Today’s excursions was to the Lisbon Sea-life Centre – Oceanário de Lisboa, a change from taking Marg to the zoo.
We walked down town using the tried and tested route. Cafe Nicola faces on to Praça Dom Pedro IV, we have seen it mostly from the rear. Marg has wanted to visit this pukka restaurant since Day 1, today was the day. Marg had her Coffee in posher surroundings.
Having had no Curry for two days, more was overdue. Caxemira – Conzinha Indiana – was recommended by one of my own Curryspondents, a venue one would simply never stumble across. This was another Quality Curry, Portugal continues to impress on this front.
We took Bus 728 in the opposite direction today, northwards to the grand aquarium. This was clearly a modern commercial suburb of Lisbon, almost a New Town, we would see more afterwards. In the meantime, the giraffe had to be captured, bring on G-RAF 2020.
Fish are difficult subjects to photograph, they keep moving. The glass also makes things more difficult, reflections. Still, I managed a few which are worth posting. One can never have too many photos of Fish.
Steve and Louise caught up with us, they had taken a different route. What did they know that I didn’t?
Fish gave way to birds, who likes Penguins? The Sea Otters suddenly became the best part of the whole exhibition, Marg was enthralled. Hector will come home with tales of Bier and Curry, Marg, what she saw this afternoon.
In the distance lay Ponte Vasco da Gama, this bridge goes on a bit. There is also Torre Vasco da Gama – a tower, no sign of a statue. Steve and Louise went off to visit the tower despite my warning that it was closed, it was. I led Marg to the Vasco da Gama shopping centre, still no statue. Across the road from this is a conference centre, hundreds spilled out as we passed by.
Getting out of this area could be a challenge, fortunately there was a fleet of coaches to take many delegates away.
With Marg sated by her afternoon Coffee it was time to find the bus to take us part of the way back to Lisbon proper. There are two Breweries out here, Fábrica Musa, whose Musa da Bica Taproom was visited two nights back, and Dois Corvos, the latter reportedly opens early afternoon. Having found the right bus stop, it took around thirty minutes for our bus to show. Once more, Google Maps were telling us nonsense re the bus schedule, else it was in in chaos, possibly the latter.
It was not a surprise therefore to find Steve and Louise already ensconced when we reached Dois Corvos. A couple of decent Biers were had. Their Two Sides at 4.8% was in the style, sensible for late afternoon, but not Tangeripa (21 Gallas, Lisboa).
We could have stayed here longer, however, some required dinner. Somewhat bravely, we jumped on the first bus which came, it was headed to Alameda, where the Red and Green Metro lines cross. There are also about a dozen Curry Houses in this locale. The Green Metro line is proving to be particularly useful, a lot of decent Bier outlets lie along it. I suspect that on my next Lisboa visit, the area around Alameda may be the place to stay.
Also sprach Hector, the Lisboa expert after five days.
Steve and Louise went off to sample the Curry at Caxemira, they too were impressed. We went Portuguese, well sort of. Having wandered through the restaurant area south of Praça Dom Pedro IV, some with prices on their menus, too many without, we selected Leitaria A Camponeza. We wanted to sit indoors, not so warm this evening. This restaurant looked – bijou.
The menu was quite limited, – Kebap – was essentially what was on offer. I become frustrated too often in Hellas by the number of restaurants which are basically – Grill Houses. Can nobody cook any more? I asked if Vegetables would accompany, they assured us this was possible. Sauce? A – Pepper Sauce – was chosen from a list of three. What eventually came was a joke.
The chap serving was evidently new, hadn’t a clue, clumsy. We all have our first day at a new job. A frame had been built on each table from which to suspend the skewers so, hint, there’s no point placing glasses, bottles, anything else directly under the hooks, fumble.
The Kebabs were suspended, a plate of steamed Vegetables accompanied, then a bottle of a Tabasco variant was presented, my sauce. I had a mental image of a creamy sauce with black peppercorns as served at Hector’s House.
The meal was actually enjoyable, better than a Burger, but still in the same category as far as I am concerned. Grill, fine as a Starter.
Delirium Café was our next rendezvous point, a bar we had chanced upon on Day 1, metres from Allchiado where we had our first lunch, and right next to the eastern entrance to Baixa-Chiado Metro station. Steve and Louise were studying the Bier List when we arrived.
Over-priced, and a somewhat tired menu would sum up this trendy bar. The Craft Beer Bars offer so much more and as for Delirium selling traditional Bier at even higher prices, no way.
We had a relatively early night, certainly compared to last night, though it ended similarly with the escalator passage through the Metro station.
The Venues visited today:
Café Nicola – Praça Dom Pedro IV 24, 1100-200 Lisboa
Caxemira – Conzinha Indiana – Rua dos Condes de Monsanto 4, 1º Dt. º-1100 – Lisboa
Dois Corvos – Tap Room – Rua Cap. Leitão 94, 1950-052 Lisboa
Delirium Café Lisboa – Calçada Nova de São Francisco 2A, 1200-289 Lisboa
Leitaria A Camponeza – Rua dos Sapateiros 155, 1100-619 Lisboa
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