PORTUGAL: EMERGING HOT DESTINATION FOR 2019

BY JANET STEINBERG

BEWARE! FADO FEVER IS CATCHING. 

Fado is the national song of Portugal.  This melancholy singing expression of the state of the soul (from the Latin word fatum) signifies prophecy or fate…a life commended by the oracle…one that nothing can change. Wherever you may travel in Portugal, you will be mesmerized by the dialogue of emotions between a round Portuguese guitar and a sad voice singing fado. 

Come along with me as we tour Portugal, the country that borders the Atlantic Ocean on the west, Spain on the east, is one of the warmest countries in Europe, and is the country some predict will be one of the top travel destinations of 2019.  

LISBON: Bom dia (good day) is the friendly welcome you’ll receive as you arrive in Lisbon (Lisboa), the scenic capital city located on the banks of the Tagus River.  It has long been argued whether the Tagus River, a winding silver ribbon that mirrors the city, ebbs up to meet the city or whether Lisbon extends down to meet the river.  Whatever the case, the seven hills of Lisbon and the wide mouth of the Tagus form a perfect picture postcard that is illuminated by the extraordinary amount of light that is reflected off the massive expanse of the river.  Little wonder that the Tagus River is said to be a large natural mirror that amplifies the aurora of the sun. 

The Torre de Belem (Belem Tower), built in the year 1521, looks like a miniature castle on the banks of the Tagus River.  It was granted World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1983, and is one of the most popular attractions in Lisbon. 

BELEM TOWER ON THE BANKS OF THE TAGUS RIVER

BEWARE: FADO FEVER IS CATCHING…I KNOW BECAUSE I CAUGHT IT!

By Janet Steinberg, Travel Editor

Bom Dia (good morning) was my sunny greeting as I arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz in Lisbon, Portugal. 

Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, long considered the city’s premier hotel, reflects the nobility and charm of historic Portugal.  It was there that I chose to spend the three days prior to my embarking on Silversea’s Silver Whisper for a cruise that would sail me to such memorable sites as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain and the WW ll Normandy Landing Beaches in France.

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL RITZ LISBON

TWELVE IN TWELVE

BY: JANET STEINBERG

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.”  Susan Sontag said it first, but I have to agree with Susan, I haven’t been everywhere, but everywhere is certainly on my list.

As a young widow many years ago, I learned that a single journey could change the course of a life.  I have since come to realize that my first trip alone truly changed my life.  I fell in love with travel and that love affair has continued for four decades.

Come along with me and share some of my favorite 2012 memories that will remain with me forever.

1. CRUISE: Silversea’s Silver Whisper is elegant, yet casually sophisticated.  She lavishes her guests with the luxuries of a private yacht, the amenities of a country club, and the fine services of an exclusive hotel.  Silver Whisper sailed me some 1418 nautical miles from Lisbon, Portugal to Southampton, UK with five fascinating ports in-between.  Highlights included shore excursions to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain; the sobering beaches of Normandy, France; and the fascinating Mont St. Michel in Saint-Malo, France.

SILVERSEA'S SILVER WHISPER IN ST. MALO, FRANCE