I THOUGHT that being up for breakfast right at 7 am would beat the crowd, but everyone thought the same so there were quite a few people ready to have their goodies. So was I.
I'm not sure what the other early-birds were doing, but by 730 am I was out the door. First up, was to scout out the metro entrances so I am ready for tomorrow. There is one straight across the street so that is the plan for tomorrow, though the down escalator was not running in the morning but was later in the afternoon. Fingers crossed.
Like yesterday, I had an umbrella with me because it looked menacing out there and the rain did start falling soon after I got going. Back down Liberdade I went. At one point I noticed a Canadian flag, and on closer inspection I could see the building holds our embassy. I went in to the foyer where I nerdily snapped a photo of the embassy sign (with permission, of course) then continued down Liberdade to Rossio. There I noticed that the little cafe was open so will return a little later.
I wandered the back streets around the Time Out Market until it opened at 10 am. In the back streets I found the area where MA and Christina stayed this and last January as well as the bar where they enjoyed the drag show. In fairly hevy rain, I headed back toward the Market which has a huge central sitting area surrounded by dozens of booths selling pasteis de nata, sandwiches, desserts, fish, meats, drinks, wines and all sorts of stuff. Apparently in busy season it is hopping. As it is, it was fairly busy. Lisbon is getting busy in off-seson now.
In the continuing rain and wind I headed to Rossio and to my cafe for my farewell to Lisbon drink, which today was a galao. I stood just in the doorway and admired the square, the castle and the city in general. Then I just had to go and wander the Alfama for a while before returning to Figueira square and start making my way back toward the guest house. All the while it was raining. But it was once I was half way along Almirante Reis that the sky absolutely dumped buckets and there must have been 5+ mm within twenty minutes. The gutters were rivers, the streets were rivers, and everyone was taking shelter wherever they could. On a scale of one to ten, the deluge was an eleven. Because it is one more.
Once the rain finally slowed, I continued on my way, but of course the sidewalks were rivers, too, so now my feet were wet. Darn. I'm not fond of that. Wet feet and shoes don't go well together. My original plan had been to wander around the Alameda park when I go to it, but it was still raining so I just wanted to get back to my guest house and out of the rain. I grabbed a few remaining goodies from the breakfst room (permitted) and in my room, started the task of drying off myself and my things. The other task was to re-organize my non-bike items so I would have my carry-on as well as the duffel bag with the rest. I'm not looking forward to having to lug these things down stairs in the metro. At least once I am on the train it goes straight from here to the airport on the red line.
As I organized gear I listened to some silly videos and then had a little rest. Though early, I went out for dinner and was wanting to go to a little Portuguese place just up from the Alameda but when I got there it was closed despite online saying they woud be open until 6 pm. Darn. So, back toward my guest house I had seen a donair and falafel place and went, but holy poor service. The guy serving me was muttering away on his phone the entire time. Something I have come to expect here whether in a restaurant or convenience store - many are either babbling away on the phone or have some stupid programme blaring away on their phones. I read about issues like this with truck drivers at home. Maybe the same phenomenon.
Though not the greatest meal, I was full so there was no dessert for me tonight (ie, no Milka). On the way back I went across the road to a building I had noticed earlier. Something about technology - it seems to be some type of innovation centre for science and technology and there were a number of cool science fair style exhibits so I perused that for a while before returning to the guest house. Back 'home' I finished re-packing my things, cleaned up, and made sure everything was sorted for tomorrow.
Another meandering down Avenida da Liberdade. -- Lisbon, Portugal
I wandered the area around the Time Out Market until it opened so I could take a peek. MA and Christina stayed somewhere around here this and last January and took in a how at Manny's. -- Lisbon, Portugal
