Nothing was likely to compete with yesterday’s wander around Castelo da Sao Jorge. Today, Hector conceived a more modest outing, walking the length of the grand boulevard which runs through the heart of Lisboa – Avenue da Liberdade. There had to be Curry before.
As declared yesterday, Curry-Heute was at Taste of Punjab. Whilst not in the truly outstanding category that was Taste of Pakistan, it was still way above the average conterminous European Curry House.
We were aware of people walking along the side street which houses our apartment, we had to check out what their destination was. En route, Marg took a liking to a particular flight of steps. The Adamastor (cf bar visited on Day #1) statue/monument had been erected at the periphery of a viewpoint. Sadly, the noon haze once again made photography superfluous.
Yesterday, Marg spotted a coffee shop that took her fancy. Hector obliged in terms of being able to return to the spot despite a limited knowledge of the city. Still, every coffee stop brings Bier o’clock that bit forward.
One could compare Avenue da Liberade to the Champs Elysees (Paris) or Park Lane (London), it’s that pukka. That Police were stood in numbers outside some jewellery shops makes one wonder what was in stock. Then there’s the hotels, just how much are people prepared to spend for a bed? Maybe they had elevators to take them to the fifth floor?
A statue stood proud at the top of the boulevard, this had to be Vasco da Gama, the man who pioneered the mass movement of Spices to Europe. Nope, it’s the Marquès de Pombal. Who? Hector doesn’t know and doesn’t care. The search continues.
There is no truth in the rumour that Hector only knows two historical Portuguese figures, the other being Eusebio. So when we passed the Pombal column and walked the length of Parque Eduardo VII, there was no attempt to find out more about either.
Marg headed over the horizon for a better look at the prison – Estabelecimento. I sat on a park bench and considered whether having stayed at the now not too distant Ibis would have been a better option. Next time perhaps, I concluded that residing where we are is leading to encounters we would otherwise have missed.
I’m beginning to enjoy the statues.
Towards the bottom of Avenue da Liberade, I decided we had seen that stretch already and so headed a block west to walk back in parallel. This took us past Jardim Alfredo Keil ou da Praça da Alegria, another coffee stop except this time Hector tried the local home-made lemonade. It was still too hot for a Bier in the sun. There’s bitter, then there’s this, definitely worth a try. The Strongbow glass was a wind up, where was Hector’s – post Curry Cider?
I knew we were minutes from Praca da Figuera and IPA. Marg is sometimes surprised when we end up at a place she recognises. We found a spot under the busy market tent. A French couple sat beside us, an opperchancity for Marg to speak Deutsch. When abroad, speak in a foreign language, any will do. Eventually we found some French – mais les Français ne semblent jamais comprendre leur propre langue – but.
8a Colina is one of the local Craft Breweries, I had already tried two of their offerings in the last two days at Crafty Corner and The Beer Station. Served, somewhat annoyingly in plastic, this 6.0% dark gold, hazy IPA was fairly standard. It had hops and more importantly nothing nasty.
There was a timeout between the first Bier of the day and the second. Even walking down the five flights of stairs from the apartment has become depressing, it’s the knowledge of what awaits at the end of the night. Once again we made our way down the slope beside the rails that guide Ascensor da Bica.
Musa da Bica was a few metres from the bottom of the funicular. I remain unsure as to whether this was a taproom for the Musa Brewery to the north of the city,or a Brewery in its own right, I did see a full sack of Bamberg Malt.
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There was a decent range of Bier, many named with an amusing play on words, alas, the offerings were – nearly-Bier. The Bier was in the required style but lacked – the taste – which is sought. I liked the prices here and was hoping this would be a place to stay longer, but Crafty Corner was calling.
Steve and Louise were at Cerveteca Lisboa which was well up the hill. It was easier for Mohammed to roll down the mountain than Hector to levitate. They joined us in a surprisingly short period of time, so Cervetaca Lisboa must be near our apartment, and higher up, meaning a downhill walk home. One for later in the week.
Crafty Corner was only a few minutes away, and on the flat. We had a good time there on Sunday. Unfortunately, we had finished the wonderful Milkshake IPA Mango (Mag8, Sintra, Portugal) 7.0%, Hector turned to the dark side. – Javali Porter (Amo, Portugal) at 6.0%. That I have no tasting notes for the latter suggests I was having too good a time. Hector even had a Burger, needs must.
Tonight there was live music act, this evolved into an open-mike night. Some were better than others, Steve kept his powder dry. At least the music was delivered at a volume which did not spoil the night. I wish my favourite Glasgow pub would take note, in fact, every pub.
When the ladies faded, we called a night. Again the long walk up the hill, on Rua do Alecrim, a newbuild road built over the original streets, a steadier climb…until the five flights up to the apartment. Where’s the Ibis?
The venues visited today:
Musa da Bica – Calçada Salvador Correia de Sá 2A, 1200-399 Lisboa
Crafty Corner – Tv. Corpo Santo 15, 1200-182 Lisboa
back to – Seven February Days in Lisboa – Day 2
on to – Seven February Days in Lisboa – Day 4