Phone and Maps Travel Tips

Helpful Hints

  

If you travel and take your phone, do the research before you leave.  I wanted to get a T-mobile SIM card for my phone before I left, but turned out the T-mobile SIM wouldn't work in my Verizon phone.  Verizon and Sprint use different technologies for their mobile networks and they aren't used in other countries.  

Verizon has almost nothing for you outside of the USA, don't waste your time trying to work that out unless your trip is very short and you want to pay extra for something you may not need to use at all. Although I didn't spend much time on other carrier options, I read AT&T has decent out of country plans now. T-mobile is known widely as having the best and cheapest options.   

Airplane mode, turn it on immediately when you arrive and keep it on the whole time.  You won't have any issues with roaming charges and your smart phone will still work fine as a mobile computer when you have wifi.  If you don't suspend you USA service, your text messaging will work over wifi.    

When I knew I was going to get to Lisbon a day late, I was able to communicate with my airbnb host via airbnb and whatsapp.  Handy to ask your airbnb host to find you on whatsapp.  Once I landed in Lisbon, I could still do this anywhere I had a decent wifi connection.

Some free wifi connections are wide open and very slow.  My Verizon phone won't connect to some of them at all due to the security software on the phone which can't be disabled.  Thankfully, that didn't goof me up.  

If you don't have whatsapp, it's great.  Better and more widely used than the others.  I've spoken to a couple folks in USA and it sounds better than most conversations I had with them in the USA.  As it is VOIP, it does skip and/or drop on occasion but the clarity of the sound is great.  

Still looking for a phone replacement for my old Samsung Note4, but haven't made a decision as yet.  So many options.  I was big on the OnePlus 5T but now it's had a few problems.  I may opt for another Samsung.  Other than crap battery life, all the Samsungs I've had have been great.  The Note8 is due to be released on my birthday.  It may have to be my birthday present.  

LAST BUT NOT LEAST!!!  The best thing I've discovered so far about having a smart phone with me that is no longer a phone....

GOOGLE OFFLINE MAPS

This is spectacular.  Without it, I would have been lost in Lisbon and in Figueira.  All you have to do is pick the area you're going to be in on Google Maps and request the Offine version while you have a wifi connection.  It won't give you directions when you're not on wifi (unless you have mobile data turned on where you risk roaming unless you have international plan/service), but it works perfectly.  The Alfama district in Lisbon is pretty tricky, but with the GPS feature it will know where you are unless it can't ping the satellite.  You see a little blue dot where you are and you can zoom the map and see a great level of detail.  While I love a good paper map, this is even better.  Even more amazing that it works without wifi or mobile connection.  

Here's an example of how it looks:

 When you're in Google Maps, go to the menu bar and select Offline Maps, it lets you choose the area you want.  Even though it looks like it will be too big of an area, you can zoom down to loads of details.  Download it to your mobile phone and it'll be there when you don't have a connection.  They expire and disappear after a couple weeks.  Too cool!  

zoomed in to see more detail 

Happy travels!  

Furadouro

Getting to Furadouro involved several changes of train and a taxi ride.  All good.  The local trains in PT are simple and run frequently.  I was a bit concerned about hitting commuter traffic from Porto but I found a spot for my huge bag and sat on it.  Not a problem.  

Staying at a bnb on the edge of town.  

On my arrival day had a bit of travel "gripe".  I love that word and hadn't thought of it since I had the issue in Argentina in 2014.  The pharmacist called it that which I find more pleasant the other names. In fact, it makes more sense since when you have it, you will likely complain or whine a bit.  Ha!

Luckily, I had some of the Rx I got in Argentina which worked like a charm (Sertal).  Frankly, I'm not into the whole Lomotil thing.  I just want to get rid of the intestinal spasm pain and Sertal works great. It's an odd drug and one that is (apparently) not available in the USA.  It's a smooth muscle relaxant with some other stuff mixed in, not sure what but it works.  A single dose did the job.  

Just is case you need the definition:  

gripe

ɡrīp/

verb

1. 1.

   informal

   express a complaint or grumble about something, especially something trivial.

   "they gripe about the busywork"

   synonyms:

   complain, grumble, grouse, protest, whine, bleat; More

2. 2.

   affect with gastric or intestinal pain.

   "it gripes my belly like a green apple"

noun

1. 1.

   informal

   a complaint, especially a trivial one.

   "his biggest gripe is that he has lost his sense of privacy"

   synonyms:

   complaint, grumble, grouse, grievance, objection; More

2. 2.

   gastric or intestinal pain; colic.

