Leaving Lisbon

I walked out early Monday morning, headed for the bus stop, looking for a post office and coffee shop. Both of which I found. Workday mornings are my favorite in foreign cities, watching the residents in a flurry of energy as they begin their day. Especially on Mondays, when everyone is regenerated from the weekend. It's my favorite way and day to leave town.

A bustling busy place, perfect for my last hour in the city.

Time for writing...

The cafe was full of locals drinking espresso. But this girl on the right ordered a fruit freeze thing. So odd I had to take a photo.

I don't know why I wanted a picture of her legs.

Tourists and birds. Both interesting.

Shoeshiner. And the post office that was very hard to spot. Apparently Portugal likes the idea of the horse-delivery service. It didn't register with me.

LISBON AIRPORT

And the biggest line was at...

FRANKFURT AIRPORT
Every single Lufthansa flight was delayed. And, no, they did not give us any information.

Still waiting, even on the runway.

In Lisbon, I had to suddenly check a bag when I remembered something I bought was illegal on the plane. I had nothing decent to check, so I stuck my little shoulder back in my handy roll-up sack, tied it up and sent it on the conveyor belt to Nuremberg. The box on the right was my carry-on- Portugese boots! Everything arrived perfect.

So. Go to Lisbon. If you have the chance. That is my advice.

Art of Lisbon

Since I spent a whole day in art museums, I thought I would share. I am not usually so lucky to find so much free art which interests me to visit. Just another treat from the city of Lisbon.

From the Museo de Arte Contemporary

This was an artist named Columbano.The way he captured expressions. His early work (late 1800s) was really amazing. Most of these are from that time period. It seemed as he got older, his painting was more conventional and dead feeling. But maybe that's just me.

Centro de Arte Moderna

Berardo Modern Art Musuem in the Cultural Centre of Belem

It was a video. I think how relationships feel at times.

MUDE Art and Design. What it's like to be in an orchestra. Took up a whole floor, and was amazing.

Lisbon, day 2 in a gentle city.

Spent wandering art museums, with some assistance of a public transport day pass for 4.45E. I hopped the tram, bus, subway all without any mental taxing. Even ran into an artist's market on the river in Belem, which I was told only happens two Sundays a month. A kind gift from the travel gods, and I even got to talk about Portland with a husband-wife team who made bags and skirts that looked like they belonged at Saturday Market in Portland.

I wanted to steal this. But that would make the owner sad. And it's such a happy bike.

The first of four art museums I wandered through. All free on Sundays. I felt I'd died and gone to heaven. Art and wilderness are church to me.

It was actually white, and quite retro-mod looking. The mostly non-functioning escalators provide supporting evidence it was created long ago, before I was born.

Tiles are everywhere in Lisbon.


Centro de Arte Moderna

I wondered how this was art.

How I think life feels. Like a crazy tornado. Never knowing where I'm going or where I came from.

Self photo with mirror art.

Berardo Art Museum in Belem

This bothered me.

I wondered how some couples end up together. She had white polka-dotted tights.

I stepped outside.

It wasn't this anymore.

Lisbon is closest to America.

It's where trees look like flowers.

And they sell these little cakes called Pastis at the Pasteis de Belen.

Safety deposit boxes in the basement of the MUDE museum.

They now have seeds in some of them.

Tomorrow it's time to ride home. To Germany.