Blogs from Lisboa, Portugal, Europe - page 13

A compact people-oriented and inexpensive city of about 600,000 situated about a third of the way up Portugal’s coast, Lisbon has been its capital and most important seaport since 1147. Its history goes back before the Romans, and it has been occupied by a succession of conquerors, most notably the Moors, until it became the capital of the new independent nation. Eventually controlling an empire that stretched around the globe, Lisbon was once one of Europe’s most glittering capitals, but times changed. Until Portugal emerged in 1986 from a stultifying dictatorship to become a free democratic member of the European Community, much of the glitter faded away. Nevertheless it has always been a "classy" city, valuing its artistic and cultural heritage, with more than thirty museums and cultural centres, many world-class, and some quite unique. Lisbon ... read more

Garry and I were excited to take a cooking lesson to indulge our senses and increase our international repertoire. Our class had folks from Britain, Ireland, and Korea. On the menu was a blended vegetable soup with kale, salted cod (bacalhau) with vegetables, baby clams, and chorizo in a tangy broth, whole chicken rendered to pieces by Garry (his efficiency had everyone wondering if he was a chef) with onions and garlic over Portuguese rice, and to finish a simple dolce de leche with egg white chilled. With Garry in fine social form, not to mention the wine flowing like a tap, it wasn't long before your Canadian correspondents made friends with everyone. Even the typically stuffy Brits were saying they were definitely at the fun end of the table. Portuguese cooking is simple and tasty ... read more

In my haste to deal with the dirty laundry I had accumulated while in Africa I rushed put on a washer load when I arrived here in Lisboa. Much to my chagrin my pants still held my passport in the pocket. My passport is now much cleaner, soggier and fainter as a result. A limp mess currently which I am trying to amend with paper towels and pressure. What are my odds of returning with that document (sheepishly) in hand when I hit Canadian customs? Time will tell. G... read more

Hi. 9.20PM and here in the television come reception area. Four people are booking in and I have three people in my room. Only one other last night. Tuesday was able to chat to Mum for a while so that was good to catch up on all the news and that she has been busy with family around .... Breakfast and 9.30 am Mass .. some one of important must of been about because the horses with riders were about.. they seemed to be escorting someone from the monastery to the palace via the main road.... was good to see...more by luck. Then on the bus into town.. then on a tram,, then on the underground then two more buses and finally two trams so took full advantage of the 6 Euro 24 hour use.. Was ... read more

Hi 7PM here in Lisbon where it has been blue sky but a nip in the breeze. Sorry have not been on line but guppy has had a few issues shall we say. But all is well at present... Today breakfast then 9.30Mass with been in between as was a fine breezy day. Only about twenty at Mass..and back to the Nigerian Priest...... well African origin... One thing about Portugal ,it is far more mulTI cultural than northern Spain... Well Lisbon anyway.... Went to the centre of town thenleft and to a similar area to yesterday but this time I had guppy working so was able to take some photos and been a fine day was able to take my time and stop and read my book and people watch, which I enjoy.... Saturday was low ... read more