Food and Castle are Mo(o)rish

Sintra

Early start by train to Sintra-the town is a bit like fantasy land-palaces and gardens full of secret underground passageways, grottoes and labyrinths-more your spiritual experience than a garden apparently-but a lot of fun-full marks for bringing my torch. Long hard walk up to Moorish Cast-fabulous views-walk down for a snack of hot chips and a broad bean and black pudding stew.Train back to Liboa and then by tram to O Feitoria Restaurant(Michelin starred)-another fabulous meal.

Sintra

Sintra

Sintra

Not just another passing Fado

Breakfast at Avenida Palace

Sumptuous breakfast at hotel-walk to Praca Commercial and meet walking tour guide(Lisbon revelation Tour)-tour includes ride on antique tram-warned of danger of pickpockets-dopey American still manages to have his wallet removed of cash. Lunch of Arroz de Marisco(portugese version of paella) at Uma-yummy.Restful afternoon-bica(espresso) in main square-they really know how to make coffee here! To O Faia fado restaurant-average dinner but fabuous music-tourist leave about 11pm-eventually we have a private concert-just us and Carlos and Anna from Brazil(our new best friends).

Praca Commercial

Rossio

Arroz de Marisco

Fado

Fado

Fado

Fado

Lisbon at night

Farewell Lester Square, Hello Rossio

Hotel Avenida Palace

Hotel Avenida Palace

Hotel Avenida Palace

Rossio Square

Vertical Folk Dancing

Pasteis do Nata

Trinidade Cervezeria

Drinking Ginja

Piri Piri Chicken

Hotel Avenida Palace

Taxi to Heathrow(taxi fare equivalent to 6 months earnings for me)-via TAP to Lisbon.Taxi to Hotel Avenida Palace-fine hotel from 19th century-chandelier in room thank God. Wander around Rossio square-lucky enough to catch a folk dancing(vertical) display-you can never hear too much castanet music.Sit in cafe-great coffe and even better Pasteis do Nata(custard tarts). Take vertical tram to Trinidad Cervezeria(brewery), then walk to lively part of town for dinner,stopping along the way for a shot of Ginja(cherry liqueur).Piri Piri chicken-sauce is served in an egg cup with a paintbrush-liquid fire!Not a patch on Nandos.Another shot of Ginja at the hotel and then to bed.

Charlie and the Cousin Factory

Breakfast of Champions

Robyn & Charlie

Westminster Abbey

London Eye

Better than Bondi

Thames etc

Buskers

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Millenium Bridge

Robyn, Charlie & Ruth

The old and the new

Stefan and Frances

Duck Hearts

Boudin Noir

Hake

Breakfast at hotel(black pudding) then walk to M & S to buy clothes for F & R-meet Charlie at hotel and walk to pub for lunch(Sharp's Doom,Wells Bombardier, Fullers London Pride)-meet Ruth(Charlie's CP) then walk past Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament,London Eye,Southbank, Millenium Bridge, St Paul's).Bus to the London Hospital(frank's old stomping ground)-enormous new development. Back to Charlie's house and then to dinner at Brawn restaurant where I am reunited with my lovely cousin Frances and Stefan-then back to hotel by taxi.