Anne Marie Takes Lisbon

I just got back from a vacation in Lisbon, Portugal with my niece, Anne Marie. It was her first visit to Europe. We only spent 4 days in Lisbon. It was a quick trip, but we managed to see most of the city. I always find that I can go back again and again and find more things to see and do.

the beginning of our journey

First lunch at a European Cafe

Tapas in Lisbon

View from Sao Jorge Castle

Peacocks in the trees at Sao Jorge Castle

Gelato with Suzi Robertshaw

Rossio Square in Lisbon

Something you do not see much in the USA, everyone dries their laundry on a clothesline

Piri Piri Chicken on the grill at a Take-Away spot by our Air BnB

Lots of steps up to our Air BnB

Street Art in Belem with Suzi and Anne Marie

Pasteis de Belem

Hop On Hop Off bus to Cascais

Sand Castle art at Cascais

Love the tile work on the buildings

Gorgeous views along the way back to Lisbon

Marquess of Pombal Square

Pedestrian shopping streets

We visited the Museu Coleção Berardo, in Lisbon. Anne Marie is interested in Modern Art and this was on her list of things she wanted to do,  we saw lots of great art from Warhol, Picasso, Man Ray, Max Ernst, Mondrian, Jackson Pollock, Calder, Lichtenstein and more

Google Plane from a Portuguese artist

This might be my true favorite on the wall outside the museum

another view, I love how it is 3D taking in the balcony area

Art fair going on outside of the Museu Coleção Berardo

Lots of great artists and craftsmen

Purchase from an artist

Tastes of Madeira at the art fair 

We ate lunch that day from the Taste of Madeira booth

Caco Cake Prego, Beef with Garlic Butter and Cheese

We found TinTin in Portugal

Guards in front of the President's residence in Belem

The national Tile Museum It is located in the former Convent of Madre Deus, founded by Queen D. Leonor in 1509

Who Wore it Better?

Who Wore it Better?

A section from a Panorama of Lisbon

A modern Tile piece made to look like wood

detail of the faux wood tile

Examples of Tiles from all eras

If I had known about this ahead of time, I would have signed up! Paint your own tile at the The National Azulejo Museum

View from our Air BnB

And the panorama version

Suzi and Anne Marie on a TukTuk tour

Best spot in Lisbon?  Miradouro da Senhora do Monte Viewpoint

More arts and crafts

Pavements are gorgeous, the ship is the symbol of the city of Lisbon and you see it everywhere

The Moon over the city

Scored an Aisle Seat for the flight back to PHL! Not bad for being the last non-rev on the list and getting pulled aside for extra special screening in LIS 

Books I read in April 2018

The photo above is art made by Jane Mount and you can purchase prints of her work and even create a customized bookshelf for yourself. Just go to her website:  Ideal bookshelf

Fall from Grace by Tim Weaver (library) I was intrigued by this book because it was set in Dartmoor, but it was just okay, I don't think I will try the rest of this series
Broken Music by Sting Autobiography of Sting I got this book at a thrift shop in Australia
Transatlantic by Colum McCann (library) interesting story that weaves together several stories. I would recommend
The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian (library) interesting thriller about a flight attendant....could be the worst flight attendant ever !! LOL
Red Clocks by Leni Zumas (library) I recommend. Women's reproduction regulated by law and the stories of several women who are touched by this ....shades of Handmaid's Tale  call it Handmaid's Tale Light
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnussen (library) Okay I can sum this one up in one sentence, Get rid of all your stuff before you die, so  your family doesn't have to deal with it.
A Charm of Goldfinches by Matt Sewell  a gorgeous book with art of different animal groups and it explains the names given to each animal group, I highly recommend
The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin (library)
The Perfect Girl by Gilly MacMillan my sister gave me this one so I could read it on my flight to Lisbon.
A Perfectly Good Family by Lionel Shriver (audiobook) blah, the only thing it had going for it for me, was it was set in NC. I had no idea Lionel Shriver had experience (I assume she does) in NC.
Red Sparrow by Jason Matthews (library) I have not seen the movie yet, but I enjoyed the book.
The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani (library) translated from the French and I don't think it is a very good translation. The story is interesting, but the writing is not....and I am going to blame that on the translation
Eight Stories by Dylan Thomas a little something to read on the plane back from Lisbon

To Be Read:

The Turning by Tim Winton
The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas
The Man Who Spoke Snakish by Andrus Kivirahk
Must Love Dogs by Claire Cook
I Saw Her That Night by Drago Jancar

2018 Postcard: Nantucket

Nantucket is a gorgeous vacation destination and I am lucky that friends and family send me postcards when they visit. 

2018 Postcard: Scotland

I love Scotland and it seems that so many of my friends and family visit there also! I get lots of postcards from Scotland

2018 Postcard: The Appalachian Trail

Guess who sent me these postcards of the AT ??!!  From 2003 and 2015 I have many postcards from the Appalachian Trail. April is prime time for folks to start their hike from Springer Mountain in Georgia. 

2018 Postcard: Spain

So if you have not been to Spain, let me say it is fabulous and you need to go!! Lots of my friends and family have traveled to Spain and sent me postcards. Put it on your bucket list. 

Is it a Nancy Drew collectible? Funny Sauce by Delia Ephron

Is it a Nancy Drew collectible? 

I have some odd things in my Nancy Drew collection.  A much coveted camera from Her Interactive, a panel from the 1970's Nancy Drew TV show that used to hang on the side of a building showing where the show's titles and optical department was located, a framed copy of the Swedish cover of Whistling Bagpipes and many many items made by fans!  But I want to call  your attention to a little known article by Delia Ephron that is easily found in many used bookstores in her book called, Funny Sauce.  I am a huge fan of the Ephron sisters, Nora, Amy and Delia. I love their humor and I was thrilled to have Amy Ephron on my airplane several years ago, so I got to gush to her about how much I enjoyed her family and their writing!  Anyway, Delia Ephron has a little bit called "Famous Couples Discuss Their Divorces." It can be found in the collection of her essays called Funny Sauce. And Nancy and Ned discuss their divorce.  Is it really a Nancy Drew collectible? Well, it might not go right beside my first edition of Shadow Ranch, but it has a place on my bookshelves.

2018 Postcard: California

These are some different views of California, not San Francisco or Los Angeles. We have friends who live in the "country" in California, not the big cities and I get postcards from them. Also I have friends and family who travel all over California and send me cards from their travels.