Lisbon, PT - and update on lost passport
Oct 4, 2005 | 1:28 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 45
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
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
