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.