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A Ginjinha was the first establishment in Lisbon to commercialize the drink called Ginjinha. Ginjinha is a liqueur made with ginja berries, aguardiente (Portuguese brandy), sugar, water, and cinnamon. Francisco Espinheira, a Galician friar of the Church of Santo Antonio, put together all these ingredients, and the result was this sweet and very good liqueur. In Óbidos, the drink is served in chocolate cups, about the size of shot glasses. (They make a very nice gift.) You can eat the cup after drinking the liqueur, or just pour more into the cup. Before having a drink, visit São Domingos Church. It’s worthwhile.

Overview

There is nothing like Italian gelato. Strike that—there is nothing like Corona gelato. An unassuming gelateria sandwiched between a Vodafone shop and a bank, Corona dazzles hungry crowds with its incredible flavors. Though owner Alessandro keeps his selection to about a dozen freshly made flavors, each one is a winner. Traditionalists love the cioccolato fondente (dark chocolate) and stracciatella, but it is the seasonal flavors—like raspberry ginger, watermelon, lemon basil, and chestnut—that draw faithful clients from all over the city. In the summer, Corona’s granita-flavored crushed ice packs a cold punch.

On the opposite side of Senado square, walk up the little street, the first right street is rua da felicidade, Macau’s former red light district - also how the street got its name “Happiness Street” from its former seedy, heady colonial past. Today, it’s a busy street filled with shops and local restaurants (sharks fin particularly popular here). At the end of the street is Fat Siu lau, one of Macau’s oldest and most popular restaurant serving up Macanese/Chinese food at steep prices. Interesting Trivia, Indiana Jones and the temple of doom was filmed here on this very street.

When it opened in 2016, Playa Largo, part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, was Key Largo’s first new luxury hotel in 21 years, and its casual, sun-drenched luxury was a welcome addition to the mellow Upper Keys. The resort’s 177 rooms and suites offer a range of accommodations—most with great bay views. Upgrade to one of the ten bungalows for a private back porch surrounded by lush gardens and a second-level balcony. For ultimate privacy—and luxury—book the Beach House with three master bedrooms, wrap-around balconies, a private pool, event lawn, and private beach. The property’s four restaurants (the toes-in-the-sand Sand Bar is ideal for watching sunset), spa, fitness center, pool, and beach offer plenty of ways to relax, or partake in activities like snorkeling, diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, parasailing, fishing, sailing, or a glass-bottomed boat ride. Pro tip: Hobnob with the school of more than 100 tarpon that linger near the resort by hand-feeding them from the resort dock.

I was staying in Key Largo at the Marriott Resort. While relaxing on the beach under a large palm tree’s fronds that swayed in the breeze, I noticed a movement on the sand near the mangroves. A few seconds later a large green iguana emerged and stared at me. I reached for my camera and snapped a few shots just as the reptile wandered back into the thick mangroves. He climbed the branches and kept an eye on me as he slowly munched on the mangrove leaves. As I watched and searched the foliage, I saw several iguanas of different sizes. This was their home. Talk about the tropics... Gorgeous beaches, water sports, tropical foliage, and ... iguanas. I enjoy Key Largo and the the Marriott is a good choice. Try to get to Islamorada if you don’t have time for Marathon or points south. If you have four to five days, you can stop at Big Pine Key and Key West as well as Marathon. Each Key is unique and you’ll experience something different every day. Go to www.SEE-FloridaKeys.com for info on the Keys.

It is a fairly recent place, opened in February 2013, located close to Ribeira, in Largo São Domingos. This restaurant aims to bring to Porto a little bit of each region of Portugal. Focusing on small scale producers and in working directly with them, Joana and Sofia (the owners) managed to have a wide selection of traditional food items from all over the country. There are three things here that makes you have to go there: wine, muxama and cheese. “Muxama” is smoked tuna fish, coming from Algarve, and it’s quite hard to find it in Porto. Have it with scrambled eggs and tomato jam. Their selection of cheeses covers the entire country, including the Azores and its São Jorge spicy cheese. One of the most incredible chesses for me is “Caganita”. A buttery and flavorful cheese from Alcains, that here is served hot with olive oil and herbs…

