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Paul S. Bolen
Member
Username: Paulbolen
Post Number: 32
Registered: 03-2007
Posted From: 75.176.181.15
| | Posted on Saturday, March 27, 2010 - 11:24 pm: | |
Jim,
We are waiting for the rest of yout trip report. My wife loves Portugal - your report will provide the impetus to return. thanks |
Bob Dart
Senior Member
Username: Bobdart
Post Number: 1401
Registered: 06-2005
Posted From: 76.29.20.95
| | Posted on Friday, March 26, 2010 - 03:30 pm: | |
Jim, keep that lucky shamrock in your pocket for future PatEx hops. Your experiences with public transportation is a nice insert into a spat travel book. |
Jim Bagley
Advanced Member
Username: Jim_bagley
Post Number: 183
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 76.195.84.54
| | Posted on Friday, March 26, 2010 - 02:33 pm: | |
Jim,
Thanks for the effort and for the information. Your thoughts on travel and style of travel are attractive, and I'm sure you see many things those of us in rentals may miss. Looking forward to more.
Jim Bagley |
John R Garrison
Senior Member
Username: Majorg
Post Number: 2471
Registered: 02-2006
Posted From: 208.81.157.86
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2010 - 09:57 pm: | |
Jim:
Great report and excellent detail! Thanks for taking time to write it up and to share it. Also looking forward to Part II.
Happy Travels, John |
Edgar Inocentes
Senior Member
Username: Traveler88
Post Number: 498
Registered: 01-2005
Posted From: 209.242.132.226
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2010 - 08:55 pm: | |
Can't wait for Part II. |
Jim Elsnau
Member
Username: Jimmyda_saint
Post Number: 11
Registered: 09-2009
Posted From: 209.163.127.143
| | Posted on Thursday, March 25, 2010 - 08:11 pm: | |
OK, I've been back for a week now, so it's time to get writing.
I've been meaning to get to Portugal for a couple years now, and finally decided to get the Pat Ex from NAS Norfolk to Rota as a jumping off point. I got to the NGU Pax terminal a couple hours before roll call on Tues 2 March, expecting the worst--had heard about the previous Pat Ex which left a whole lot of would-be SPATS behind. This time, though, everybody who wanted to go got on, though it was a very full flight (as an aside, I'm batting 1000 on PatEx from Norfolk--have flown to Naples, Souda Bay, Sig and Rota and gotten on on my first try each time. Unfortunately I'm usually not so lucky with the C-5s and 17s)
Takeoff was delayed and we ended up flying to ORF (the commercial airport) for a fuel topoff--something I've never expeienced before!--after which we had to undergo a prolonged de-icing due to the bitter cold weather. But eventually we were airborne and headed east to Spain's sunnier climes.
Landed a little before noon local time in Rota--weather was balmy but with intermittent rain. Got my base pass from the Spanish security officers in the terminal and then headed out the gate to the National Police for a passport stamp. From there it was a quick walk over to the bus station where I had about 90 minutes till the next bus up to Seville. There's a cozy little cafe in the small terminal, where I had a couple cafes con leche, though I was sorely tempted to try the snails and beer being enjoyed by a couple standing at the small bar.
It was raining in Seville too, which was a bit of a nuisance as I had to walk from San Sebastian station (where the buses from Rota arrive) to Plaza de Armas (the bigger terminal where international buses arrive and depart). Well, OK, I didn't HAVE to walk, but I'm cheap enough that I prefer to walk when I can. And even in spite of wind gusts strong enough to turn my umbrella inside-out 2 or 3 times, I didn't get all that wet in what would've been a pleasant 15 minute stroll in fairer weather.
Two bus lines run twice daily between Seville and Portugal: Eurolines, which goes all the way to Lisbon, and EVA, which runs to Faro on the south coast, from where it's easy to connect with domestic lines for Lisbon and points north. I got on the overnight Eurolines run, which left a few minutes past midnight and got into Lisbon shortly after 5 in the morning (almost an hour ahead of the posted schedule). The Lisbon Metro doesn't start running til 6:30, so I killed time drinking vending machine coffee and reading the newspaper while I waited for the subway to open.
Easy ride to Praca do Comercio, one of the main squares in downtown Lisbon, and from there it was an easy 4-block walk to Travellers' House, the best hostel in the world (at least according to a poll taken by HostelWorld.com). It is a pretty cool place to stay if, like me, you enjoy the hostel experience. And no, they're not just for youth anymore--as is often the case, even at my "advanced" age I was far from the oldest guest in residence!
oops, gotta run...will flesh in more detail with Part II later this evening.
though before I go, I should point out a few of my idiosyncracies when I travel:
1. I never rent cars--usually not cost effective for a solo traveler anyway, unless you plan to visit out-of-the way sites not accessible by bus or train
2. I almost always stay in hostels or cheap pensions/guest houses; staying in a 2- or 3-star hotel is a rare treat for me
3. I don't use cabs all that often, except where bus, subway, streetcar etc aren't an option. And I walk whenever/wherever possible
4. Of course, I travel light (as so many fellow SPATS recommend)--got to, with all that walking!
more to follow soon-
v/r
Jim |
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