A typical day in Lisboa

Our first full day in Lisboa found us quickly establishing our routine. Because breakfast is included at our hotel, we have our café e pasteis later in the morning. Today, we found a nice spot for this very addictive habit near the shopping centre in the Baixa district, which is the major shopping area in Lisboa. And, because it's such a good idea (café e pasteis), we indulged again about 5pm in Graça, which is the area where we are staying (actually, Susan only had some water and a small bite of the mini pastel de nata that we ordered). There are pastelaria everywhere in Lisboa! It is easier to find a wonderful pastel in Lisboa than a baguette in many parts of France.

We set out later in the morning to get two things: more detailed maps for travel after we leave Lisboa; and a SIM card for our mobile phone. We took the E28 (electric tram #28) to the Chiado stop, which put us very near a large downtown [inside] shopping centre. We headed there because we knew there was a fnac there and that it would probably have what we needed. It did.

Back to Graça (partly on foot; partly on the E28) for a nice lunch at O Jaime, a small, neighbourhood restaurant serving comida regional. We had one of his prato do dia - the bifinhos e cogumelos (veal and mushrooms) - which was very good. Together with a small salad, homemade fried potatoes and some vinho da casa, it made for a wonderful repast. And, for 12€, a good bargain as well! We chatted (very badly, since our Portuguese is nearly non-existent) with Jaime about fado and futebol, because of the photographs on the wall. They have live fado (we're not sure where they put the players, since the restaurant is very small!) on Saturday and Sunday.

Later, we explored some more via the great public transit system they have here, first walking down to the waterfront through part of the Alfama district and then returning (rather circuitously and precipitously - did we mention that it is quite hilly here?) on autobus route #12.

Dinner tonight was again chez Knowmark - this time we picked up a pre-fab mixed salad and a nice vinho Alentejo at the Pingo Doce supermarket to accompany the frango no churrasco - delicious barbecued chicken - that we bought as takeout from Churrasco da Graça. Dessert was a small glass of port and a small piece of very good chocolate.

Today only rated a 2.5 on the Knowmark Weather Scale, as it was a little too warm later in the afternoon and early evening. However, as we write this, with the balcony open to the night air, it is lovely.