Friends and Fado

Last night I went to dinner and a Fado show with my friend Joana, the Portuguese girl. Her boyfriend Steve had flown in from London for the weekend and we went to Bairro Alto to see a Fado.

I'm sure many of you are like, huh? Fado?? well..

Fado is traditional Portuguese music that is very heartfelt, melancholy but melodic, depressing but beautiful. I will try to post a song on here and some pics at some point. I got a CD from one of the singers (or rather Steve bought it and then Joana chatted up the singer and had him sign it for me lol). Joana was explaining to me that Fado is really about the Portuguese word saudade, a word that no other language has, but describes the empty feeling of loss, sadness, missing someone/thing, etc.

Anyway, Fado is pretty neat for various reasons. We were all crammed into this tiny little room packed with people. Then two older guys with a guitar and some other bigger guitar start planning, and this old man starts singing. The songs usually all end with a repeat of the last verse where everyone joins in singing and then goes wild with applause! haha And then if anyone at the place, or hanging in the windows, wants to sing, they pretty much can get up and sing a little Fado and people love it.

We also ate a little sample of prossuto (mehhh spelled something like that, the smoked ham), quiejo (cheese), and chouriço, (sausage) which they cook with these little clay grill bowls. They have this super potent alcohol in the bottom of the bowl that they bring right to your table, and then they light it on fire and cook the chouriço. Apparently it is 'ready' when the flame goes out because the grease from the sausage (mmmm) drips into the alcohol haha and tada. delish chourço!!! reminds me of the good ol' choripan days!!

Anyway, during our munching we, along with all types of crazy hooligans, watched some Portuguese soccer games for the Portugal cup. the two big Lisbon teams- Benfica and Sporting- were each playing someone else and each went into penalty kicks, making for an exciting evening. I still have to pick a team... but I am thinking Sporting! (haha Joni knows whyyyy ;))

So after the dinner and the Fado, we wandered around Bairro Alto, which is a fun neighborhood packed with little odd restaurants, bars, and people. Had quite a fun night out with new friends, probably too fun considering that I got about 3 hours of sleep before having to wake up, shower, and head to the embassy this morning. EEEEK.