Portugal | Hello from the Five Star Vagabond

Amazing World Food

June 25, 2017 by David Herd

Eat to live or live to eat?

Amazing World Food Volume Two starting with Japan

Amazing World Food Volume Two closely following “Amazing Food Planet Earth Volume one” featuring my favorite food from all over this wonderful world. I’m not pretending to be a food critic I’m just highlighting some memorable food I have enjoyed over the years.

Kanazawa

Salmon sashimi with salmon caviar sprinkled with edible gold leaf. The gold leaf is used in jewelry, cosmetics etc as well as the edible product you see here.

Shabu Shabu at The Ginza

Wagyu beef at Shabusen at the Ginza, a terrific restaurant for Shabu Shabu, go at lunch time for special prices. I could dedicate this whole post to Japanese cuisine which is my favorite food, however I do that in another photo blog.

Itaewon in Korea

This particular street in Seoul where all the restaurants are looks very ordinary through the day but it comes alive when night falls. It is the best bar restaurant area I have ever seen anywhere in the world.

Korean Street food

These street snacks look rather interesting.

French food in Seoul

To be honest I’m not a huge fan of Korean food which is mainly due to ignorance, in future I must try ta few more dishes. Consequently here I am in Seoul eating french food, an entree of prawns, avocado & egg followed by steak tartare.

Amazing World Food Steak Tartare

As I have found over the years this is a very tasty dish but too much for one person, better to share next time.

Lisbon in Portugal

A wonderful city for food & wine, in fact it quickly became one of my favorite European cities.

What an amazing atmosphere

I’m sure this restaurant has not changed for hundreds of years. 🙂

One of the 6,000 restaurants.

TripAdvisor show around 6,000 restaurants is Lisbon so I’m guessing nobody eats at home. 🙂

The cakes & tarts

My downfall, how can I possibly resist?

Amsterdam

Let’s start with breakfast in a private home with two suites for rent.

A light lunch at Cafe de Prins

Rated by TripAdvisor #322 of 3,241 Restaurants in Amsterdam. A fabulous baguette washed down with a Heineken.

Dinner at De Belhamel, lamb cooked to perfection.

TripAdvisor rate #93 of 3,241 Restaurants in Amsterdam. Here is the Michelin guide description; This art nouveau style restaurant is located at the confluence of two canals and has a delightful terrace overlooking the water. Influences from France and Italy combine to deliver tasty dishes with clearly defined flavours.

Manhattan Island New York City

Food in the big apple is amazing, Gallagher’s lived up to it’s reputation as being on of New York’s best steakhouses, in fact my Surf & Turf could have fed two people easily.

Aged beef at Gallagher’s

All fresh beef is aged for at least few days and up to several weeks to allow enzymes naturally present in the meat to break down the muscle tissue, resulting in improved texture and flavor. These days, most beef is aged in plastic shrink-wrap—a process known as wet-aging. All fresh beef is aged for at least few days and up to several weeks to allow enzymes naturally present in the meat to break down the muscle tissue, resulting in improved texture and flavor. These days, most beef is aged in plastic shrink-wrap—a process known as wet-aging.

Amazing World Food Volume Two

Last but not least is a typical Australian lunch at my home when I was living on the Gold Coast in QLD Australia, I entertained often & this food took very little preparation.

I have eaten oysters all over the world, please check out THIS LINK.

Thanks for visiting my Amazing World Food Volume Two photo blog. Check out volume one here.

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Pattaya Hilton

This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposte the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate.

Soi Cowboy Nana Plaza Patpong

For London & UK hotels there are great discounts through this link.

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Great hotel room rates anywhere in the world if you book

through these links below. Book now & pay later.

Free Cancellation.

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Tokyo London Lisbon Rio

March 27, 2015 by David Herd

One of my greatest ever trips

Tokyo London Lisbon Rio

Tokyo London Lisbon Rio NYC, plus Florianopolis, Belnario Camboriu, and Curitiba. In 2007 my 2 month trip which turned out to be one of the two best around the world journeys I have ever done.

Anyone for coffee?

Food, food and more food, you gotta love Tokyo. It is certainly one of my favourite cities in the world. In fact I was here for the first time in April this year and loved it so much I’m back in December.

Joan and Bill from Wiltshire

In fact we were having dinner in Bath, I was travelling to Dorchester the next day with Bill to visit his brother Alan who was a guest of Her Majesty.

Gold Hill, Shaftesbury

Gold Hill is a steep cobbled street in the town of Shaftesbury in the English county of Dorset. It is famous for its picturesque appearance; the view looking down from the top of the street has been described as “one of the most romantic sights in England

Lisbon

Fado is a music genre which can be traced to the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins.

