Lisbon

Across the street is Jose Maria da Fonseca. This is one of Portugal’s most prestigious wine companies, still run by the same family (6 generations now) since 1834.

We toured the house and museum, and then walked through the gardens to the cellars.

They have many aged wines, including Periquita, Portugal’s oldest red wine.

Their speciality are the Moscatels. They accidentally discovered one day that some of the barrels sent by sea to Brazil and then returned, tasted vastly better than the ones that from the same batch still in the cellar. They believe that the constant moving of the barrels at sea swirled the wines enough that the aging process accelerated.

In the ‘Moscatel Cathedral’, where there are barrels as old as the company itself, there is also a chandelier made by a retring cooper from barrel metal. But the best part… they play Gregorian Chants to the wine! The belief is that those chants create certain vibrations in the Moscatel that is the same as swirling it around.

And the spider webs everywhere? The spiders eat the bugs that will eat the barrel wood!

And then finished with a wine tasting. João even got us a little ‘extra’ of the better Moscatel!

It is a good morning so far!

https://www.jmf.pt/index.php

In the really pretty town of Azeitão we stopped at the little pastry shop Casa Negrita and had pastries and espresso.

Then João showed up with a glass each of this very interesting liquor that they make only in this area. So different, and so good.

Next stop was at one of the few remaining places that still make the famous tiles. We got a demonstration from the owner himself on the insanely intricate process they still do by hand. They follow the original processes from hundreds of years ago.

Because they still do it that way, they get asked a lot to do restoration works as well.

https://www.azulejosdeazeitao.com/

Crossing over the April 25 bridge (built by the Golden Gate people) we were suddenly in the countryside.

Small towns, farms and vineyards dot the area. It was really pretty to see all that after being in the city for the last few days.

We booked an experience (tour) through Airbnb that will take us south of the city through a reserve.

Included was an all-you-can eat seafood lunch, and a wine tasting.

When we showed up at the meeting place, guess who showed up as our tour guide:

João!!!

I don't know who was more surprised to see each other. We were both shocked.

And since no-one else booked the tour, we had another private tour with João (and his trainee, Philippa)

Early morning in Lisbon. Quiet streets and people getting ready for the day.

Seen.

The very trendy rooftop bar with breathtaking views of the city.

We had a great dinner at a hoyel restaurant down the street.

Traditional crab shell dip, bacalhau(cod) and garlic with steak.

Vwry stodgy and very nice.

We walked enough for now. Seriously.

After the train (with interesting people on it) we took the subway uphill to our place. Much faster and easier.

Time for some Porto Tonicas and then decide on dinner…

In town we were looking for a place to have something cold to drink, and saw this tiny place selling Ginjinhas. Those were still on the list of must-haves so we had some.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginjinha

Then we found a place to sit down and re-hydrate from our walk.