Let me just start out this blog by saying what I wanted to say our first Barcelona day ... you know what the official language is here, right? Not Spanish! Yes, Barcelona is in Spain, but the official language is Catalan, a regional language that looks to me to be a mixture of Spanish and French.
All signage is in Catalan first. If there is a second listing, it's in Spanish. Third listings are usually in English. I'm not having any problems being understood, but I am having occasional problems understanding Catalan when it's spoken to me, and I can't figure out all the signage either. I can give it a good guess, but I'm never really sure.
Yesterday took us to La Sagrada Familia, the most famous of Antoni Gaudi's work - as yet unfinished. Gaudi was hit by a tram and died in 1926, and the monument/church never got finished. The 1930's brought the Civil War, and part of the work was destroyed. They estimate La Sagrada is now a little more than 50% finished, and are planning to complete the church by 2026, the anniversary of Gaudi's death.
Rachel and I bought tickets to go up the elevatore in one of the several spires. After you get off, there are more stairs - round and round - until you get to a tiny lookout deck near the top of the spire. Then you cross a tiny little outdoor bridge to an adjacent spire, where you get to descend the steps about 10 stories by my estimate - round and round - with lookouts at various points. Thank goodness Rachel has no fear of heights and she got all the good photos. For my 3 Euro to go up there, I simply won the opportunity to clutch the walls as firmly as I could as I descended in circles to the bottom.
We also took in a bit of Old Town, so easy to get lost in but who cares? It's an absolute delight around every corner. We found plazas, churches, more churches, statues, stores, the Picasso museum - so much to do there. We had dinner at Las Caracoles - mussels, Iberian ham, and seafood paella. Delicious!
When we're out late at night we've been taking cabs home, and last night's cab decided to give us tourists a ride. When he turned right instead of left we protested loudly - he was caught.
Today, we slept late and didn't hit the pavement until 2 p.m. After caffeine, we figured out how to take the funicular up to Montjuic Park. Then we took a tram all the way to the top - you can see Barcelona from so many vantage points up there. Between all the photos today and from Parc Guell, we've decided we need ascend no more mountains or hills to have a look at the city from above - been there done that - for now.
We went to the Joan Miro museum; this Montjuic Park crown jewel is filled with hundreds of this artist's works, and it's so easy to see his evolution as an artist in room after beautiful room.
Tomorrow we plan to go back up to Montjuic to hit the National Palace which now houses the largest collection of Catalan art.
Best to all of you,
W.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Photos: Casa Battlo and Parc Guell and one other
Interior patio windows in the Casa Battlo. The windows get smaller on the upper floors so that the same amount of sunlight enters at every level.
You can see the chimneys and part of the dragon on the roof of Casa Battlo.
Here we are having cava (champagne) in the Casa Battlo, sitting in wood chairs that were designed by Antoni Gaudi.
Here I am sitting on the tiled bench in Parc Guell. This place is amazing. Really unbelievable.
Sunday in Barcelona
Today found us waking up late and wandering the streets in the early afternoon. A sunny day without the predicted rain brought people of all ages out on bicycles, couples sitting on park benches, chatting, reading, and families out for walks. We headed for the port to check out Golondrinas -- the boat that tours the Barcelona coast. In our direct path was a small flea market, and one booth in particular looked like it had estate sale objects -- jewelry, tschotchkes (sp?) and the like. Rachel and I dove into it like pros, and emerged with a few pieces of jewelry, key chains, and the like.
Eventually we made it to the 3:30 boat tour, and enjoyed seeing from the water how far we'd walked yesterday, and other monuments that we have yet to see. A glass of champagne was in order.
I spoke too soon about the clean bathrooms. Dirtiest bathroom in all of Spain -- in Starbucks. Yuck.
We found a street that boasts a lot of Middle-Eastern food, so we had a doner kabob for dinner and now we're back in our room, hopefully going to bed early so we can get up early to get to see La Sagrada Familia.
I learned this evening that our host, Michael, is in Human Resources and coordinates HR conferences in Europe. He's working on a September 2011 conference in Munich right now.
More Barcelona observations:
W.
