Lisboa

Hi there! Well, we just got back last night from Lisbon. The portuguese call it Lisboa, so I spose I should too, but whatever you call it, it is a beautiful city. It reminded me of Wellington (maybe that´s why I liked it so much), with the hills and the harbour...only Wellington doesn´t have a castle, or a 2000-year old roman aqueduct. Wow it was gorgeous!

We took the train to madrid on thursday night as our flight left at 7am, and spent the night in the airport. It wasn´t too comfortable and it was a relief to get to the hostel (after pastries for breakfast-oh the pastry shops!) and crash for a couple of hours. Friday afternoon we wandered around the waterfront, had lunch at a cute little (cheap) restaurant, and took the metro to the aqueduct. Then we stopped at a supermarket and had dinner at home as we were all exhausted.

Saturday we went for a wander around some of the newer parts of the city before sampling the famous seafood. For the first time I can remember I was served a whole fish. I think I must have looked a bit surprised when the waiter brought it over (I didn´t know what it would be - I just looked at the menu and said ´this one´) and the waiter reassured me that it really was dead. Haha! It was crumbed though, and with a bit of lemon, and it was soooo good. I struggled with the bones but I know for next time now. Then we ended up at a cafe/chocolate shop and the hot chocolate was, well, pretty good I must say. It was chocolate syrup or melted dark chocolate or something, then hot milk on top, and I had to mix it myself with a spoon, it was yummy.

After a bit more time at the hostel we headed out for dinner again, we ended up in this alleyway on a steep hill where we could see the castle all lit up and the best buskers I have ever heard turned up. The guy was amazing, his guitar playing was faultless and when he wasn´t singing he was playing a harmonica on this metal thing that held it near his head. Then we went to the nightclubs, in the Barrio Alto, an older part of town. We had a big group (ten) and kinda took over one (there´s lots of smaller ones rather than a few big ones). It would suck to be too drunk there coz the streets are all uneven and steep. Maybe that´s why it´s there lol..

Sunday we went to the castle, sheltered from the rain in a cathedral (it rained for about two hours), and then we went to the Aquarium. It was AMAZING. They have a HUGE number of different displays, my favourite was the jelly fish. they put them in a tank with a black background, and flood it with some kind of light that make the jellyfish look like they glow in the dark. Maybe they do, I don´t know. But the effect was just mesmerising, especially when you´re really tired. They also had the cutest sea otters ever. And puffins-real live puffins. And some small sharks. And a leopard-print stingray. I´m not kidding!!

Sunday night we were looking for somewhere to eat about 10pm, and we ended up at another innocuous looking restaurant with delicious food. The italians had spoken italian all weekend so when one didn´t understand a comment I made in English, I made him tell me what italian game they had just been playing (in spanish...) before I explained the english comment. Oh, on the way to madrid there weren´t many people on the train, and we played charades. Tri-lingual charades. Very interesting.

Monday was spent travelling. I´ll put some photos up when I get my flash drive back off Amanda, hopefully tonight. Yay!
Bom dia (good morning in Portuguese)
Katie