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Tagged With "Portugal"

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Re: Tour in a BMW Isetta?

Former Member ·
Uh oh. They had to put the door of that car in the front because the back end is missing. If you hired a guided Isetta. would there only be room for you and the driver ? Cozy
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Re: Tour in a BMW Isetta?

Paul Heymont ·
Definitely only two. What's over the third wheel is the engine, a two-stroke single-cylinder motorcycle engine. While looking for a picture to show you, I discovered that the BMW version was only one of quite a few licensed for production all over Europe by its Italian developer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isetta
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Re: Tour in a BMW Isetta?

Travel Rob ·
That was Steve Urkels Car on Family Matters!. LOL. There are places like one in Dallas where you can rent these classics.A bit steep but an alternative to buying. I went the opposite route and liked one of the biggest cars ever made.I wanted a 1973 Chrysler Imperial for years before I got one.That was so big it was banned in demolition derbys because it was unfair to the other cars.
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Re: Tour in a BMW Isetta?

Travel Rob ·
http://dfweliteautorental.com/.../red-1959-bmw-isetta I deleted my reply by mistake. I was saying that was Steve Urkel's car on the 90's hit Family Matters.! Lol.Above is a Dallas rental firm that rents classics.A bit steep.but an alternative to buying.
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Re: Tour in a BMW Isetta?

Former Member ·
TRob It would be fun to watch a demo derby with only the Imperial and Isettas. What do you think would happen ? One Chrysler takes out - boom boom bam bam - 4 Isettas and makes for the infield ?! Look at the bomber roll ! She's gunning for another isetta, a red one this time.....Ooooh ! That makes it 5-0 !
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Re: Tour in a BMW Isetta?

DrFumblefinger ·
I don't know about this Beamer. Seems a bicycle would be a lot safer than the Isetta. I'd rather have a 735 around me, thanks. Anyone have a spare one of those kicking around as a loaner?
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Re: Spain, Portugal gain tourists in Greek crisis

Travel Rob ·
I think people are exchanging visiting GREECE now for a lot of other European countries too besides Spain and Portugal. Avoiding uncertainty in travel is very hard to do though when you travel no matter where you go as i've found out with a lost passport and ferry strikes
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Re: The Murals of Winnipeg Pt 1

DrFumblefinger ·
Very informative and interesting post, TravelingCanuck! I lived in Winnipeg for about a dozen years during my teens and early 20s, and go back often to visit my elderly father who still lives there in a retirement home. I've seen some of the street art in the city, but not these very interesting murals. I note on the Valour mural photos there appears to be white stuff falling from the sky. This could, of course, happen almost any time of year in Winnipeg. Anyways, thanks for sharing and hope...
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Re: The Murals of Winnipeg Pt 1

TravelingCanuck ·
You are correct. I was there mid April and there was a light dusting of snow falling. I will be back in the fall or new year again and plan on checking out more murals for a part 2.
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Re: The Murals of Winnipeg Pt 1

Travel Rob ·
Great piece! Those murals are incredible!
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Re: The Murals of Winnipeg Pt 1

TravelingCanuck ·
Thanks. What is nice is that most murals has some link to the cultural, ethnic or historical aspect of Winnipeg. They show a diverse cross-section of the life of the city over the years.
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Re: The Murals of Winnipeg Pt 1

Paul Heymont ·
Looking forward to Part 2...some of the ones you've showed us here are incredible.
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Re: The Murals of Winnipeg Pt 1

TravelingCanuck ·
Thank you. If my schedule is good I will be back to Winnipeg in the fall sometime and plan to do more for a part 2.
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

Paul Heymont ·
A lot of questions! Let me try a few answers... Absolutely I'd say stop in Iceland. Every place in the world is unique, but Iceland is more so, geographically, in climate, and in history. Half a week (or even a week) won't do more than scratch the surface, but you'll be able to visit incredible waterfalls, climb on glaciers, see evidence of recent volcanic activity, and realize that under it all is a huge pool of thermally heated water that provides over 70% of the nation's energy. If that...
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

Paul Heymont ·
Well, I said so much about Iceland, I decided to leave the rest for another post. Getting from Barcelona (or Madrid) to Lisbon: the only practical way is to fly. Train takes too long for this one, and costs more! From Barcelona to Lisbon, flights on Vueling, Iberia, TAP, etc. run from $35 one-way to about $80 before you hit the high-priced ones. I just looked in May; Vueling and Iberia have $68 in the morning and $35 at 7:30 pm. Madrid-Lisbon, there's a $40 mid-day flight, but most other...
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

DrFumblefinger ·
PHeymont has given you some excellent advice, Travel Luver. By all means, spend some time in Iceland. If you can fit it into your trip, 4 days would be my minimum stay here. As Paul pointed out so well, Iceland is unique. It is also very sparsely populated, with only 300,000 people on the island and two thirds of those living in Reykjavik. And it is a newly form volcanic land with tons of glaciers, waterfalls, and geothermal events. So by all means, see it. When you land at Keflavik airport...
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

