Lisbon 19 July tickets?

[LuNo]

Hello Magda and NewZealander,

Thank you for your kind words, I just tried to be helpful (as I'd like someone to be if I was on the foreigners' side).
Though I fancy Lisbon I am not such an expert about the city, as I don't have so many opportunities to be there in tourism - I believe that our forum mate Blue Bird - being a local man - is more qualified than myself to give us a good hint.

Algés is close to Belém, where the tourist attractions Belém's Tower and the Jerónimos' Monastery can be found. Consequently, lots of restaurants can be found nearby and, more important, the unique and original bakery that makes the famous pastry (Pastéis de Belém) Magda referred some posts ago.

Since the concert is schedulled to start at 21:00, I suppose it'll never end before 23:30 or even 24:00 (or more, depending on Leonard's mood for encores...). Hence, maybe it would wiser if we meet before the concert, for a snack, presentations and some chat.

So far my plans are to travel on the Saturday to Lisbon and to stay overnight in Linda-a-Velha, next to Algés. I have promised to meet an old time friend who lives in Lisbon - we will meet in Cais do Sodré (very close to the city center) in an Irish pub called Hennessy's (we both appreciate guinness stout) and then head for the concert.

But the Hennessy's is 8km away from Algés... if BlueBird is kind enough to suggest some easy to find place closer to the event (within walking distance would be great), I believe we could all meet there at 17:00 - 18:00.
Any suggestion, master BlueBird?

Cheers,
Luis

[NewZealander]

Thanks Luis,
Ive been out all day working...(your Sunday night plus 12 hours!)...and now Monday is ending...
Your idea to meet in the daylight sounds good to me as I would not be wanting to wander around a strange town in the dark looking for somewhere I may not find!...It will be good to go to the concert with others as well.
I guess we have several months to organise this, so will leave it to you and your fellow countrymen to advise ..Meanwhile...
We have an Irsh pub with the same name in our town.... Things are not so different throughout the world are they!...

[magdasto]

Hi there,
this weekend my big baby is celebrating her 4th birthday (Happy B-day LIVIA!!!) so I will have the opportunity to have a talk with the uncle of my husband, who's Portuguese from Lisbon. I'll ask him for recommendations. Should he know any place that's cool to meet, have some wine and a chat with nice fado music, I can try and pick it up for us after the concert.
Anyhow, let me know who's in, OK?
By the way, have any of you picked up a hotel already? I was thinking of something downtown, rather not expensive. Any recommendations?
Take good care,
magda

[st theresa]

Hi Magda, New Zealander and Luno

I am following your notes with great interest and looking for tips too with regard to where to stay etc.
We have booked our flights but so far have not booked hotels, prefer something convenient but not very expensive, if anyone has recommendations, would love to hear. Would also enjoy a meet-up either pre or post concert, if others are interested. We will be trying to recover from jet lag too prior to the concert, so any suggestions of downtown restaurants or easy to access attractions are welcome.
Thanks and look forward to seeing you all there.

[magdasto]

OK, as far the meeting is concerned, I officially announce that we are four for now: St Theresa + husband and my husband and his better half That makes two (supposingly) Canadians, one Spaniard (my husband) and one Pole (at your service)
Keep subscribing; details to follow.
Cheers,
magda

[LuNo]

Hello,
as said previously I am driving down to Lisbon on the day of the concert (hopefully in the morninga and arriving at luch time, but that will depend on 4 people's logistics hence I'd better not be optimistic ).
My plan is to stay in Linda-a-Velha in an aparthotel called Solplay (http://www.solplay.pt). I chose because it is conveniently close to the venue (about 1 mile), because it is an aparthotel (and there'll be 4 of us) and because it's easy to get into Belém (one of Lisbon's most beautiful areas) from there.
It is not exactly downtown/city-center, it's not close to the best night places, restaurants or "casas de fado", but it is quiet and looks pretty nice. It would probably be appropriate for Theresa's and NewZealander's jet lag recovery (especially NewZealander's 11 hour difference ).
But Lisbon's got many offers... you'd better take a quick look on the net, spotting what you'd like to sea (besides Leonard, naturally) and which hotels may serve you better.
Cheers,

[NewZealander]

HI Girls,
I also booked at that Hotel that Luis suggested... very nice and normally would be over my budget, but as Im going to be there for three nights there is a special (Almost half price)rate which includes breakfast!...So I will be there for my whole time in Lisbon..the pool and the "quiet" description were attactive to me..Also as living out of the city now, its more like what I am used to....I will treat myself to three days of rest and swimming!..as well as getting into the city centre and sightseeing before the concert...but returning to the little apartment for some rest....

Interesting Magdasto...when we meet you will see that I have a polish name!...that is my husbands, he is a 4th generation Polish New Zealand Immigrant....(although he sees himself as a kiwi...but has that tall statuesque Polish look..with a polish nose...if you know what I mean??)...Im a New Zealander, fairer looking..my ancestors came here in the mid 19oo's from Britain .....as far as I know they were'nt banished convicts...like some of the early settlers)...

So we will keep in touch, and hope to meet up somewhere before the concert?...

[magdasto]

But Lisbon's got many offers... you'd better take a quick look on the net, spotting what you'd like to sea (besides Leonard, naturally) and which hotels may serve you better.