Eventually we made it to the 3:30 boat tour, and enjoyed seeing from the water how far we'd walked yesterday, and other monuments that we have yet to see. A glass of champagne was in order.
I spoke too soon about the clean bathrooms. Dirtiest bathroom in all of Spain -- in Starbucks. Yuck.
We found a street that boasts a lot of Middle-Eastern food, so we had a doner kabob for dinner and now we're back in our room, hopefully going to bed early so we can get up early to get to see La Sagrada Familia.
I learned this evening that our host, Michael, is in Human Resources and coordinates HR conferences in Europe. He's working on a September 2011 conference in Munich right now.
More Barcelona observations:
- People here are on the move. They go to cafes and spend about an hour then move on. Since Rachel and I tend to find a place we like and stay there, we get into conversations with the wait staff. Last night at the Mexican place our waitress brought us shots - one for each of us and one for her! She stood next to us and downed it, with the Spanish accoutrement - orange with cinnamon. It's pretty awesome that the restaurant allows the wait staff to enjoy shots with the customers!
- This same waitress had warned us when we sat down to 'watch' our bags. Yep, purse snatchers go into the restaurants, grab purses from patrons, and run off into the darkness. That's pretty sad. We had no problems and, after the few margaritas we'd had, decided to cab it home. Play it safe.
- Barcelona is really a dog-friendly community. Most people tend to have small dogs, but we've seen plenty of the larger varieties as well -- many of them are mutts. Some go off leash as they follow their owners across the street and off to run errands or whatever.
- American music here is stuck in the 80's.
- I forgot to mention yesterday regarding Parc Guell that this mountainside park is a training site for a lot of senior citizens who want to stay in shape. There were a few young runners, but mostly we saw older men and women running up the mountain -- not easy.
W.
Two Days of Gaudi-ness
You can walk down nearly any street in Barcelona, gaze upward, and be surprised and delighted by the rich architecture this city has to offer (just hang on to your purse or pockets if you do that - pickpockets abound). Just when you have a plan to get somewhere, you can find yourself distracted by so many other things there are to see along the way. This is how we've spent the last two days.
Our first orders of business the last couple of days have been to see works by Antoni Gaudi, modernist architect who was influenced by nature. I was knocked out by the Casa Battlo, an amazing private home designed by Gaudi right in the heart of the shopping district. With almost no straight lines, the home is influenced by water and sun with its tiles, stained glass, curved wood, and ergonomic brass handles. The rooftop is designed as a dragon and the room underneath -- the attic -- carries forward that theme with a ribbed room and other features that lend the feeling of being inside the belly of the beast. Colorful tiled chimneys make the rooftop the place to be on a sunny day.
We couldn't resist taking in a glass of champagne and sitting in Gaudi-designed chairs before we left.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_Batll%C3%B3
Yesterday we continued our Gaudi tour by heading to Parc Guell, another amazing work. Curvy benches made of colorful tiles adorn the main square, but to get up to it, you need to ascend the double staircase, filled with tile designs, iron work, an area of columns and nature-colored rock pillars that give the feeling that you have entered a wondrous cave. This is a huge park that were to be exclusive residences when Gaudi started the work. Eventually the project failed and the city took over the area and finished it in the original style as a park for the people of Barcelona.
Now, this park isn't easy to get to. We walked from our residence -- just blocks from the water -- all the way up to the entrance, about four miles. Dusk found Rachel and me at the very top of the mountain snapping away photos of the city below. How far did we walk yesterday? I would say about six to eight miles all told by the time we got home.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parque_G%C3%BCell
Other Barcelona musings:
Cheers and love for a fun Sunday!
W.
Our first orders of business the last couple of days have been to see works by Antoni Gaudi, modernist architect who was influenced by nature. I was knocked out by the Casa Battlo, an amazing private home designed by Gaudi right in the heart of the shopping district. With almost no straight lines, the home is influenced by water and sun with its tiles, stained glass, curved wood, and ergonomic brass handles. The rooftop is designed as a dragon and the room underneath -- the attic -- carries forward that theme with a ribbed room and other features that lend the feeling of being inside the belly of the beast. Colorful tiled chimneys make the rooftop the place to be on a sunny day.
