Day 1- Visiting the past

Day 1 Lisboa.

My alarm was set for pre dawn with the best intentions of catching the sunrise. But...I just couldn't do it. I really did have a terrible sleep. Our guest house has paper thin walls so I can hear everything above us and beside us. Neighbour 1 has nocturia and neighbour 2 likes the sound of her own voice and is into dropping things. In addition to noisy neighbours,  Dominick snores.... how did I not mentally prepare for that? The few times it did get quiet I could then hear the dripping and gurgling of a water heater and could focus on nothing else. It could have also been the coffees that kept me awake or the unfamiliar mattress or the fact that there is no big brown lab at the foot of the bed.

It was also my first sleep away from home and that always takes getting used to.

We managed to get out to explore while the city still slept and enjoyed taking pictures in the soft morning light. 

We walked towards the water and just let the streets guide us. We eventually found a vodaphone store and bought sim cards for our phones so we dont have to worry about getting seperated and can access google maps as needed. 

We let the cobblestones tenderize our feet all morning but stopped to rest with coffee, orange juice and fried pork steaks for Dom. My breakfast was a market banana for 35 cents.

After we refueled, we climbed an unimaginable amount of stairs to get to Castelo Sao Jorge.

 It was a short wait to get tickets but worth it for the views and the screaming peacocks.

 Until today I had no idea these beautiful birds were so loud. 

After enjoying views of the city in every direction, we left to explore the Alfama district. First however, we were lured onto a restaurant patio with photos of pulvo and promises of a tasty lunch. 

I enjoyed a thin steak with veggies and a giant glass of wine. Dom ate pulvo (octopus) with veggies and was also pleased. 

The wine helped disguise the effort involved in walking back to our room. 

Once there, Dom went into nap mode and I chose to head back out to explore.

I decided to walk to one of my mother's childhood neighbourhoods called Ajuda to see an apartment she lived in many years ago. I had only a street name and an old photograph as reference. 

I found it, looking a little aged and took a new picture for her.

It was a very long walk back... I walked a total of 24kms today and though tired, I am feeling strong. Not carrying a 25lb pack makes a big difference!

Instead of 2 hours, I was gone for 3.5. Too late to beat the Friday night dinner rush so after circling our neighbourhood like hungry vultures, Dom and I bought meat and cheese , sweet tomatoes and a small bottle of wine from a tiny market. 

We came back to our room to enjoy a peaceful picnic. It was fantastic but neighbour 2 is back at it... dropping things, big things, big loud noisy things.

I really need a good sleep.... more to explore tomorrow

Cheers! and beijos xx

Boa Noite.