Olá de Lisboa!

Lisbon… a cultural setting along the Atlantic Ocean. This city has long inspired explorers. Its labyrinthine streets carry echoes of 16th-century navigators who sailed on the winds of the Age of Discovery. The city gained great riches from trade.

The wealthiest benefactors erected grand structures to show the city’s wealth. This includes the Jerónimos Monastery, a stunning work that introduced Manueline architecture to the city. It is also the resting place of the great explorer Vasco da Gama.

The Belém Tower and the grand Monument to the Discoveries on the Tagus River evoke the memory of great maritime advances that ultimately led courageous seafarers and captains to the New World.

Local cuisine… what can a gal say? Savoring the flavors of the city from the vinho verde to the pastel de bacalhau, a fried potato-and-cod croquette. Bacalhau (salted cod) is Portugal’s national dish. Imported from Norway… what a funny thing. Yet, it is befitting of a nation known for seafaring explorers!

Speaking of vinho verde and pastel de bacalhau. I must to recommend the Restaurante Carmo! This lovely restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. I found a lovely patio table to bask in the Spring-time sunshine. My waitress, Tati, suggested I enjoy the local delicacy of pastel de bacalhau. From previous visits I knew that nothing less than a lovely glass of vinho verde would suit this light luncheon. The hospitality of this restaurant was above and beyond, while the people watching on the square was worthy of day-time television status. The light breeze and sounds of various languages accompanied a wonderful lunch. This is a delightful place to rest and rejuvenate before you explore the rest of the Bairro Alto area of Lisbon.

Bairro Alto is a picturesque working-class quarter dating from the 16th-century. It has been known as the haunt of the city's bohemian artists and writers.

Its grid of streets is quiet during the day but transformed at night into a vibrant nightlife quarter. Behind colorful and graffiti-ridden façades is a variety of traditional and international restaurants. Throughout the week, especially on weekends, you'll find people of all ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles bar-hopping through the cobbled lanes or standing outside with a drink in hand enjoying the city's typically mild nights.

Boarding the Bairro Alto is the neighboring Chiado. This is an elegant, sophisticated district of theaters, bookshops, old-style cafes, and art nouveau jewelry shops.

Much of the area was destroyed in a fire in 1988 but has since been reborn. It remains one of Lisbon's most beloved districts, with reminders of its past as the center of the city's intellectual life, with statues of literary figures such as Fernando Pessoa, Luis de Camões, and Eça de Queiroz.

Back in the Bairro Alto I met with an old friend from Lisbon, Mr. José Luiz Nunes! We first met many years ago when he ensured that my visa to Brazil was expedited, while I was on a work trip to Lisbon that carried on to Brazil.

We met at the Wine Lover. This is a charming restaurant and bar that serves only Portuguese wines. They have an immense selection… after sampling a few, José and I settled on a bottle of Murças Assobio from the Douro region of Portugal. This was a full-bodied wine with fruity notes. It was accompanied by Portuguese Tapas and delightful conversation! Vasco our waiter went above and beyond to ensure we found the right bottle of wine for our reunion. At the end of our bottle we had the great fortune of meeting the Wine Lover proprietor, Ana. She was a wonderful hostess and her establishment is one that guarantees any visitor a truly locals experience in Lisbon.

Well… the time went too quickly and José had to race me back to the ship in time for departure. Although the time in one of my favorite cities was limited, I still found time to take a slow European approach to the day – I wandered the streets I remember so well, dined slowly, and revived myself with a friendship of many years.

Obrigada Lisboa!

Your Polite Adventuress,

Kari