Free bikes courtesy of the Tourist Info peeps in town.  The tires were a bit low but it had a nice basket and 3 speeds to assist with hills and wind.  There are many kms of bike trails next to the road.  One path I took traveled along the coast where you can hear the ocean but can't see it. There are several other little beach towns just off the trail.  Some have nothing but a single outdoor cafe.  Miles of ocean front land that isn't developed.  Wow! 

one of my beach stops on the bike

lovely off road bike paths along the pine forest next to the coast 

I do believe I'll move on to Spain in a few days.  It's fascinating to me that I can figure out a lot of Portuguese when reading it but I can't understand a word of it when spoken by locals.  Most young people speak some English.  Even when I try a few words, they don't understand me.  In Spain I'll be reminded of how bad my Spanish is, but at least I'll understand much more of what people are saying.  

Sunshine, daydream, walking in the tall trees, going where the wind goes
Blooming like a red rose, breathing more freely,
Ride our singin', I'll walk you in the morning sunshine
Sunshine, daydream. Sunshine, daydream. Walking in the sunshine.

___Robert Hunter and Bob Weir - Sugar Magnolia

Puzzle Suites and Figueira da Foz

Out of Lisbon on the train.  How I do love travel by train.  No fussing with loads of security and constantly pulling out ID and documents.  

Made my way to Figueira da Foz on Friday.  The original plan was to spend the weekend there and continue on to my meditation retreat and training.  Unfortunately, due to the huge fires in central Portugal, my retreat was cancelled.  This gives me additional time to wander in Portugal and surrounds.

the "puzzle" in my room at the Puzzle Suites, this one is 12300 pieces completed by the owner in 5 months

Unbelievably, all of these following pics are completed puzzles throughout the property.  The owner estimates the current count to be approximately 300K puzzle pieces.  His goal is to reach 1 mil pieces in the next 2 years.  He's been completing puzzles for 25 years.  

This is a lovely BnB a couple blocks from the beach and a couple blocks from the center of town.  The owner speaks excellent English (lucky for me) and had many helpful hints for restaurants and other info about Fig da Foz.  

the round puzzles, never seen one before 

The weather was lovely but VERY windy in the afternoon.  I didn't see any kite surfers but would think it's perfect for that...or perhaps too windy.  The readily available beach wind breaks are great.  The bnb also had free bikes which I enjoyed.  It wasn't a Townie but was nice for several buzzes around town.  

brave souls in the ocean

inside the wind break in the evening waiting to enjoy the sunset 

sunset on the north Atlantic with the umbrellas all ready for the next day 

I didn't realize bull fighting was also in Portugal, then again, it's right next to Spain.  It's not something I care to watch but there was a bullfight on Sat evening that seemed quite popular. 

The casino is one of the main attractions in the town.  It used to be that casinos didn't exist in many other European countries, so the one in Fig da Foz drew visitors from all over Europe.  Now there are lots of casinos.  

It looked to be quite crowded so I skipped it, but those in and around the casino seemed to be enjoying themselves.  

Had several nice meals with my favorite being at Poquete http://www.restaurante-paquete.com/

Next stop Furadouro, a small beach town further up the coast towards Porto.  

Lisbon

Out of the USA and on to Europe.  1st stop the lovely city of Lisbon, Portugal. Stayed in an airbnb in the Alfama district, the old city.  Although I got stuck overnight in PHL, it wasn't because of storms there, but because of storms in Florida and Boston.  In the end, I got a better flight to Lisbon on TAP.  

Lisbon is a lively, artsy, and historical city. So much character and TILE!  The tiles are everywhere you look and the cobblestones are always underfoot.  I loved seeing people wearing clothes that looked like the tiles.  Didn't find the right one for me, will keep looking.  

The view from my flat on Rua de Sao Miguel

Tile and mosaics all around.  Check out that tile border on the top of the back building. 

Gotta love a cat on a bike...

Sarcophagus of Santa Ana, 16th century Portuguese princess, at the Lisbon Cathedral

Part of the original building, in the cloister, completed in 1147 AD.  

Excavation area where they are finding evidence of 6-7th C Moorish influence.  Note the 5 pointed star in a circle. 

 World Bike Tour sculpture in the Praça do Comércio.  The feet, arms, and head all moved.  

I can never resist a nice cruiser bike.  Love that color.  

the amazing pastel de nata at the famous Martinho da Arcada on the square in Lisbon

Tile, cable car, cobblestone street, and graffiti, and all in one pic.  This street was so steep it was difficult to walk up or down. 

