See Portugal

I found this video on the internet, and I think that it says more about the beauty of Praia da Adraga then I could ever write in this post. The end of this movie is actually Cabo da Roca, but visiting both spots is no problem since they are relatively close. I actually did the trip of Pria da Adraga and Cabo da Roca this Valentines Day.



Located near the town of Almoçageme, Sintra, Praia da Adraga is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Portugal. In fact, Praia da Adraga was once voted one of the best beaches in all of Europe by the BBC.

Tucked behind tall cliffs, this intimate little beach has some great breaking waves. It is a spot where you can find local fisherman and local surfers, as well as a few of the lucky tourists who have made it down. At times the water can be quite wild, but this incredible wildness only adds to the beauty of this amazing beach.

One of the highlights of a trip to Adraga, is a dinner at the restaurant located there. Pria da Adraga Restaurant offers an amazing menu, with the large windows leaving you still feeling the intimacy of the Atlantic ocean. A good white wine and some seafood will add to the serenity. I also recommend spreading some of the goat cheese at the table on a slice of bread. It is perfect. Although it is not easily accessible through public transportation, if you are visiting Lisbon or Sintra and have rented a car, then Adraga is a must.

Since verão is just around the bend, I thought that I would post a film I made last summer about the beautiful city. I shot this film in the course of about three weeks, imagining that the camera would expose what I saw as I wandered around Lisbon.

A few things happened, one, I noticed that the sounds for me became the most interesting, from the lazy, quietness of the neighborhoods, to the creaking boats as they drag people back along the river. Second, I became almost obsessed with the trip up the Ascensor (not Elevador da Gloria, the one on the opposite side of Av. Liberdade) and in particular, a little anonymous old man, who everyone who has seen the film asks me about. I don’t know who he is, but it is certain that he is a great man.

The music at the end is just as much a snapshot of last summer as the film has become. The song, “Onça” by Ricardo Candety, was performed with me for the first, and really only time that day, filmed on the spot with no real rehearsal. Ricardo is an artist from Guinea-Bissau, who plays his music from his window looking out at the city, and anyone who has heard him sing knows that he is special. I will always be proud to know that he was a friend of mine.

I hope you enjoy the film, Verão na Cidade. I am no filmmaker, but I did make this film, and it did capture the beauty of Lisbon, in its extremely personal, rhythmical, and charming character.

We have already written about the Pois, Café–one of Lisbon, Portugal’s best cafés–located on Rua Sao Joao Praça, 95. It is near the Sé Cathedral, in the Alfama neighborhood of Lisbon. Anyone who has been there knows that it is the place to go.

These days there is another reason to stop in at Pois, Café. They are now selling homemade pesto, in fact three different kinds, as well as homemade vinegar and olive oil. The supply is very limited, all made by Martina Eberhardt, a local cook from Germany, living in Lisbon. Read more »

Lisbon’s Miradouro de Santa Catarina should be seen by anyone visiting the beautiful city. Day and night, the view is almost unequaled. It is also home to another almost unequaled Lisbon cafe.

Noobai Cafe, located at the Miradouro de Santa Catarina, is a favorite spot for both tourists and locals as well. The bar and restaurant is absolutely worth a visit given the spectacular view it offers looking down toward Lisbon and the Tejo River, the statue of Christ looking back across, as well as the Ponte 25 de Abril Bridge. From Noobai Cafe you can take it all in while sitting outside on the suspended terrace, leaving you feeling like your hanging off the side.

Noobai Cafe takes it’s name from “nu bai,” which means “we go,” in the Portuguese creole dialect of Cape Verde. They offer WiFi access if you would like to get some work done, as well as a light menu of soup, sandwiches, salad, and of course sweets.

Santa Catarina is a great spot to cool off in the summer, with the breeze blowing in from the openness it looks out upon, and though it may be somewhat chilly in the colder months, Noobai Cafe even offers a fleece blanket if you wish while sitting out on the terrace.

The Miradouro de Santa Catarina is an interesting place. It is a hang out for many people, often with guitars being played and dogs running around. There is another small cafe in the small park, which serves drinks and toasted sandwiches. Weekend afternoons at Santa Catarina can be quite crowded, but the atmosphere is very special. People relax, taking in the view, the sunshine, alcohol, some are singing, dancing, making music…Santa Catarina is an extremely unique spot in Lisbon.

If you would like to visit Noobai Cafe, there opening hours are from 12:00 PM - 12:00 AM. The Miradouro de Santa Catarina is enjoyable at any time of day, one suggestion might be to stop in and have a look across after a night of bar hopping through barrio Alto.