It’s been six weeks since I left the UK and since I’m currently back there again, due to sickness–actually, old-age in the family–it seems a good a time as any to update you on my travels.
Six countries down: Germany (Argenbühl-Eglofs), Liechtenstein (Balzers), Spain (Cullera), Portugal (Darque), Andorra (Encamp), and Italy (Frattammagiore). Only another 20 to go.
The highlight of my visit to Lisboa was the few hours I spent in Sintra and at Palácio e Quinta da Regaleira.
Today Lisboa is beautiful. The sun is shining, the noise of the diggers and traffic is like birds singing sweetly, everyone is the nicest person I’ve ever met, and the cobbled streets and many hills are just a little more exercise for me (although the elderly and infirm will still have great difficulty getting around).
I’m off to Sintra now for a few hours, which is about 30 km away, and I’ll hopefully make it back in time to catch the train.
Taberna Ibérica (Praça da Alegria, 66, C-D, 1250-004 Lisboa) is located less than one minute’s walk from both Residencial Alegria and the Sofitel Hotel.
For two nights now I’ve sat at the bar, sampled their excellent tapas (each costing just 1,00 Euro), chatted with the staff, and, of course, drank the obligatory jug of Sangria filled with fresh fruit and mint leave, and goodness knows what else.
I hit my first doozie today, and for the first time since I’ve begun traveling I felt low and depressed. I called my brother and just hearing his voice made my tear up and turn into a blubbering fool.
“Go and check yourself into a nice hotel,” he said. “My treat.”
I hung up the phone and walked around to think about his offer. I couldn’t possibly take him up on it, could I? I felt that if I did I would somehow be failing and that I should be paying for all of this myself and living as frugally as possible.
I arrived in Lisbon last night at 2015 hours. By the time I’d caught the bus into the Baixa district (Buses 49, 59, or 6)—as advised by Maria, a woman I met on the train from Porto—it was close to 2100 hours. I found a place on Avenida da Liberdade to get online looked for a hostel. There was one close by at 49 Rua do Salitre.
Am now in Lisbon. Left Viana yesterday afternoon so I could experience a more liberally-minded Portugal. Will stay here for today, and maybe tomorrow, and then catch the express overnight train to Madrid, switch trains onto Llieda, and then bus it to Andorra.
Praia Norte was windy and cold this afternoon but the rain had abated. Cars were lined up with people—mainly two, usually husband and wife—sitting inside reading newspapers, talking, sleeping, or just staring out to at the water.
I received an e-mail today from a dear friend in San Francisco that I want to share. She wrote:
I read you were getting a bit tired. I have a suggestion for you. I don’t recall that this is “Victoria in Europe on an Alphabet in record time”. Why don’t you park your arse in a venue that suits you for several days. Live like a local for a week, not like a pinball.
She’s right, of course. I will try to ease up a little on being the Energizer Bunny. Thank you for the reminder!
Okay, I admit it, I can´t quite figure out the best way to get from here to Andorra. Am also wondering whether to miss out Andorra altogether and head to Italy for my “E” place. I´m glad I´ve been given a couple of extra days to strategize. Rather than take five million different trains, I think I might actually pay 56,00€ and catch the bus. It´ll take nearly 24 hours, but I won´t have to keep switching and stressing. Suggestions folks?
