Hello, My name id Freeda B. and I am new to this site. My couchsurfing friends helped me to find it.
I would like some help with a few things for my upcoming trip. If anyone has any suggestion or experience with any of these topics, I would be soooo grateful.
1. Is there a place where I can find a decent used bike that I can use to bike all over Portugal? I will be using the bike as my main source of travel to get to all the different cities and towns. Is there much worry for rain? Should I get fenders? Also, I will need racks for panniers. I was hoping to get this bike cheaper than bringing one with me from Canada.
2. I will be starting out in Lisbon, so it would be best to get my bike there. I was then planning to bike to Sintra, see everything for a week or so and then head out to the coast. I will tell you of the places that I want to see and then perhaps someone can suggest the best route I should take.
Cabo Especial
Setubals Fortress
Alentejes Coast (to see the cork trees)
Obidos - will I be there for the chocolate festival???
Monsanto - I have got to see this!
Tomar - I know this is inland and I am willing to move off the coast to see this part of Portugal as I am going north (does that sound like I am on the right track?)
Monsaraz - thinking about tripping off to Spain up this way to go see friends in Rioja, does anyone know this area or a good route to get there???
Marvao (maybe, not sure, I could miss this)
Piodao in the Serra de Acor
Mafra - maybe go there right after Sintra, unless anyone would suggest otherwise.
The Idea would be to make a big loop, bringing me back to Lisbon. I may start out earlier, mid June and I will be leaving mid August. There is a conference in Lisbon that I want to attend in August. The conference is from August 3-9 2009 at the University of Lisbon.
3. Timelines. If anyone knows about how long it will take to get from one place to another, in a general sense, I know things depend on the individual.
4. Is there somewhere in Lisbon, near the universities that I can stay really, really cheap? August seems to be vacation time in Portugal and there may not be many couchsurfers around.
If anyone has any other suggestions or tips about what is really good to see or visit or a place to eat that I should not miss, please feel free to let me know.
This is a lot. But I put in so much so that you can fully understand what I need to know. Of course, some will only know some of the answers, that will also be great.
Thank you all.
Peace,
Freeda B.
I would like some help with a few things for my upcoming trip. If anyone has any suggestion or experience with any of these topics, I would be soooo grateful.
1. Is there a place where I can find a decent used bike that I can use to bike all over Portugal? I will be using the bike as my main source of travel to get to all the different cities and towns. Is there much worry for rain? Should I get fenders? Also, I will need racks for panniers. I was hoping to get this bike cheaper than bringing one with me from Canada.
2. I will be starting out in Lisbon, so it would be best to get my bike there. I was then planning to bike to Sintra, see everything for a week or so and then head out to the coast. I will tell you of the places that I want to see and then perhaps someone can suggest the best route I should take.
Cabo Especial
Setubals Fortress
Alentejes Coast (to see the cork trees)
Obidos - will I be there for the chocolate festival???
Monsanto - I have got to see this!
Tomar - I know this is inland and I am willing to move off the coast to see this part of Portugal as I am going north (does that sound like I am on the right track?)
Monsaraz - thinking about tripping off to Spain up this way to go see friends in Rioja, does anyone know this area or a good route to get there???
Marvao (maybe, not sure, I could miss this)
Piodao in the Serra de Acor
Mafra - maybe go there right after Sintra, unless anyone would suggest otherwise.
The Idea would be to make a big loop, bringing me back to Lisbon. I may start out earlier, mid June and I will be leaving mid August. There is a conference in Lisbon that I want to attend in August. The conference is from August 3-9 2009 at the University of Lisbon.
3. Timelines. If anyone knows about how long it will take to get from one place to another, in a general sense, I know things depend on the individual.
4. Is there somewhere in Lisbon, near the universities that I can stay really, really cheap? August seems to be vacation time in Portugal and there may not be many couchsurfers around.
If anyone has any other suggestions or tips about what is really good to see or visit or a place to eat that I should not miss, please feel free to let me know.
This is a lot. But I put in so much so that you can fully understand what I need to know. Of course, some will only know some of the answers, that will also be great.
Thank you all.
Peace,
Freeda B.