Hell, history, coffee

Museu de arts Antigua (or this is Ella’s idea of hell)

Long hallways with room after room, alcove after alcove of murky paintings depicting adoration, sainthood and torture to those who don’t believe.

Grubb will joke about my dislike of this, what I would call, oppressive art. He loves this stuff. The quantity of these types of paintings produced at the time is mind boggling. I’ll grant you that there is the skill of technique and eye for composition and detail to be considered. But I can never get out of these halls fast enough.

 I will concede, though, coming across a Bosch triptych was a complete surprise. Maybe he is the exception. What he packs into his paintings is incredible.

okay, okay, another concession. it wasn’t all gloom and doom paintings. There were the porcelain and ceramic rooms. some downright enjoyably whimsical.

I’ll leave it to Grubb to make a mountain out of this mole hill.

Meanwhile, a history thing…Freedom Day is?

Looking up stuff on google maps to find location and hours sometimes yields the generic message, for example like “Easter might affect these hours”. Yesterday, I kept getting “Freedom Day” might affect these hours. Also, I had noticed a number of people carrying blood-red carnations. All clues that April 25 had some sort of something going on. Somewhere, in the deep recesses of my memory, a neuron fired. A dim recollection I couldn’t quite bring to mind. I turn, yet again, to google.

Sure enough, April 25, 1974 marked a major life and culture changing event for the Portuguese. The Carnation Revolution, a mostly peaceful military coup (seems like an oxymoron) overthrew the fascist regime, leading to a transition to a democratic government.

Here is where you can find some more information https://www.portugal.com/history-and-culture/25-things-to-know-about-portugals-carnation-revolution/

And finally, What’s not to love about Quiosques?

Lisbon’s  kiosk cafés (Quiosques) which serve drinks and snacks, are everywhere in Lisbon. Any time of day, you can get the coffee of your choice, from a simple cafe ( one shot of espresso in a delicate small cup) to latte to cappuccino. Want a pastry? No problem. You can choose from a small selection. 

Prefer alcohol? How about a glass of Vinho Verde? Or a gin & tonic? Or a pitcher of sangria? Then sit at one of the smattering of tables in front of the kiosk and engage in deep conversation or people watch in silence.

Mentioned a few weeks ago, we had one of these Quiosques just across from our AirBnB on Placa des Flores. This time, there is one just at the corner of our street. Mr. Coffee junkie can easily get his daily fix. And me too.