Lisbon - the finest city you should visit!

The Praça do Comercio - blue skies and glorious weather

Although Lisbon might not be blessed with as many world-famous landmarks as other European capitals, Portugal's main city possesses a unique and captivating charm that makes it a 'must visit' for any prospective globetrotter.

Forget the hoards of happy-snappy tourists with selfie-sticks around Big Ben, the crazy-long queues to set foot inside the Colosseum, or the Louvre loving day-trippers in Paris; Lisbon offers relaxation, history and tranquility in equal measure.

There's a relaxed feel about the whole city, helped by the brisk sea breeze and the gloriously warm sunshine that's about for most of the year - even in December!

Like everywhere, there's an unwritten rule of 'do's and don'ts' but on the whole Portuguese folk are some of the nicest and friendliest people you will ever meet.

Pastel buildings and delightful blue skies

If you do book a trip to Lisbon then congratulations, you're going to a wonderful place!

Whether you stay for a day, a week or longer, there's plenty of things to do (explained below) and so many sights to see in this most historic and charming of cities.

With that, here are some hints and tips of what to see, do and enjoy in Europe's most westerly capital city...


1. Elevador de Santa Justa

Located in the heart of Lisbon, the Elevador De Santa Justa solves a practical problem as well as being a main tourist attraction, as it directly links the Baixa and Bairra Alto districts.

Queues can occur so it's advisable to arrive early in the morning or late at day if you want to try and avoid the crowds.

At the top of the platform, you get magnificent views over the Alfama district and Rossio Square (pictured), whilst being only a very short walk from the Carmo Convent Ruins.

TIP: Don't pay just to go on the Elevador de Santa Justa. It's classed as transport and is included in the 24hr travel tickets that also cover the metro and trams (useful if you're arriving from the airport ot have limited time in the city). You can also enter the viewing platform free-of-charge from the Bairra Alto district.

Those few euros you save here might just afford you an extra Pastel de Nata or two (more on those further in this article).

A view from the street of Lisbon's most unique form of transport

The Elevador de Santa Justa from below

Looking towards Rossio Square

The grid-line streets of Baixa with the castle in the distance

The imposing design of the Elevador de Santa Justa

2. Igreja do Carmo Church

Possibly the most well-known landmark in Lisbon's historic centre, the Igreja do Carmo Church acts as a permanent reminder of the devastating earthquake of 1755 which changed the landscape of the city forever.

Entry costs just a few euros and is well worth the admission fee.

Steeped in history and worth the admission fee

Inside the iconic the Igreja do Carmo Church

Looking towards the exit of the old church

One can't begin to imagine the terror caused by the 1755 earthquake

3. Praça do Comercio

Undoubtedly one of the prettiest facades on the continent, the Praça do Comercio is very much an iconic landmark of the city.

Facing onto the Tagus River, the pastel-coloured buildings and pretty architecture make for some great photographs.

TIP: Watching sunset in Lisbon is something to behold. One of the best places to experience day becoming night is here as the sun sets to the west, behind both the Cristo Rei statue and the Ponte 25 de Abril Suspension Bridge.

Praça do Comercio is a highlight of a trip to Lisbon

Heading under the arch towards Baixa

Tiled floors and grand architecture

Sunset over the Tagus River is a special experience

4. Number 28 Tram

If nostalgia is your thing, then a ride on the rickety old Number 28 trams is an absolute must.

The polished-wooden trams draw thousands of visitors each day and take in many of the best sights of the city - weaving their way down from the hills of Alfama and through Baixa, before journeying on to Estrella Basilica.

The trams themselves are a throwback to a bygone era and make for some great photograph opportunities - especially in the Alfama neighbourhood.

TIP: Trams can get crowded pretty quickly so if you want a seat it's advisable to board at the terminus points and enjoy the 40-minute ride.

Rickety trams just add to the delight of Lisbon

The tram on its way through the streets of Alfama

The Assembleia da República (Portuguese Parliament) is another
stunning sight on the Number 28 route

The Estrella Basilica takes about 40 minutes to reach

5. Se Cathedral

Another fine sight is the famous Se Cathedral, located within walking distance of the Praça do Comercio, and on the Number 28 tram route.

