One of the things I realized today is that the city is entirely tourists and tourist related workers and support. While it is really beautiful and old, it almost lacks authenticity. Our tour guide today said that 80% of the current economy of the country is tourist related. Unemployment - although not visible - is still astronomic. And Lisbon is the top of many many lists of the place to see in 2014.
Just an observation.
Yesterday I did a small group to the old walled city of Evora. It was a nice day and the guide and the group - a couple from Singapore and a family of four heading back to Portland, OR after a exchange in Amsterdam.
It is really interesting although not surprising that Spain and North Africa had such an influence on this area. Constantly conquering and reconquering. In Evora there were the excellent remains of a roman temple and several cathedrals and churches were built atop moorish ruins or simply added on. There was also a bone chapel decorated with thousands of bones collected from the surrounding cemeteries. The idea being that it was better to be buried inside the church and after death bones were just bones.
I wound up having dinner the couple from Singapore. I had grilled octopus - a big one with the suction cups! It was remarkably good and very tender. And we had two bottles of Mateus Rose which - who knew - is Portuguese! They were very funny - she was of Chinese decent and his family was from India. They were on delayed honeymoon as they have a small baby.
They were to meet me this morning as we were going to do a free walking your and then head to Sintra which is a small town dominated by massive churches and castles.
They didn't show but the walking tour went on - just five of us - two American, a Bulgarian and a guy from Amsterdam. At 1030 we started by buying a bottle of ginginha and I knew Sintra just got scratched. It was fun and informative for free (the guide works for tips). I did some souvenir shopping and had lunch at the square by the river to wrap up my day.
This evening I'm dining cafe style in an ancient alleyway with some nice wine and a meat and cheese board - a favorite. And I'm thinking a farewell pastry, coffee and port somewhere later.
Tomorrow I tackle the rental car and will head to Sintra for the morning and then to Obidos for the night. Eventually I end in Oporto before flying to Seville on the 19th.
[I had a hour long call with the boss tonight - there is an issue with our visa application. Any guesses on cost on an hour by cell phone? Hopefully it is easily sorted out]
I'm sure that phone call is just a couple bucks a second:)
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