Lisbon restaurant

Lisbon is a great city for food as you can clearly see. 🙂

Rio de Janeiro NYE Copacabana

December 2007 and the city is winding up for New Years Eve. After a couple of weeks I will go to Curitiba to meet my friend Craig aka Sudzy from Australia, then after visiting a few cities we will head back to Rio for Carnival

Sergio, do you think our ship will ever come in?

Beautiful Copacabana and the first of nine cruise ships arrive for NYE

Curitiba

A nice city south of Sao Paulo however one visit is enough, there are more interesting places further south as you will see.

Curitiba

I met my friend Craig from Australia and we set out for Florianopolis.

Florianopolis.

Florianopolis wonderful Brazilian city, the photo above is Joaquina beach which is famous throughout the world for surfing.

Florianopolis.

Barra da Lagoa Beach has good waves, clear water and a tropical rain-forest, this makes Barra da Lagoa the kind of place you can easily loose track of time! Just sit back and watch the pretty girls at play.

Balneário Camboriú a Brazilian surprise

We had never heard of this place until we were in Florianopolis and what a fabulous surprise it turned out to be.

Balneário Camboriú

A similar statue to Rio de Janeiro. Balneário Camboriú is famous for the cable car which (uniquely in the world) links the two beaches of Balneário Camboriú and Laranjeiras. The town is located 10 km (6.2 mi) south of the city of Itajaí and 80 km (50 mi) north of the state capital, Florianópolis, and has a population of 94,344 (2007 census office estimate), which swells to over one million in the summer.

Balneário Camboriú

Antonio cycled around the world for UNESCO in 1999, on his trip the both times he was robbed was in Australia while the Olympics were on in 2000. And people say Brazil is dangerous.

Paraty

It’s Probably not hard to guess why this is my favourite photo, a rose between two thorns, I don’t think so. Paraty grew in the 18th century as a strategically important port for exporting the gold mined in Minas Gerais. When shipments in nearby Rio began to attract the attention and ambition of pirates and privateers from rival European powers, the Portuguese began using Paraty as their safe port for getting their gold to Lisbon.

Magnificent Brazilian girl

To see more of this beautiful creature just follow THIS LINK.

Take me to your leader

Once a year, when the great Rio De Janeiro carnival takes place, the coastal town Paraty which is located 250 km south west to Rio, holds a unique carnival. In Paraty’s Mud Carnival – (Portuguese: Bloco da lama) the costumes that its participants wear is black sticky mud which is smeared on their bodies. The carnival preserves the ancient local tradition when the Indians smeared their bodies with black mud for medical reasons, and held ritual ceremonies in order to bring cure to the ill. In contrary to Rio carnival where the participants wear marvelous colored costumes, in Paraty carnival the fiesta is based mostly on the simplicity of the junction between men and nature.

Back to Rio for Carnival

After a fascinating trip down south we head back to Rio for Carnival.

Carnival in Ipanema

Ipanema Carnival street party was one of the best nights in my life with my friend Dave Wylie. There was a “bloco” going on in front of the restaurant. A “bloco” is a block party during carnival. There are hundreds of them just in Rio. They are organized by local Carnival groups and the best ones move up the food chain of blocks to become the big samba schools that put on the big Carnival parades each year that Rio is famous for. We had a window table at “Garota de Ipanema” with of course means “The Girl from Ipanema”, and this is the exact spot the song was written in 1962, with music by Antônio Carlos Jobim and Portuguese lyrics by Vinicius de Moraes. English lyrics were written later by Norman Gimbel.

With Dave Wylie at Garota de Ipanema

Here I am with my good friend Dave Wylie at our window table at Garota de Ipanema. All night the action was all around us as you can see from the photos. As I said earlier Ipanema Carnival it was one of the best and most memorable nights of my life. Another equally memorable night was 4 weeks earlier, New Years Eve on Copacabana, simply awesome.

Garota de Ipanema

This crazy guy was so funny, he was absolutely smashed and spoke to Dave Wylie who is fluent in Portuguese, he said “Voce sabe quem eu sou?” (do you know who I am?”) “Eu sou o deus de dor da cabesa”) (I am the God of Headaches”).

I love New York

As I said before New York is my favourite city, I like to say to friends, if the cities of the world could be likened to a horse race, New York would win by 10 lengths over the next bunch of cities which would include Paris, London, Sydney, Bangkok, Tokyo, Rome, Budapest, Amsterdam, Rio De Janeiro & Cape Town, not necessarily in that order.