Former Member ·
Hey, I don't know if anyone mentioned it, but no matter how cold it is, they keep the outdoor pools open in Iceland with underground hot water. We went to the Blue Lagoon in February, and it was funny...usually people get OUT of a pool because they are getting cold, but there we stayed IN to keep warm!
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

Former Member ·
Hot springs are to die for. You always see pictures of the Blue Lagoon. Are there other places to go for a warm swim in Iceland ?
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

DrFumblefinger ·
Originally Posted by voyager: Hot springs are to die for. You always see pictures of the Blue Lagoon. Are there other places to go for a warm swim in Iceland ? There are lots of places to go for geothermal swims in Iceland, Voyager. Almost every small city and town has a public geothermal pool. The most famous is the Blue Lagoon, but it's also quite pricy, especially if you go for a family. This website gives you some idea of all the pools you can access in Iceland. Here's that link.
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

Former Member ·
I never knew that there are public geothermal pools all over Iceland. No one has mentioned this before. This is terrific to know. thanks
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

Travel Luver ·
Well, thanks everyone. You've been great and this has all been very helpful. So yes, I will go to Iceland for 4 days. I will base myself at a hostel in Reykjavik (all I can afford), and I'll do 2 day trip tours, still researching which ones but those recommended look great. And I love hot springs, so I plan to soak the evenings away after enjoying the "youth scene" over there. I need to check out a good Icelandic beer. Any recommendations. And I will visit Iceland at the of my trip, rather...
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

DrFumblefinger ·
You're most welcome, Travel Luver! Give the VIKING beer a try -- it's pretty good. And made with that great Icelandic water that has a unique taste (and pleasant at that). Also be sure to try their Coca Cola, made with Icelandic water and sugar (not corn syrup as in North America) -- definitely a better product.
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Re: Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

Paul Heymont ·
Speaking of good things to eat, stop in a local store for some skyr--that's Icelandic yogurt made from skimmed milk. Slightly tart and wholly delicious.
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 13, 2013: Jeronimos Monastery

Former Member ·
Prince Henry certainly knew how to overnight sailors in style. I have visited this museum and found it just terrific. It is worthwhile for seaman and landlubber alike. The original church on the site was built about 1450 by Prince Henry the Navigator, and became the place where sailors spent the night before leaving on the expeditions that built Portugal’s colonial empire.
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Re: Lisbon: Cheap, but Steep!

DrFumblefinger ·
Thanks for the interesting tour of Lisbon, PHeymont. You've moved it up my radar list. Given say, a two week vacation in Portugal, how much time do you think should be spent in Lisbon? Or maybe I should put this up in the forums? LOL
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Re: Lisbon: Cheap, but Steep!

Paul Heymont ·
Might be good to take it to the forums for more opinions... I gave Lisbon 12 days because a lot of people said that was too much...but we wanted a slow pace and time off! Ask and see what others say...
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Re: Lisbon: Cheap, but Steep!

Former Member ·
In several parts of the city, upper and lower areas are connected by tram cars with tilted bodies, The inclined plane railways are always interesting. We have used them in Paris, Lisbon, and various places in Switzerland. We call a day making our way around, using the inclined railways " Fun with Funiculars !".
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Re: Spain or Portugal?

Paul Heymont ·
Your budget will take you WAY farther in Portugal than in Spain, although with care you can do well in Spain as well. Portugal, and especially Lisbon, is the home of filling delicious meals in every neighborhood for 5-7€ which lets you spend a bit more on frills and excitement. You might think of something like a week or so based in Lisbon, a few days in Porto and then...if the budget stretches...a budget flight to a last few days in Barcelona (or other city of your choice with US-bound flights.
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Re: Spain or Portugal?

Travel Luver ·
Thank you, PHeymont, that's helpful. I've always wanted to see Lisbon and Barcelona, and your plan makes sense. Is there a specific guidebook you'd recommend?
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Re: Spain or Portugal?

Paul Heymont ·
Usually these days I put together a "trip book" with articles and information from a lot of sources, but I also usually take along one full-scale guidebook as well. I'd be hard-put to make a recommendation for Portugal, because for that one I decided to overcome my feelings and give Rick Steves a try...and it was nearly useless. No special information, a smug tone, and maps that were too sketchy to be useful. In general, I've liked the Frommer guides (and I'm excited that the new ones will...
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Re: Spain or Portugal?

Travel Luver ·
That's very helpful. I'll give them a look and see what I find that suites me. Also, for getting around Portugal and spain, should I take the train? Bus? local planes? Any idea which works best (cost and efficiency both matter, but so does easy connections)
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Re: Spain or Portugal?

Paul Heymont ·
Portugal's rail system feels a bit worn in places, and some trains look terrible from outside...but the interiors are clean and the system seems to work. Not a terribly large country, so that time between the two largest cities (Lisbon and Porto) is about 3.5 hours. If you add in getting to the airport early and getting in from the airport at the other end, it's probably faster than flying. Other significant points in Portugal also have reasonable rail service, including Coimbra, the...
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Re: Spain or Portugal?