We couldn't resist taking in a glass of champagne and sitting in Gaudi-designed chairs before we left.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_Batll%C3%B3
Yesterday we continued our Gaudi tour by heading to Parc Guell, another amazing work. Curvy benches made of colorful tiles adorn the main square, but to get up to it, you need to ascend the double staircase, filled with tile designs, iron work, an area of columns and nature-colored rock pillars that give the feeling that you have entered a wondrous cave. This is a huge park that were to be exclusive residences when Gaudi started the work. Eventually the project failed and the city took over the area and finished it in the original style as a park for the people of Barcelona.
Now, this park isn't easy to get to. We walked from our residence -- just blocks from the water -- all the way up to the entrance, about four miles. Dusk found Rachel and me at the very top of the mountain snapping away photos of the city below. How far did we walk yesterday? I would say about six to eight miles all told by the time we got home.
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parque_G%C3%BCell
Other Barcelona musings:
- La Rambla in the 70's was filled with meat and flower markets, and cafes. Today there are street performers galore with these squeaky eerie mouth whistles, pet shops where you can get those little turtles, baby chicks and ducks -- all those things some of us had as kids.
- The first day we stopped to have a coffee and Rachel's 'crack' - morning Coca Cola, since we both need our caffeine fixes. We got to talking to the barista, an older man. Now, I still can get by quite well with my Spanish language, so when he asked what brought us here, I told the story how I lived in Valencia and might not have even gone back to the U.S. had I not met my husband-to-be just before I had left for Spain with a 1-way in 1975. Then I pointed to my left ring finger explaining I was now 'divorciada' and 'here I am.' An older woman to our right had been eavesdropping and nearly fell off her chair laughing when I said this last part, and she insisted we take in the Parc Guell. A lively conversation ensued with all four of us at that point, part of which included the barista's proposal that I marry him and stay in Barcelona. Some things about Spain don't change.
- We arrived to Sagrada Familia in time, but the line to buy tickets was too long and we wouldn't have had time to see it well before it closed. To take in as much as possible on the walk home, we thought we'd walk by the 'monument' to toros - bulls. Imagine our surprise as it wasn't a monument at all, but the actual bull ring -- now repurposed for shows such as the upcoming circus. This is a change I like!
- Women wear stylish clothing here. You won't find a t-shirt and jeans anywhere. The leopard print is very in, as are Ugg boots and boots of all kinds.
- Bathrooms are clean, and the toilet paper is soft - finally, and a contrast to the famous 2006 bathroom commentary tour of Europe by Adrienne and Wendy.
- There is not as much graffiti here as in Portugal, the latter being pretty covered in the stuff. In both cities, however, graffiti seems tolerated, not washed over or cleaned up. It's almost as if this urban scrawl has found its way as art.
- Yesterday found us in Old Town looking for a place to have dinner -- after so much walking. Of course, we couldn't pass the Mexican restaurant when we saw it -- an opportunity for margaritas. I had a frozen 'lemon' margarita with salt and coriander on the glass rim -- not just salt. It was really tasty! Try it!
- Speaking of Old Town, it's now filled with fine stores -- clothing, art, etc. While it's the place to be for food and fun, it's not the same as in the 70's.
- Men and women appear to be more nurturing toward their children than I observed in the 70's. Back then both mothers and fathers screamed at their kids and spanked them on the street as the kids ran wild. I haven't seen this at all this trip. Quite the opposite.
- Our B&B in Spain is much better than the one in Portugal. Here we have clean, dry towels, a wonderful breakfast each morning, a mountain of toilet paper rolls, a hair dryer, and a heater that doesn't spew fumes at us when we turn it on.
Cheers and love for a fun Sunday!
W.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Portugal in Summary, part 1
Hello, Readers! I'll try to do my best to catch you up on our trip's Portugal highlights. If it gets too long, I'll divide it into parts. Let me start where I left off -- Sunday.
