Europe is such an easy continent to navigate; English is everybody’s second language, and, they like to practice. Most signs have two languages and it’s efficient, quick and not too stressful.
We are crossing the border between Austria and Germany, not knowing how? This is answered by a sms telling us we were on a German telephone network and two Politzei, who, adorned with blue plastic gloves, check our passports! We had to change trains on the outskirts of Munchen, I was very surprised to see weeds growing between the tracks, most unlike Germany! We get to the airport with bags of time to spare. Check in took 3 minutes, security took five, no customs thanks to Schengen….. we bought a couple of monster Toblerone, no seasoned traveller can go without, mainly to have a picture before they change their packaging! Life is very serious when you need to remove the mountain as the majority of chocolate no longer comes from Switzerland! The offer of two bottles of water at €2.70 seemed too good to miss, however we were charged €3.50 as we wouldn’t be returning the bottles! I can’t imagine many airport travellers ever do!
I always think that Europe is on the same time zone, however, Portugal is -1 hr from Germany. It’s 1200 miles so, the best part of 3 hours to read. It’s strange to be reading South African books about prejudice, violence and inequity high above Europe, which has pastel shades of these issues but, nothing primary.
Lisbon is a bonus stop as a means of getting to Porto, and, what a bonus as it’s not our first visit. We caught the metro to the hotel, such a snap shot of a country and its culture, unlike the cocoon of a taxi! You get to see its technology, efficiency, ethnicity, advertising… if you are not in a pressing hurry, why not experience? As it was “Portugal day” it seems most were enjoying an extended weekend. It’s not a day of independence from Spain but a celebration of the death of its national poet, Luis de Camoes.
We are staying at the same hotel, LX, we visited 9 years ago, central, funky, familiar and… a double quilt! AD had sourced a cocktail bar but, we looked through friend’s recommendations for dinner, crossed checked with Google and found Rocco. I was a little put off as it was part of a hotel but, what a find! Seats at the bar, stellar design, mainly mirrors and, lots of smart locals. Cocktails were great, food fantastic, try the fried breaded green beans, great service, awesome people watching, just the best night! On the way home, every bar flooded out on to the streets with people watching the Champions League cup final. I think the majority wanted Inter Milan, shame.
A 6.45am alarm call, not really necessary as the music didn’t stop until 6.00! We have a three hour train ride to Porto, it’s Portugal’s version of the bullet train, second class looks like first class and a drizzly morning passes the window, speedily.