Monday and Tuesday we continued our sea day routines. Lots of much needed rest, reading, and relaxation. Not to mention good meals and beverages, casino, and an occasional show
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Delicious Escargot - especially dipping the French baguette into the garlic butter!
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Wednesday (April 26) we passed Estoril, and sailed into the Tagus River, a LONG river, 626 miles, which flows through Spain and Portugal into the Atlantic Ocean. We went up to the lounge to view the sights along the river, including passing under the 25 de Abril Bridge which is a suspension bridge very similar to the Golden Gate. We then saw the Belem Tower, built in the 16th-century as part of the defense fortifications of the city.
and the Monument of the Explorers
But, the fun part of the day was yet to begin. We could have gone to Sintra or Fatima or explored the city of Lisbon (had already done that). But, no cathedrals or museums for us - instead, my focus was on FOOD! I wanted to go the timeoutmarket (also called Mercado da Rebeira). It wasn't easy, as the people on the ship said the shuttle (which we had already paid for) went nowhere near. We decided to take a taxi. But first I had to prepare for walking with a couple of Tylenol, a Salon Pas on my back, and prescription pain salve on my feet and knees.
The ship docked at 2 PM, and once it was cleared by local authorities we disembarked about 2:30 PM. It was a long walk just to the area with public transportation. There were no taxis in sight. We ended up with a tuk-tuk!
Looking for a proper taxi would have involved lots of walking. The "tuk-tuk" ended up to be fun, and the driver was informative as he drove us on bumpy roads to our destination - the FOOD HALL which was even more impressive than expected. Many top, local chefs from the area had stands where they serve their specialties, and the variety of food was unbelievable. This was nothing like a fast-food court!
Our first grazing stop was Alexandre Silva. He won the Portuguese edition of "Top Chef" and has a Michelin star at his Loco restaurant. My research was limited because of slow internet and no printer, but I did recall reading rave reviews about his "veal rice". So, we ordered a portion of that to share, and it was delicious!
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| Veal Rice |
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| Gambas Ajillo |
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| Jamon Iberico |
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Delicious Pata Negra (black Jamon Iberico) with local cheeses and crispy bread
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There was more we wanted to sample, but couldn't manage another bite.
We easily found a taxi to return to the ship. The city is beautiful.
The internet is slow, and I am behind on this blog. We have just docked in Southampton and will be driving to Scotland. It will be a challenge driving on the left. It's been quite a few years since Ron was accustomed to it. Will write more when we get settled in Dundee.
Looking for a proper taxi would have involved lots of walking. The "tuk-tuk" ended up to be fun, and the driver was informative as he drove us on bumpy roads to our destination - the FOOD HALL which was even more impressive than expected. Many top, local chefs from the area had stands where they serve their specialties, and the variety of food was unbelievable. This was nothing like a fast-food court! 
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