Half term round-up!!

A quick catch up from this past few days, since returning from Lisbon. 

It's been a busy end to half term. 

Jeff's done a lot out in the garden, planting out all our bulbs ready for next Spring.

I got my eyes tested on Tuesday, was long over due a check up! Bit of a prescription change and was given some intense eyedrops to try for my dry eye! So will see how I get on.

I met up with my sister in Bath for a catch up.

Completely forgot to take a picture of us but did take one of our breakfast!!!!

Friday was the last day of October (a pic round-up) and we headed to Cardiff.

Jeff had bought tickets to see ABC - The Lexicon of Love album with a live orchestra. 

They were never a favourite of mine, still not converted but I did recognise 4 songs.

And Jeff enjoyed it, so that was the main thing!

Had plenty of leg room!!! HA!

Saturday morning, and 'A pinch and a punch....' and we are in November!!

From Sophie's we all headed to Bristol.

Sophie and I had bought tickets to see the Book of Mormon, a good year ago, before Jeff had bought the ABC tickets. In retrospect, he should have got a ticket too. Whilst Sophie and I went to the show, he had to kill time in Bristol. He exhausted his annual shopping outing!! HA! He's not a shopper!! Sophie then got the train back to Cardiff and we drove home.

Today is a catch up day. Sam has just left for work. Jeff has got back from refereeing and I am working my way through my 'to do' list! I'm heading back up to Cardiff tomorrow. Sophie and I have tickets to see Benson Boone in London on Tuesday at the O2. Although he had to cancel his show last night due to illness, so we may end up having an unnecessary, expensive trip to London instead. Fingers crossed, he'll feel well enough to perform, if not, we'll make the best of it, maybe go and see a show!?! It's Sophie's actual birthday on Tuesday, so I'll make it special one way or another xx 

LISBON

We are back from a fabulous few days in Lisbon.

It's a fabulous city to explore, so much to see. So many steps and hills to climb!! As always, we walked miles and miles! It was warm enough to be in a t-shirt, mostly grey skies. One day of rain and one day of brilliant blue skies and sunshine, so all in all, okay weather.

Our accommodation was at the top of these stairs.

A fab Airbnb find in the Alfama district

Modern, clean interior with a washing machine!!!

We got there early evening, so just did a little explore of the neighbourhood on our first day.

Spotted our first tram!!

We had a fabulous bakery less than a minute walk from our apartment

And the food was delicious!

We had Torrada, a Portuguese breakfast regular - thick toasted bread spread with salted butter

... and during our stay, tried many of the delicious pastries x

The staff were very friendly and I for one, will miss our little breakfast routine.

Jeff still had room to try various custard tarts...

and the famous pastel de nata...

... in fact, many pastel de natas were consumed!!

We tried to find small independent food spots, rather than eat at chains or tourist traps.

This cafe was a fab spot.

Grandmas homemade specials, delicious!

And in the evenings we did the same...

...although evening meals were accompanied by Fado, a traditional folk singer. 

It was okay the first night but by the 3rd!!! 

So we opted for an Italian, playing Pet Shop Boys and Tears for Fears!!

We had one ice-cream which was the best I've had since my Granny used to make her own. 

I could have easily gone back for more!!

Had to share one tile pic!! They are of course everywhere! 

As were the trams!

We pretty much covered most of the main bits..

Arco da Rua Augusta

Pink Street

Fab buildings

Greet Street

Basillica da Estrela...

and it's rooftop tour!

Many Miradouro's

The oldest bookshop (Guiness World Record)

The Elevador de Santa Justa

A pastel de nata pitstop!

We did take a tram ride on the famous tram 28.

It was good value. A 24 hour pass cost 7 euros and that was for unlimited travel on the buses, tram or metro. They did get crowded but we manoeuvred ourselves into seats

LX Factory

Book shop

Tower of Belem

Padao dos Descobrimentos

Age of Discoveries monument

The MAAT

Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology with the red Bridge in the background.

Lisbon living

These are the little details I love!

A miradouro night view.

As always for me, finding street art whilst out and about is a highlight for me.

Bordalo ll, a Portuguese sculptor, creates huge sculptures from various discarded objects. We did actually spot our first piece last December, whilst on holiday in Madiera.

This bee was in the LX Factory.

Storks by the Santa Justa Elevator

Spotted whilst on the bus!!

Panda in a hotel courtyard

Whale spotted from the train in Cascais

We took two trips out of the city. 

The first to Sintra, a town in the Sintra mountains.

Where it rained. 

There is a famous palace there but with the rain and low cloud, we gave it a miss and just wandered around the town. It was a bit disappointing. Too touristy, with lots of large groups and expensive places to eat. It has become too popular, so had lost it's original charm. I know we are part of the 'tourist' population but it wasn't for us. Other than the sculpture lined walkway to the town, I have no real key highlights. Maybe if the sun had been shining, I may have felt differently.

Cascais on the other hand was really enjoyable.

Was that because we had blue skies and sunshine I wonder!!

It was a small seaside town. We explored the lighthouse..

....and walked along the coastal road to Boco do Inferno.

A clifftop scenic spot, nothing too special given I've grown up around the Cornish coast. 

I imagine more impressive on a stormy sea day!!

Despite not packing trunks and a towel, Jeff went in for a swim!

His last for the year.

It was a great way to end our final day and few more arty spots (below) to wrap up our trip

This is the newest mural apparently.

Go visit Lovely Lisbon if you can xx

Jeff has written up his Lisbon blog HERE if you're interested xx