Portugal - Day 1,2,3 & 4

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Day 1

We had no issues with luggage this time...although we did have to get up sooo early.We got to Lisbon airport and what do we see a Portuguese cop. We now know its definitely the uniform, glasses and hat and its the swat quad not the local police that makes them look good. We get in the taxi...and I swear the taxi driver took 5 minutes to our hotel...I think he needed to go home for lunch...he even had a screaming match with another driver....lol.We get to the hotel in 70 style, the hotel is right next to a sex shop...lol.... The view from the room is great. They also have a restaurant in the 9th floor with an amazing view. First things first ..settle..relax and find a laundromat as Carmen ran out of undies. So off we go to find it but first we find this cute little coffee shop in independencia road and we have a salad ...yes we are eating healthy. We start going through the maze of streets and then the street numbers kept climbing and climbing...we are looking for number 37 ...well the shops stop at 35! Carmen says - I am not climbing those stairs ...Portugal Lisbon is built on 7 hills....we had to pick one of them...so I climb all the way up the next number is 45 WTF..I look around before I climb down no number 37. I come down and Carmen is still catching her breath. I ask this lady from a religious hostel, Carmen says - careful she doesn't convince you to join. The lady has no idea, she says to ask the coffee shop lady...we start walking there and I look to the left and there is number 37, no need to climb The dam hill...the lady in the laundromat doesn't speak English ...I try in Spanish ...done...we go back to the hotel to get the huge bag...looks like our whole luggage is there...taxiiii..not climbing the hill again...when we are driving there I notice there is a laundromat right near our place...bugger..While we are waiting I am updating the blog...then two Aussie guys walk in...Aussies every where. Laundry all done..Carmen can now wear undies...We are off to explore more of the city ...it's a beautiful little city...reminds me a lot of Valparaiso in Chile...it has a lot of charm and history for a little city. I think it's the style of the houses, decorated with tiles, or bright colours, the trams, funicular, the gardens, coffee shops by the gardens and the river at the end of the street. We had dinner late and there was hardly anyone in the streets...where did everyone go on holidays?

Day 2

We booked a tour to Sintra today...where we will be visiting Pena Palace. And find out that Portugal royalty ended because the last king couldn't have any kids...apparently there are still Dukes...the road to the castle is like a snake...long and winding...when we get to the castle, it's foggy..can't even see the castle...visibility nil...and strong winds, my hair is flying..everywhere..even Carmens that's how strong the wind is...apparently when it's sunny in Lisbon it's raining in Sintra..hence so much greenery...For a little castle, it had a lot of extravagance ..before it became a palace it was a monastery ...it was amazing the workmanship that it had on the ceilings and walls....once we went through the whole house...we came out and the sun was out..but the winds were still there....the castle on the outside was beautiful...there is a lot of renovation going on at the moment to preserve it...it will look gorgeous once all done.Guess with the amount of tourists, they'll have no problem paying for it...We then went off to the Sintra village for lunch...the whole group had pre booked lunch but we did our own..had a massive dish of fish with rice..it was awesome...Carmen had three plates of food..next time order one and share...we went to, Piriquita, in the town centre, to taste their delicious ‘travesseiros’, puff pastry filled with egg and almond. Yum...We went walked and took the city highlights in. We found a group of tourists that played music in made up instruments, they were really entertaining...they played Michael Jackson, take that,And other 80s songs...Carmen went to this little shop to try a really nice bracelet then she couldn't take it off. I tried couldn't do it, the shop lady goes oh no...we have different sizes...she says to carmen, let me help you take it off..while she was trying the lady says ..I don't want to hurt you, sorry..I say, just Hurt her...don't worry...nice friend I am 😊 We kept going in our tour and we came to Cabo de Roca... is a cape which forms the westernmost extent of mainland Portugal and continental Europe. And its freaking windy....couldn't keep steady taking photos...a few times got blown away.....Glad to be out of there we headed to Boca de Inferno....there is a massive hole which was a sidewalk...and they say that down there is the devils mouth...Off to Cascais..it's a little fisherman's village....the sun was shining..and no wind...nice to chill out...After we came back for the trip, Carmen went off to rest ...I went exploring some more...that's when I fell in love with the city...has so many roads and each road has people are enjoying the evenings. Eating, dancing laughing, playing soccer....they weren't on holidays after all...then again it was Friday nite...one thing they need to fix here is their pavements, don't know how many times I nearly slipped or fell in a hole...cause I was too busy taking photos...When I got back to the unit Carmen was snoring again ..lol..I am kidding...got ready and out we went to dinner in a local restaurant..Carmen said it was like the Petersham chicken shop. We had Portuguese chicken...(like Carmen says they just call it chicken) but the chicken was a let down, much, tastier in Australia. After stuffing ourselves, drinking sangria, eating dessert & port as an ending to our meal. We headed off to Barrio Alto...I forgot to tell Carmen that barrio = town, alto = high....so after climbing 1000 stairs ....(it felt like it) we finally got there.(we later found a tram that goes there)...we saw one little street ...with a few people...we started climbing up and saw little bars...but everyone was drinking outside..we looked to the left, we looked to the right...people all over the streets. drinking..Beer one euro...?...two for a bigger glass...drinking age here is 16..people still live in the apartments above...they are either used to the noise or have double glazed windows...and yes you can walk around with your drink in the streets....cops are near by to keep the peace..how do you go to the loo?? Apparently guys can go anywhere...lucky I found one little club with one...I met these two Portuguese girls...while I waited...we got talking and talking..and they invited me for drinks and shots...half an hour later I said to them my friend is waiting outside ...got to go....they went off to get Carmen...then Catarina invited us on a tour of her town...glass in hand we went off walking through the streets ..we ended up in this view of the lake...then Fado singing..Fado is the traditional folk song of Portugal..the hill or street was packed i am sure there was over 3000 people there..Catarina said it would take you an hour to reach the bottom of the hill...the guy that was singing was on a man made stage..with the washing on the side.....everyone was drinking, dancing and singing including me....Carmen was drinking the safe stuff, water....back to the bar..poor Carmen we really made her walk...her feet must be broken lol..toilet break...and more drinks...more exploring and the another view of the city...bars close at 3....home time...hangover time for Ana....

