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This tram is the oldest in Lisbon (it was built in 1874) and travels up and down the lane way every 30 minutes. There are no stops - they just help people who can't walk up this Lisbon hill!

25/8/2015

This is the lane way to our apartment in Lisbon - you can't see how steep it is in the photo - but it's 250 metres long with a gradient of about 40 degrees. Once we get to the entrance of the apartment building we need to climb about 25 steps and then 54 stairs (yes we have counted them). It is 3 floors by 18 stairs on a circular staircase. Quite a feat after a big day walking around.
Lisbon has an extensive tram network of quaint old trams that lurch and screech around the narrow streets of the capital. This tram is the oldest in Lisbon (it was built in 1874) and travels up and down the lane way every 30 minutes. There are no stops - they just help people who can't walk up this Lisbon hill.
Lisbon is amazing - it is relatively small city but winding steep roads make a short journey (in km) reasonably challenging so the tram system is very convenient. Hope you are all having a fabulous day. Jo. ‪#‎Lisbon‬ ‪#‎Portugal‬ ‪#‎TravelStories‬

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We arrived in Lisbon 2 days ago and WOW!!

21/8/2015

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We arrived in Lisbon 2 days ago and WOW it is a culture shock after Prague and St Petersburg but so far we are really enjoying it here. The streets buzz with a raw energy. It is hot and tourists are everywhere. The locals are friendly and the place interesting. This is a BIG difference from other major European cities.
Everywhere is great architecture of the 18-19th century and the houses and buildings are amazing, it reminds me of St Petersburg 10 years ago. People are smiling despite the number of tourists! We are staying in the fourth floor of a building so have a great view of the sea and city - But I have to say I have a training session just to get back to where we are staying as the streets are so steep, narrow and winding and it is easy to get lost. it makes the Portuguese tarts and gelato easier to digest!!

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Speaking Russian with a 4 year old wasn't as easy as I thought...

12/8/2015

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I'm not sure if I was pleased or not , but on the plane from Dubai to St Petersburg I acted as a translator between a Russian lady with no English and an Irish flight attendant. It was an interesting communication barrier. The problem was that once the lady next to me knew spoke Russian she didn't shut up.....! Then there were the photos of her family and her holiday. She spoke quickly; I was really tired and I must admit that I only understood 50%... but umming and ahing is the same in every language!!

Yesterday I caught up with a friend who has 2 daughters 4 and 6.. I hadn't seen them for some time and assumed that the children would be easy to talk to but the 4 year old babbled in Russian and I think only her mother understood her (I hope)... But the 6 yr old was good fun to talk to.
Children use more words that I understand and only use one or two concept sentences which make them easier to understand for learners.

When I am tired it is more difficult to put Russian conversation together using the correct grammar so my language becomes 'pidgin Russian'. Some people try to understand and connect the language dots but others look at me as if I'm an idiot...its a really interesting feeling when you don't have the words to communicate as you do in English. ..you need to improvise and rearrange what you want to say all the time.

I had a few language successes today. I went shopping and managed to negotiate fitting rooms, sales assistants, purchases and to get my coffee exactly as I like it... Yeh!!!

We would love to hear your stories of travelling and speaking the language you have been learning... Was it difficult? Did you have high expectations of being able to communicate with the locals?

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Travelling Alone? What you need know.

4/8/2015

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Traveling solo has its pros and cons and it’s up to you to decide whether it will work for you. Solo travel is intensely personal. You can discover more about yourself at the same time as you’re discovering your travel destination. Traveling on your own is fun, challenging, vivid, and exhilarating. I have read that people who have never traveled alone often describing their first solo trip as an almost religious experience.

To be completely independent and to do exactly what you want to do ALL THE TIME, see exactly what you want to see - can be a blissful self-indulgence.

Of course, single travel has its perils too – you need to be aware of your safety, sometimes it can be lonely and you may sometimes need to pay more for a tour or accommodation.