Travel Luver ·
I just visited www.seat61.com and it seems a fabulous website for travelers wanting to catch trains in Europe! So many tips and price comparisons!! And thanks for your info on trains. I think I'll take them even if they're a little beat up looking, LOL You been wonderful with all your help, PHeymont! I might have more questions later. Do you keep an eye on these posts? How does that work? What's the best way for me to get in touch with you if I have more questions?
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Re: Spain or Portugal?

Paul Heymont ·
Right here on Travel Gumbo is a great way to keep in touch. The Gumbo Gurus keep a close eye on our site, and asking here also involves the whole community and all their knowledge.
Blog Post

The Magic Worlds of Sintra

NonstopFromJFK ·
  On our third day in Portugal, we took the train to Sintra. Sintra is such a wonderful, beautiful little town. Even walking around Sintra felt magical—just look at the city hall building, or the charming little sidewalk!    ...
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Is a stopover in Iceland worthwhile

Travel Luver ·
A number of you have helped me plan a trip to Portugal and Barcelona.  I've decided to go on this trip next May when I'll have a few more days of vacation. Checking out different airline websites, I came across Icelandair, which flies...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 13, 2013: Jeronimos Monastery

Paul Heymont ·
Sunlight and shade highlight the complex carving of this stonework at the Monastery of Jeronimos at Belem, in Lisbon. This late-Gothic style is called Manueline, after King Manuel I. It’s marked by ornate stonework, often including maritime...
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Lisbon: Cheap, but Steep!

Paul Heymont ·
That’s my short take on Lisbon after two weeks there last summer. A variety of economic factors, not all connected with the Euro crisis of the past few years, have made Portugal incredibly cheap for foreign travelers—but you have to be...
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TripAdvisor reserves a table in Portugal

Paul Heymont ·
TripAdvisor, which bought European restaurant reservation LaFourchette a year ago and has picked up several others since then, has now acquired BestTables in Portugal, which also books seats for a number of restaurants in Brazil.    ...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day. Sept. 8, 2013: Portuguese "Castle In The Sky"

Paul Heymont ·
Portugal's answer to Bavaria's fairy-tale castles (and to Disney!), the Pena Palace sits high on a mountaintop above the town of Sintra, and above the 10th-century Moorish Castle that guarded it. The palace was built in the second half of...
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Spain or Portugal?

Travel Luver ·
Hi!  I've got a two week vacation coming up in a few months, and have always wanted to visit Spain and Portugal.  How might I get the best out my time?  Should I do Spain only?  Portugal only?  A combination of the two? ...
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Spain, Portugal gain tourists in Greek crisis

Paul Heymont ·
Lisbon—a winner as the Greek crisis cuts into Greek vacation bookings   One man's famine is turning into another man's feast. As tourist bookings for Greece stumble in the midst of the Euro crisis and uncertainty about supplies of money,...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Juy 20, 2014: Porto Cathedral

Paul Heymont ·
  Porto's Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is not the largest or most beautiful in the world, though its admirers may not agree—but it has striking features that make it memorable. Among them, the large open four-sided skylight...
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Tour in a BMW Isetta?

Paul Heymont ·
The picture of the 2CV in use giving tours of Paris got me thinking. Last summer in Portugal, I spotted the beauty below, a BMW Isetta, in a maintenance area for the transit system in Vila Nova da Gaia, across the river from Porto. Unfortunately,...
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day: Jan. 15, 2014: Sopa Alentejana

Paul Heymont ·
 This traditional Portuguese soup made a hearty meal for us at a station cafe in Sintra, after a full day of climbing around Sintra's Moorish Castle and Pena Palace. It's based on bread, garlic, cilantro and eggs and chicken broth.  The...
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July 30, 2016: Wine boats, Portugal

Paul Heymont ·
Traditional wine-carrying boats line the banks of the Douro at Vila Nova de Gaia, opposite Porto, Portugal.
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Gumbo Pic of the Day, Nov. 20, 2013: Sintra's Moorish Castle

Paul Heymont ·
High on the hills above Sintra, Portugal, the Moorish Castle guarded the town from invaders, starting in the 8th century, during the early years of Moorish rule on the Iberian peninsula. Today it is a popular attraction for tourists, with spectacular...
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A Garden of Creatures

Paul Heymont ·
In a quiet garden behind Lisbon's City Museum, a host of fantasy creatures in porcelain await visitors, especially children.
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TAP Portugal's plane sings Jingle Bells

Paul Heymont ·
Touching or humorous airline videos have become something of a Christmas tradition, and TAP Portugal has joined the crowd with this cute rendition of Jingle Bells, composed entirely of aircraft sounds...the beeps, boops, clicks and more of seatbelts, lavatory doors, PA signals and more, accompanied by on-plane video. Like other airlines' videos, this is not a one-off; here's a link to their flash-mob dance party from June 7, 2011, celebrating the first flight of its Miami-Lisbon route.
 
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