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Lisbon Picture Perfect Portugal
4 Money Talk: It Pays To Be Flexible When Investing 11 Dining: Mason Jar Salads By FIELDS 15 SUPPLEMENT: Al Fresco Dining July17 TalkMagazine
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Let’s Talk About Lisbon Picture Perfect Portugal Nyima Pratten
Visit the capital of Portugal, renowned for its red tiled roofs, cobbled streets, perfect panoramas, Fado music, the original Portuguese egg tart and a warm Mediterranean climate.
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isbon is making waves across the travel industry right now; voted as Travel + Leisure’s top destination of the year in 2016. It has become increasingly popular, due in part to cheap food and accommodation prices, and has seen an influx of visitors who are choosing to steer clear of North Africa and Turkey due to safety concerns. Although located far from China, Lisbon is well worth a stopover when making a summer pilgrimage to Europe from the Middle Kingdom. Lisbon has a strong sense of identity, with a long history and claim to fame as
one of the oldest cities in the world, predating London by centuries. Although arguably on the decline today, Portugal had an illustrious history, being the first country to establish a global empire in the 15th century, and the locals are extremely proud of their cultural heritage. With colonies stretching from Brazil to Macau, and many places in between, the city is a cultural melting pot, influencing the architecture, food and music of Lisbon. Start your trip to the city by getting acquainted with the food. A walking food tour with Culinary Backstreets is sure to whet your appetite for time spent in the
city. Take the company’s Lisbon Eats Essentials tour, a half-day tour starting at the Time Out Market in the morning before roaming around tiny alleyways and ducking and diving into different market stalls, fishmongers, butchers, restaurants, family-run grocery stores
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and the rooftop canteen of a nunnery. Make sure you save room because along the way you will try local delicacies such as cod fritters, tinned fish, cheeses, cured meats, local red wine and sour cherry liqueur, and of course, the all-important Portuguese egg tart. The beauty of
starting any trip with a food tour is the knowledge you can glean from the local guide as you wander around trying to remember the names of the best Fado bars and sardine stands. After grazing on food for the better part of the day, opt for drinks and nibbles instead of dinner at Iberian restaurant, Tapisco. Set in the trendy Bairro Alto neighbourhood on Rua D. Pedro V, the small restaurant focuses on traditional Portuguese snacks as well as Spanish tapas. Take an evening stroll around, Bairro Alto, set on a hill in the centre of the city, it is full of chic boutiques and has stunning views of the city below, out towards the Tagus River and Castelo de Sao Jorge Guide. The city centre is easily manageable on foot, tram or new tuk tuk. It is stress-free to get up to the castle, other lookout points and restaurants using
these transportation methods. However, to explore beyond the old town, rent a car for the day and cross the red Abril Suspension Bridge towards Almada. Visit the Christ the King statue, inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue of Rio de Janeiro, for fantastic views back towards
the ancient buildings on the other side of the river. Whilst having the freedom of a car, it is essential to visit Pasteis de Belem, heralded as baking the best egg tarts in town. Queues stretch down the block at any given time or day, so expect a wait to be seated at a table or go to the takeaway counter and eat standing up. Order a bica, a Portuguese coffee similar to an espresso, cod fritters and the crowning glory, a pastel de nata, aka an egg tart. These egg tarts were said to have first been created by nuns, and they are indeed heavenly.
If you want a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, take a trip back to the Almada side of the river to Costa Da Caparica, Lisbon’s very own white, sandy beach. The wide expanse of pristine beach is normally sparsely populated with holidaymakers, although can get busier during peak seasons. Do be prepared for the stinging bite of the ice-cold Atlantic Ocean when you enter the water, this is not the Mediterranean Sea after all. Lisbon is the perfect fusion of a beach and city holiday. Easy to get around, with low prices, fantastic foods and friendly locals, it is the perfect holiday for all ages. July17  TalkMagazine