Arriving in Lisbon

Sunday October 15 was the warmest day of the trip.  Highs in both Porto and Lisbon around 31C.  We took the Metro to the train station for our 12:52 train to Lisbon.  The train station was conveniently on the Metro line our apartment was near, and it was only about 5 stops away.

Very modern Metro Station near the train station

Train station across the way

We found our seats and for the first hour chatted to a student at University of Toronto who was studying in Utrecht and travelling on almost every weekend of her semester.  She got off after an hour  at her destination.  We arrived in Lisbon just after 4:00 p.m.  We were very glad we had brought sandwiches from Porto as there wasn't much food on the train.

Alain on the train

We took the Metro from the train station to ta stop close to our apartment, a flat on the 4th floor (no elevator) in the Chiado area.  We met Mario, at his business, Fadoflats, just a few doors down from our apartment.   The apartment is well-equipped and clean.

Fully equipped kitchen and extra bed

Grace looking out the windows

Bedroom

View from the window

We were all tired, so Grace and I went on a search for some provisions.  The closest mini-mart was a bit too mini, so we wandered a bit more.  We passed the famous Café a Brasileira, a preferred retreat for writers and artists, notably the poet Fernando Pessoa, a statue of whom sits outside.

Fernando Pessoa- waiting for his coffee

Shot of the inside of the Café

We found some provisions and then met our friend Ann, who had arrived by bus from the Algarve (south of Portugal), where she lives.  Ann is staying in an apartment not far from ours and is in Lisbon until Thursday October 19.  We met her outside the Café Brasileira and then walked down to the river is search of the Time Out Market for dinner.

We passed the Elevator da Santa Justa designed by Raoul Mésnier du Ponard, a Porto-born engineer of French parentage who was an apprentice to Gustave Eiffel.  It is 45 m tall (148 ft) and was completed in 1902.

Elevator da Santa Justa at night

We then walked down a main street and through the Arco Triunfal da Rua Agusta.  Quite a site at night.

We next passed Praca do Municipio (Municipal Square).  The square was created in 1755 after an earthquake and tsunami had destroyed large parts of Lisbon.  The present city hall was constructed between 1865 and 1880.    On a platform in the middle of the park stands an eighteenth-century pillar.  The pillar, locally called pelourinho (pillory), symbolizes the enforcement of justice. The original purpose of pelourinhos was not as frivolous as the design.   Condemned criminals were often tied to the column and whipped in public.

City hall and Pelourinho

After asking a number of people, we found the Time Out Mercado Da Ribeira, very close to the river.  Half of the market is a traditional market, which was closed on Sunday evening and the other half is a huge modern hall with 35 specialized food stalls.  Five top chefs from Lisbon have restaurants here.  It has operated since 2014 and is a great success.

Outside of Time Out Market

In the food hall-- insanely busy on a Sunday night

We ended up eating in one of the restaurants- Balcao da Esquina, which had a lovely patio outside.  Our waiter was very attentive, showing us how to open the small sheep cheese we ordered at the beginning of the meal.

Waiter with the small sheep cheese

Ann and our bottle of red wine from the Duoro Valley

Ann and Grace- so nice eating outside (Temperature still around 26C)

 We shared three main courses.  Portions are very large in Portugal.

Pork and Clams in a great green cilantro sauce

Octopus with tomato and potatos

Codfish dish

 For dessert, there was a flan with a delicious topping sitting in cream.

Another view of inside of Market

We stopped at Manteigaria, one of the best places for the famous Pastéis de Nada (egg custard tarts).  A package of six for 6 euros.  Hot out of the oven with cinnamon.

Manteigaria egg tart stall in Time Out Market

Grace, Ann and Alain with their treats

Ann organized a cab back to a square near us.  The cab driver had only been on the job for three days and took us on a hair-raising trip back to our 'hood.  What has surprised us the most are the hordes of tourists in Lisbon in October.