Fresh air and folly...

A bit of a day for putting your feet up. It is after all the day of rest and a perfect opportunity to go "up river"  to take in the salt air and appreciate the vistas of broader Lisbon.  With a breeze gently ruffling my hair,  I find myself drifting towards...yet another example of this city's exuberances.  The Torre de Belem is an extraordinary whimsy of architecture.  A myriad of turrets with more than a hint of my former Moorish stomping grounds.  I have found a delightful little park opposite in which to sit and contemplate why on this earth, anyone would build what can only be described as a remarkable folly. I love it...and love it even more with an icy cold Cintra Cerveja Pilsen, a very pale beer with a light tobacco aroma.  Perfect for an afternoon under the cool shade of a spreading tree.

Silly as a wheel...

Just when you think you have a handle on a city...something beyond imagination pops up.  The police in Lisbon are not known for being nimble of foot but boy can they get around!  I fancied that I had had one too many the evening before..I probably had...but no, it was the real deal.  They cruise up and down, and no doubt all around, the Rua da Prata.  (Note the amazing cobblestones)  

I an attempt (or excuse) to recover, I have treated myself to a mid afternoon Lancers, a refreshing medium sweet, sparkling rose, which is produced by J. M. da Fonseca.  Perfect for a guilty pleasure.

My kingdom for a horse....and a castle

You can tell a lot about a city by its castle and the Castelo de Sao Jorge of Lisbon is no exception.  Lying within the Moorish walls, the terraces, fountains, gardens and ....peacocks lead you to magnificent vistas of the city all the way to the ocean beyond.  I am sure that this most splendid monument could reveal some of the less savoury chapters of Lisbon's past, but I prefer not to ask.  Instead, I intend to enjoy a delightfully cheeky Pasmados Vinho Tinto, a slightly raw but passable red, perfect for a quick quaff to start the evening.

Any Portugal in a storm.....

A quick jump over the salty pond and a whole other world.....


There are few cities that excite the imagination as much as that first glimpse of Lisbon's eccentric centre.......it is truly stunning.  White cobblestoned promenades leading skyward to mysterious lane ways, the dark and looming Castelo de Sao Jorge, funiculars that lead impossibly upwards, Lisbon is my kind of place.  I have perched myself precariously in a small fado club in the Bairro Alto inconspicuously (I think) grazing on a plate of marinated olives and soaking up a delightful local Ginja.  Ginja is a liqueur made from cherry-like ginja berries fermented in brandy.  It is traditionally served in shots with a fermented cherry on the bottom of the shot glass. I have however, dispensed with the cherry for the moment but have followed tradition by downing it in shots (plural).  I will eat the fermented cherries for desert.