One of the New Year's Eve restaurant patrons told us (in Spanish) that 'nothing says Portugal like Sintra.' And he was right. Last Sunday we boarded the train and traveled northwest of Lisbon to see the Palacio de Pena and Moorish Castle in the barely awake little village of Sintra. There's a special tourist bus, it's a good thing, because everything is up, up, up from the train station. In fact, that day we invented a new word -- 'uppyness' -- you can't get anywhere without climbing stairs and hiking steep, steep hills. Lucky, we were up to the task.
Palacio de Pena boasts breathtaking views and many azulejos - tiled walls, mostly blue in color. See for yourself in the following photos: http://www.google.es/images?um=1&hl=es&biw=719&bih=405&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=palacio+de+pena+portugal&btnG=Buscar&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
We spent hours exploring the rooms, where one placard in one royal room indicated that the royal family regarded empty space as a 'horror.' So, you can imagine the hoarding that went on in this place. So much to see, so little time, and every object is cataloged and on display.
After lunch (bland), down we went on the bus only to go up again to the Moorish Castle. These are mostly ruins, but maintain steps you can climb - really high up. All four of us hiked into the woods, up the steps and went all the way to the top. So, not only is it a total leg workout, it gives pause to anyone with fear of heights. There is no such thing as a railing in these places and it's obvious that Portugal is not a very letigious country. See for yourself: http://www.google.es/images?um=1&hl=es&biw=719&bih=405&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=moorish+castle+sintra&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
I had a wildly funny moment as we were hiking in through the damp, foggy woods to get to the castle. In the middle of a deserted and mostly unmarked path, I remarked to Rachel, "A diet Coke would be great about now." Around the bend and there was a woman with drinks in a cooler. Price? 1 Euro. After my prediction, how could I pass up the opportunity to have a soda at the Moorish Castle?
After the train home to Lisbon, we wandered the streets looking for a place to have dinner, and learned that Lisbon really can roll up the sidewalks on Sunday night. Nevertheless, we found a very traditional Portuguese food restaurant and were among the first customers at 7:30 p.m. By the time we left, there was a line outside spilling into the street. The food was great and we enjoyed some good Port wine for dessert. I finally got what I was looking for as dinner - grilled cuttlefish. I love this dish, reminiscent of my year and a half in Spain when I was in my twenties.
You'd think with all that climbing that there would be moans and groans the next day, but all four of us felt great - no Advil or Aleve required.
Too long to go further! Watch for part 2!
One of the New Year's Eve restaurant patrons told us (in Spanish) that 'nothing says Portugal like Sintra.' And he was right. Last Sunday we boarded the train and traveled northwest of Lisbon to see the Palacio de Pena and Moorish Castle in the barely awake little village of Sintra. There's a special tourist bus, it's a good thing, because everything is up, up, up from the train station. In fact, that day we invented a new word -- 'uppyness' -- you can't get anywhere without climbing stairs and hiking steep, steep hills. Lucky, we were up to the task.
Palacio de Pena boasts breathtaking views and many azulejos - tiled walls, mostly blue in color. See for yourself in the following photos: http://www.google.es/images?um=1&hl=es&biw=719&bih=405&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=palacio+de+pena+portugal&btnG=Buscar&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
We spent hours exploring the rooms, where one placard in one royal room indicated that the royal family regarded empty space as a 'horror.' So, you can imagine the hoarding that went on in this place. So much to see, so little time, and every object is cataloged and on display.
After lunch (bland), down we went on the bus only to go up again to the Moorish Castle. These are mostly ruins, but maintain steps you can climb - really high up. All four of us hiked into the woods, up the steps and went all the way to the top. So, not only is it a total leg workout, it gives pause to anyone with fear of heights. There is no such thing as a railing in these places and it's obvious that Portugal is not a very letigious country. See for yourself: http://www.google.es/images?um=1&hl=es&biw=719&bih=405&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=moorish+castle+sintra&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=
I had a wildly funny moment as we were hiking in through the damp, foggy woods to get to the castle. In the middle of a deserted and mostly unmarked path, I remarked to Rachel, "A diet Coke would be great about now." Around the bend and there was a woman with drinks in a cooler. Price? 1 Euro. After my prediction, how could I pass up the opportunity to have a soda at the Moorish Castle?
