PJ PASCUAL
Since I was new to the group, I was excited to join Anton
and his friends. I have never been to Portugal and I’ve
heard many great things about the country. I love the
architecture, the cobblestone streets, and Lisbon’s history.
Lisbon is such a romantic country. I enjoyed the food very
much. Francisco, our driver, recommended an amazing
place for dinner, although I forgot its name.
My favourite part of the trip was staying in Porto;
I loved the city and the vibe. Hiking with Anton was
memorable, and we navigated the city in an hour. I also
loved Cintra, as I felt so relaxed by the sea.
On top of all that, I loved the company and my new found
travel. Thank you, Anton, for making me feel welcome and
loved. I look forward to all our journeys together.
MARIANNE PO
It was that time of the year again last April when our
special group of friends go on a trip. This time we chose
Portugal as many of us have never been there. We were
seeing lots of pictures of friends who have visited lately and
it seemed to be a favourite on many travel blogs as well.
There are too many memories that continue to play in
my mind a month later. First, there were the hours spent at
La Vida Portuguese, which sold gorgeous artisan products
all made by local craftsmen at such affordable prices.
Shopping and dining were definitely much more reasonable
than other European countries.
Another highlight was the food! My favourites were
the black rice of cuttlefish, scallops, prawns, mushrooms,
and mussels and Polpo á Lagareiro (grilled octopus) with
roasted potatoes a murro, and sautéed vegetables at Solar
dos Presuntos, and the crab roe served in its own shell
in Cervejeria Ramiro. The 24-hour roast pork belly from
Henrique Sà Pedia with its crackling skin and tender meat
was a definite must have, and was our only break from the
endless helpings of seafood.
Our out-of-town trips to Sintra, Cascais, and Porto were
just the right mix of seaside beauty and local culture. And,
of course, Fatima is a definite must-visit for every Catholic
Filipino who visits Portugal. It was by fate and not merely
coincidence that we met Sister Marife, a Filipina nun who has
lived in Fatima for the past 16 years. She kindly gave us a quick
tour of the Cathedral, and took our names to pray for us. The
whole feeling of just being there where proven miracles have
happened was truly life-changing and almost surreal.LAURIE WESTFALL
The Portuguese cities of Lisbon and Porto took me back in
time. With their cobblestone streets, wooden trams, andphilippine tatler. august 2019 183