We normally take all our travel cues from V. She's been everywhere (although she couldn't possibly find her way back without a guide) and knows everything. She had pretty much convinced us that Istanbul should be our next destination. It didn't sound like a bad idea UNTIL we learned that she didn't understand the cardinal rule of international travel: DO NOT SHOW EVERY PERSON ON THE STREET THAT YOU HAVE A WAD OF CASH IN YOUR OPEN PURSE. That did it for us. Suddenly, all her sage advice was suspect.
So...Lisbon it is! (despite V's reporting that Lisbon is the least honest city in the world when it comes to the dreaded "Dropped Wallet Competition") We've decided to risk it. We're heading out on Thursday for a week in Lisboa and environs.
We haven't a clue when we will return. We bought TICKETS to return on Thursday, October 10. As soon as we did, the pan-European air traffic controllers union set that day for a continental strike. They're European, so they're only striking from 7 to 9AM and again in the afternoon. What the hell--it'll be an adventure. Besides, we don't have to be anywhere until the following Tuesday. It's not as if a dinner or two in Paris would kill us.
We've just about mastered all the Portuguese that we'll need. Sure, they speak it in Brazil, but, unless we go to Macau or Rhode Island, there's not much of a future in having spent too much time memorizing too many idioms. Besides, if we're not readily understood, we know just what to do--speak more slowly and loudly.
I checked and the weather is going to be BEAUTIFUL when you're there. At least, on the days you're supposed to be there. I know nothing about the next weeks or months.
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