Madrid & Lisbon
 

Headed to Madrid & Lisbon in late August. We've been to Madrid and had such a good time during our week there that we never set foot inside a museum. This time (3-nights) we will visit all three museums (Prado, Reina Sofia & Thyssen) as it will likely be too hot for walking about during the day. Tapas in 'old town' in the evenings.
We've not been to Lisbon, so will be a new experience. Any suggestions on 'what not to miss' during our 4-days there?
Returning home via a trans-Atlantic cruise that stops in Newfoundland. We like trans-oceanic cruises and visiting new places and are thinking this is likely the only way we'll visit Newfoundland and figure early Sept will be as good a time of year as any for same.

Props to the Newark airport (EWR). At least terminal C. Every employee from United to the staff inside to TSA(what's up with that?) to the food & bar employees were friendly, helpful & efficient. Made the experience close to 'nice'. Have not had such a pleasant airport check in since 9/11. Flight to Madrid was just as good. As soon as the 'boss' is finished dressing we are off to tapas bars for dinner. Still a bit early so we'll find somewhere to sit outside. Wonderful weather this week. Mid-80's with mild breeze & dry skies. Adios.

Our hotel, the NH Int'l Del Prado, just welcomed us with a delightful 'amuse bouche' appetizer delivered to our room. We will start the evening with that and a glass of Rioja.

That sounds like a hell of a good time. Enjoy yourselves!

You must be mistaken, you couldn’t have been in Newark - perhaps an alternate universe.

Have a great trip, sounds like a lot of fun.

I have a family home in northern Portugal, Cerveira. Both my wife and I spend 3 months in the summer here to escape the North Carolina hot and humid weather. Took a 1 hour drive south to Porto one year. Went to an audio salon called Imacousta. WOW!!! Magico, Audio Research, Sonus Fabre, and other high end brands. The salesman told me that they had another store in Lisbon that was much larger. Check it out if you get a chance. Enjoy your time in Portugal.

The changes at EWR over the past 10yr are quite positive at terminal C. Pleasant surprise.

We ate at El Barrill de las Letras for dinner and its was outstanding. Gaspacho to start was as good as we've had. Grilled squid & broiled scallops followed by a chocolate soufflé for the end. At midnight we were having a digestive on Plaza Santa Ana with a few hundred other folks. A 'late night' city for all ages. Walking across the street for an afternoon in the Prado. Tapas this evening. Need to find a Madrid Real hat for our grandson. Maybe at the Puerto del Sol while on our tapas dinner walk. Reina Sofia tomorrow and then off to Lisbon the next day. Adios.

The Prado is worth a trip to Madrid, if for no other reason. The late 19th/early 20th century Spainish painters, Sorolla, Gisbert, etc., do not get their due. Off to the Reina Sofia this a.m.

Thanks for your trip reports, Glenn. :thumbsup:

The girlfriend would like to go to Spain, and I’ve researched just a little. Madrid sounds like a great place to visit. Especially, it sounds safe; at least, that’s what I’ve read into what you haven’t written about.

Now I’m looking forward to your Lisbon report. :D
ron

Glenn - Lisbon is great city. Cathedrals, hills (lots of hills), views, the Grand Plaza, the central elevator, etc. Don't drive. Walk around if you can. One of our most memorable meals is when we were completely lost in the old city, back in the wild days of 2013 without a local SIM card, and followed our noses to a very local restaurant. Long communal tables with white table cloths, and everyone ate the same thing - the catch of the day. We were the only non-Portuguese speakers there. Great time. Consider a train ride to Cascais, about 25 minutes, on the coast.

Thx. We will only be walking in Lisbon (as in Madrid). Looking forward to our visit.

The Reina Sofia, like the Prado, deserves more than one day. Especially for those of us who are fans of cubism, Picasso, Miro and Dali. However, only so many hours in a day we can spend standing on the hard floors of either before our feet & knees demand a break. But...... that is OK. Just another reason to return.

Ron - yes. We have never felt threatened in any way in Madrid. We spend our time staying/walking in the "old town" and museum areas. Due to our travel arrangements we are here in Aug, and like Paris, is not the best time to visit as many smaller shops & restaurants are closed for vacation. Plus, while we've been lucky on weather, it is usually hot. Oct or April would be best, though we had a great time here for New Years 2015/16. Pre-purchase tickets for the Prado to avoid the line.

BTW - if anyone is wondering about what to wear, I would say 80%+ of males of all ages are wearing shorts and running shoes of some genre without socks. About equally divided between t-shirts & shirts with collars. Women are lucky in that they dress in even more cool skirts & tops. Dinner in restaurants has even given way to shorts.