Portugal - Day 4 - Belem, Cascais, & Lisbon 5/15/16

7:00pm - back at the apartment for a quick rest after another long day. I slept til 7:45am and woke up feeling like a new person. Weather was gorgeous and clear skies today. Started around 8:30 and caught the 15 tram to Belem. Went to famous Pasteis de Belem for breakfast, they are famous for the Nata pastry. Got a table and waited forever and a day (or until we were just about to give up) for service. But they were delicious indeed. Then went to the incredible Monastery, where there was no line for the church and about a 30 minute line for the gorgeous cloisters. Our LisboaCard got us on all transport and into all sights today for free, lovely! 

Walked down to the Belem Tower, where there were hoardes of people because there was some kind of charity walk today with thousands and I really mean thousands of women in pink shirts and the tower was at the finish line. We did not really want to go inside, so we then made our way back and went to the coach museum, which is now in two different buildings. One is an old riding school and really pretty. the other is this strange modern brand new museum across the street that did not exist when I was last here. The coaches are really cool but felt out of place in this new museum building.

After that we were hungry and got lucky and found Rut dos Pregos, a little restaurant across from the coach museum that was chock full of locals. We both had a house specialty, Iberian pork strips, which were deliciously seasoned grilled pieces of pork, served with amazing fries. And including a small tip and water, it was 10 euros each! I then got a gelato at Santini, which I had read about. I got chocolate truffle, a local flavor, and coffee. almost as good as Italy!

We caught the local train from Belem to Cascais, a little resort town on the Atlantic, which was just lovely on a beautiful day. Sat and enjoyed the sun and beach for a while, wandered the little down, and then came back for a rest. 

10:30pm - back a little earlier tonight after a fantastical dinner at the Time Out Market da Ribeira - a huge building next door to the morning produce market was totally redone and is basically a food WONDERLAND with stalls of cuisines from all over the world, desserts, drinks, and famous Lisbon chefs. Liza and I split a toast with cheese and cured chorizo, and then I got a little snack of pieces of steak in a wine garlic sauce, with more marinated olives, and a glass of Portuguese sparkling wine. Busy, lively atmosphere and outstanding food. Can't ask for much more. Instead of taking tram 15 back, we decided to walk the 15 or so minutes back to the apartment. The streets were lively because there was a local soccer game I presume. I also presume based on the excitement that the local team won?

We mad it back to one of the main squares and some idiots were setting off flares. They then proceeded to get arrested!! Stopped at a bakery and I picked up a slice of cake for breakfast tomorrow since we are headed to Obidos for the day, or at least part of it. Then we're going to do laundry if I can figure out how to use a European self-contained washer/dryer and have a bit of an easier day since we've been going pretty hard since we arrived!

Totals for today - a "lighter" day with 23,089 steps, 9.18 miles, and 34 floors. Pics as soon as possible!