1-Traveling in Portugal (31th August - 7th September 2016) Setúbal-Lisbon

AMO-TE PORTUGAL

The staying in Portugal. Experience the Avante Festival

Living the Festa do Avante has been one of the most exciting experiences I have had. The Festa do Avante in Portugal is as much an icon as the 25th April Bridge and the Christo Rei statue are. This annual music, food and culture festival is put on by the Communist Party. This amazing festival attracts everyone from all walks of life and everyone’s welcome... I'ts always very emotional for me to see the images of thes great event every year... But nothing is as extraordinary as living it. First of all, I should like to thank my Comrades Nina Claudina e António Freixo because they treated me like one of the family. I stayed with them at their house, in the city of Setubal, for a whole week and  I truly felt at home. I'll be eternally grateful for that they did. Thank you with all my heart!

I only have words of thanks for everything. It has been a very enriching and memorable experience... I just love this country and its warm people! I'd go back again and again...

TRAVEL DIARY

Day 1 (31th August)


On this occasion my trip wasn't by plane but by train. Traveling by train may sound relaxing, but the night train Madrid-Lisbon it was too long. In Valencia I took a direct high-speed train from Valencia to Madrid (AVE) and I arrived there in less than two hours...

PICTURES 31th AUGUST (VALENCIA-MADRID)

At Joaquin Sorolla railway station. There is a shuttle bus service on the west side (Calle de Bailen) of the Nord station that took us there

Departure screen

😊😊😃😃
My mum accompanied me and we took some pics while waiting

The AVE which I took

Departure 12:40

Some photos during the journey (travel time: 90 minutes)

Atocha Station, Madrid

Taking advantage that I was in Madrid a few hours, I spoke with my Madrilenian friend Azucena to meet her again. It's been a long time since we saw each other! She and her boyfriend (Rubén) came looking for me and we went to eat lunch at a wok

Wok Teppanyaki (Alcobendas). This is the wok where 
we went cause Azucena had been there several times with Rubén

Delicious oriental food! I think I ate too much... Open bar is always dangerous xD

Enjoying excellent food in the great environment of the wok

Several desserts before we left 

Just after eating we went to Chamartín station and I had the opportunity to meet my dear comrade, Francisco Frutos, an important politician who was since 1998 until 2009, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Spain (PCE)

I enjoyed their company and their conversation

It was a pleasure to spend time with them

Rubén and Azu

More photos together while I was waiting for the train

Azucena and Rubén stayed with me until the train's departure

The Lusitania hotel train

The train is a Talgo trainset offering different comfort levels. The most basic available accomodation are regular 2nd class ("Turista") seats. They can recline slightly and most of them are arranged in rows so that you strech your legs.Besides the seated accomodation the train offers three kinds of sleeping cars. Four bed compartments ("Cama Turista") offer the best value. The beds are comfortable and there is a washing basin in the compartment. The two bed compartments ("Cama Preferente") offer more privacy for couples and also have a washin basin in the compartment. The most luxurious option are the two bed cabins with ensuite shower and WC ("Cama Gran Clase") which offer a maximum of comfort. The train also conveys a bar coach where you can get snacks and drinks, including warm meals in the evening and fresh breakfast in the morning

Emotional Farewell

With Ornella, my traveling companion. We were talking for hours about but we also tried to sleep but I couldn't really fall asleep... The seats were very uncomfortable and the trip was really long! But, we managed to survive