I was fortunate or not fortunate to see my first live Portuguese league game this past Sunday at Alvalade. Sporting played terribly, but still managed to win. It was just nice to see the game with my brother and father live in the socios section. Also I travelled throughout Portugal this summer from Algarve all the way to Porto and must say the Antas Stadium is a disgrace. What a lousy looking stadium. Hopefully they can do better with the knew one, but they better get rolling. The new constructions in Sporting and Beira-Mar look very well on there way. Benfica looked like they were a bit behind, but Porto has alot of catching up to do. After 12 years of not going to Portugal, IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE AGAIN. Hope to be back in 2004 or 2005.
Starter saving like I do, I always starter a Christimas club in October and use it towards my vacation.
I travel to Porto thru Carvalhos, and Porto is a very old city meanwhile all the neighboors and doing good, cities like Maia, Gondomar, Matosinhos, Gaia. All starter with Valentim Loureiro.
Frank, It isn't only the money. I go somewhere every year and sometimes 2 places depending on finances. It's also that I want and especially my wife wants to see other areas. She also wants to go to Acores where her family is from and I have to consider everyone in the equation. But I do know it will not be another 12 years before I return to that beautiful county of ours!!!
It looks like a new country, and they have plenty of Euro's to go around I fill my tank of gas, $52 euros, my cousin truck 38 gallons x $ 4.00 dollars a gallon= $142 dollars How you handle the Auto Estrada A1, going 140 km a hour.
I went to Porto with 24 people for 2 days including my dad, brother, Luis Nogueira, Jack Santos Jr. On the way up I ate in Bairrada at Virgilio dos Leitoes. We went by Palacio Bucao, filled our plastic bottles with Luso water. Went by Praia da Mira, Gafanha, Aveiro, etc... Stayed in a hotel close to Porto Airport. Matosihos was great. Ate at a place looking at the Bridge called Luis something or other. The next day did a 4 hour boat tour on Rio Douro, then went to the Cockburn's Porto caves. Porto was a great experience and a beautiful city. Not sure if the places a saw were actually the city or the other sourrounding cities. But Antas Stadium was a disgrace!!!
Pinho say you had a death in the family, if was thru my deep sympathy, I lost my mother March 12, in Portugal.
Thank God I rented a deseal car. It was expensive renting, but well worth it. I must say people in Portugal have a death wish. They drive like as$^&%&^ You don't know what tailgating is until you go to Portugal. It is a disgrace. I'm going 140 and sometimes up to 160 and people fly by me like I was at a stand still. But I'm in love once again with my country!!!
Yes, my wife lost her grandmother 2 days after we were in Portugal. We thought she might go while we were away because she has been sick for a long time but it was still hard. Jack Santos Jr. also lost his grandmother from her fathers side while in Portugal. He drove up from Pero Moniz to the wake. I wish I could have come by you guys, but it is so difficult to do everything and still keep family members happy with the eating over. my wife, and 2 girls( a 1 year old and a 4 year old), and myself rented a van with 13 kilometers and returned it with over 3000. That is how much we traveled Portugal in 18 days. It was great!!!!
I was in Praia de Mira what great place to visit, its not even a city but in the Summer it looks like a city.
You were with Jack Santos Jr. talking about a Porto fan, he would fit good with Marco. I was in Fatima, Aveiro, Porto, Casino Solverde in Espinho, Figueira da Foz, Mira etc.
I went to Fatima by the way of Auto Estrada A1, on the way back I came the old way thru Figueira da Foz. Did you come thru the old bridge were two roads meet and traffic stands still because only one car can go each way, what mess. Praia de Mira I went thru Aveiro, Costa Nova, and the traffic between Costa Nova and Mira it was a mess, in the beach of Costa Nova.
I did alot of that went up Costa Nova. Was with a gentleman in Bairrada called Dias. Went to Fatima, Caldas da Rainha, Nazare, Peniche, Balial, Lisbon, Obidos, etc.... Jack Santos Jr is no where comapred to Marco. Jack likes Porto, but he is not a fanatic. Now his father is another story.
I was in Figueira da Foz 2 days before the Mini World Cup of World Soccer were Brazil beat the new USA team 9-1. Brazil won the tournament six times, USA did win once, Portugal never won is home tournament, and surprise so because they won the European championship, and the WC in Brazil but never at home, great crowds in the 10,000 with Sporting playing in the off day against Academica the place was rocking. The portuguese ladies are dressing and use make up like the americans can't tell the difference anymore.
I should had said Jack Santos Sr., a good friend of Pinto da Costa, I remember meeting Pinto da Costa with Jack Santos at the Irounbound stadium with the Boys Club. How is Jack Santos doing?