The cathedral, rebuilt after the devastating events of 1755, also offers free entry - making it even more of an attractive proposition to those on a tight budget.

The Se Cathedral at sunset - note the tram tracks!

Congestion around Se Cathedral can frequently
lead to trams being delayed.

6. Belem

It would be quite easy to write a complete section just focused on Belem - given this is the district that contains most of the well-known landmarks of the city.

Located some six kilometers to the west of the city centre; a journey which should take you no more than half-an-hour at most, it's worth spending a full day in Belem alone and taking in the stunning history, architecture and magnificent views.

The sweet taste of Lisbon is intensified further by a trip to the Pastels de Belem cafe, which serves the delicious Pastels de Nata - cooked to their original recipe.

TIP: The Pastels de Nata (that's an Egg Custard tart) originates from Belem and the very cafe which is adjacent to the tram stop. Cooked to a secret recipe, they are absolutely delicious. Pastels de Nata are also widely available from the various Mini Prego supermarkets, which are dotted around the city at a fraction of the price.

Belem - hidden delights in a glorious setting

The Torre de Belem is possibly the most famous landmark in Lisbon

The Padrão dos Descobrimentos: The Monument to the Discoverers

A closer look at The Padrão dos Descobrimentos

The Mosteiro dos Jeronimos is situated in the heart of Belem

No trip to Belem is complete without a Pastel de Belem (or two, or three)

The sweetest taste of Portugal

7. Various viewpoints

Regardless of you location you'll probably only be a short walk from one of the various free viewpoints which offer a stunning panoramic view of the grand old city.

There are numerous 'paid' attractions which give an elevated view of the city as well - such as the Elevador de Santa Justa (if you choose to pay, anyway), the Torre de Belem and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos.

Even Parque das Nações, the new, futuristic and modern area located some five kilometres north of downtown Lisbon, has it's own cable car and other attractions to make it worth a visit.

Lisbon really is a city like no other!

Looking out over the Alfama district

The Miradouro das Portas do Sol offers a superb view of the city

Looking out over Lisbon from Miradouro da Nossa Senhora do Monte viewpoint

Adamstor viewpoint offers a look towards the Tagus River

These are just some of my own personal favourite attractions in Lisbon. As you can (hopefully) gather by now, the city really does have something for everyone and makes for a perfect getaway.

Depending on the length of your stay, you may also wish to take in a day trip or two.

Sintra, a pretty little picture-perfect town with a castle in the sky, is just a short train ride away, and if you want some rest and relaxation away from the bustling inner-city life head to the golden sands of Cascais & Estoril (which even has its own casino).

And if you've read this far, here's the link to SkyScanner so you can book your own trip...

Grimsby Town 1-0 Chesterfield

Grimsby Town 1-0 Chesterfield
Sky Bet League Two

Saturday 7th April 2018

'Oh we do like to be beside the seaside'...

The two teams line-up before the game

... that's a phrase which no Chesterfield fan will be saying tonight after their trip to the East Lincolnshire coastline ended in bitter disappointment this afternoon as Grimsby Town hammered another nail into the Spireites' relegation coffin.

Jack Lester's team only have themselves to blame, in all honestly, as Drew Talbot paid the penalty for a careless handball in the dying minutes and presented the Mariners with the perfect opportunity to record their first success in 21 attempts.

If you're going to handle the ball then it's a good idea not to do it inside your own area and only a few yards away from the referee, who had a clear and unobstructed view. It was a definite penalty and an absolute sucker-punch of huge proportions given the uphill task that now faces the Spireites.

Blundell Park - the ground that time forgot!

Large parts of this encounter was the turgid, predictable affair that many may have feared with nerves getting in the way of any quality. If there wasn't so much at stake for both sides, and the game had been sandwiched in obscurity in the middle of the season, it's one that wouldn't be remembered for too long afterwards.

A generous writer would use the description 'both teams nullified each other's attacking threat' but a more accurate description, and somewhat closer to the truth, would be that both teams were utterly useless going forward - especially in open play - and a more potent team towards the top of the table would have cut through either side to record an easy three points.

The 1,400 travelling fans deserved better

The Spireites, who have shown glimpses of encouragement in recent weeks, knocked the ball about the better of the two teams but despite working it into good areas on at least half a dozen occasions, only Andy Kellett (once signed by Manchester United on transfer deadline day) actually produced a decent save from Mariners 'keeper James McKeown.

