Just back from Lisbon

What a city. Alan and I got back this afternoon from Lisbon and we were both enchanted and to a certain degree mystified by that lovely city. I’ll be posting a trip report during the next few days, but for now I’ll leave you with what Lisbon meant for us during the past four days:

• the sticky floor of a Ginginha bar
• the warm light basking the castle in the late afternoon
• the rickety ride on the tram 28
• the warmth and helpfulness of Lisboetas
• the unforgetful pastéis de Belém, wonderful warm custard pies sold near the Mosteiros de Jerônimos
• coffee & pastry at the Café A Brasileira
• frail old ladies carrying groceries up unimaginable hills
• round breakfast buns
• the smoke and smell, resembling that of firecrackers, emanating from the roasted chestnut stalls all over the city
• tai chi and lazy afternoon at the park near the Torre de Belém
• the apologetic behaviour of the airport security guy who had to confiscate Alan’s shaving cream and my hair mousse because they were above the prescribed limit (which we knew of course, but tried to see if we could get away with it)

The list could go on and on…