Sunday, February 22, 2009

Porto (Oporto) Travel

Porto (Oporto) Travel

Last post I told you about the northern province of Minho, and today I'll tell you about Porto, Portugal's second largest city, a great place to travel.

The city of Porto (Oporto in English) is the major economic engine in Northern Portugal. Porto, like most Portuguese cities has a very long history spanning thousands of years. Archaeological discoveries suggest that the entire region that is today Porto was originally a Coastal Celtic City, perhaps the same Celts who went on to inhabit Ireland, England and Scotland. The first written historical account of Porto was made by the Romans, who invaded and conquered this region. Back then, Porto would be considered a part of the Gallaeca province, just north of Lusitania. Porto, being a coastal town was an important route of passage to Braga, the main Roman held city and administrative area in what is today Northern Portugal, and Lisbon to the south. Porto has the distinction of being the place from where the name Portugal originated. Porto, was originally named Portus Cale by the Romans, which means Port Of Cale. PortusCale was most likely the name given to the city by the Romans after the the celtic tribe, the Callaeci,who resided at the mouth of the Douro River at the time. Over time, the word Portus Cale was used to name the entire region of Northern Portugal which extended from Porto to Galicia in Spain. Portus Cale, therefore became both the name of the region of Porto as well as the first county of what is today Portugal. Eventually, the region Portucale became the name of the country Portugal.

Porto has always held the distinction of being a working city. Porto is heavily industrialized and therefore is inhabited by a very large working class community. Although many of Portugal's largest companies are headquartered in Porto, much of the glamor and financing is stolen by Porto's colorful cousin Lisbon to the south. There is an old saying that the people of Porto use when describing their place in Portugal "Porto works, Braga Prays, Coimbra studies, and Lisbon gets the money." This is a reference to the individual qualities of all four major cities. Porto creates wealth through industry, Braga is the center of religious study in Portugal, whereas Coimbra is the home to Portugal's oldest university, lastly Lisbon enjoys the fruits of Porto's labor. It's a safe assumption that people from Porto and the North in general view the capital city of Lisbon suspiciously, the sentiments of being 'ripped off' by the greedy Lisbon Capital is a sentiment often expressed by Northern Portuguese. Mostly due to what is perceived as unequal transfer funds from the Capital to the rest of the nation.

The residents of Porto are known as Tripeiros (in English meaning 'Tripe Eaters'). The people of Porto got this distinction due to their subsistence on the left overs of slaughtered cattle, primarily Tripe, which uses the first three chambers of the cattle stomach. Although eating tripe had existed for thousands of years, for the residents of Porto, Tripe eating became an art during Portugal's world Empire, which spanned from the 1400's well into the twentieth century. In order to feed Portuguese sailors who were setting sail to distant ports, most of the best cuts of beef were salted and cured for the long journeys, leaving only partly edible and many non-edible cuts left. Making do with what was available to them, the People of Porto developed tripe eating to such and extent that eventually making eating tripe synonymous with being from Porto, hence the name Tripeiros (Sounds like Tree Pay Roosh (For the letter R just roll the tongue)).

The people of Porto are known for being both hard working and stubborn. It was from Porto where the Napoleon Army met its greatest resistance in Portugal, and from where many battles were fought against the monarchy in favor of constitution. People from Porto consider themselves Northerners and are generally very conservative.

Porto has also got the distinction of lending its name to one of the world's most famous wines called Port. Although the wine we know as Port is actually thousands of years old, the name Port wine is only approximately 300 years old. Port is enjoyed the world over by people of every background.

Today, Porto is a modern city with many great attractions like the Casa da Música designed by world famous architect Rem Koolhaas as well as more iconic Ponte de D. Luís. Porto is a city that is rooted in the past but with sights set on the future. With its state of the art Porto Metro and new office buildings as well as large factories, Porto is more than just a blue collar city. Porto is a city that has everything that a tourist can hope for and a great place for your next Portugal Travels.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Minho Vacation

Minho Vacation

Choosing your Portugal Vacation has everything to do with what you want from a vacation. As I've mentioned before, each and every region of Portugal is unique, ranging from customs, architecture and ethnicities. For such a small country, Portugal has some of the most distinctive regions that you will ever see. Often, tourists who have only traveled to Portugal's Algarve, are amazed at how it differs from the Northern region of the country. It is important, when visiting a country, not to make any presumptions on what you'll see, and more importantly not to assume that if you've seen one region you've seen them all. Today I'll tell you about Portugal's Minho Province, a green jewel in Portugal's crown.

The Minho Province was officially created in 1936 during Salazar's Fascist reign, and dissolved in 1976. That said, many Portuguese today still refer to this small geographic land mass in the northwest part of Portugal as Minho (sounds like 'Me N You'), and those born or descended from this part of Portugal are generally referred to as Minhotos (People residing from Minho). Today, the former territory of Minho is part of the Norte Region of Portugal

Before the region of Minho was dissolved, it consisted of 23 municipalities, with Braga as its capital city. Minho, if it still existed today, would include the districts of Guimarães (Birth city of Portugal) Braga (Long standing city stronghold of Ancient Celtic Civilization originally inhabited by the Bracari hence the name Braga and Viana do Castelo (An Ancient Celtic coastal town).

