IF IT IS NO WAR TODAY, IT DOESN’T MEAN THERE IS NO WAR.
GARGULA. GARGOYLE. Inside every gargoyle is a screaming baby coming out of it’s mouth.
Today was our last full day in Lisbon. We started the day by going back to “dear breakfast “ for guess what- breakfast. I had the full brunch with croissant, granola and yogurt, eggs Benedict with pan fries, orange juice and decaf coffee.
As we were walking up one street, we saw people from a tour group lined up on one side of the road, while a few people were descending into a hole in the middle of the road. It was the entrance to some caves. It was ok so surprising to learn about underground cities or tunnels or even caves, but to see the entrance to these caves right in the middle of the road was a new one.
We made our way, and I actually navigated this one, to the museum for Jose Saramago, one of Portugal’s most famous authors. He wrote the prize winning book BLINDNESS, which postulated an epidemic of contagious blindness. People would be driving, then suddenly, their vision would turn white, and then nothing. Blind.
CHAOS IS MERELY ORDER WAITING TO BE DECIPHERED.
After going through the past two years of the Pandemic, the thought of a highly contagious virus rendering the victims blind does not seem like such a stretch.
In the museum, I headed to the book shop, where they had a few books by Saramago. Most were in the original Portuguese, but some were also in English. There was one I will have to check out called The Double. In this book, the protagonist comes across a double of himself.
Another book by Saramago that I would like to check out is his Journey to Portugal. The history of Portugal, as well as the people and food, make it a destination for people from all over the world. I would definitely go again if the opportunity arises.
After breakfast and the Saramago museum, we made our way back to our apartment, where I had a nap.
Our Air BNB was right in the heart of the party district. Sleeping has been a challenge, what with all the noise going on all night. There is a 500 Euro fine if you make too much noise in the apartment, but it is apparently fine to scream and shout all you want if you are on the street.
After the refresh, we grabbed a tram, or what we would call a street car. It was packed like sardines in a rollercoaster, speeding down hills, clanging round corners, all the while holding for dear life. Sudden stops were to be expected, as were lurches, grinding sounds, high pitched screaming sounds. I saw out the back window that a young boy was hanging on for a free ride. Keep in mind that the streets are extremely narrow, so the space between the street car and parked cars was minimal. As we arrived to our destination, I saw him jump off.
We were in a different part of Lisbon. There were stalls set up for a market, and locals were selling their treasures, i.e. junk. One table had a juxtaposition of family photo albums, girlie photos and pornography. I was videotaping on my phone, when the man running this booth exclaimed NO- NO. I was not to infringe on his right to sell these photos, however he had originally acquired them.
After the flea market, we saw a giant white building or structure. Church? Monastery? It was what they called a National Pantheon.
This former church now held the remains of many if the founders of the Portugal republic, as well as some explorers from around 1500.
Canada, by comparison, is such a young country, at least it’s settler civilization. The original native cultures go back hundreds of years or more, but are not as documented, and their history is less accessible.
Now I could be completely wrong here. History has never been as fascinating to me as it had become recently, with my discovery of the roots of some of my ancestors.
In the National Pantheon, it is a large rotunda with stairs leading to the upper chambers and eventually to the deck near the roof. We climbed some 220 steps up and then 220 steps down. The view at the top of the National Pantheon is exquisite, and one of the greatest 360 degree views. You can see the entire city, surrounded by the ocean, and the land on the other side of the river Tagus.
Tomorrow we fly back to London.