband would have to deal alone with some unpleasant and painful situation. The expectations given by the vet were very bad...

My stay in Portugal was a bit depressing since I found some of my friends and relatives facing serious economical troubles.Every year I go to Portugal, the economical situation looks worse than before. Some of my friends have lost their jobs, other needed to close their businesses, etc, etc...

Meanwhile, we almost lost Fofinho during my short stay there, but since I arrived to the NL, he looks better.Let's see how it goes. I keep going with all the treatments. Soon, I will write a post all about it.

I have so many things on my mind now- I feel like I have two lives, one here, one there- that my mood for blogging has been very low.I 'm now trying, for example, to understand all the new rules and taxes of the Portuguese State Budget 2013, so I can explain to my mother in the best possible way how she will be affected by all this mess. The economical situation in Portugal is critical than ever and this time, she will lose a considerable deal of money that could be used, for example, in thermal treatments or to help paying someone to take good care of her at home a couple years from now.

Nevertheless, Portugal is still for me the most beautiful country in the world, and for some moments, I was able to forget all my fears and worries...:-)

Portugal, September 2012

Alcochete

From Férias Portugal 2012

Cascais

From Férias Portugal 2012

Galapos, Setúbal

From Férias Portugal 2012

 Lisbon, Parque das Nações

From Férias Portugal 2012

Santorini: Akrotiri

After our lunch in Oia, we drove to Akrotiri Bay to enjoy our afternoon in the Red, White and Black Beaches.
On our arrival to Red Beach, we spotted this beautiful white chapel. Santorini is a very religious island, with many chapels, most of them private, as far as I heard.
In the photo, you see the tourists favorite means of transportation, ATV's, much easier to drive in the island due to the bad road conditions. Be careful when driving there especially because each road is a two way road. Also be aware that most of the time, when driving in the island, there are no protection rails, pedestrian crossings or sidewalks.

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

Red Beach's view is very pretty but if you wish to go there, you should wear proper shoes to cross the cliffs.Go slowly and carefully. What you see is what you get. Most of the way, there are no proper wood paths to cross nor handrails.

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

In spite of its impressive beauty, we decided to get the boat that had just arrived for the White and Black Beaches.Red B. was crowded and there was no space available to lay down and relax. 

For the same reasons, on our arrival to White Beach, we decided to try Black B. instead.

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

Smaller, with calm and transparent waters and not so many people, Black Beach was the right choice for us!

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

At 18:00 pm, was time to return to Red B. More boats available only in the following day.

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

This time, we could lay down and enjoy the beauty of the place. However, we didn't stay long, since we wanted to go to Akrotiri to watch the sunset, the same one in Oia, but in a more quiet way.
;-)

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

From Santorini: Sunset at

From Santorini: Sunset at

From Santorini: Sunset at

Santorini:Oia

Oia:one of the foremost tourist attractions of the Aegean Sea.  

Oia is absolutely lovely with its white houses facing the deep blue Aegean Sea.

From Santorini:Oia

From Santorini:Oia

This is a photo of its medieval fortifications that used to protect the town from the pirates. Usually -on a daily basis, actually- tourists come here to watch the sunset, considered by many one of the most beautiful in the world.

From Santorini:Oia

From Santorini:Oia

The cliffs also offer astonishing views...

From Santorini:Oia

If you want to go downstairs, it's better by donkey. Besides, it's more picturesque. ;-)

From Santorini:Oia

The town has a lot to offer like the many traditional shops where we can find interesting crafts and fine local products, like necklaces, earrings and bracelets in black lava stones. I bought some pieces for me and to offer to my family. They are not expensive, especially considering that they are handmade products. I also bought a pair of leather sandals for only 24 euro!!

From Santorini:Oia

Finally, the view from the restaurant where we enjoyed our lunch.

From Santorini:Oia

Just a final remark: we were advised to take our walk in the town during the morning due to the heat, which, indeed, revealed itself to be a very wise tip from our car rental agent in Kamari. ;-)

Eating and Drinking in Santorini

In Santorini, we tried some Greek delicacies we loved very much, like:

Fava,

Stuffed Vine Leaves

and

Prawn Saganaki

Generally served as appetizers or side dishes, we ordered each one of them as a light and delicious lunch combination.

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

Looking at the photos, it seems we were in Portugal, don't you think? ;-) The dishes are very well served and the prices are also very affordable. These photos were taken in our favorite restaurant in Kamari: Alexis Tavern.

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

Alexis became our favorite with its very friendly staff and delicious food, but in general terms, I think Kamari has very nice restaurants, as we can see in the photos below.

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

And guess where we had our first lunch in Santorini? ;-))

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

In Almira Restaurant!! :-)) Interesting, since we live in Almere, Netherlands :-))

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

There we tasted the local beer Red Donkey. If you wish to know the interesting story behind this beer, please, click on the link.

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

Santorini also offers very nice wines like this Lava Rosé. Give it a try if you go there! :-) Delicious!

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

Have you ever been in Santorini? Did you enjoy the food and the wines there? Would you like to share your experience with us? :-)