Balcony installation

It’s chilly as we walk back to Atocha. The day is brightening behind a mackerel sky.

We find a side entrance and walk through a mini forest inside the building. Enormous trees scrape the high vaulted ceiling. It feels like a botanical garden.

Finding the right platform is not trivial. This is a huge station and different areas serve different services. Kerry gets croissant and coffee for breakfast. I buy a Mediterranean salad for lunch. Then we “check in” to the long distance waiting area for our train to Badajoz.

It’s a comfortable carriage. The plain of Spain rolls by interminably, with mountains visible in the distance. We’re tired after last nights poor sleep, so there’s plenty of dozing.

At Badajoz we have half an hour to enjoy the fresh air. Is not cold, but the wind scoops away any heat that the sun is giving.

The service to Entroncamento is run by the Portuguese railway and the single carriage is not nearly as comfortable. The scenery out of the window has many more hills and trees, getting greener as we descend from the high plain. Another time zone confusion, because Portugal is on GMT rather than CET, so the journey takes an hour longer than we expected.

There we jump onto the intercity to Lisbon, which is waiting for us. A short trip going through increasingly urban areas. We get off at the end of the line, Apolonia, and take the metro to Avenida. A walk and we’re at the Altis, our home for the next three nights.

It’s warm as we head out in search of food. We go to Arcabuz, a local wine bar. It’s empty when we arrive at 8, but soon begins to fill up. Kerry gets a huge plate of tuna and vegetables, while I opt for fish stew. They’re both delicious. The white Douro that we get to go with it is excellent!

We don’t really need dessert, but Baba de Camelo sounds too interesting to miss (extra). Literally translated it means “camel’s slobber” and is a weird local concoction faintly reminiscent of caramel Angel delight. Not to be repeated.

It’s late, but still warm, so we go in search of some Saturday night life. We pass a block of flats with an interesting installation on a first floor balcony. Partially clad woman with flower, dog and a hint of a child trying to escape.

After discounting a few bars on the grounds of pretension, boredom, or extreme youth, we settle at a table outside with a bottle of red. It’s busy and a perfect choice, only five minutes walk from the hotel. Another day comes to a close.