Water and water and finally wine

Saturday 28 December 2024

Muse da Agua

We started today with a visit to the Museum of Water, which shows the path of the 1748 aquaduct and the enclosed reseviour, that delivered water to the city.

The holding tank is seven meters deep and looks more like a fancy swimming pool than city infrastructure. The Water House is located at elevation, so affords views of the city – but none of them exactly flattering.

Ferry Rides

The previous night we had wandered past the ferry terminal and decided to see Lisbon from the water. We had four ports on the other side of the Tagus to choose from. We chose, Montijo, the furthest one.

It was an expensive and hot excursion.  We couldn’t see much of the water or coastline through the salt etched windows of the fully enclosed ferry.

We walked for 45 minutes from the ferry terminal to the township of Montijo in the heat, with only the amusing application of a secondhand soccer field turf for relief.

The town was small and moderately interesting and we wandered around for an hour before planning our return to the ferry terminal.  Another 45 minutes of relentlessly uninteresting terrain did not appeal. So we opted for the most expensive bus ride to date.

Pink Street and a walk home

Pink Street is a very short cafe, nightclub, bar and strip joint section of Lisbon.  It was fairly quiet while we were there but apparently livens up as darkness falls.

We walked the rest of the way home getting the feel for this relaxed, quirky, stoney town.

Getting the wine out of the bottle

Last night we collected some supplies from Aldi, which included a bottle of wine – sealed with a cork.  I had no corkscrew. 

I could have purchased a corkscrew this morning but it was the same price as the bottle of wine and I couldn’t take it on the next flight. 

So for the past 24 hours I have tried everything to whittle away the impediment; the room key, Sally’s house key, a wire coathanger, a paperclip, a thin piece of scrap metal found on Montijo, and finally, a toothbrush.

All I can say is that there is nothing like determination. This was after I had managed to burrow an airhole through the cork and push the cork in.

A travel mug of wine, several home sick episodes of Bondi Rescue, and to sleep.