Kindly we were allowed to leave our luggage, as we spent the next 6 hours filling in time before check in. Pia had found a leaflet about a Sunday market, west of where we were staying, so with no agenda planned, we headed in that direction. Roaming the streets we came across a huge array of streetart, particularly stencils. Hawkeyes Pia was in her element, snapping away at walls and all. In our early morning stroll we bumped into an older American lady, also filling in time before checkin. Always interesting the people you meet. She was fulfilling a dream of completing her pilgrim across Europe in aims of reaching her finishing line in Tel Aviv.
Onward bound we went down streets, up streets, down stairs, up stairs! All n all it was a glorious, crisp winter morning and it was a pleasure being able to walk the streets. A treat we rarely get in Dubai. By midday we arrived at the LX markets. Unfortunately a lot of the stores and art gallery's were closed due to the Xmas season, but what we did get to see was a treat - Pia was in heaven, whilst it was a breathe of fresh air and just what I needed to inspire me to finish some art projects I needed to get around tooo! Bookstores, riddled with art - clothes stores, housing funky jewelry and retro textiles- cafes, riddled with sculptures and mouthwatering, fresh food. What more did our senses need!
With close to 36 hours without a bed, once checked in we crashed out for the afternoon... This could only mean one thing - exploring Lisbon by night. First to fill our bellies with food in the area known as Bairro Alto. It was in a side street, eating outdoors with green blankets that we met our 2 new friends for the night - Carol the Dentist, from Kenya living in Germany and Shane the entrepreneur, Hebrew speaking Englishman. We headed to the Bali bar where, previously a Rastafarian band were playing - hence Pia's request to go there. Uncanningly, we bumped into Carol and Shane again and from there the random night began! Grooving on the mini dance floor, whilst chuckling about the horrendously bad female tambouriners singing - hubby was definitely the musician of the duo. At the strike of midnight the bar closed and we headed around the corner to the Cuba bar, where salsa dancing was in full force. All the close bodies squished together was making me claustrophobic so to the street I went...There I met my new Lisboanite friends, Miguel and Miguel. Now as an entourage of 6 we headed down the street to another bar, since Pia had been highly embarrassed by Shane, insisting she dance with the shirtless bar owner. At the next location I met the French lads who were getting away from home for the festive season. From there we ended up at an old club decked out into two section. The nowadays chic club style to the vintage section, decked in antique furniture and framed pictures. Such a funky place! By the early hours of the morning we had worn out the soles of our feet and to the comforts of our hostel we headed.
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