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AMARANTE
On my way back to the coast to get ready for my next country, we stopped at some interesting Portuguese towns. One was Amarante, 56 km (39 miles) east of Porto. This historic town was founded in 360 B.C. In 1790 an impressive bridge was built over the Tâmega River. On the other side of the bridge is a 5-star Relais & Chateaux hotel, Casa Da Calcada. The front overlooks the church of São Gonçalo, while the back boasts views of the outdoor pool adjacent to vineyards. For more info, log on to Casa Da Calcada or see this Amarante guide.

GUIMARAES
Another town was Guimarães -- Portugal’s first capital. The old quarter (which is also a World Heritage Site) is definitely worth a tour. The city has cobblestone streets, a 14th century church, and -- get this -- free wireless internet and free cable TV. How do you like that for old meeting new? We ate lunch at Restaurante Vira-Bar, where we enjoyed rodovalho, robalo and dourada (Brill, Sea Bass, gilthead bream) and posta à barrosã (very rare steak). Restaurante Vira-Bar, Largo Condessa, Juncal, 27, Guimarães; tel.: 351-253-518-427. More info on Guimarães.

BRAGA
Another city worth visiting is Braga. Braga is considered the second most important city in northern Portugal (after Porto), because it’s the only one in Portugal with an archbishop. (That’s why it’s called "The City of Archbishops.") The most important historical monument in the city is the Sé de Braga (Braga Cathedral), built between the 12th and 18th centuries. The 155,000 citizens also enjoy walking past many other historical monuments, like Fonte do Ídolo (Idol's Fountain), which dates from the 1st century A.D., or the Tower of Braga Castle. There are many more sights (including places to shop); here’s a link to help find them.

BARCELOS
Barcelos is a small town famous for its weekly market, which has been held on Thursdays since the 13th century. The outdoor market is Portugal’s largest – and among Europe’s largest as well. You’ll find everything here, from clothes, household items, fruits, vegetables, bread and pastries to ducks, chickens, and of course souvenirs. The most popular items for tourists are pottery and the Barcelos cockerel -- the most widely-recognized symbol of Portugal. A 13th-century legend describes how the rooster became so popular, and a symbol of good luck. Supposedly a pilgrim on his way to Santiago de Compostela, Spain stopped in Barcelos, and was wrongly accused of stealing. Before the Pilgrim was hung he told the judge that to prove his innocence, the roasted hen he was about to eat would get up and cluck. It did, and he was freed. Of course, I bought some wooden roosters for Christmas presents. For more info on Barcelos.

INTERNATIONAL CELL PHONE
That’s does it for this week. But before I finish, let me answer the most popular question I get each week. Many people ask what phone service I use when I am abroad. I travel with my laptop, and try to use Skype as much as possible (more info on Skype). But I always bring my international (GSM) cellular phone, because I’m always on the go (Skype requires a computer and internet connection). Most U.S. cell phone companies don’t even have GSM tri-band phones, and the ones that do (like T-Mobile) charge way too much for incoming and outgoing calls. Instead of paying their high rates, save money and get your own GSM phone. It’s not expensive, and there are a couple of options. Renting is one, but it’s not worth the cost down the road if you plan on traveling internationally again in the next couple of years. I got my razor phone from Cellular Abroad. Before I leave for overseas, they send me a local SIM (Subscriber Information Module) chip for the place I'm headed to. I insert the chip into the phone, where it serves as the brain (it contains such information as the cell phone number, voice mail and call logs). The SIM gives me a local number, so no one needs to dial long distance to reach me. Best of all, when my friends and family back home call, it’s free. That’s right: All incoming calls are free in most countries! Another huge plus is that when I call them, it costs me no more than half what a U.S. cell company would charge. Beyond the savings, there is convenience -- plus the security of having a reliable cell phone. It’s nice to be able to access, or be accessible from home, wherever I am with one simple phone call. Cellular Abroad is kind enough to offer a $10 discount to all JohnnyJet.com visitors. Be sure to mention Johnny Jet when ordering over the phone (1-800-287-3020) or online (CellularAbroad.com).

P.S.
Don’t forget to encourage your friends, family and colleagues to sign up for our weekly newsletter at (JohnnyJet.com,and to use our search engines for booking travel. And if you are on MySpace – please add me as one of your friends.

VIDEO
Here’s a 2-minute Johnny Jet Video of my trip to Portugal. Here’s a link to all JohnnyJet videos ever made. With high-speed the video loads in about one minute; with dial-up, it could be three weeks.

NEXT WEEK
Next week we hit España!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Happy Halloween! Here’s an eCard for all of you Halloween Travelers and for those who are not traveling -- don't forget to carve a pumpkin.

Happy Travels,
Johnny Jet

*PLEASE tell us what you think of this week's newsletter!

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