Lido Estoril Hotel

... way they were going to put up with one more question from him. I do appreciate his willingness to jump into the most foreign of exchanges with an attitude of adventure and fun. He is great traveling company.

We then sauntered along the riverfront to the Aquarium. The path took us along some great water-inspired art work that I'm sure was not given its best justice on film. The Aquarium was truly knock-your-socks-off-AWESOME! I ...

... with a German-like name!

Two general, but random, observations: 1) The Portuguese are a very dark complected people, and I really wasn't expecting that at all. I was expecting them to look more like the Spanish. (Now some of you might be surprised by that statement because, in the US, most people think Spaniards look like people from Central and South America. Not true!!!) The Spanish tend to have brown hair and eyes, but ...

... saying that I was having a panic attack [from driving on the side of the mountain] but also that I was at the same time having Sooo much Fun! :)
We made many trips to the local market and to explore Lisbon-we shopped for souvenirs with Kelly. I found the salt and Pate to be the best gifts! I am enjoying my salts from the coast of France and from the Portugal salt flats. Fleur de Sel "flower of the sea" really is worthy of praise and I don't expect ...

... suited to stout. That's why I drank a half-bottle of Quinta da Aveleda (a blend of Trajadura, Loureiro and Alvarinho). Perhaps it was also my surprise at discovering three grape varieties I'd never tried before. Who says you can't feed an old dog new drinks? P.S. I should have mentioned in an earlier post that Captain Picard did not show up for the dinner at Oxford. He should be far more disappointed than me.

Lisbon is built on several hills - some say 7 hills, comparable to the Eternal City, but the city faces the Tagus River (whereas the Tiber cuts through Rome and the 7 hills surround the main part of the city). The local citizens obviously enjoy the panoramic views that can be ...

... tell, I don't want to move to NY, or anywhere else in the US for that matter. I do want to move to Europe though. Not so strongly that I will go about doing it as soon as I return, but it will be in the back of my mind and instruct future decisions that relate to my whereabouts. I don't see myself as a career ex-pat, but I would love to spend several years over here. I think the culture would be very nurturing for an over-worker like myself and hey, free health care!

... i dinīt know where my sisterīs house was, so after much silent panicking on both sides we managed to find each other at the train station! After much sleeping, i finally awoke when my sisterīs crazy cat Maria tried to pounce on my toes... maybe she thought that it was a mouse under the covers? When we felt more prepared for a family lunch we left the house and wen to have a coffee and sat there killing time and psyching each other up ...

... beangstigend golven te zien aankomen die hoger zijn dan je reling en kajuit. Zo'n golf laat je liften, vervolgens surft je boot even mee op de top, maar je houdt de golf niet bij, wij zakken in een dal en de voortdenderende golf ontneemt ons het uitzicht van de kust. We naderen kaap Caba da Roca en we weten dat kapen altijd onrust geven. De wind gaat meer toenemen en de spinaker gaat neer, we houden alleen het grootzeil in de lucht. De golven zijn nog steeds zo hoog, maar het ritme en de ...

... all riled up and no where to go. From the steering position we could look into the face of waves as they slid by and declare "is that all you got?" Despite the boats size, things got uncomfortable and we saw less of each other on deck. Playing backgammon became something we did last week and not everyone showed up at mealtimes. Luke, our first mate, a hulking Australian with a thunderous snore spent his off watch in the salon, his bunk being the most forward and the most ...

... book that you can rent a car in Lisbon, as any other city, but it is highly recommended that you do NOT do it, since Portugese drivers are out of their minds. This guy that was driving me was constantly changing lanes, not gaining any time at all. Then he would curse at people and flick them off, but he was holding his hand under the dash, so they couldn't even see it. Good thinking buddy, you are smart. After checking in, I headed out to the sight of ...