Safety

While not having to negotiate which museum you want to spend time in is an advantage, one of the biggest concerns for most people travelling alone is safety. You can feel very vulnerable without another person that cares about whether you are in your hotel room at night and will watch your back when shopping in a local market. But some people say that by being alone they can blend in more easily than a couple or group, and you are treated more like a local rather than a tourist. The bottom rule is - you need to be prepared and do your research in all your destinations and the most important rule is: If it doesn’t feel right – don’t do it.

Here are a few tips I’ve used myself and also what I have found in my research. www.safetraveller.gov.au gives you some excellent advice that you can use before and while you travel:

Transport

Use reputable taxis or organize hotel transfers before you leave.
Know how long it takes and how much it costs when using taxis. Ask the driver for the cost before you leave. There are plenty of online calculators you can use. If it is different from what you know to be true, take a different taxi.
Avoid travelling on a train alone in a carriage.
Check your maps and transportation schedules before leaving your hotel/train/rental car/tourist office so that you 5. know where you are and where you are going at all times.

photo source: http://www.a-girlwhotravels.com/

Hotel Accommodation

Ask for a room above the ground floor, near the elevator, and away from emergency exits and stairwells. When a large hotel isn't available, try a bed and breakfast rather than a motel. Be organized and don't wait until you arrive to find a place to stay.
Check your hotel arrival details so if you arrive late at night, you are able to access your accommodation easily.
Take a hotel postcard from the counter with the hotel's name, address, and phone number. Keep it with you. Pack a couple of rubber doorstops and slip them underneath the outside door and any adjoining doors after you secure the room. This will prevent anyone from opening these doors from the other side. (But be aware – this tip could be a problem if you need to be rescued during a fire or natural disaster or if you panic, you might have trouble opening the door yourself).
Leave the Do Not Disturb sign on the door when you're gone. This won’t necessarily stop a burglar, but some may move on to the next room rather than take the chance. Leave the television or radio on when you're gone to give the illusion that the room is occupied.
When you arrive in your room, secure the windows and adjoining and balcony doors; check the room thoroughly before locking yourself in. Don't hesitate to ask security to accompany to your room at any time. Chat with the concierge/hotel staff about areas to avoid. They can also help you choose the safest and quickest routes for your excursions.

Loneliness

Have a good book, a magazine or your travel journal with you at all times – if you are in a restaurant or bar and feel a little lonely or exposed you can have something to read or write in. Most waiters will take the time to chat with you if you tell them you are alone and want their recommendations about what to eat or what to see.

Use Facebook and Twitter to ask for connections where you’re travelling. Offer to teach English as a swap for language practice and local knowledge. You’ll be surprised how many people take you up on it.

Learn some language – it will amaze you the different types of people you can connect to by speaking some language – no one will think you are a tourist….

Avoiding the Single Supplement

The single supplement is used by tour operators, cruise liners and hotels to add to your bill to make up for the fact that they're not making money off a second occupant. The supplement can range anywhere from 25 to 100 percent of the trip cost, meaning that you could end up paying twice as much as someone traveling with a partner.

There are several ways to get around the single supplement. You can avoid it altogether by booking with a tour operator that offers share accommodation but it means you will have to share a room with a stranger. If you're concerned, contact the tour operator and voice your concerns - see what kind of procedures they use to match roommates and again if it feels wrong – don’t do it…

If you're flexible and ready to go at a moment's notice, you could save money by booking at the last minute. Tour operators who are eager to sell out their last few places may be willing to reduce their usual single supplement. Have fun, negotiate and grab a bargain.

The most important thing is to enjoy your trip – Meet different people every day. HAVE FUN. Take lots of photographs. You have a chance to really take in your surroundings, meet locals and travellers along the way; be content to be by yourself, but confident enough to introduce yourself to people when you want to be sociable.

Take care and enjoy the experience.

What are your most memorable solo travel stories? Have we missed any tips? Feel free to join in the conversation on our Facebook page or leave your comments below.

Joanne Ammerlaan
VLLC National Business Manager.

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This tram is the oldest in Lisbon (it was built in 1874) and travels up and down the lane way every 30 minutes. There are no stops - they just help people who can't walk up this Lisbon hill!

We arrived in Lisbon 2 days ago and WOW!!

Speaking Russian with a 4 year old wasn't as easy as I thought...

Travelling Alone? What you need know.

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