Franchu’s lair

• Hostel: Pensão New Aljubarrota in the center of Lisbon (Rua da Assunção 53 - 4th floor). Walking distance from Praça da Figueira where most of the busses and trams leave from, also Praça do Rossio and Praça do Comerço are worth a walk. O Castello and Bairro Alto can be reached easily by tram or elevators that are within walking distance from the hostel. The building does not have an elevator so it is funny to go up all the four floors, but you just have to think how much you are saving in gym fees

• Breakfast: For breakfast we skipped the one that was proposed for 3€/person in the hostel and we found a very nice bakery in the street. For 3€ we had a full breakfast for 2 persons, great cakes and a drink (milk and coffee). It is just 1 minute away from the hostel! The name of the place is: “Casa Brasileira” and it is in Rua Augusta, 261-269. To reach it… when you get out of the hostel you go left, first of the right and you should be walking in Rua Augusta towards Praça Dom Pedro IV. The place is on the left side of the street.

• Dinner: For dinner we went to a restaurant in the Bairro Alto where we listened to some Fado. I don’t remember now the name of the place but it was not among the ones recomended in the tourist guide of Lisbon that they give in the Tourist Office. Those were way too expensive and when we entered in some of them to check they looked like the typical place to get money from tourists.

• Sights: We were there for two days (actually one and a half) and we had time to visit some of the most important sights, although we still have some very interesting places for the next time

• Torre de Belem
• Jeronimos Monastery
• St George’s Castle: Nice sunset views over the Tagus river.
• The Oceanario: Awesome aquarium with huge animals inside. We had already visited the one in Gijon, but when we saw the aquarium we were flabbergasted.

Acabo de volver a casa… y me han quitado una hora!!!

Acordaros de adelantar el reloj una hora…

A ver si mañana llego a tiempo al vuelo

• Hotel: NH Atlanta. Overbooked and we were told a nice story about a total electricity failure in the floor where our rooms were booked and we couldn’t get the rooms. They transferred us to the Jolly Hotel. The friendly staff from the Jolly Hotel gave me a room at 1:40 in the morning and when I get to the room, there was someone sleeping inside They changed the room without problem. The second night I slept in the NH Atlanta. Huge room in the 5th floor, very nice bathroom. Breakfast in the 9th floor with views over the city and the Atomium can be seen in the horizon. Really impresive views! Internet was provided by Swisscom at the wonderful rate of 10€ per hour or 17€ for 24 hours. All in all, both hotels are very expensive, but had a nice stay there

• Meal: I had lunch in the brasserie of the hotel… not great food, price acceptable. Had dinner in “The Sultans of Kebab” a nice place in the street from De Broucker to Beursplein (Place de la Bourse). The donner was so big that I had problems to finish it. The price was much cheaper than in Spain.