Lisbon and Mafra

Day 2-16th July

My late dads birthday and our visit to Portugal on his birthday was a significant gift for him. My Aunt baked a delicious pineapple cake and Gareth made my Uncle cut on his Avo's behalf. 

Joao took us on a wonderful drive around Lisboa city, Liberty street, Rua do Carmo and the Marina.

We stopped by a Marina that had several pubs and overlooking the Tejo river with the beautiful '25 April bridge' and on the other side we could see the miniature version of 'Christ the Redeemer' statue. Beautiful views of sail boats, men fishing, the locals exercising and families enjoying cycle rides. Gareth and Cooper made friends with a little boy playing football and they exercised on all the sports equipment at the park. Cooper got a bicycle ride from one of the beautiful twin girl.  Later Joao and my boys walloped ice creams. We saw a beautiful cycle-bar-bus that had around 20 girls sitting and cycling and 1 guy as the bartender. Truly a unique concept launched in Netherlands.  Gareth figured out the logic of how they designed the vehicle as we watched in awe and said 'mummy I will create this you will design the exterior'.

Aunty Joanita hosted a family lunch in celebration and had her 2 brothers (---)and daughter's Yolanda's family (Alexander and Raquel) over. She baked a yummy bacalao pie, prawn curry, rice and salad. She made the yummiest dessert - egg custard. 

That evening along with my cousins, we drove (20 mins from Odevilas) across beautiful hills which had many windmills, to Mafra a beautiful countryside. We saw a huge cathedral with marble statues and attended 2 minutes of service but had to exit as Cooper was singing one direction songs in the church.

We went to a park to celebrate 'Fiesta de Pao' (festival of bread). There was live music bands performing and Cooper was the only kid dancing to their music. There were beautiful stalls selling gorgeous pottery figurines, bread, pastries, wine, local veggies, toys, restaurants. There were displays of the local firemen and old Portuguese kitchens. There was entertainment for kids and families like bowling, bottle x#o, throwing the ball in the hole, skipping with ropes, spinning tops, etc. some wore costumes that was worn back than. It had a rustic feel.

There was a huge well that was built long time ago for water harvesting. And there was a water fountain with many gold and cat fish. 

We had dinner and I had (bean rice with Bacalao fried in batter) whilst Gareth had ham bugger and Cooper had errr... potato chips. Alexander picked some desert custard inside a cake roll. Yummmm!!!