Following Deborah's recommendation, and contacting Paulo, the apartment:
http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/lisbon/34847
is available for 6 nights during the time we are interested.

Right now I am tempted to grab this opportunity, but hesitant because 6 nights does not seem long enough for a first visit to this city.
I am thinking more like 10-12 nights.

So I am looking for some other apartments in the same area, but can't find any reviews for Lisbon on trusty slowtrav.

If anyone knows of another good choice I would appreciate hearing about it.
Thanks.

That apartment looks fantastic (Deborah, no REVIEW?) and the view very fitting for a birthday celebration, no?

Maybe you can either stay here for 6 nights with a hotel stay on each end (maybe the place across the street) or a few days in Lisbon then a few somewhere else? You could get a car and explore the area outside of Lisbon - this place looks really nice and is just outside the city:

Aldeia de Mata Pequena

Or go north slowly and end up in Santiago de Compostela in Spain (fly out of there) - it's a really incredible place.

I'm getting a bit fast travel on you though - just throwing some ideas out there.

I haven't stayed here, but have it bookmarked, because I love the colors and the price:

Apartment in Lisbon #8

Keep us posted!

Thanks, Shannon.

You have always been a woman after my own heart. I would happily follow you from tapas bar to restaurant and back to the bar!

And those colors in your bookmarked apartment? Fabulous.

I have received confirmation of 6 night availability from Paulo and am now thinking of a new twist.
Since I fly BA, on returning home through London I could layover there for 7 nights.
Might make a nice birthday combo.

It's just that knowing Deborah, and reading her comment that Lisbon is the one city she would be comfortable living in, it makes me think I should spend more time there to really get to know it.

Decision time.

I stayed in this apartment in Lisbon in June 2007. It was in a very good location right in the centre of town on a pedestrianized street, about a five minute walk to seafront. In fact we were able to walk most places from there with the added bonus of never having to walk uphill when we were tired and coming home.

Lisbon Apartment on Rua Augusta

Debra, have you spent a lot of time in London already? Or just a little?

I understand the wanting to go back to places you've been... but consider more time in Portugal or maybe Santiago de Compostela or Barcelona or Madrid in Spain. They are so awesome, I just want EVERYONE to go.

Sorry but I just have to make your decision more difficult - they'll placate you on the UK board if you want.

(I've never even BEEN to London. So take my words with a grain of salt.)

quote:

Originally posted by Shannon:
Debra, have you spent a lot of time in London already? Or just a little?

We have been to London 5 or 6 times and I do love it.
But today I was thinking about the time we were there for a week, after spending a week in Rome. It was the same time of year, October, and I spent half the week in London feeling deprived because there were no piazzas to sit in, no gelato, no sunshine and warmth, no wonderful food (well, except for the really good pub food).

Recalling that, and the love that Deborah has for Lisbon, convinced me that a total immersion in Lisbon is what I really need.

Paulo sent me a link to another apartment he has available over my birthday date:
http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/lisbon/34858
Deborah confirmed that the location was good so now I am looking for airflights.
I hope to stay 12 nights.

I ordered Rough Guide Portugal, DK Lisbon, and have a list of novels set in Lisbon to peruse and order.

I am excited.

Wow, that apartment looks fabulous, Debra. I'm bookmarking it for "next time". I'm dying to go back to Lisbon and I know you are going to love it. You'll be staying near the famous Brasileira Café, which is a wonderful place to have breakfast.

If you like, have a look at my Lisbon photos.

Personally, I'd skip the day trip to Sintra - I was quite disappointed, felt overly touristy to me. But if you do have the time and inclination to visit a wonderful place just outside Lisbon check out Setúbal.

Shannon, wasn't it you who told us somewhere about that fab looking wine bar in the aquaduct?

quote:

Originally posted by Debra:
and have a list of novels set in Lisbon to peruse

I forgot to mention that if you haven't seen this film it will make you totally fall in love with Lisbon.

Lisbon Story

quote:

Originally posted by azahar:

I forgot to mention that if you haven't seen this film (Lisbon Story)it will make you totally fall in love with Lisbon.

Thanks, I just popped it into my netflix queue.
"Lisboa" came up on netflix too. A mystery that sounds a little like "Tell No One" (a movie I just watched and enjoyed).

Also, thanks for your photo album and link to you website.

Due to time restrictions, I think I am going to go with this apartment.
and it does have an elevator, although it is not mentioned.
http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p99190

Any comments, pro or con, welcomed.

We just watched Vicky Christina Barcelona from Netflix and we are both saying, "and Why aren't we going to Barcelona?"
Nice photography in this film.