After the train home to Lisbon, we wandered the streets looking for a place to have dinner, and learned that Lisbon really can roll up the sidewalks on Sunday night. Nevertheless, we found a very traditional Portuguese food restaurant and were among the first customers at 7:30 p.m. By the time we left, there was a line outside spilling into the street. The food was great and we enjoyed some good Port wine for dessert. I finally got what I was looking for as dinner - grilled cuttlefish. I love this dish, reminiscent of my year and a half in Spain when I was in my twenties.
You'd think with all that climbing that there would be moans and groans the next day, but all four of us felt great - no Advil or Aleve required.
Too long to go further! Watch for part 2!
We've Arrived in Spain
Hello Friends and Family!
So, by now many of you may have been wondering what happened to us, since it's been four days of no blogging. The truth is, we've been plagued with poor weather and dampness that's left us exhausted and a little dejected every evening. And, our host for the B&B ignored us, so each day brought at least one email to remind him to bring clean towels, another bottle of gas for the heater, etc. At first he was quite attentive, but the last few days we got nothing. So, in addition to extraordinary dampness, we've had no heat, which made things rather mildewed and yucky. Everything in that place smelled moldy.
By now, Rachel and I have arrived in Barcelona and it's blissfully dry here. A little chilly, but nice and dry. Portugal's final unkind gesture was rain on our suitcases as they were being held somewhere in the airport. Fortunately, I had packed my raincoat on top of all my clothing, and Rachel put all her stuff out on the chairs in the room, and it's all dry - already!
And, we have actual heat that comes out of a real heater attached to the wall here in our room. We have a real bathroom with a tub that does not leak all over the floor, and drains nicely. I spent five minutes just standing under the hot water, and at least another five just brushing my teeth. Everything looks better when you are clean and have dry clothing.
Our host in Barcelona's B&B is Michael, who advertised a gay friendly place to stay, so we figure it'll be great here. So far we love it. The first thing we did is above - get clean. Then a nap was in order, since we'd not slept much at all last night, had to get up early to make the trip, and needed some rest before tackling Barcelona. After that nap, we went down to the port for the basic overpriced tourist dinner on the wharf, where we encountered the friendliest waiter in all of Spain. Ugh, I had forgotten when I indicated I was from "Tejas" that I would be subjected to the usual anti-Bush rant. We had a meeting of the minds about Obama, and decided he needed more than two years to un-do all the damage that had come before him. De acuerdo.
So, here we sit preparing for our first day in Spain, and there's a ton of stuff to see. Not that I want to ignore the days you haven't heard about in Portugal, my next blog will have some of those highlights.
I hope you are all well in the new year!
Cheers,
W.
So, by now many of you may have been wondering what happened to us, since it's been four days of no blogging. The truth is, we've been plagued with poor weather and dampness that's left us exhausted and a little dejected every evening. And, our host for the B&B ignored us, so each day brought at least one email to remind him to bring clean towels, another bottle of gas for the heater, etc. At first he was quite attentive, but the last few days we got nothing. So, in addition to extraordinary dampness, we've had no heat, which made things rather mildewed and yucky. Everything in that place smelled moldy.
By now, Rachel and I have arrived in Barcelona and it's blissfully dry here. A little chilly, but nice and dry. Portugal's final unkind gesture was rain on our suitcases as they were being held somewhere in the airport. Fortunately, I had packed my raincoat on top of all my clothing, and Rachel put all her stuff out on the chairs in the room, and it's all dry - already!
And, we have actual heat that comes out of a real heater attached to the wall here in our room. We have a real bathroom with a tub that does not leak all over the floor, and drains nicely. I spent five minutes just standing under the hot water, and at least another five just brushing my teeth. Everything looks better when you are clean and have dry clothing.
Our host in Barcelona's B&B is Michael, who advertised a gay friendly place to stay, so we figure it'll be great here. So far we love it. The first thing we did is above - get clean. Then a nap was in order, since we'd not slept much at all last night, had to get up early to make the trip, and needed some rest before tackling Barcelona. After that nap, we went down to the port for the basic overpriced tourist dinner on the wharf, where we encountered the friendliest waiter in all of Spain. Ugh, I had forgotten when I indicated I was from "Tejas" that I would be subjected to the usual anti-Bush rant. We had a meeting of the minds about Obama, and decided he needed more than two years to un-do all the damage that had come before him. De acuerdo.