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo is popular among the diving and snorkeling crowd, with good reason. The first undersea park in the United States boasts a pale-white sunken algae-coated statue of Jesus Christ with outstretched arms. Unlike the Belize version (that statue of Christ is accessible only by deep-sea divers), the Key Largo version is an aquatic landmark that everyone—including the Lonely Planet Guidebook– seems to know about, and easy to spot while snorkeling out in the ocean. On a clear day (and there are too many of these to count here), you’ll see endangered sea turtles, which are making a comeback in Florida, and more fish than you’ll have bargained for. My family and I took a glass-bottom boat tour and loved spotting fat yet graceful pelicans and plenty of brown, red and white mangroves. I also realized that this was possibly the best spot in the world to practice fishing. Bryan, our skipper, agrees. “This is the best place in the world to hook and cook,” he chuckles, adding that you’re not allowed to fish in the park itself. Indeed, Key Largo and Islamorada are perhaps the best spots in the world for grouper. The park offers popular snorkeling expeditions which are around four hours long, as well as sandy beach areas.

Alabama Jack’s is a well known shack on the water on Card Sound Road in Key Largo that serves a good lunch. It is in the middle of nowhere just north of the toll bridge. Alabama Jack’s is a great place for lunch. It specializes in fresh, fried seafood. Try the conch fritters. They are full of chunks of conch. The conch chowder is delicious. Of course, most items are fried, but you can also get steamed dishes. I stop here either going down to the keys or on the way back north. I have lunch and an ice cold drink. Funky fun. Motorcyclists, couples, mature adults, and families with the kiddies - you see them all as they sit and relax and take in the view of the water, the mangroves, and any boats passing by.

In spite of a world where nowadays every street is full of huge chain stores, we can still find treasures like this tiny shop. In the romantic Largo do Carmo, this charming shop is decorated in ‘50s style with red velvet sofas and classical stacked boxes. It sells exclusive and unique handmade shoes. The great quality of shoes made in Portugal is well known abroad. (The singer Rihanna designs shoes that are manufactured in the north of the country; Shakira wears Portuguese shoes; and, if you are fond of royalty, did you know that Princess Kate wore Portuguese shoes at her wedding?) Women can find heeled shoes or Oxford shoes (also known as men’s shoes). Men can find timeless classics. Everything sold is unique, trendy, and bold. After belonging to the same family for three generations, in February 2012 the shop was sold. But luckily, it was sold to another family!

Piazzetta Nilo Known also as Largo Corpo di Napoli, got its name from the statue of the Nile God. The Piazzetta is located in the Historic center of Naples, which is considered the first historic core of the city. (Naples was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1995). The square was established in the 15th century and the area was known as a trade center during the Greek and Roman ages. This is one of the REAL authentic squares of Naples and very central as a meeting point.

Cesare al Casaletto is far off the well-beaten tourist track, but it is easy to get to: just take the 8 tram from Piazza Venezia or Largo Argentina and get off at the very last stop. Fifty yards from the tram tracks sits Rome‘s best trattoria, where spectacular fried appetizers (get them all, or at least the gnocchi fritti and polpette di bollito) give way to classic pasta dishes like carbonara and gricia. The second courses are excellent and fall-off-the-tailbone braised oxtail is a favorite. Pair it all with fairly priced natural wines from all over Italy and be sure to leave room for dessert, preferably the panna cotta.

José Saramago, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, has considered this museum as one of the most beautiful museums he knows. The museum is close to the Largo da Oliveira and offers exhibitions of jewellery (12th to 19th century), sculpture (13th to 18th century), painting (16th to 17th century), tiles (16th to 18th century), ceramics (17th to 19th century) and textiles (15th to 18th century). A must see in the museum is the silver gilt triptych and the gambeson of John I, which he wore at the Battle of Aljubarrota.

Locals organized a memorial after Václav Havel, the first president of the Czech Republic, died on December 18, 2011. The experience was surreal: I had read his play Largo Desolato for an English course a year earlier.

On August 25, 1988, tragedy fell upon Lisbon: A huge fire turned Chiado to ruins, destroying 18 secular buildings. However, Chiado has come back to become the most elegant and trendy neighborhood in Lisbon. Fortunately, some buildings from the 18th century, a few of them renovated after the fire, still stand, remodeled by the Portuguese architect Siza Vieira. With a location on one of Lisbon’s seven hills, the neighborhood is full of old bookshops, theaters, international brands, and local fashion designers. Also, it’s a popular meeting spot for a dinner or a drink in Bairro Alto. Chiado’s streets are a symbol of the liberty of the revolution, since it was on the 25th of April, in 1974, that the Carnation Revolution would leave Largo do Carmo. Also it’s a neighborhood of intellectual life. The writers Fernando Pessoa and Eça de Queirós were habitués of the cafés.