Oh, I just love the way you put it, Luis... That's why I decided to quote the frase to stick it out...
Thanks for the info, I will comment on the hotel to my husband tonight, let's see what he says. Supposingly it will be easy to get from the highway, which would make a point to us.
NewZealander: although my origins are Lithuanian, I feel 100% Polish and still use with proud my maiden name.
As for me, I met my husband some 13 -14 years ago in a pub in Warsaw, while he was on a Ph. D. scholarship and after 5 years of relationship we got married and decided to establish in his native country. So, it's almost 8 years now that I live in this sunny country, soaking with its customs and traditions and feeling more and more "citizen of the world" each day.
I am really looking forward to meeting you all and making a big hip hip hurra for Luis. Personally I am very grateful for all your remarks re: venue, wines, hotel, transport, holidays, and a long, long etcetera...
Take care,
magda

[NewZealander]

Yes me too Magdasto..Im really looking forward to it....although last night I also realised that in fact as yet the courier has not arrived with my concert ticket!!!
I guess it is just over a week and I am at the bottom of the earth.... But I hope it arrives in a few days, as I paid the most expensive courier price...though thats I guess only about 10 days including weekends. I heard Recently our NZ Post subcontracted the courier deliver to another provider and that service has suffered....And I also have my email confirmation...so...I will eagerly await the arrival of the ticket eh!!...
(My humerous side could see the mirth of getting all the expensive bits organised and paid for and not then receiving my ticket ..oh well I will monitor it closely over the next few days eh..

[magdasto]

NewZealander: I hope you'll get your hard tickets soon, so that you wouldn't worry anymore. Anyhow, I don't think that ticketline sticks to any rules other that "come what may" or "I'll do what pleases me" as far as sending the tickets is concerned. St. Theresa booked hers some 2 days after I did and received them a week earlier. Both her and Polarfox received an e-mail confirmation, contrary to me. It took more than two weeks until I received my tickets and as I said, I live just around the corner (some 30 km from the frontier with Portugal).
Don't worry, you'll get them for sure in a matter of days.
Let us know when you have them so we may congratulate you on that.
PS. To all: have you seen the photo of Leonard playing at the rehersal posted by Jarkko? Wow, Leonard looks great! I zoomed into his eyes, I love this longing expression he's got on that picture. I just can't wait till July...
magda

[NewZealander]

Hi Magda....yes, that was a wonderful photo of Leonard....and the hat!!.wow......I would hope that when I am in my 70's I have a similar very nice effect on young men as that photo has had on us all....

Regarding the ticket..there must have been a (courier) card in my box as I typed that yesterday morning,I took it over to the village (Port Chalmers) post shop to collect. I stood there with this huge grin on my face....clearly delighted. Someone asked why I was looking so very clever, and I opened the envelope and showed them where I was going.... They were as delighted as I was...So my apologies to the courier company ..that took 5 days from the date that my credit card was debited...pretty good....and Magda for you in Spain right beside Portugal...(I am reading elsewhere on here how Spain seems to get itself mixed up on arrangements ) I hope that is not a contentious comment and I find myself being challenged by some in that other thread!..
Oh well..all have a good evening..time to get ready for Thursday work here....

[NewZealander]

Hey Luis,
Ive been looking at the google maps of Lisbon...and it seems that we walk down a hill from Linda-a-Velhu..(for about A mile?)..to Alges where the concert is...??..and right beside Alges is that wee town of Belem..(of the pastries)?..and I also read we will find prawns,squid, oysters..and all sorts of seafood delights!!..??...Seems like down there would be a good place to meet somewhere....??.. ..anyone reading with any bright ideas of a place in Belem.. (Or a better idea?)..

[st theresa]

yummm seafood and pastry
Belem sounds yummmmy. and it would be great to walk afterwards to the concert if that is actually possible.
We still have not booked hotels etc, but I think we better soon get busy ...unfortunately hubby is off skiing for this weekend so I will have to wait some more. I am cooking up a big pot of vegetarian chili for the weekend, if anyone wants to join me --It smells sooo good and I am hungry --later.....

[NewZealander]

HI again St Theresa,
Yes its exciting isnt it!..Ive been looking at proximity of the concert again this afternoon and see that ALGES has a big open area just along from a marina...a wee way away from Belem by the looks...it looks like the Alges Marina is industrial,?? Theres a big 5 or 6 lane highway looping around beside .. But then along at Belem there is a famous tower !! ..I found some lovely pictures with a big open waterfront, more information about the restaurants and cafes along there, and information about it being "the heart" of old Lisbon where the famous explorers left from their world discoveries...(Of America!)......I'm quite pleased I'm actually staying in that area and not in the centre of town....And I guess the local Lisbonites might be reading this and laughing away perhaps at someone looking at maps from the other side of the world and miscalculating walking distances ??...never mind..closer to the time it would be a good idea if we perhaps exchanged cell phone numbers on a private message...then we will be sure not to miss us all..When is your conference in Spain , before or after the concert??....Will you have a few days to look around??

[st theresa]

Hi new zealander
We arrive in Lisbon on July 17, just hang out there or do some sight seeing, then head to Spain after the concert.
We have to be back in Portugal on the 25th for a conference. Two weeks seems too short to spend but we are returning to Canada on the 30th. It seems so unbelievable that it is working out like this, and that I will see Leonard live for the first time, so far away from home. Sometimes I feel like my life is just one weird thing after another. If the walk from Belem is not doable, I am sure there must be a train or something like that. I suspected it was an industrial area, as I looked on Google for Alges quite unsuccessfully.