Sonia's birthday

After leaving Raquel's - I was there for a very short time just to say hi - I rushed downtown to be at Sonia's birthday. But there was a huge mistake and I ended up going to a small street in Bairro Alto... But her restaurant was a bit far, in Santos. Just because the link she had sent me was wrong! And I thought Google Maps were perfect...

The good thing is that I am Portuguese and we have solutions for any problem! Trust me!
The cell phone my father has given me has a GPS, so I entered the address I wanted to go to and off I went. Sonia wasn't able to guide me through the phone, anyway! Poor thing!

I left the area where I was and off I went down the road. And when I say "down the road" I mean it. And, believe me, walking on cobblestone that has been walked on thousands of times with the shoes I was wearing was no easy task! My legs got extra workout.
But I needed it, anyway.

I finally got to the restaurant. It took me some twenty minutes to get there and I was sweating. Like I seem to be all the time nowadays...

We gave her her present, a digital camera. And she was soooo happy.



She'd better be!

It was also good to be with people I hadn't seen in ages!






We had very good food. It could only be that way, anyway. This is Portugal.

The girls sitting next to me had pataniscas, this kind of cod and flour cake.


And I had coron bleu, steak with ham and cheese.


Obviously, the girls had to look good. Some more than others!





We had a very nice dinner, indeed. And we laughed a lot. Like usual.
But I laughed even harder when I saw Sonia with this backpack! I had never seen her with one, as such thing is not like her at all!


Believe me, I laughed.


Off we went to a small bar. Arab style. Not far from the restaurant.


But the moment I got to that area I noticed there were lots of young kids out.
I know the area is known for the young crowds, and I don't want to sound old fashioned, but what the hell are kids doing out by themselves, drinking, smoking and who knows what else!? Honestly, some of them were under age for sure!

But it's their problem. And their families'. Not mine.

Long time, no see

Funny that I met people in this day that I hadn't seen in years. And that means for more than four of those!

My first stop was a very nice place, on top of a beautiful park on a hill, from where you have one of the best views of Lisbon! A must-see when people come and visit me!

The meeting point was this nice coffee shop, with a lake in front of it. Which, let me add, could be better kept.


It's a nice place. And I met Dirceu there! It was so nice to see him, after fours years!


While I was waiting for him, I spotted Bárbara Guimarães, a very popular tv host and her husband, Manuel Maria Carrilho, who is the Portuguese ambassador to Unesco.
They had an orange juice. Not that I was staring!

I had to leave, because I was going to meet Telma in Areeiro, another nice area in Lisbon.


We were going to Raquel's place. Another girl I hand't seen for years! And I had never seen her beautiful girl!
There was some traffic, so we took some side roads... Which made us spend even more time... But, hey, we didn't have to be there right on time...

We got there and I was so happy to see Raquel, Rui and her beautiful Leonor!





I must say, Raquel is looking amazing. Just like I remember her. With shorter hair!

The place I grew up

I grew up with my grandparents. I lived with them 17 years of my life. I miss those times, I dare to say. Mostly, because I miss having my grandfather alive. A man of jokes and beautiful eyes...

I don't want to cry, so I will just go on with this post...

In short, my parents took me to the street where I grew up, after we visited my grandmother at the home. And it was so cool to see an old neighbor from our building, the moment I got off the car!
When she saw me - and that's so her! - she was so surprised and clung her arms around my neck and kissed me. And kissed me. And kissed me.
She smelled great. Like she always did.


The funny thing was that I also met Inês! That same girl I hadn't seen forever!

Suddenly, I saw people waving at me from the window. And walking past and saying hello.
I felt happy. Like old times.

Anyway, here's the overview of "my" street. Somewhat differeny. But it still feels the same.



That yellow building used to be green. And before that it used to be some other color.
Back in the day, when I was thin and all, it was my primary school. Just across the street from where I lived.
And you guys wonder why am I a lazy bum!?

Ninja turtles?

Momento de partilha

Eu tenho uma escova de dentes eléctrica e meti-lhe pilhas novas.

Acabei de lavar os dentes e acho que nunca ficaram tão bem! Estas pilhas portuguesas estão cheias de energia, que a coisa girava que nem uma maluca!

Pronto, era só isto.