Day 3

Ana woke up sleepy but with headache...Carmen woke up with hangover in sympathy for Ana.

It was a beautiful day today...best way to spend it harbour cruise around the river - Rio Tejo, ( to me looks like a bay) and see the city from the outside.....the boat was packed with tourists, lucky we got a seat in the top....the sea breeze is great for a hangover...lots of shots taken....the city is quite beautiful, saw the thereof Belem, Cristo Rel, Ponte 25 Abril bridge ( looks like San Fran bridge), and many others...we did have a few minor set backs in the cruise..the port looked like abandoned and had to wait in line till they open the gates...we had to wait in the sun with the homeless drunks that look after the cars...yes, if you pay them they will look after your car. The other it was pretty windy on the boat...and our chips flew out the packet, everywhere......Carmen says don't worry the fish will eat them and I say yeah but the fish will taste salty.....the guy next to us had a giggle This Italian lady wanted to share my seat...lucky I have a small bum...

After the cruise we walked into the sexiest toilet...Renova...the toilet is decorated with different colours of toilet paper, you pay one euro...they clean it for you before you use it...once inside the toilet it's decorated with wood, felt like i was in a sauna..and classical music...

Drinks and olives, bread, before heading back for a rest and do it all over again?

We had dinner at a Portuguese restaurant called Rest Cervejaria Pino where they make a dish that is only meat, it was yummy...but not as nice as the steak in Harrods....we order fries, but the come out like chips and salad...their black olives were yummy, with the garlic dressing ....I think the waiter realised I like them cause I ate them all and he brought me another bowl...

We went off to an Irish bar...to wait for the night to begin..we were having baileys on ice...it was midnight...then all of a sudden we both felt really sleepy...got home crushed...till the next day...we woke up with hangover.WTF...wonder what was in the sangria we had?

Day 4

We decided to do the hop on and off bus through Lisbon...our main aim ....to get pasties Nata from Belem. While in the tour we learned that the Portugal founder was Greek..they have been invaded by the Phoenicians, then Greeks, Romans, moorish, Spanish...now I understand why the guitar sounds Greek in Fado...yes the tour had fado music through the whole tour...we also learned that bull fighting is also done here..difference they don't kill the bull...they wrestle the bull like the romans at the end, after the bullfighter wears them out...We had breakfast at the Docas...for entree grilled sardines, main Carmen had salmon salad and I had a clam salad....breakfast was awesome...Belem next stop....to make sure we were getting the best Nata I made sure that certificates were held...we got two takeaway...and sat by the park...Nata, ice cream cappuccino and water....it's quite hot today..I love how Europeans use their parks...and they are so beautifully kept.....while walking through the little town..we see another Nata shop....have to compare....it's been a long trip....time for a rest before going out again....

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Photos

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