So, here we sit preparing for our first day in Spain, and there's a ton of stuff to see. Not that I want to ignore the days you haven't heard about in Portugal, my next blog will have some of those highlights.
I hope you are all well in the new year!
Cheers,
W.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Auspicious Beginning of the New Year
Hello, Friends and Family --
Let me just say that if you are wondering if you should ever come to Portugal for New Year's Eve, here's your answer -- DO IT! If you read the first blog you know that I set off with my friends last evening in not the highest of moods -- since after three full days my baggage had still not arrived. When Drema and Judy showed up from collecting one bag and discovered their TWO bags, instead of becoming more despondent, I felt more hopeful.
When I awoke this morning I pulled out the laptop, plugged in the pertinent details on the AirEuropa site and was shocked to see that Air Europa listed my bag has 'located.' It was true. My bag arrived this afternoon and this evening when we were finished with the Oceanarium, Judy and I set off for the airport to retrieve it. I was giddy with the thought of having all my stuff back, and am still delighted. Even more shocking, I realize that I had no tag on my suitcase, nor any business cards or identification inside the bag pockets. The only identifying feature for the bag at all was a prescription inside. Naturally, the adhesive airline tag was on the bag, and that must have done the trick, because the bag was finally found and returned to me. Oy.
So, let's talk about more important things now ... New Year's Eve in Lisbon. You know, when you make a restaurant reservation site unseen, you hope for the best. In our case, hope wasn't necessary. This restaurant was PERFECT in every way, definitely our kind of place. We arrived on time to find a lovely restaurant decorated for the festivities and a welcoming host. As we studied the menu, and figured out what we were supposed to do, the host brought streamers, horns and hats out to all the patrons, who didn't bother to wait until midnight to break into them and start the party. We found ourselves flinging streamers at other partiers and soon the waiters were dodging all the paper and confetti that was quickly piling up everywhere. When midnight came, we all started dancing -- to ABBA. It was back to the 70's pretty quickly as all of us were scooped up to dance a time or two (or three). If you disco-danced back then, it was body-memory time and most of us were up to it. This country knows how to party! There was one kid in the restaurant who took up the task of collecting all the streamers, so he twirled them all around his head and shoulders and walked around with a cloud of paper around him. Really funny. The host produced even more confetti at some point, and that was scattered in no time flat. We've made a vow to return next year, and you'd better believe Imperio Dos Sentidos will have our reservation on New Year's Eve. It doesn't get any better than this.
On the way back to our apartment, we stopped at our host Sergio's bar, just two blocks away. He was smiling and happy to see us. We feel like we've been a little needier than most of his guests -- he called the airport luggage place for us, he made restaurant reservations for us twice, and he's over here whenever we call about anything -- the heat, the lock, etc. So, we had a drink with him, and headed off for a final nightcap before bed. Noon on Saturday found most of us sleeping still.
We managed to get showered and out the door fairly quickly though, and took upon ourselves to find transportation to the Oceanarium. After getting lost and several false starts we got on the right course. I have to say that signage is not a strong suit in this country. We managed to ride three stops past the place before we asked someone where it was, and were told it was three stops ago. We've earned a dessert today after so much walking, though I don't think we ate one.
The Oceanarium was AWESOME. We also took a tram over the bay and got to see the sun setting over the city from high up. Quite lovely and a fitting way to start the new year. I received a text from the baggage service people that my bag was AT the airport and available for me to pick up. No one is happier than I am this evening -- all my stuff is with me; I have clean socks, clean undies, clean pants and comfortable shoes for the long day tomorrow -- Sintra.
Now, the sidewalks pretty much roll up around here on New Year's Day, so finding dinner presented a challenge. Believe it or not, we managed to call a pizza place, give our address, and order a pizza in a mixture of English and Spanish, with a smattering of Portuguese. The pizza arrived 30 minutes later, and was delicioso!
