Weekend 3

Here is my weekend recap for my third weekend in Lisbon:

On Friday night someone at work at tickets to see a Orquestra Gulbenkian na Abertura do Ano Académico da Universidade de Lisboa, or the Gulbenkian Orchestra playing for the opening night of the academic year at the University of Libson. Apparently he didn't want to go, so he passed the tickets on to us interns. We show up and are escorted to these cushy seats in the third row- gotta love the Embassy perks! Baha. So the last time I saw a classic concert was in Buenos Aires and I passed out among the sea of gray heads and it was glorious. This tyime the music was actually very good. I felt like I was in the middle of a Disney Movie, watching the hippos dance around, then seeing the seasons change, wathcing the evil guy chase the hero, etc. Anyway, it was good and cultural.

On Saturday it was a dreary gross day, thus canceling our great plans to take a daytrip to Sintra, so we decided to continual being cultural and hit up some museums. We walked over to the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, (Museum of Ancient Art), which turned out to be a lot cooler than I was thinking. First off it was huge; tons of different things, like some hugmongous ancient oriental carpets, a bunch of religious art (meh), and then this painting, As Tentações de Santo Antão, (temptations of Saint Anthony) by Hieronymus Bosch. In the triptych- seriies of three paintings that is- the details were incredible, representing hell and its demons doing all these crazy things, absolute chaos, tempting St. Ant. Anyway, I liked it because it was so intricate, so many little details to look at, somewhat Where's Waldo-ish, which each little character having its own personality and details.

As soon as we decided we were completely all arted-out of course it started to POUR outside. So we had a couple of bicas and snacks at the cafe. A bica is what the Portuguese call a very strong very small little cup of coffe, really just a shot of espresso that they had sugar to. It's pretty much a Portuguese institution, and you'll see people at all times of the day sitting around drinking their tiny ass little cups of coffee. I have already become addicted pretty much- it's like the perfect little pick-me-up, and have to limit myself one a day..

So we decided to brave the rain, found a cab, and headed over to Chiado, to peruse one of the little shopping malls since it was pouring out. I ended up with a little jacket from Zara (that's two I've bought already, eek) and an umbrella. Of course, as soon as I bought the umbrella, the rain stopped! But now at least I have one.. although I might have to get a heavier one, because on Saturday night I felt like Mary Poppins, nearly about to blow away with my stupid umbrella into the wind.

Saturday night, as I was being Mary Poppins, I went to dinner with Joana, her boyfriend Steve and the new German/nNw Zealander girl who is staying with Joana for awhile, Andrea. We went to this DELICIOUS Indian food restaurant and ate and ate and ate. Afterwards we went to Bairro Alto, where they have rows and rows of little restaurants, bars and lounges. At first not too many people were braving the weather, but once it stopped, the streets were magically filled up with people from all over, drinking, laughing and chatting away. Around 3 we went to this club that Joana and Steve have told me is the best one in Lisbon, called Lux. Although there was a queue about 8 miles long, (not even exaggerating, there had to be at least 100 people waiting to get in!) somewhere we managed to convince the doorman and woman that we were very important, and were let after waiting only about 15 minutes. Ha, SUCKERS. The club was also amazing. It is right on the Rio Tejo in an old warehouse that has three different floors, neat decor, and all sorts of hipsters, and good music. We left around 8 - yes EIGHT AM - although the club was still hopping. Seriously, so fun!

Sunday therefore I was completely worthless, sleeeping away half of the day then lounging around for the rest of it. However it was again dreary and yucko out so no real lure to go out and about. Thus.. a very successful and fun weekend!