Lisbon

Spent last weekend in Lisbon staying with Sónia, my lab mate and her family in Carnaxide (not pronounced like I was heading to my death but Carneshide). Sonia has 7 dogs, 2 of which are St. Bernards…oh, and like 50 small tropical birds…oh, and 1 bunny. It was really fun to be in such a full house. Not to mention all the home-cooked meals and red wine. We spent the day shopping and then Sónia took off for the Benfica game, leaving me in the care of João Tiago and Rute. They took me to a World Press photo exhibit featuring many award-winning shots of everything from the Miss Senior Sweetheart pageant in Fall River, MA to body parts strewn across a street in Venezuela. It was fairly intense. Then we made the obligatory stop at Pasteis de Belém for their version of the pasteis de nata that everyone told me I must try. It was well worth the vulture-like waiting for a table.

That night we also shopped some more at Bairro Alto neighborhood and walked through the city digesting our sardine meals and taking photos. Some of those below are taken by João. Just a note: I have been told that Portuguese cuisine has more to offer than just grilled sardines so from now on I will be feasting on other whole carcass fish.

After a harrowing drive to the outer regions of Lisbon, we met up with Sónia in Amadora (a neighborhood with the largest Cape Verdian population outside of Cape Verde) at a bar that featured not only a Bon Jovi-esque cover band, low ceilings and an entrance that you had to buzzed in and out of, but also what must have been a very hefty fire insurance policy. As the band belted out G&R’s Paradise City, the entire bar counter was intentionally lit on fire about 5 feet behind me. I had no idea where I was. Logically, I knew it was Portugal but the cues around me were screaming West Warwick, RI. The next day Sónia took me to see Castelo de São Jorge which overlooks the entire Lisbon area, including the creative combination of Rio and SF in one view.

I had been to the castle 14 years ago with Dominique so it was all vaguely familiar.

Afterwards was lunch at the Massa house and then our last adventure of the weekend, Sintra. This town is ancient. Apparently, being the highest point in the area, the Romans held this as a sacred spot, something about the moon (João?). But the buildings were so beautiful and lined twisting steep cobblestone streets, dotted with pastry shops, wine sellers and restaurants. As you can imagine, I was completely camera happy in this locale.

And lastly, this is a shout out to Prof. Jessica Brasswell. The Massa family also employs the plastic-bag-filled-with-water technique to ward off house flies although they could not explain why it works either.