Now to prepare for the day tomorrow. For some reason I am the first up every morning. My back is feeling much better here than it does at home. I'm sitting here in my own pajamas surrounded by my great friends, and feeling like this was the best possible way to start the new year.
Best wishes to all of you for the happiest year ever,
W.
Let me just say that if you are wondering if you should ever come to Portugal for New Year's Eve, here's your answer -- DO IT! If you read the first blog you know that I set off with my friends last evening in not the highest of moods -- since after three full days my baggage had still not arrived. When Drema and Judy showed up from collecting one bag and discovered their TWO bags, instead of becoming more despondent, I felt more hopeful.
When I awoke this morning I pulled out the laptop, plugged in the pertinent details on the AirEuropa site and was shocked to see that Air Europa listed my bag has 'located.' It was true. My bag arrived this afternoon and this evening when we were finished with the Oceanarium, Judy and I set off for the airport to retrieve it. I was giddy with the thought of having all my stuff back, and am still delighted. Even more shocking, I realize that I had no tag on my suitcase, nor any business cards or identification inside the bag pockets. The only identifying feature for the bag at all was a prescription inside. Naturally, the adhesive airline tag was on the bag, and that must have done the trick, because the bag was finally found and returned to me. Oy.
So, let's talk about more important things now ... New Year's Eve in Lisbon. You know, when you make a restaurant reservation site unseen, you hope for the best. In our case, hope wasn't necessary. This restaurant was PERFECT in every way, definitely our kind of place. We arrived on time to find a lovely restaurant decorated for the festivities and a welcoming host. As we studied the menu, and figured out what we were supposed to do, the host brought streamers, horns and hats out to all the patrons, who didn't bother to wait until midnight to break into them and start the party. We found ourselves flinging streamers at other partiers and soon the waiters were dodging all the paper and confetti that was quickly piling up everywhere. When midnight came, we all started dancing -- to ABBA. It was back to the 70's pretty quickly as all of us were scooped up to dance a time or two (or three). If you disco-danced back then, it was body-memory time and most of us were up to it. This country knows how to party! There was one kid in the restaurant who took up the task of collecting all the streamers, so he twirled them all around his head and shoulders and walked around with a cloud of paper around him. Really funny. The host produced even more confetti at some point, and that was scattered in no time flat. We've made a vow to return next year, and you'd better believe Imperio Dos Sentidos will have our reservation on New Year's Eve. It doesn't get any better than this.
On the way back to our apartment, we stopped at our host Sergio's bar, just two blocks away. He was smiling and happy to see us. We feel like we've been a little needier than most of his guests -- he called the airport luggage place for us, he made restaurant reservations for us twice, and he's over here whenever we call about anything -- the heat, the lock, etc. So, we had a drink with him, and headed off for a final nightcap before bed. Noon on Saturday found most of us sleeping still.
We managed to get showered and out the door fairly quickly though, and took upon ourselves to find transportation to the Oceanarium. After getting lost and several false starts we got on the right course. I have to say that signage is not a strong suit in this country. We managed to ride three stops past the place before we asked someone where it was, and were told it was three stops ago. We've earned a dessert today after so much walking, though I don't think we ate one.
The Oceanarium was AWESOME. We also took a tram over the bay and got to see the sun setting over the city from high up. Quite lovely and a fitting way to start the new year. I received a text from the baggage service people that my bag was AT the airport and available for me to pick up. No one is happier than I am this evening -- all my stuff is with me; I have clean socks, clean undies, clean pants and comfortable shoes for the long day tomorrow -- Sintra.
Now, the sidewalks pretty much roll up around here on New Year's Day, so finding dinner presented a challenge. Believe it or not, we managed to call a pizza place, give our address, and order a pizza in a mixture of English and Spanish, with a smattering of Portuguese. The pizza arrived 30 minutes later, and was delicioso!
Now to prepare for the day tomorrow. For some reason I am the first up every morning. My back is feeling much better here than it does at home. I'm sitting here in my own pajamas surrounded by my great friends, and feeling like this was the best possible way to start the new year.
Best wishes to all of you for the happiest year ever,
W.
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