Gallaghers steakhouse 52nd st

Surf and Turf, say no more.

Phil Barkin and Gordon Shanks

Phil now lives in Manila and both these guys love to visit Pattaya.

UPDATE, it’s October 2017 & Phil has moved back to Florida.

Thanks for visiting and sharing my memories.

I hope you enjoyed my Tokyo London Lisbon Rio NYC photo blog.

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Cascais Portuguese fishing village

October 27, 2013 by David Herd

Portuguese fishing village

Portuguese fishing village Cascais is a coastal town in Cascais Municipality in Portugal, 30 kilometres (19 miles) west of Lisbon, with about 35,000 residents. It is a cosmopolitan suburb of the Portuguese capital and one of the richest municipalities in Portugal. The former fishing village gained fame as a resort for Portugal’s royal family in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Nowadays, it is a popular vacation spot for both Portuguese and foreign tourists.

Hotel at Cascais.

The town is small enough to explore entirely by foot, up the hill beyond the town centre there are numerous narrow cobbled streets to explore with interesting architecture, plants and animals to see.

Portuguese fishing village

I am really not sure what this building is, if I find out I’ll let you know. 😳

The Citadel

The Citadel is actually a prolongation of the Nossa Senhora da Luz Fortress and is the only part that can actually be visited today. It housed the Soldiers’ Hospital, considered the most well equipped and competent infirmary in the whole Portuguese military history.

Without a doubt AGODA is the best online Hotel booking site.

Portuguese fishing village

Kate afternoon walk along the seaside.

Guincho Beach

Praia do Guincho is a popular Atlantic beach located on Portugal’s Estoril coast, 5 km from the town of Cascais, and in the District of Lisbon. Wikipedia

Boca do Inferno

Boca do Inferno (Portuguese for Hell’s Mouth) is a chasm located in the seaside cliffs close to Cascais Portuguese fishing village, in the District of Lisbon. The seawater has access to the deep bottom of the chasm and vigorously strikes its rocky walls, making it a popular tourist attraction.

Have camera will travel

The one day trip was a great experience, if you find yourself in Lisbon make sure you take this tour.

Thanks for visiting my Portuguese fishing village photo blog.

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Post by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com”.

Lisbon is not too far away from Cascais.

Post by Travel blogger Fivestarvagabond.com”.

Check road trip to Salzburg

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Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

Brussels for mussels

Upmarket Portofino

Barcelona

Prague way back in 93

Amsterdam

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Sintra town near Lisbon

October 25, 2013 by David Herd

Historic Portuguese Village

Sintra town near Lisbon

Sintra Portuguese town near Lisbon is only 30 kilometres west of Lisbon near the coast. The bus tour also took me to Casais another interesting destination.

Sintra town near Lisbon

Sintra has become a major tourist centre, visited by many day-trippers who travel from the urbanized suburbs and capital of Lisbon. In addition to the Sintra Mountains and Sintra-Cascais Nature Park, the parishes of the town of Sintra are dotted by royal retreats, estates, castles and buildings from the 8th-9th century, in addition to many buildings completed between the 15th and 19th century, including the Castelo dos Mouros, the Pena National Palace and the Sintra National Palace, resulting in its classification by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995.

I have copied all this information from Wikipedia.

Sintra Portuguese town near Lisbon

The earliest documents describe a built-up town in the 11th century by the Arab geographer Al-Bacr (who was later supported by the poets Luís de Camões and Lord Byron). The Moors built their castle atop a nearby promontory around the 8th-9th century. When Afonso Henriques finally captured Sintra (after the fall of Lisbon) in 1147, he ordered the construction of the Church of São Pedro de Penaferrim, within the castle walls. In 1493, Christopher Columbus sailing for the Spanish crown, was blown off course by gale force winds and fearing for the survival of his ship, spotted the rock of Sintra. Despite the awkwardness of seeking safe harbour in Portugal, Columbus had no choice under the circumstances and sailed from there into the port of Lisbon.

National Palace

The National Palace is the best preserved medieval Royal Palace in Portugal, having been inhabited more or less continuously at least from the early 15th up to the late 19th century. It is an important tourist attraction and is part of the Cultural landscape of Sintra, designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The National Palace of Sintra is the only surviving intact medieval royal palaces of Portugal. Most likely, it was built on the former residence of of the Muslims wallis, and since the beginning of the Portuguese monarchy, monarchs had a palace here. Much of the palace dates from the times of King John I, who sponsored a major building campaign starting around 1415.

Inside the Palace.

The history of the Palace goes back to the times of Islamic domination, when Sintra had two different castles. One of them, located on top of a hill overlooking the town is the so-called Castle of the Moors, which is now a romantic ruin. The other, located downhill, was the residence of the Moorish rulers of the region. Most buildings around the central courtyard – called the Ala Joanina (John’s Wing) – date from this campaign, including the main building of the façade with the entrance arches and the mullioned windows in Manueline and Moorish styles, the conical chimneys of the kitchen that dominate the skyline of the city.

Sintra National Palace.

During the 19th century, Sintra became again a favourite spot for the Kings and the Palace of Sintra was frequently inhabited. Queen Amélia, in particular, was very fond of the Palace and made several drawings of it. With the foundation of the Republic, in 1910, the Palace became a National Monument. In the 1940s, it was restored by architect Raul Lino, who tried to return the Palace to its former splendour by adding old furniture from other palaces and restoring the tile panels. It has been an important historical tourist attraction ever since.

Spectacular ceiling

Check out this short video,

Sintra, near Lisbon in Portugal

Watch this video on YouTube

Here is the exact location, N 38° 47.846 W 009° 23.436

Sintra town near Lisbon, the Palace kitchen.

Looks like it has not changed in hundreds of years.

Imagine the meals that were prepared here.

Thanks for visiting my Sintra town near Lisbon photo blog.

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Close to Sintra Cascais is another interesting town

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Lisbon ancient European city

August 27, 2013 by David Herd

Lisbon hilltop district of Bairro Alto.

Lisbon ancient European city

Lisbon ancient western European city is an experience to remember. Wandering through the winding narrow streets among dozens of restaurants and bars, with jazz, reggae, electronica and Fado filling the air and revelers partying until dawn.

Baxio district

Nightclubs scattered all over town make fine use of old spaces, whether on riverside docks or tucked away in 18th-century mansions.

Amazing restaurants in Lisbon.

Food fabulous food, I think Lisbon is one of the most underrated cities in Europe.

Mouthwatering display of cured ham

The atmosphere in many of Lisbon’s restaurants is wonderful.

Lisbon ancient western European city

Bairro Alto is a great district for interesting restaurants.

Bairro Alto at night

Many of Lisbon’s buildings have not changed in centuries.

Fado, traditional melancholic singing.

Fado is a music genre which can be traced to the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. Fado historian and scholar Rui Vieira Nery states that “the only reliable information on the history of Fado was orally transmitted and goes back to the 1820s and 1830s at best. But even that information was frequently modified within the generational transmission process that made it reach us today. In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a characteristic sentiment of resignation, fatefulness and melancholia (loosely captured by the word saudade, or “longing”). However, although the origins are difficult to trace, today fado is regarded, by many, as simply a form of song which can be about anything, but must follow a certain structure. The music is usually linked to the Portuguese word saudade which symbolizes the feeling of loss (a permanent, irreparable loss and its consequent lifelong damage) Many thanks to Wikipedia.

Play it again Jorge.

Jorge really seemed to love his work. 🙂

The famous Café A Brasileira.

The Brasileira was opened by Adriano Telles on 19 November 1905 at No.122 (an old shirt shop), to sell “genuine Brazilian coffee” from the State of Minas Gerais, a product generally unappreciated in homes of Lisboetas of that period. In order to promote his product, Telles offered each shopper, who bought a kilogram of ground coffee (for 720 réis), a free cup of coffee.

Of course coffee at Brasileira was excellent

The Brasileira is one of the most famous cafes in Europe.

Lisbon, both modern & ancient.

There is a modern side to this ancient European city.

São Jorge Castle

Although the first fortification on this hilltop date to the 2nd century BC, archaeological excavations have identified a human presence in the Tagus valley as far back as the 6th century BC. The first fortification was, presumably, erected in 48 BC, when Lisbon was classified as a Roman municipality.

Beautiful Lisbon building.

A wonderful city to wander around in the evening.

Should the guy on the left be considered suspicious?

The cops are too busy trying out their new Segway.

This is one very steep hill.

Walking down is not a problem.

Lisbon tram.

The old fashioned Lisbon trams are a great way to get around the city.

So many restaurants & such little time.

Lisbon was such a total surprise for me, unlike the more popular busier European cities like Paris, Rome, Barcelona & Berlin, Lisbon turned out to be a gem. I am probably a little biased being such a lover of good restaurants, wine and music, coupled with the beautiful old buildings and narrow winding streets in the Bairro Alto district, this city has it all.