Fumadores

Day two of my Portuguese odessy saw me take a trip to Belem, on the outskirts of the city, and to the place where some believe Jesus was born. There is a Museum of Electricity there now, as well as a bridge, but sadly the Museum was closed and the bridge had lots of cars on it. We went to a memorial to Vasco de Gama, the great Portuguese explorer and next to it was a beautiful rosa dictating all of Portugalºs sixteenth century colonial conquests. It was rather beautiful. Sadly, we didnºt get to go up the monument for a panoramic view of Lisbon as we were three minutes late and it had closed :(

Next we went to a unique shop which sold Pasteis de Nata - a pasty cake deeley infused with warm cream. It was like something youºd get out of Greggs only much nicer and more gooey. The shop uses a traditional ancient recipe that not even the serving staff know, itºs such a closely guarded secret, and it has been famous in Lisbon ever since it opened in 1837.

We also went to a McDonalds for a beer. Yes, a beer. I have always thought that itºs a sad indictment for Britain and its approach to alcohol that McDonalds canºt serve beer, which most of them do on the continent. It was Super Bock and although itºs sharper than Sagres, itºs not as nice and I have downed another litre of that since I have been speaking to you.

Daisukeºs mother also very kindly cooked more food for us and we had a discussion about Portugalºs national poet - Luís de Camões - whose day it was yesterday. My Spanish is rapidly improving and I was impressed how much we understood of each other as I have not spoken Spanish in over a year.

Tomorrow is the day of Portugal v Czech Republic and I canºt wait. I think we are going to a bar to see the game and I want to get caught up in the football fever.

The other thing to point out by the way is the ominous used rubber glove I saw as I walked past the window sill of a room on my way to passport control at Lisbon airport. I swear there was a bit of brown on two of the fingertips...

Fumadores

Day two of my Portuguese odessy saw me take a trip to Belem, on the outskirts of the city, and to the place where some believe Jesus was born. There is a Museum of Electricity there now, as well as a bridge, but sadly the Museum was closed and the bridge had lots of cars on it. We went to a memorial to Vasco de Gama, the great Portuguese explorer and next to it was a beautiful rosa dictating all of Portugalºs sixteenth century colonial conquests. It was rather beautiful. Sadly, we didnºt get to go up the monument for a panoramic view of Lisbon as we were three minutes late and it had closed :(

Next we went to a unique shop which sold Pasteis de Nata - a pasty cake deeley infused with warm cream. It was like something youºd get out of Greggs only much nicer and more gooey. The shop uses a traditional ancient recipe that not even the serving staff know, itºs such a closely guarded secret, and it has been famous in Lisbon ever since it opened in 1837.

We also went to a McDonalds for a beer. Yes, a beer. I have always thought that itºs a sad indictment for Britain and its approach to alcohol that McDonalds canºt serve beer, which most of them do on the continent. It was Super Bock and although itºs sharper than Sagres, itºs not as nice and I have downed another litre of that since I have been speaking to you.

Daisukeºs mother also very kindly cooked more food for us and we had a discussion about Portugalºs national poet - Luís de Camões - whose day it was yesterday. My Spanish is rapidly improving and I was impressed how much we understood of each other as I have not spoken Spanish in over a year.

Tomorrow is the day of Portugal v Czech Republic and I canºt wait. I think we are going to a bar to see the game and I want to get caught up in the football fever.

The other thing to point out by the way is the ominous used rubber glove I saw as I walked past the window sill of a room on my way to passport control at Lisbon airport. I swear there was a bit of brown on two of the fingertips...