New diet - Cervezas and custard tarts!!!

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Buena noite!!

Hello everyone!! So sorry to only be getting on here now to let you know how all is going!! We have just been having way too much fun!

All was good with the flight..it didn,t seem as long as overseas flights Ive taken before...maybe cuz I had someone to get giddy with on the plane. we were separated on the long leg (mom and dad got to sit together at least), while I enjoyed my special vegan meal near the front of the plane. Didn,t sleep much on the plane but all was good. We nearly missed our last flight however due to the incredibly un-helpful folks in France. How frustrating!!!! I even said the "f" word in front of my parents!!! Yikes. Anyhow I won,t get into it here. Upon our arrival in Lisbon, we realized our luggage did NOT make it. We were without it for 2 days!!!! Man did we ever stink wearing the same clothes that whole time. At least we were together and able to joke about it.

We lucked out in having the best location for our first stop in Lisbon - Belem; situated right next to the Polizia AND the Presidents Palace, and in a very quiet but quaint neighborhood. M and D were also pleased. We dove right into taking public transport and made our way all over the city using train, tram, metro, buses, autocarros, funicular, etc and of course, shanks horse. Day one - took in the Grande Anniversio of the ??? A whole lot of military and other groups and marching bands all in uniform and many on horses -- a whole lot of whoop-la and dignitaries and such; quite the spectacle!! All in front of the Mosteiro (Monastery) das Jeronimoes. Walked to and toured the Torre de Belem (tower), viewed the magnificant Padrao dos Descobrimentos (huge statue) on the river Tejo and took in the hub of the city centre on Saturday night enjoying lots of seafood and cervezas. Mom enjoyed too much sangria and fell off the curb...

Sunday, we took a day trip out to the fairytale town of Sintra. Wow wow wow. We climbed the lookout points of the Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle) and really got some great exercise!! Then were dazzled by the breathtaking splendour of the Palacio da Pena (Pena Palace) outside and inside. It was truly magnificant. I took so many pictures and could have hung out there all day!! The bus driver did an awesome job of climbing the steep and zigzagging hill with a big long bus FULL of tourists. I can,t believe we didn,t tip!!

Today, we checked out of Belem and our cute Pensao and caught the 3 hour train ride for Porto (up north). A nice relaxing ride including cervezas (its all about the cervezas...) and a nap.

We are now enjoying a slow self guided walk around the Ribeira district in the city of Porto - beautiful!! Incidently, Porto is a bigger city than Lisbon. I didn,t know that before.

I could write here for another couple hours.... I have so much to say about the people, the sights, smells, and comedies that we have experienced so far. It has been pretty much non-stop laffs so far; yes, we are getting along quite well. I think I only pissed my mom and dad off once.... but there is still lots of time. ha ha

We are going to have supper now...I will write more later.

Take care, miss you all xoxox
Pamela

P.S. The men here smell so good when they walk by...mmmmm

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Comments

[Nadeane]

your next mission...
...should you chose to accept it...is to find out what the men are wearing to smell so good...then we can launch it in Canada if it's not already;p ....this message will self destruct in 5 seconds...