Minho, along with its sister province Tras Os Montes (Literally translates to 'Behind The Mountains' )to the east, are also the most ancient of all the Portuguese provinces. Minhotos are very proud of their culture and history as it has played a major role in the creation of modern day Portugal. Minho is after all, the birthplace of the Portuguese nation. Minho along with Galicia (Galiza in Spanish) is also the territory where the Portuguese language was born. There is virtually no difference in ethnicity between Galicians and Minhotos, as they are both a Celt - Iberian race, with Germanic (Swabian, Suebi or Suevi) and Roman bloodlines. During Roman occupation of modern day Portugal, Minho, along with Galicia were referred to as Gallaecia, and regarded as a threat to Roman dominance in Iberia. Along with the brave tribesmen, the Lusitanians, these people made the Roman's occupation of Iberia a very difficult one, and for many years the Roman's relegated mostly to the south of the country.

Minho, also know as Verde-Minho (Green Minho) is the most forested region of Portugal. The region itself is a nature lover's paradise with its large green landscape, mountains and rivers. Minho summers are dry and pleasant, the winters are cold, dipping from zero to -10 degrees Celsius and the a snow fall is not uncommon. Fortunately the cold winter weather in Portugal often only lasts a couple of months from late December through February. Minho gets a lot of rainfall throughout fall and winter, and not recommended as a travelers destination. If you are intent on visiting Portugal in late fall or winter, then the Algarve region in the south is the perfect destination with virtual year round sun and warmth. Traveling in the Minho province is ideal in the spring through early fall, only getting a little wet into mid to late October. The entire province is a travelers delight, with many historical monuments and wide open spaces and pristine nature reserves to keep you going. If you are traveling in Minho, make sure that you have marked out your route and stick to it, because it isn't unusual to get sidetracked. Driving in the night on the smaller mountain roads can be a little difficult, although the roads are modern, speeding drivers are still very common.

Due to its isolation, and lack of funding from the central government, the Minho province is also one of the least developed in the country. Outside of the main cities, many of the older generations, who've lived under fascism and the eye of the Catholic Church, still live a very pastoral, communal life. For those who live in larger cities, this may come as a bit of a shock, but it may be a hippies dream, without the VW and Psychedelia. That said, with Lisbon finally granting funds to build infrastructure, Minho is now developing at a very fast pace, and it is very common to see the old world and new world colliding.

The largest historical remains Celtic influence in the Minho area includes the mountain fort of Briteiros, an ancient ruins dating back to the Iron Age. There are many ancient Celtic festivals that are held every year, including stick dancing, Pauliteiros, which as legend has it is an ancient fighting system that was converted into dance in order to deceive the Roman rulers. The Pauliteiros use 2 small sticks in a rhythmic dance that to some looks similar to North American Indian tribal dances. These dances are usually accompanied by bagpipe and drums. The traditional folk dances in Mirandese Tras Os Montes, a remote Portuguese province just east of the Minho is a must see for anyone interested in ancient customs, dances and rituals.

Lastly, Minho is a region in transition. With children no longer willing to accept the agriculturally driven lives that their parents have, choosing to work in larger cities or abroad. It is obvious that the life in the Minho region, a lifestyle that is so common today will vanish by the next generation, and will only be a footnote in the history books. I highly recommend that if you are looking for a Portugal vacation that is immersed in history, Minho is the place for you.

There are many cities and villages that are a must see in the Minho province of Portugal, and I will be telling you more about them in later posts, here on Portugal Vacations.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Lisbon Hostels Best In The World

Lisbon Hostels

For those of you who are looking to travel on a budget in Europe on your next Portugal Vacation, a Portuguese Hostel can often be the best way to see a city and make friends. Not all hostels are created equal, and occasionally, some can be very unwelcoming. The great news is that Portugal has some of the best hostels in the world, and at this years HOSCAR awards in Dublin Ireland, Portugal and Lisbon specifically took home 4 out of 10 top spots in the world's top hostels awards, as chosen by individuals from around the globe. The following is the list of hostels that made it to the top 10 list, I've bolded the Portuguese hostels for you. So get familiar with some travel packing tips and get ready for a great hostel vacation in Portugal.

