Arrived in Lisbon

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Leaving Seattle on the red eye Wednesday night, I came into Philadelphia at sunrise on Thursday; a two-hour layover, then landed on the frozen runway in Toronto, long nap in Don´s room at the airport hotel, left Toronto during a glorious sunset, arrived at the Lisbon airport pre-dawn in a driving rainstorm, a taxi ride to the hotel on Rossio Square during another dawn that came as the rain moved out.

Checked into the hotel at an obscene hour, but the desk clerk remembered us from last year and, glory be, she gave us our same room that looks out over the Square. We´ve been napping on and off since our arrival with intervals of eating breakfast, showering/dressing and unpacking.

Early this afternoon we went out for a wallk to clear the cobwebs and re-acquaint ourselves with the Baixa. On a whim, we jumped onto the No. 28 tram (trolley car) that took us east up the hill past the Castelo de Sao Jorge, through Alfama´s twisting, narrow streets and to the end of the line in the neighborhood of Graca.

We wandered a bit up there and stopped at a pasry shop for a pick-me-up. Came back down the hill on the return run and walked back to the hotel, enjoying the delightful pace of the city and the intricate tiled patterns inlaid in the sidewalks and squares.

Another round of naps, a game of gin rummy in the lobby and dinner at a nearby cafe. About brain dead at this point, but wanted to let loved ones know we made it safely and are happy to be here. It almost feels like coming home.

More later when I´m coherent.


Mary

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Photos

Toronto Airport
Leaving the frozen north at sunset.

Graca Square
The end of the line for No. 28 Trolley

Rossio Square
View of the southern end of the Square from our hotel room.

Comments

[Mike Mauerman]

buen dia!
A fella could get used to this format, hearing firsthand where you are and how things are progressing! Glad to made it to Portugal, looking forward to much more.