Lisbon

Our first day in Lisbon has been a success. We flew direct from Newark, which meant that we arrived at oh-dark-hundred in the morning, and couldn’t get into our hotel until closer ’til noon. So we left the luggage at the concierge and wandered off in search of a cappuccino.

I should add that one of my first impressions of Lisbon is one of poverty. It is true that Portugal currently has 30 % unemployment, and that the country is among the poorest in the EU, But still. That cappuccino was punctuated by a half-dozen beggars asking for money, all with physical impairments of one type or another. At least one of the beggars carried himself very much like a polio survivor– he held his ankle and that gave him enough support to hobble on two legs. The thing is, that means that if he had some surgery — or at minimum a prosthesis — he could probably walk standing tall. Later in the day, on the metro, we saw a man in need of an LN-4 prosthetic arm. My point is: This is western Europe! There’s just no excuse.

Our hotel is in the Baixa neighborhood, which seems to be the center of tourism in Lisbon, and certainly, every other tourist in Lisbon this week is a Rotarian. Small wonder, with 20,000 of us registered for the Convention.

Lisbon is a town that time forgot. It’s mostly baroque architecture, but after an earthquake leveled much of the city in the 18th century and its overseas provinces disappeared at about the same time, Portugal lost its splendor and never recaptured its financial resources. The result is a small town, really, built on multiple hills overlooking the Tagus River, The convention center is a metro ride (and a transfer) away, out near the airport, but only 40 minutes from our hotel.

We had cappuccino, we got into our room (more on the room later) we napped and we dressed and headed out to the Convention Center to check it out and to register. Then back to the hotel for another nap, and then dinner in a seafood restaurant.
That turned out to be quite a treat! Frank had oysters — he has made it his business to try oysters the world over, each time proving to his satisfaction once again that Damariscotta River oysters are the best. I had been told about ordering barnacles — they have another name but that is what they are — they come with a hammer or something to dig them out of the shell. I was curious, but not 75 euros per kilo curious, so I ordered cockles instead, and they came cooked in garlic and butter, but not live a live oh. That, plus some cheese and olives made a great supper.

Did I mention that Lisbon is built on hills? Serious hills. You know how in America there are lots of split-levels where in back the second floor is on ground level? Here, there are plenty of apartment buildings where in back the sixth floor is on ground level! So after dinner we went up the hill in a funicular railway, then came back down via an elevator that was built by a disciple of Eiffels. Really rather remarkable.

Along the way we checked out the program for the next few days and made plans accordingly, and everywhere we went we passed fellow Rotarians, obvious via their “End Polio Now” bags, their Rotary shirts and their beefy faces, and played “where are you from?” Now to bed, because tomorrow is another day!