VIDEO: Top 5 (6) for Lisbon, Portugal

1. Visit Belem:
Walk around Belem (see the CCB, the monument Padrao dos Descobrimentos, walk by the River Tejo etc) and eat custard tarts (Pasteis de Belem) at the famous cafe Antiga Confeitaria Belem

2. Gulbenkian Museum and Museum of Modern Art
Go to the Gulbenkian Museum and Museum of Modern Art both situated in a lovely garden which is worth a walk around and to sit and relax

3.Catch Tram 28 from Estrela Garden to Alfama
Old fashioned tram is famous and it is wonderful tour through Lisbon (Garden Estrela is near where we live and it is a wonderful park that is worth spending a few hours hanging out on a picnic blanket ...reading or drinking wine!)

4. Watch the sun set with a bottle of beer at a view point... there are a few dotted around the city but I recommend either
Largo da Graca (if you are in Alfama) there is a great view and a lovely cafe
or/and
Miradouro Alcantara ( this is near Bairro Alto and Principle Real...good places for bars and restaurants). There is a cafe but nice to buy a beer and sit on a bench!

5. Go to the Oceanario
This is not everyones cup of tea but I loved it. The Oceanario is the biggest Aquarium in Europe and its fantastic. It is also interesting to visit this area which is Eastern Lisbon, the Oceanario is situated in the Parques das Nacoes which is a modern part of the city built in 1998 for the Expo98.

(6. I cheated!! Listen to Fado music in Alfama...we can take you to a little bar...also best pizza ever down the road)

New York City vs London: by an American and a Brit

I visited my friend in New York City at the weekend, I was complaining about certain things that didn't work so well here compared to my home City of London. Well, then she started complaining about London.

So we decided to write a list - Who is BEST at what?

NYC vs LDN

Polite and friendly - NYC wins.
Whether walking down the street with a map upside down or looking aimlessly around a Subway station, New Yorkans will offer help and a conversation. We both agreed that most Londoners will ignore you, largely because of the begging culture.

Currency value -New York


Ok, this is a bit selfish, but money in New York does seem to go further, especially with the British pound.

Dollars cs notes - London
We prefer the colourful notes of London, but I like the pound and my friend who is a waitress prefers the One Dollar note. But really, why need such a huge wallet?

Cash vs card - Londn
It seems people mostly pay by cash, I hate cash, and they have NO chip'n'Pin. Isn't signing so old school now?

Smoking - London
NYC has segregated zones outside, yes even outside, especially bars and restaurants. I bet London follows soon, but still more freedom in the UK.

Subway/underground - London
Proper maps, easy to read signs, frequent announcements, train times, staff on the platform - that's London, remove all that for NYC.

Food value -NYC
You definitely get a lot for your money. Though I am unsure how healthy some of the portions are

Food health - London/ NYC

Maybe it's because I know what I am eating. My friend disagreed!

Drink value - NYC
It's all about the free-pour, and cocktails

Talking bars - London
Try finding bars and pubs where you can talk in, NYC you'll find few and far between. All hail the London Pub.

Bars - NYC
Want somewhere chic and cool...head to the NYC

Gay Bar proximity - London
So I like my Soho and Vauxhall Village, and Shoreditch, but apart from West Village, I feel I am wandering aimlessly for bars in NYC

Taxi -NYC

Cheaper - it is simply cheaper! Oh and quicker, no traffic.

City Views - London
The River Thames offers spectaclar views and the different shape buildings of the city add to its uniqueness. NYC is all a bit samey.

Fit guys - NYC/ London
I am sure NYC wins, my friend reckons London.

Diverse dress sense - London

NYC plays it all a little safe, and my friend agrees

Coffee - London


Buy one cup of decent coffee, not countless refills of cheap coffee - NO THANKS

Newark airport vs Heathrow Terminal 5 - London
This was a tough one, but right now Terminal 5 wins, though on my way out I didn't like the new terminal.

Queues/lines - London
London knows how to queue properly.

If you have more to add, or disagree with any of the both, I would love to hear from you.

London's Gatwick Airport staff get trained

Arriving at London's Gatwick Airport today I nearly collapsed at sheer shock for the developments it has made with security. Here I was stood in a large hall with electronic gates and lines of security check points - the UK had hit the 21st Century!

Following years of pure hatred for this airport's baggage check it finally seemed to have recognised flyers' dissatisfaction and brought in someone with an ounce of intelligence to reform it. Plus this was my special day - new staff were being trained at each touch point.

New security employees bumbled around the luggage conveyor belt double-triple checking they were doing their job right under the beady-eyes of their experienced seniors. Body check officers joked off their apprehension while the x-ray observers nodded in agreement as bags were checked at snails pace.

While the check point took three times as long as London City Airport - these bright lights, fresh layout and new staff gave me a sense of ease with the impending Olympics 2012. Just maybe Britain can give citizens and residents a good send off.

My only concern is that the airport has adopted the same respect for queues as our European
counterparts (no clear line structure in place) - expect a pure rush for the first available boarding card swipe desk and rampage to the quietest luggage check line. We will see.

I just hope when I land back here I will experience a welcome that is as fresh and professional. Though airport staff can still do with developing friendly personalities.