Every other shot was basically a pea-roller and if you're going to survive at any level of football, the minimum requirement in doing so is to at least test the bloody opposition goalkeeper.

Grimsby shaded proceedings after the re-start and backed by a noisy home crowd who were growing in confidence, they were unlucky not to break the deadlock close to the hour mark when Nathan Clarke went close with a header and the Spireites survived a goalmouth scramble.

A view from the Upper Tier

Mariners' boss Michael Jolley's substitutions seemed to indicate he was more happy to settle for a point rather than go gung-ho to get a victory, yet with a stalemate seeming the most likely outcome, Talbot's rush of the blood to the head presented the hosts with three points on a silver plateau.

The result now, bizarrely, leaves Grimsby on the brink of safety. A win over Barnet next weekend would pretty much guarantee survival - barring a freak set of results elsewhere between now and the end of the campaign.

Chesterfield, meanwhile, are left with the proverbial mountain to climb and on today's showing there's little evidence to suggest that their fortunes are about to change.

With three promotion-chasing teams still left to play, the proverbial fat lady is searching for her songbook...

A highlight of a trip to the seaside

The best pre-match snack of the season

Some seats in Blundell Park are better than others...

The Pontoon End

One team will probably be in League Two next season...

It's looking grim... in Grimsby!

After a two-year sabbatical, not that much actually got published previously anyway, I've decided to start 'blogging' again to try and document my aimless trails around the UK (and beyond!) on football-related trips.

Tomorrow, Saturday 7th April, will be my 850th game (or 900th including those games on foreign shores) and what better way to celebrate the milestone than to go to one of the most nostalgic, rickety, wooden old grounds still standing; Blundell Park - the home of Grimsby Town F.C.

Blundell Park - where dreams become nightmares

The Mariners have been downright useless in recent months and are currently on a 20-game winless streak stretching back to December. They boast the bluntest attack in the Football League and have gone from having far-fetched dreams of the play-offs to very realistic nightmares of relegation back to the non-league abyss.

Luckily, there are currently two teams worse than them in League Two. One is Barnet and the other is Chesterfield, who they face this weekend.

The game could be one of those where nails get chewed and something dramatic happens that leaves one team sensing survival and the other looking at the prospect of trips to mighty non-league heavyweights such as Maidenhead United and Solihull Moors next season.

The worst way to watch Grimsby - looking towards the pitch!

Or alternatively, which would be more in keeping with what happens when I usually turn up at games, it could also be one of those conservative, turgid, boring stalemate snorefests that leaves everyone in the crowd knowing the cure for insomnia and wishing they'd stayed at home.

After all, on my last visit to Blundell Park, it was a drab goalless draw and I've also seen the Spireites involved in an even more mind-numbing 0-0 thriller this season, too.

On that note, I'll sign off with this TV theme tune as my score prediction for tomorrow...

Getting soaked in Florence...

Fiorentina 2-1 Carpi

Stadio Artemio Franchi

Wednesday 3rd February 2016

Serie A

Inside Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Florence is without doubt one of the most magnificent, charming and delightful cities in Europe. 

Regardless or whether you visit the city centre, officially listed as a World Heritage Site, the fabulous Michelangelo Monument for a stunning panoramic view, or just casually stroll around the many narrow streets, you can't help to be blown away by some brilliant architecture.

Tuscany is definitely up there with Barcelona, Berlin and Lisbon as one of my favourite destinations in Europe.

Duomo in Florence's historic centre.

With some careful planning, I'd timed my trip to this particular part of the world to coincide with a visit to the Stadio Artemio Franchi - the home of AC Fiorentina and a place where UFO's were allegedly spotted over half a century ago - a true story and definitely one that's worth a Google Search when you have a spare five minutes.

Another photo in Florence's historic city centre.

The stadium is located on the outskirts of the city; roughly three miles from the historic 'Duomo' and Santa Maria Novella railway station which serves numerous other major Italian cities.

I'd arrived in Florence (or Firenze as it's called in Italian) just after 1.00pm after a relaxing coach journey from Rome which cost just 50p thanks to Megabus.

The narrow streets of Florence.

