Vita Sotto il Sole: I Made it. . . .

Despite the odds being against it, I’ve made it to Lisbon. That outcome was in question, beginning with my washing machine dying on Tuesday morning (I’ll be buying a new one upon my return . . .shit!) and then my luggage being put on the conveyor belt, at Dulles, without a destination tag. The guy at Air France promised he would go find it and tag it; and well, he sure as hell did!! I even made my tight connection at hell on Earth, Charles De Gaulle – Paris. The sweet Frenchman, Guy, that I rented the apartment from was waiting on me, at the airport, with a sign bearing my name. For you guys who read last year’s post about Liz and me in Croatia, you will understand why I started laughing when I saw him. He just thought I was either drunk at 9am or retarded.

The apartment is cute and exactly like he said. It’s in the center of Lisbon’s historic district with lots of cafes and restaurants around it. I haven’t done much, other than just wander around for a few hours and get the general layout of the city, and fight the jet lag that’s kicking my ass. Of course, I did happen to wander up on the Wine-Tasting Center that is entirely FREEEEEEEE. I mean Portugal is the 7th largest producer of wine in the world; I wouldn’t want to belittle that fact! And, I have also decided that I will NEVER be able to understand Portuguese. Because of my basic comprehension of French and Italian I can read some of it, but pronouncing it and understanding people when they speak . . . forget it! So now, I’m enjoying a glass, or bottle, of Vinho Verde for dinner (just too damn tired to go out tonight) and heading to bed to try and get myself on Portuguese time.

Apartment

Where the magic happens in Portugal (kidding Mom & Dad)

Apartment

Seriously???

Praca Municipio

HUGE tapestry on the Municipal building

Wine-Tasting Center!

Weird-ass seating/planter pods on the riverfront

riverfront square on Tejo River

Praca do Comercio: Man on the horse is King Jose I stomping the snakes, which represent trouble making-noble families. The arch is Lisbon's Arch of Triumph with Vasco Da Gama on the left and Pombal (the guy who rebuilt the city after the giant earthquake/tsunami/fire of 1755) on the right.