Seven February Days in Lisboa – Day 6

Hector goes sailing, fortunately the ferry from Cais de Sodré to Almada-Cacilhas is but a short hop. There was no Curry-Heute, if we were going for a day trip, better to have lunch at our destination.

We took Ascensor da Bica from outside our apartment down towards the ferry terminal. We had acquired a second pair of tickets due to time overlaps on previous days. We recharged one set for our transport around Lisboa later, and charged the spares for the boat. Both of these actions were completed at the respective ticket desks.

I had made no attempt to establish the ferry timetable, the boats leave every few minutes. Indeed, we were aboard the next ferry in minutes. The passenger area totally enclosed, there was no going out to take better photos. Hector sat still, concentrating on not letting the ever so slight swell in the Tagus estuary cause bother.

Craft Beer and Curry were both reported in Cacilhas. It was too early for Bier and Curry was planned for later with Steve and Louise. A traditional Portuguese lunch is what Hector had in mind, it did cause slight consternation when I kept passing Curry Houses.

We picked our venue – Cova Funda. People were sat outside, the inside looked emptier, the premises next door had no customers at all, let’s follow the locals.

Fish Curry is what I had planned for later at Ganesha Palace. This was not putting me off having Fish for lunch, one can never eat too much Fish. I spotted a sharing Dish on the Menu at a reasonable price (€22.00), it ticked the boxes. Marg was on board.

The Order was given, I had picked out the Fish Stew as opposed to one containing Seafood to avoid – eyes – Marg does not like her dinner to stare back at her. It had gone 14.00, we settled down for the wait, which went on and on.

A lady offering cloth flowers to raise money for charity was entertained, at least this one might last. We waited and waited, another lady at the adjacent table talked for Portugal, her husband listened, he knew his place.

It took forty minutes for our lunch to arrive, when it did, the heart sank. How the **** were we going to eat this? Marg didn’t kill me. How was I to know this would feed a family of six?

I had never seen so much Fish in a pot, many varieties, mixed with Potatoes in an abundant Fish Stock. Only the garnish was minimal.

Marg took pieces without – eyes – those I had to take. The lumps of Fish were a magnificent challenge.  The gilet was zipped up else the yellow polo-shirt was doomed.

A bit of something brown came my way. The texture was horrible, the taste so familiar – Liver! Hector hates Liver, set aside. What sort of Fish was so big to have a Liver this size?

Marg was defeated, Hector was determined that as little as possible would go to waste. One can never have too much Fish, except today. The Potatoes were mashed into the gravy, a fine distraction. Still, we left enough to feed two. Hopefully it didn’t go to waste. Cue a Cheshire cat?

We took the next tram four stops to Almada and walked up the hill. Steve had said something about a bus, this was more straightforward, though we did see a bus stop at the gate to the park.

Walking through the car park, I spotted an entrance at the rear of the base of the statue, in we went, wrong way. Voices in Portuguese were telling us to go round the other side. I chose anti-clockwise, had I chosen clockwise, our day would have been entirely different.

Marg was half a pace behind, I heard to cries, firstly from Marg which puzzled, she never makes noises like that. Then the Portuguese lady joined in. Wtf? Marg had been shat on from on high. This was not the droppings from a passing gull but an ostrich-sized bird, surely. Her hair was covered, her cardigan, the lady started to wipe Marg’s clothes with tissues, women always carry tissues for such an emergency. I was handed tissues to deal with Marg’s hair. Then the chap addressed me. Hector had been assaulted too, the back of gilet and my trousers were a mess. There’s a photo of the state I was in, Marg was too far gone for photos.

There was an elevator nearly to the top of the statue, but not far enough. It was good to know that there was at least one elevator in Portugal. There were more stairs than anticipated to the viewing platform. Once outside the old fear of heights, or should that really be – falling, kicked in. I did the necessaries and got off. The views from the base of the tower overlooking Almada, Lisboa, Ponte de 25 Avril and Belém were just as good from here. The statute also looks better from the distance.

Heading back to the ferry terminal I realised I had lost a credit card. It is most likely that I left it at Cova Funda, they were closed late afternoon. We could have waited, but why make the day any worse? A hydrofoil took us back to Cais de Sodré and Ascensor da Bica back to our apartment.

We needed another treat before Bier and Curry. The Ice-Cream parlour on the corner outside the apartment had been passed for days, it was time. It’s amazing how a shower, a change of clothes and an Ice-Cream can improve one’s lot.

Having ventured west to Belém, more Bier houses had popped up on the map. From the bottom of Ascensor da Bica we took the bus to Quimera Brewpub.

The garden entrance impressed, the premises occupy an historic tunnel, quirky. Thereafter everything disappointed. We couldn’t sit where we wished, Marg was shown to a particular table whilst I studied the board. Too many on the list had the dreaded – Brett – yeast infection deliberately added. I do not understand this fad, who wants Bier which tastes of sweaty sox?

The service at the bar was somewhat annoying. Perhaps it was a case of too many staff each with their own task. Smug – might be an apt description of their collective attitude. Condescend ye not.

Neither Bier impressed. I wonder who manages this place and what they are trying to achieve. If this range of Bier and the collective staff attitude maintains, sod them.

Being a clever old Hector, I knew there was a bus stopping outside which would take us to within metres of Ganesha Palace. It arrived on time, we were punctual.

Steve and Louise approached from the opposite direction, Curry at 20.00. A flashier joint than the venues I had visited previously, the Curry was good, not outstanding. And yes, I had the Fish Curry!

I had chosen Ganesha Palace because from there it was downhill to our next Bierhaus – Cerveteca Lisboa. It was, until the final block. Still, well judged otherwise.

We had a great night at Cerveteca Lisboa, even though the Bier did not match the quality of Tangeripa (21 Gallas). That they only sold Bier meant that Marg was invited to go next door for wine and bring it in. The people next door also showed good humour.

Bier from Estonia, I had two. The 6.5% Pillerkakaar (Pühaste, Estonia) proved to be a decent session Bier. The – milkshake DDH DIPASuhe (Pühaste, Estonia) suffered due to being served too warm. Cold Bier can be warmed up, the opposite does not hold.

It was only a few minutes walk, again downhill, to our apartment. No elevator had been installed in our absence. One more day to go.

The venues visited today:

Cova Funda  –  Rua Cândido dos Reis 101, 2800-600 Almada

Quimera Brewpub – Craft Beer – Cervejaria Artesanal  –  Rua Prior do Crato 6, 1350-261 Lisboa

Cerveteca Lisboa  –  Praça das Flores 63, 1200-192 Lisboa

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