Day 13:
Lisbon
 |
| THB's usual: apple on cereal |
POTD: Where is?: Onde é que é?, Onde fica...? Onde é...?
Weather: Sun, sun, sun
THB gets a good night sleep, arises
early and heads to the FC. You need a code to get in, and upon arriving, the
code doesn’t work. Fortunately the guy from the front desk arrives and unlocks
the door (double locking the fitness center? At least nobody is walking off
with the elliptical, though somebody did take the treadmill).
Breakfast buffet, with a bread basket
on the table. Combo cereals and an apple for THB. As always, cost is included.
We’re off and running at 9:30: a wild taxi
ride to the Tower of Belem (e.g., speeding down hills, running red lights…that
sort of thing you might not associate with Lisbon drivers), 8E. We decide not
to go in the Tower, and start walking towards the local monastery (which is a
huge building). Before reaching the monastery, we detour into the Museo Colecao
Berardo.
BONANZA!!! Another great combo of the
building (and curator) making the art look good and a terrific collection. We
decide (unintentionally) to go backwards, looking at the contemporary stuff
first and then weaving our way back in time to Duchamp. THB thinks that we’ve
managed to see two of the top five art collections and buildings in the world
within a week of each other. Big bonus: the place is empty! We see more staff
than visitors.
 |
| Best of show! |
We walk just past the monastery (noting
the lines) to get more of those custard tarts at the most highly rated spot:
Pasteis de Belem. THB is a bad boy and buys 6 (at a euro each) to share among
the four of us. Excellente!
 |
| Best of Lisbon |
More walking (we’re getting in our
steps today!) to LX Factory, a street full of casual cafes and hipster style
stores, and one huge book store. Lots of good pics:
 |
| SA's shoe store |
More walking (are you getting the theme
here) to lunch…except this highly rate Yelp spot is actually a cafeteria. Hop
in a taxi to the Mercado di Ribeira, a monster food court. The place is full of
local spots with mini-menus. And 100s of people sitting at the open communal
dining tables in the middle.
THB and DB settle on a place called Sea Me, ordering sardines (which turn out to come sushi style), crab and salmon salad, and tuna sashimi salad, with a beer and water: 30E. DA and SA each select at a different site, there food takes much longer than ours.
 |
| DA's moules |
 |
| SA side of cheese on toast: excellent |
More walking, this time straight back
up the hill to our hotel, in a slightly round-about (and longer) route, which
is fine because we’re seeing more of the small streets in the Bairro Alto area.
 |
| The path to hotel parallels the funicular |
Finally…finally back to the hotel to rest up. That doesn’t dissuade DB and
SA, they take short rests and are back out shopping for about an hour.
 |
| The Terrace: great spot for a drink |
Around 6:15, we reconvene on the hotel terrace
for a drink before heading out into the night (well, it doesn’t get dark until
after 9) for Moroccan food at Restaurante Flor Da Laranja. You find the place by knowing the address and ringing the bell. No signs outside.
Dinner is excellent and low key: it’s a
one-woman show, and we’re the first to arrive. THB has kebabs (really sausage,
not chunks of meat) with smattering of sides and some of DB’s couscous, DB has
chicken, DA (lamb tagine) and SA (shrimp tagine) have similar main dishes
(without couscous either), with dates and cheese on toast to start. Our
chef-server-sommelier recommends a terrific wine, EA, and as the place fills up
(she chases several non-reservation folks away and one couple comes back to
take our place), we settle up: 100E for four.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment