thanks @ziggy. I think we have figured out a place to stay in Lisbon at this point - though I havent decided how long we will want to stay - from what I have been reading so far and judging by online comments, its not my impression that it has the density or number of major cultural attractions of many cities we have loved like Rome, say, where if one place is an obvious tourist draw there are dozens of others you can enjoy unbothered - which means there may be long lines to deal with even in winter. I dont know if we have the appetite to be part of a tourist scene any more. We have a goodly list of restos now thanks to you and others here, and other research so I am now turning my thoughts to day trips out of town and where else we might go in the country as part of this vacation, so thanks for your broader reports here and on your blog. I did note that one of your Origens restos seems to be permanently closed which is really too bad - your account of the place and the town was VERY appealing. https://www.facebook.com/origensalcobaca/. Maybe will will be able to visit the other!
Ahh, I really liked that one. Too bad. One of two Origens we enjoyed. Speaking of, I recommend Evora, and its country side for a few nights. I dont know about birds. but it compliments Lisbon and the rest of the sights nicely.
It bummed me - aside from everything else, Alcobaca seemed like exactly the type of place we like to go.
really appreciate the energy you put into your blog!
You may find Alcobaca charming still, and good food. Maybe there’s something even better than Origens. Any success wont be due to the tourists, that just come to see the church.
very true -I am really just starting the travel research now. It used to be simpler!!!
Thanks, TeresaE. Have you ever visited during the last week of December/1st week of January? Is it crowded then? (right before the pandemic, we visited Prague just after Christmas and it was wall to wall tourists on the Charles Bridge and everywhere else in the city - a very unpleasant surprise that we were NOT expecting that and it’s the first question I ask now on the regular when thinking of travel during this period).
Hiya Jen, I don’t know if I included it, but I stayed in a small hotel in Lisbon that I thought very well situated (around the corner, for example, from Taberna da Rua das Flores that does not take reservations, but will take your name and give you an approximate time to return for your table) and also very comfortable. Breakfast served in the morning (though perhaps in Feb./March too cold to eat in the garden, but lovely public spaces inside including a little library) and tea cakes and cookies, cold drinks, tea, etc. available all day, I think. With an elevator, though elevator doesn’t go to the top floor where my very cute room was. https://www.casadobarao.com/
