Hello, all
Friday night was a different experience. Nancy and the girls went to a baby shower with a bunch of other like-gender types (Americans mostly) in a town about 20 miles from here. I dropped them off and joined the other males from age 1+ to... well, me at the beach. There were about 20 of us. Played soccer in the sand, took a dip in beautiful waves, and found a roadside wagon selling fresh baked (in a wood fired oven) bread stuffed with various cheeses and meats (locally called pao com Chouriço) to take care of our hunger. It was a beautiful night.
Saturday we played tourist at the waterfront monuments. The Tower of Belem used to be a fort in the middle of the river. It is now on the shore as they filled in the north side of the river. It predates the 1755 earthquake. The Monument to the Discoveries was first built as a temporary site by the dictator Salazar in the 30's or 40's and then replaced with this permanent one in the 1960's. It is impressive and attractive in the special setting it enjoys.
Friday night was a different experience. Nancy and the girls went to a baby shower with a bunch of other like-gender types (Americans mostly) in a town about 20 miles from here. I dropped them off and joined the other males from age 1+ to... well, me at the beach. There were about 20 of us. Played soccer in the sand, took a dip in beautiful waves, and found a roadside wagon selling fresh baked (in a wood fired oven) bread stuffed with various cheeses and meats (locally called pao com Chouriço) to take care of our hunger. It was a beautiful night.
Saturday we played tourist at the waterfront monuments. The Tower of Belem used to be a fort in the middle of the river. It is now on the shore as they filled in the north side of the river. It predates the 1755 earthquake. The Monument to the Discoveries was first built as a temporary site by the dictator Salazar in the 30's or 40's and then replaced with this permanent one in the 1960's. It is impressive and attractive in the special setting it enjoys.
About a block away is a early Renaissance Cathedral (also an earthquake survivor) and attached monastery/convent. Vasco Da Gama's burial site as well as the final resting place of kings and queens.
Nearby is the site of the invention of a famous local delicacy... a kind of custard pastry... called Pasteis de Belem. The coffee house type place has been in business since 1837 at this site. It has has many smallish rooms as it has expanded over the years and taken over nearby buildings. It would be a great +place to play "paint ball" or hide and seek. Hot out of the oven, sprinkled with cinnamon and/or powered sugar and washed down with your favorite coffee/chocolate drink, it is great. Often imitated (all over the place) but never duplicated, it is said that only the owner and 2 trusted employees actually know the recipe. Sadly, there is a Starbucks 2 doors down and a McDonald´s across the street. I think it will outlast both...
Yesterday (Sunday) after church, we went to the "largest mall in Europe" for lunch and joined hundreds of others wasting their time, looking at stuff in stores. It was fun though and we didn´t get lost (much) at all getting there and not at all getting back home.
We are constantly reminded of contrasts here. Old (very) and new, side by side. Example of new. Underground parking garages at malls have a small green or red light over each parking slot indicating occupancy. The red is automatically activated when a car fills it up. Easy to spot open spaces from a distance, so that you can join the race to get there first. Some other things, like toilet paper that is a mixture of wood fiber and crepe paper, are not so "up to date".
Got my first hair cut today. (He pre-washed it, took 30 minutes "styling" it, and washed it again before my blow dry) 10 euros well spent and I feel beautiful...
Mike
Sounds like a great weekend. And, finally... a picture!!!!
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