Sana Classic Paris Estoril

It is hard to believe that it is already Thursday! We had to make the most of today (not as though we haven't everyday so far!) so started on the early-ish side by a trip to our favorite pastrt shop for coffee with hot milk and a split croissant. Not the best pasterrie that I've had so far so Jones-ing for something special before I would feel ready to really start the day!!

Dan stayed at the first coffee shop with The Financial ...

... what really did it was the street cars. They have quite a few in Lisbon, and seeing the wires running above the street, and the tracks in the street, it just gave the city an old-time feeling. The style of the buildings also added to the feeling. They weren't the type of showy buildings, with lots of extra details and decorations on the exterior, that border Madrid's most important streets. They still had a very important feel to them ...

I have to admit I'm writing the last part of our trip ; 2 months in Portugal, from home in Fenelon. The connection on the Internet has been poor at best and it was always a competition to get air time. It was so important to be connected to family and friends back home. So we arrived in Amora for one day before our planned visit with the Vospers;they arrived
Tues April 7 at 8 AM. We had to get used to the noises ...

... out along with an older lady who also heard the noise. At least 20 people, who were standing around drinking Ginjinha, watched it all happen and ran over to help her out - as she was face down - spread out on the streets of Lisbon. Stephanie was grabbing at the air trying to keep from falling and the object that went flying was not her ring but one of the paving stones that had come out of the street that she stepped on and caused her demise. Knowing how it feels to fall ...

... There are several places one can see beautiful azulejos decorations from the 16th century onwards. We went to an antique shop and bought a small composition of 17th century tiles. Anything before 1755 is worthwhile, as that was when a big earthquake rocked Lisbon, and consequently, a lot of tiles were produced in a short period of time for reconstruction purposes. (more on azulejos in a later entry) End Part 2 -------------

... any real interest in I bought for myself. We went to see the official house of the President of Portugal, the equivalent of the White House in the States. Apparently the President actually lives in an apartment in the city and drives to the official house every day. This palace was also guarded, this time by slightly older soldiers in much more elaborate uniforms. These were overseen by an officer of some kind and were much more professional-looking. Christina explained that on some ...

... in movies. he spoke portuguese very badly and tried to speak to me in french. My resistance (or, must I say, lack of skill) made him quickly change his mind. I guess he was the embassator. The interviews were each one more rigid than the previous one. On this last one, the guy asked me things like how long I've been in Portugal, what have I been doing (studying, obviously!), how was I doing, When would I finish, etc. After this, he went back to his office, and we stood there waiting.

... de optimist zo'n internationale klasse is. Ook hier zien je weer tientallen optimistjes gebruikt worden om kinderen het zeilen bij te brengen. We hebben een haven net onder de brug op het oog, dicht bij de stad en dicht bij het openbaarvervoer. Als we de brug onderdoorvaren komen we nog prachtige monumenten tegen zoals de Torre van Belem uit de zeevaarderstijd in 1520, en het massief uitstekende Pradao dos Descobrimentos, een beeld die de ontdekkingsreizigers symboliseerd. Een prachtig ...

... of dolphins skimming between the whales and the biggest toy in the playroom under your feet. The first sight of land. The last sight of land. The ocean remains so: a place that can change quickly and lethally and wonderfully. A place, where in an ever more crowded world there is still room to retreat too and experience true space. We all seek such places whether physically or vicariously. I plan to return there later in the year, it seems I have awoken the monkey and it is squatting on my back.

... and making the locals look at us sideways, but its an easy way to learn how to say 'please' in portugese. Its Obligado or Obligada (female). We arrived in Lisbon around 11am and spent three hours trying to find our hostel in the back streets. It turned out the Lonely Planet was totally off base and we were in the wrong part of town. Kev did the whole "drawing maps to describe where we are" with a bunch of helpfull Portugese and found it eventually. The local hookers hang ...