Fai Tira Blog 23/09 

Fai Tira just outside Lisbon 38:41.44N 9:24.10W

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I think that we may have become just a bit soft, what with all these complete nights’ sleep that we’ve been indulging in lately. Anyhow that was then, this is now and it was back to night watches for the trip down to Lisbon.

It felt like a bit of a shock to the system for me, probably Pete too, but for Dee, I think that the novelty of it all had the effect of overcoming her feelings of tiredness. The night sky put on a fantastic display of stars; and the Dolphins a great performance of underwater aerobatics, with phosphorescence accompaniment. What in introduction to the joys of night sailing.

Dawn broke with a display of red fire, climbing out of the horizon, it looked fantastic even in my bleary eyed state.

So as far as excitement goes, then that was about it.

The sun kept shinning, the wind hardly blew and our, so far, trustworthy engine hummed along like it was just enjoying the day out and the chance to show off.

The wind did get up for a period, so it had a short rest while we played at being proper sailors.

It also had the effect of helping to maintain our speed, making our estimated arrival time in the marina at Cascais, uncannily accurate.

What we didn’t realise, is that this place is regarded as the Monte Carlo of Portugal, with prices to match, I think that we both feel a bit miffed about it. Thing is it’s still all a bit new to us, but I’m sure we’ll learn.

What we are experiencing, though, are the mega diverse contrasts that seem to exist within relatively short areas of Portugal. We’ve witnessed the dull, the industrious, the spectacularly beautiful, the manufactured and false and now after our visit to Lisbon itself, we’ve seen historical elegance sometimes touched by, raw reality, and it’s fantastic.

The place hums and buzzes continuously. Pedestrians can escape the traffic in the slippery,  mosaic surfaced, cafe lined side streets. And even the traffic, that seems to be constantly grid locked, takes on another dimension, with the, elegant and old, tram system, adding colour and style.

Again we decided that we’d split and meet, about three hours later. And again it worked well.

Dee and I, made for the cathedral, with its’ superb Roman archaeological excavations. For a small fee, we could wander along the elevated platform and look down on the active workings that were framed by interlinking arched cloisters with magnificent ceilings and stonework.

With, what I thought was great will power, I eventually put the camera and moleskyne away.

A short trip to visit the Museum of contemporary art,

and then, back to meet Pete to compare notes. Interesting to hear the different things he’d seen, another church with superbly painted ceiling, and also what seemed like an antique escalator positioned, right in the middle of the street.

While looking for a cheap restaurant, we found ourselves back in parts of the city that Pete had discovered, just below the castle, with viewing positions over the old parts.

What a way to finish the day!!!

Bye for now. 

Pete,  John  and Dee