I got a bit carried away this year, I thought I am free from regular teaching I can go away, but I forgot that that needs an income, hence my pleasure that I am able to sit in my Lisboa hostel and teach.
I am also pleased it is raining - because after the fear that Ryanair would cancel my flight came the fear that the bus company would cancel my bus as there are fires all over the north of Portugal. Of course that is a much more serious issue for those tackling the fires and those trying to save their properties, but of course I do not want to be engulfed by danger, whilst trying to visit an old friend.
The joy of this trip is that I have a bit more time. For the last two years I have done lots of trips, which has been fantastic, but they have also been very short trips. This time around, forgetting as stated above that I needed an income, I booked to go away for two weeks. So I am currently in Lisbon and then heading north to Figuiro Dos Vinhos and then to the south to Monte Sahaj and my son, before a quick trip to the Algarve and then back up to Lisbon to fly out. If I had been more oganised I would have flown out via Faro, but at the time of booking - months before I realised that work seems to have disappeared or that my search to find a tenant would be fruitless - returning to Lisbon seemed the best option.
I am just pleased really to get a chance to come and be here and potter and enjoy. Visiting a capital city is always a privilege, now on my third visit, I was vain enough last night to congratula
te myself on knowing my way round only to immediately get lost and find the only two people in Lisbon who did not know the directions or speak English. However, I got back in time to avoid a torrential downpour and to gain two hours work.
Today it is raining again but this morning it was lovely. I finally got to the Fado musuem, which has left me knowing virtually no one than I knew when I entered, but having got to the doors twice, only to not have time to go in, I can at least say I have been in and now I know that it was probably not worth going. I kept thinking I must have missed something and maybe I did, but as far as I can see it more or less said it is the music of the people and gave some examples of people who sing Fado, but nothing of their history. The most interesting bit was the description of making the Portuguese guitar.
Outside though there was jolly atmosphere and a band, which I was itching to dance to, but everyone else was just taking pictures so I chickened out. I saw a similar but different band yesterday and last time I was here and each time I can picture couples dancing and having fun, but at no time does it actually happen. Lisboa promises much and is indeed a nice place to potter around in,but at times it does frustrate. For example I went up to find the coach station today as it is in a part of Lisbon I do not know, only to find that I wondered in all directions from the train station, did not find a single sign post, yet when I eventually followed a coach and found the back entrance, discovered I had been 5 minutes from the place 40 minutes earlier but there were absolutely no indications as to where it was. I can only say thank goodness I did not just go up there tomorrow carting a heavy bag around with me and getting more and more anxious. Hopefully tomorrow all will go well.
I have not taken many photos but there are some signs that the promised re-birth of Lisboa is happening. A lot of shops and many restaurants still seem to be closed down, but there are also signs of building and rejuvenation too.