One thing that potential visitors to Florence may not be aware of is the city doesn't have a particularly extensive local transport system - there are service buses which run, apparently, but these weren't easy to locate and precisely what routes they operate is anyone's guess. Furthermore, unlike most other major European tourist destinations, there isn't a tram or metro system in place so the most straightforward way to get from A to B is to walk.

With that in mind, having strolled through Santa Maria Novella railway station; the Megabus stop in Piazzale Montelungo is adjacent, I acquired a map from the local tourist office and then spent most of the afternoon exploring some of the brilliant architecture - gradually meandering towards the Stadio Artemio Franchi which was right beside my accommodation for the night, too.

Florence - a magnificent city and one of my favourite in Europe.

If you're of a certain age, there is a strong possibility that you spent some Saturday's morning watching Gazzetta: Football Italia on Channel Four. Therefore, I couldn't resist nipping into a swanky looking restaurant and indulging in some local cuisine with a copy of Gazzetta Dello Sport whilst wondering all the while whether James Richardson had ever done the same during one of his, no doubt several, trips here.

Outside the stadium - before the rain arrived.

After checking into my accommodation and chilling out by listening to a local radio station (where I realised that Italian folk seem to be just as obsessed with Adele as the rest of Europe), time passed quickly and the game itself was only an hour or so away.

Due to several acts of football-related hooliganism in the country in recent years, the Italian authorities have imposed strict regulations on the purchasing of tickets. To obtain a ticket, you'll need to have either your passport or an identity card, both at the time of purchase and at the security points where your ticket will be checked by the police. If the name on the match ticket doesn't correspond with the name on your photographic form of identity, the likelihood is you'll be denied access to the stadium and won't get to see the game.

Italian stadiums aren't the best in Europe by any means.

As a result of these measures, which were brought in a few years ago, attendances at Italian games have plummeted with many fans feeling resentment towards the authorities; accusing them of treating football fans as second-class citizens. This particular game only attracted a crowd of 22,791 and attendances elsewhere, even at bigger clubs such as AC Milan, sometimes aren't even big enough to fill half the crowd.

Another gripe, harboured by many Italian supporters, is that most of the country's stadiums are run down, depressed, lack covered sections and are absolutely filthy. Nearly every stadium in the country is council-owned and many haven't seen much in the way of modernisation for a very long time - the most notable of very few exceptions being Juventus, whose newly-built ground is privately-owned.

Looking out of the stadium and onto the streets.

It's unsurprising, therefore, that the Stadio Artemio Franchi was somewhat disappointing. A ticket in the uncovered Curva De Sud (behind the goal) cost just over €20. The pitch seemed miles away and it was reminiscent of the old Don Valley Stadium, where Rotherham United played for four years between leaving Millmoor and taking up residence at the New York Stadium.

That, by the way, is probably the only time Rotherham will ever get compared to Fiorentina!

The game itself looked as if it would be straightforward enough for the hosts. Viola were challenging to climb into a Champions League position and lowly Carpi, described at the time as 'the Yeovil Town of Italian Football', were struggling near the foot of Serie A.

Fans brave the terrible weather at Stadio Artemio Franchi.

There was a bizarre moment as the teams emerged onto the pitch with Status Quo's 'Whatever You Want' blasting out over the PA system. I'd expected a few things, but certainly not that.

As it was, the game was spoiled (certainly from a spectators point of view) by a relentless rainstorm which began five minutes into the game and lasted until nearly the final whistle.

On the pitch, the hosts made a blistering start thanks to a goal from Borja Valero inside the opening two minutes, but in treacherous conditions they couldn't build on that advantage and Carpi drew level thanks to a strike from Kevin Lasagna with a quarter-of-an-hour remaining.

My view for the second half as I attempted to keep dry.

With Fiorentina boss Paulo Sousa, one-time of Queens Park Rangers and Swansea City, coming under increasing criticism from a disgruntled crowd, his blushes were spared as Mauro Zarate, signed from West Ham United just a week earlier, scored in injury-time to give Viola a 2-1 win and consign the visitors to a very unfortunate defeat.

The game wasn't a classic and probably won't live long in my memory. However, the weather, or at least getting soaked, is my most vivid recollection.

And at least the Don Valley Stadium had a covered concourse!

The panoramic view of Florence - simply magnificent.