Last Post From Lisbon

We fly out tomorrow back to New York; our trip is over.  Part of me is really sad - I love travel and its surprises, its secrets, its moving moments, its awe and wonder - I'd love to continue on.  Part of me is happy to have had the experience and to be able to look at our pictures and souvenirs and relive our favorite moments of the trip.  Part of me is thankful to be heading home to my own space, to my own climate, and to my own Diet Coke. 

So, yeah, today is our last full day here.  We slept in and then headed out with a mission: to buy a new suitcase.  While we were in New Orleans, the lock broke on my favorite hand carry, then the zipper pull bent and broke...time for a new bag.  But since it was to be a carry-on for this trip, I really didn't need the lock to work, and I figured - as usual - we'd buy an extra suitcase to help manage all of our purchases.  Fortunately we found just what we were looking for before hitting up too many stores. 

We decided to walk back into the old city to find some lunch, and just as we passed St. Anthony's church, I saw a bakery that sold the little custard tarts we longed for in Belem.  We had them.  Not from the source, but I didn't have to wait an hour or so to get one. 

Had I known they were so good, I might have waited in that line.  ...Nah.

Besides waiting in line at the bakery in Belem, we didn't ride the #28 Tram - the cutest, oldest little tram in Lisbon.  It hits all the sites, travels through the narrow streets squeaking and rattling the whole way.  We didn't do it because the line for a seat is upwards of two hours.  Locals don't even ride the tram anymore because it's so crammed with tourists.  We took pictures of it instead.  

Tonight we have dinner reservations at a Fado bar.  Fado is to Portugal as Flamenco is to Spain.  No dancing, but tortured guitar music with a dramatic singer.  I can't wait!  

Tomorrow is a travel day as we head back to New York.  We get in late and will be staying overnight, then flying to Denver on Wednesday.  I'll do a wrap-up post then.  Ciao!