Tiles, tiles, and more tiles... 

Add caption

Street art 

the adorable French Bulldog that didn't bark at me 

VW gets a special spot in the street art

I saw some of the major sites as well, including the Castelo de São Jorge  and a few other famous sites.  If you visit, be prepared for LOTS of walking on steep, bumpy streets.  

Lots of delicious food.  Food pics on my Instagram account:  
https://www.instagram.com/hklndn/
  

Happy 4th of July!

Fun in the sun on the east coast of USA.  Started and ended in Margate City NJ at my sister's newly renovated ocean front condo. SWEET!!! 

Don't miss the reveal:   http://www.hgtv.com/shows/beachfront-bargain-hunt-renovation/episodes/makeover-in-margate-new-jersey

The view from the new HGTV home!

Enjoying Margate at a beach party!

3JUL17 my Dad, my sister, her daughter and ME!  Big fun!

Good times on the beach!

Great times around the east coast seeing friends and family in Bel Air and Baltimore MD, Bethany Beach DE, and Margate City NJ. Next stop Lisbon, Portugal.  

The adventure begins....

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” – Helen Keller

Whirlwind tour of CO

I haven't been to CO in a very long time, more than 10 years.  There are those who say you can't go home again.  I would say you can, but maybe you shouldn't stay.  Ha!

I landed at DIA and set out to take the train downtown where I would pick up my rental car.  Car rental rates at DIA very high and you can save by picking up away from the airport.  Nice that there is a train from DIA to Union Station.  It costs $9 and takes a bit longer than expected.  LoDo was HOT HOT HOT (98 deg F) and I barely recognized the city.  So many new buildings and changes.  I decided to head for the hills to cool off and drove directly to the Westin Riverfront in Avon at the base of Beaver Creek CO.  This property didn't exist when I lived in Avon.  

Had dinner with BJW whom I hadn't seen since 2004.  Lots of catching up and reminiscing.  The Westin Riverfront was quite a lovely resort.  My "villa" included a small kitchen and a washer/dryer which came in handy.  I found a non-refundable deal on booking.com.  The town of Avon has transformed since I lived there.  It was all a bit surreal.  

I headed out in the a.m. to take the scenic route south and through the mountains.  

Enjoyed my breakfast at the Turntable in Minturn and was glad to see that Minturn seems pretty much the same as when I left.  

Lionshbead Peak from Minturn

Notch Mt near Leadville

Mount Massive near Leadville

Mount Princeton near Buena Vista

Mountains are pretty but driving in them doesn't do much for me anymore.  The road between Avon and Leadville appeared to have had zero improvements from when I lived in Avon.  Thankfully it was a beautiful day and I didn't have to deal with any inclement weather.  Those switchbacks and that bridge near Redcliffe are a bit unnerving for a most recent FL flatlander.  Took my time getting to Del Norte CO and the adorable Windsor Hotel.  I was working my way towards Trinidad to meet up with DK from Albuquerque.  I chose the hotel as it had lots of reviews for its excellent restaurant and bar.  My dinner and drinks were fab!  

coffee rubbed elk loin with mole sauce, hatch green chile and goat cheese corn bread, baby squash

the well stocked bar with all liquor on middle shelf from CO distillers

woody creek rye manhattan

Del Norte sits at 7884 feet above sea level.  I've been at sea level for years and the altitude in CO was very noticeable.  I drank loads of extra water each day and still felt thirsty and woke up with a headache each day.  My skin felt like shoe leather and I had 2 nose bleeds.  Thank you altitude.  Didn't have much time to acclimate.  My simple room in the hotel was pleasant and they had nice croissants and coffee in the morning.

Off to Trinidad where my roommate from Denver in the 80s came up to meet me.  We stayed in an airbnb with a lovely view above the town.  I had never been to Trinidad in the 21 years I lived in CO.  It has some interesting history. Quite a quirky airbnb in an old home filled with vintage everything.  DK and I spent quite a long time checking out the vintage costume jewelry.  Both of us picked up a vintage rhinestone hair pin.  Need to get a pic of it in my hair.  We had dinner at a funky Italian restaurant with singing wait staff.  Whatever gets you through the day. It was great to catch up with DK.  It's always a great feeling to reconnect with good peeps.  

Back to Denver the following day and had the good fortune of seeing 2 more dear friends.  Headed out in a.m. to PHL.

So much gratitude for my health.  Was good to be back in CO and now I'm ready to get to the beach on the east coast.