It was so nice to get to sleep in today until 7:35am.  Yet, everyone on the bus seemed really out of it this morning.  Yesterday just had too much going on, I think.  It was good, but a lot.  Breakfast was very good.  I have been loving the bread here.  I had both a piece of rustic bread that we had the day before as well and a delicious roll that ( Read more... )

(Placeholder until I finish up this post.)

Forgotten information: Last night we saw news video showing Lisboa Alagada - Lisbon flooded.  The Plaza Rossi where we were several times was even flooded.  Other parts of town showed cars being swallowed.  Glad we left when we did ( Read more... )

Forgot from yesterday:  As we were walking out of Amorina (on a pretty well populated and popular street), I was offered hashish.  Following my look, the guy then said “marijuana?”  And the next part of the formula (which Jenn thinks she heard) is “Cocaine?”  My boss’s boss received the “Hashish?  Cocaine?” offer at least 3 times while he was out ( Read more... )

Today felt like a day of contrasts as we took an optional morning tour to Sintra and Cascais.  It was pouring when we left Lisbon, which was a bit of a disappointment for all of us.  As we travelled, we passed the big box store area (none are allowed in the city limits area.)  Climbing up the mountains? hills? to Sintra, the places started getting ( Read more... )

Errata:  Yesterday the plaza we hung out in was actually Plaza Rossi, not Dom Fernando.  (Unless it’s another plaza with 2 names.)  Also, I forgot to mention that a street performer was playing and singing Fado music at the overlook, and by the time we were ready to move on, I was ready to not hear anymore.  I know it’s the traditional blues-ish ( Read more... )

Jennifer arrived this morning (after another long passport line, where she kept reminding herself that she was almost there), and sent me an email from the hotel at 10:15am telling me that the hotel room wasn’t ready.  I suggested that she come up to my hotel, which she did.  So we had some food, and then she got a 1 hour nap while I worked.  ( Read more... )

(written Oct 13th ( Read more... )

During the break today, I decided that I wanted to go to the Castle (Castelo de São Jorge) with everyone else since I heard it said that you should go.  But it was supposed to take 30-40 minutes with a downhill and an uphill.  No way I could do that.  So I asked if anyone wanted to take a cab with me, and Katie and Abhishek volunteered.  The cab ( Read more... )

What do you think when you hear Super Bock?  Snowboard move?  New band?  Apparently, it’s Portugal’s version of Bud Light.  Not bad, but nothing special.  But it was free and tasted okay tonight ( Read more... )