Lisbon, PT - and update on lost passport
 

I posted last week about my lost passport and appreciated the advice everyone gave. I ended up with a morning appt. in Houston and flew DFW-HOU on Wed. I think I was really lucky to get the appt. as I called Tuesday at lunch and was in Houston Wed., by 10 am had turned in my passport application. I waited until 2:30 (actually, went back at 12:30 to be first in line - read 1/2 of The Kite Runner while I waited!). The Houston passport office has apparently combined with New Orleans since Katrina, and they are running late on everything. They didn't start passing out passports until 3:30! Fortunately, I was first in line, grabbed my passport and raced in a waiting cab to Houston Hobby airport. I literally ripped opened the sealed envelope with my passport as I was handing it the AA check-in agent.

She checked me through to LHR, via DFW. My husband was waiting at DFW for me. Our flight circled 45 minutes and then waited for a gate at DFW. I arrived at the LHR gate 10 minutes before departure :)

We flew to LGW, connected on TAP to LIS, arriving Thursday afternoon. We stayed at the Hotel Avenida Palace, right on the main avenue. It was beautiful and a great location. (The breakfasts were worth it, alone - an amazing buffet, including champagne). We spent Friday walking around Alfama, Castelo Sao Jorge, and other churches and scenic areas around Alfama. Alfama is a great place if you like shopping, too.

We spent Saturday in Sintra; and Sunday in Belem. Sintra is absolutely georgous. We paid for a day bus pass (you don't want to hike up to the Castle on foot!)...visited the castle and palaces and enjoyed a great meal in town before taking the train back to Lisbon. In Belem, we visited the Coach Museum, Maritime Museum, and monestary; along with a tour of the Tower of Belem and some more amazing scenery.

Lisbon reminded me a lot of San Francisco in terms of landscape. It is a great 3-4 day trip. The Porteguese people are incredibly friendly and we, of course, felt very safe the entire time. I would definitely recommend Lisbon for a great long weekend getaway.

We flew back through LHR-ORD-DFW. Fortunately, we were able to get seats in first on AA on the flight home...and it was really nice. Don't think I need to eat again for a week; but it's nice to sleep in my own bed.

I'm still marveling over getting my passport replaces in a matter of 28 hours!

Lisa