Andalusia: Day 0b - Lisbon, Portugal

I watched 4 movies on the flight which had a lot of room at the back of the plane. I could have taken two, even three seats but I don't bend that way any more. The first movie was the latest Mission Impossible and it was ok. Then I watch the one with the Rock and a giant gorilla who fights a giant flying wolf and a giant armor plated alligator. So dumb it was fun. Then I watched Creator which was trying to make a statement about AI and some political stuff but I kept thinking why can the people of South East Asia build AI robots (who end up being just regular people with some mechanical parts showing) but they farm rice paddies and look like it's the 60's with the Vietnam War going on. The Rock movie was trying to be dumb and it was fun, Creator was just dumb. The last one was the one that surprised me and it was Wonka. It was actually pretty good and Timmy Chally was very good and it's almost hard the believe it the same actor in Dune.

I slept a bit but not enough. My watch says it all.

Lisbon is a really easy city to fly into. Waited in line for a few minutes at immigration, got not one question, stamp, welcome to Europe. Lots of ATMs (and shops) on the long walk to the baggage pickup. Just at baggage carrousel 9 there was a Vodafone SIM vending machine. I got a 10GB/30 day SIM card for 25€. Popped it and I had internet.

The oversized baggage was at the far end of the Baggage area. After getting the bike case I walked back across the whole baggage area to the exit. There were signs to the Metro which was just outside the terminal doors. The Metro took me right to my hotel. The case has wheels but it's not fun to cover much distance when the bike is int it. Getting to the hotel by the Metro was not too bad; I'll take it back to the airport when I leave. It would have been even easier if all the elevators had been working as I did lug it up a few sets of stairs. Getting out at the exit closest to the hotel would have helped, too.

The Metro here is very good. They have color coded 4 lines. I was on the platform trying to figure out if the sign was green or blue. Color disadvantaged people are really confused by color coded things. The trains and stations are all quite clean and it gets you around town very quickly.

At the hotel I built my bike and relaxed. No issues and I think I'm ready to go tomorrow morning. My bike case has been stowed away in the hotel store room. From now on I'm travelling light.

I had booked a Fado show for 6pm and since Centro is only 40 minutes walk I walked there. Interesting city, the closer I got to Centro the more tourists there were. I had no idea what Fado was. I was expecting dancing or something. Fado is the traditional singing accompanmm Portugal guitar and classic guitar. The music was like the theme from the Godfather with mornful singing. It was pretty good. 

I took the Metro back and grabbed a wrap thing for a quick dinner. Now I need to sleep.