1. Traveller’s House, Lisbon, Portugal
2. Rossio Hostel, Lisbon, Portugal
3. Lisbon Lounge, Lisbon, Portugal
4. The Riverhouse Backpackers, Cardiff, Wales
5. Greg-Tom Hostel, Krakow, Poland
6. Sitting On The City Walls Courtyard House, Beijing, China
7. Academy Hostel, Florence, Italy
8. Goodnight Backpackers, Lisbon, Portugal
9. Flamingo Hostel, Krakow, Poland
10. Mambo Tango Backpackers Hostel, Barcelona, Spain

The Portuguese hostels are world famous for their comfortable and secure rooms, friendly and chic atmosphere and an outgoing friendly staff that will assist you tirelessly. You don't often get this type of service at a regular hotel. The Lisbon hostels are top notch, and you can feel comfortable know that you will be taken care of. I think a quick overview of each of the Portuguese Hostels is in order, starting at number 8.

8. Goodnight Hostel, Lisbon, Portugal

This gorgeous 18th century building,located in the Baixa area of Lisbon is ideally located in the heart of Lisbon's downtown area. Along with Magnificent windows and balconies, this neo-classical design in currently being considered to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Being centrally located means that you are steps away from all the glory of Lisbon, from the downtown core, to hip cafe's and nightclubs and great shopping.

The following is a list of offered amenities.

Facilities

* 24 Hour Reception
* Free Internet Access with Room Accessible WiFi
* Guest Kitchen
* Cable TV and Playstation
* DVD`s
* Common Room
* Library
* Linen Included
* Security Lockers
* Key Card Access
* Free Breakfast
* 24 Hour Security
* Towels Hire
* Ceiling Fan
* Tours Desk
* Luggage Storage


3. Lisbon Lounge, Lisbon, Portugal

Located in the heart of Lisbon, the Lisbon lounge was the first hostel in Lisbon. You are close to all the great attractions of Lisbon's pedestrian only streets and walkways, great shopping and excellent sites that Lisbon is famous for. There are 9 rooms available from twins with satellite T.V to 8 beds rooms. You also get free coffee all day long and free breakfast. The following is a full list of what is included in your stay.

Facilities

* 24 Hour Reception
* Free Internet Access & WiFi in Room
* Guest Kitchen
* Fax Service
* DVD`s
* Common Room
* Library
* Linen Included
* Security Lockers
* Reading Light
* Key Card Access
* Free Breakfast
* Washing Machine/Dryer
* Towels Hire
* Parking
* Bicycle Parking
* Bar
* Iron/Ironing Board
* Tours Desk
* Luggage Storage

2. Rossio Hostel, Lisbon, Portugal

Also located in the Baixa district, you are close to all of the glorious monuments that Lisbon is famous for. Walk out into a vibrant and hip Lisbon pedestrian only avenues and enjoy an authentic European atmosphere. Like the other Lisbon hostels, there are so many free extras included by the Rossio Hostel that it's a wonder they make any money at all. Here is a list of free things offered.

-Free Individual Lockers and Locks
-Free Towels, Linens and Duvets
-Free Coffee and Tea, all day
-Free Breakfast
-Free Wireless Internet Connection
-Free Maps and Advice
-Free Luggage storage
-Free Satellite TV and films
-Free CD/DVD Burning Facilities

Facilities

* 24 Hour Reception
* Free of Charge Internet Access accessible in Lobby
* Cable TV
* DVD`s
* Common Room
* Linen Included
* Security Lockers
* Reading Light
* Free Breakfast
* Washing Machine/Dryer
* Towels Hire
* Bar
* Tours Desk
* Luggage Storage

1. Traveller’s House, Lisbon, Portugal

Also located in the Baixa district, the world's best hostel is sure to make you think twice about the meaning of hostel. The 250 year old building isn't just a place to stay, but a wonderful part of history, but you won't be stuck in the past. The Traveller's House has every modern convenience that you could wish for and many things you may not even thought of. This chic and vibrant hostel has won the hearts of travelers the world over, many travelers return year after year, often just because they love spending time at the hostel and meeting new friends. Everything about the Traveler's House is first rate and there are so many additional free of charge extras that you'll wonder how they make money. The following is a list of free extras.

-Free Individual Lockers and Locks
-Free Towels, Linens and Duvets
-Free Coffee and Tea, all day
-Free Breakfast
-Free Wireless Internet Connection
-Free access to guide books from all around the world
-Book exchange
-Free Maps and Advice
-Free Luggage storage
-Free Satellite TV and films
-Free CD/DVD Burning Facilities

Facilities

* 24 Hour Reception
* Free Internet Access
* Guest Kitchen
* Card Phones
* Cable TV
* DVD`s
* Common Room
* Library
* Linen Included
* Security Lockers
* Reading Light
* Key Card Access
* Free Breakfast
* Washing Machine/Dryer
* Towels Hire
* Hairdryer for Hire
* Bar
* Café
* Tours Desk
* Luggage Storage


All of the hostels mentioned are operated by friendly and outgoing staff that really care about the traveler. The hostel offers group outings, and activities, the staff are always happy to share their experiences and knowledge of Lisbon with you. You will meet like minded travelers to hang with or if you prefer, you can just stay in your room or lounge and veg. I hope you enjoyed this brief overview of the Hostels of Lisbon and hope to see you there on your next Portugal Vacation.