Hector was up before the 03.45 alarm, such is the way of ridiculously early rises. Mr. O’Leary was taking Hector, Marg, Steve & Louise to Lisboa for a week. A week is a long time to spend in any city, four days is usually seen as enough. We were assured that there would be plenty to see and do.
There was a sprint to the departure gate at Edinburgh Airport, once boarded, we were told there would be an hour’s delay due to fog over Lisboa. It made for a pretty picture as we descended – Ponte Vasco da Gama. The airport arrival hall was confusing, could we really go in opposite directions? We could see those in the queue to get airside, it looked horrendous. Fortunately, despite having left the EU, our electronic passports let us through in minutes. To the metro, simples. Travelling in Lisboa is outlined – here.
A noon check-in to our apartment was arranged, or so I thought. On arrival at the agency we were told otherwise. Having paid in advance we were still hit with €28.00 city tax then a €9.00 locker fee. I will not be using – Feel’s Like Home again.
Free of luggage for the moment, it was time to get the holiday underway. The walk down Avenue da Liberdade instantly impressed, this was quite a boulevard. Behold a statue, Vasco da Gama, surely, nope. Continuing downhill, Hector always gets his bearings in a new place by heading towards the river, we entered Praça do Rossio. 19ºC, heavenly, photos at the fountain.
We wandered through the narrow streets beyond with restaurants aplenty, no prices on the menus. Arco da Rua Augusta came into view, it would be even more imposing from the – right – side. Praça do Comércio, Cais das Colunas, if this is Lisbon, I like it.
We stood at the waterfront looking back inland, Castelo de Sao Jorge loomed over the city. Marg, we’re going there tomorrow.
Marg was hungry, when the lady is hungry she has to be fed, Curry can wait. We left the obviously expensive venues behind and found Allchiado, a back street – Portuguese Restaurant. It was strange finding a – Portuguese – restaurant in Portugal, in India we never saw an – Indian Restaurant.
A Fish Wrap sounded like something local, Marg stuck with Salad. Marg wanted Bread, Bread was ordered, she tore in. The Salad was huge, it sat on the same bread used in the Wrap, too much Bread. The Fish Wrap was so filling, tasty, Hector cannot have too much Fish these days.
With bags collected it was time to locate the apartment. Google Maps took us up the hillside beside the funicular – Elevador da Glória. This was insane, we weren’t ticketed, had we bought a day ticket we would have been. Our apartment was metres off Rua do Loreto, yet Google Maps insisted we do a loop around the top of the other funicular – Ascensor da Bica. How many hills? How hot was it now? We found the apartment, five floors up, no lift. I will not be staying at – Santa Catarina’s Jewel over Tagus – apartment again.
The apartment was fine once we were in it. It was Hector who volunteered to go out and negotiate supplies. Five floors up, this is not going to get any easier.
After a – wld – it was time to hit the street. Cervejaria Artesanal Adamastor just happened to be next door, I never know how this happens.
The Bier list had two possibilities, this soon became one. Marg had a Coke, my second drink was white wine, that says a lot about the Bier choices.
Note the facial expressions for before and after. If the prices here were representative of Lisboa, this would be an expensive week.
We walked down the route of Ascensor da Bica and walked the short distance thereafter to Crafty Corner. Here was a proper array of Bier and at better prices. Steve and Louise were summoned, the party began.
Eventually we reached – Milkshake IPA Mango (Mag8, Sintra, Portugal) at 7.0%, a perfect Bier. Food was ordered, the staff engaged, this was a pub. I knew we would be back here, but this was day one, what lies beyond?
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Around 21.00 it became sensible to leave, else I would still be there. An extra helpful barman suggested more venues. It was uphill all the way to Duque Brewpub until we reached the steps down. Yes, this venue is on a stairway.
The Bier may not have been as sensational but we were made welcome, an invitation to the brewing plant in the rear was granted, Bier discussed. Again, a place one would wish to return to.
Some were tired, Hector had his second wind, nae chance, home. Before negotiating the five flights of stairs, again, there were the chaps selling illegal substances both en route and at the corner of our street. They soon got the message, still, a good night of Bier & Food.
The venues visited today:
Allchiado – Rua Nova do Almada 66, 1200-289 Lisboa
Cervejaria Artesanal Adamastor – Rua Mal. Saldanha 13, 1200-069 Lisboa
Crafty Corner – Tv. Corpo Santo 15, 1200-182 Lisboa
Duque Brewpub – Calçada do Duque 51, 1200-156 Lisboa
on to – Seven February Days in Lisboa – Day 2