So much for shedding for the wedding while in Portugal: um paraíso gastronomic

OINK


I don't know what I was thinking when I truly felt like I could continue this slimming down process for my wedding while I was away.  In my mind, every day was full of all this time that I would spend at the gym, taking long walks, swimming.  Delusions, I tell you.

Oh well.  There's always tomorrow, when I get home.  NYSC here I come.  All these pastries are going to require some SERIOUS cardio.

Mostly for myself to remember this trip in the future, but also for my foodie friends, I decided to compile the food porn onto one posting.  Enjoy!

First things first:  D'Oliveiras Madeira Winery and Tasting Room!

I don't know who this guy is, but he looks busy. And important. So I took a picture of him.

The gang having fun tasting different concentrations of Madeira, as well as different vintages.

Notable Stop #2: Pasteis de Belem.  Arguably, the best bakery in Portugal.  Period.  This was a quasi-religious experience, and if we needed any more proof of its awesomeness, our tour guide for the day, Ida sat down and ate them with us.  Fresh from the oven, these natas tasted completely different from those that are found elsewherere---and they are found virtually everywhere that sells any kind of dessert. Apparently, only 3 human beings are aware of the recipe.  

Notice that there is not much conversation happening right now.  That is because we are all communing with our own higher power through the magic of Sugar, Eggs, Butter, Flour, and whatever other secret ingredients go into these natas.

Ok, just one more picture.

This is a repeat appearance from lunch in Porto Moniz, Madeira--Escaba with Salsa Maracuja.

The lesson I learned here is that not all good wine needs to be expensive.  0.85 euros is a pretty good deal, if you ask me.

The Institute de Vinho in Madeira.

This is the blue ribbon winner for me as far as food went for the trip.  Cooked to perfection (thank GOD), and something I would NEVER order anywhere else.

Aside from the lovely presentation here, I have included this picture because mom thought she was ordering Rosemary flavored gelato, when in fact, we learned that night that Rosmarin means Raspberry.  Ah.  Thankfully, it was still tasty.

Another delicious dessert.  Just because.

A delicious seafood crepe from Rustica Tipica in Funchal

He may have no body left, but he's still blinking at me.

Intermission:  a really heated game of Dominoes happening downtown in Funchal.  These guys are NOT kidding around.

This picture marked an important event for me.   I will share it with you, but you have to know the whole story:

I remember having a major epiphany in 7^th grade, sitting in Mr. Wiseblatt’s band playing ‘American Patrol.’  The moment is crystallized in my mind, and I can recall it with perfect clarity.  I remember thinking:  “ Holy crap, this is awesome.  How do I make it so that I can do this forever?”  Little band geek that I was.

Well, much time has passed, and the enthusiasm has waxed and waned—some highlights here and there, but it has been a while since I have felt the same thing.

 Today, I had another such epiphany, but it was about another pursuit entirely.  I captured the moment in the above photo.   I thought to myself:  “Holy crap, this is awesome.  How do I make a gig out of this?”  Of course, this is just an adult version of the exact same 7^th grade thought.  How DO I make a gig out of this?!? If you have any ideas, I am all ears.  Can one blog for a living?  Travel?  Eat pastries?  I’ll have to work on my video narration, I suppose.  My writing skills could also use some lovin’.  Maybe Miss Williams can teach me all over again, lol :D

Moving along..........

The Last Supper (for Me, Mom, and Fatima)
@ Doca Peixe

This was right at the entry.  You walk in the door and pick your fish.  The very fish that you pick is the fish you eat for dinner.  Remarkable.  And they tasted heavenly.  We all took Paolo's (pictured below) recommendation and had grilled red snapper and mullet with potatoes and vegetables.  Completely awesome.

Portuguese oysters to begin.

voila!  

Couldn't resist the photo of this too....

Another suggestion from Paolo, a lovely port to finish us off.

You'll notice that I ate, like, half of this before I remembered to take a photo of it.  My apologies.

YOUR MOTHER IS A HAMSTER AND YOUR FATHER SMELLS OF ELDERBERRIES: My first trip to a medieval castle.

Wow.

I have heard it said that Americans are easily impressed.  Is this true?  I have no real way of being objective about it, but in my current situation here in Lisbon, I find myself very impressed.  Awed, curious, wonderstruck, and enlightened also come to mind.  I am proud of my Americanness—happy to come from where I do, and grateful for the many freedoms and privileges that many before me as well as right now, for that matter have fought to establish and maintain.  HOWEVER, it is not possible NOT to be awed by somewhere or something that has been in existence ten centuries before our great nation was colonized.  Seriously! I mean, come ON! 

Today I went to:

Castelo Sao Jorge

Amazing.  And old.  Really really f-ing old.  This castle was built in the mid 11^th century, during Lisbon's Moorish period.  This fortification is situated in the area most difficult to access at the top of one of Lisbon’s hills, making use of the natural slopes to the north and west.  The purpose of the castle was to house military troops and in case of siege, the elite who lived in the citadel.  Unlike other European castles, this was not meant to be a place of residence.  It has eleven towers, a still operative (!!!) cistern, and a DOOR OF TREASON (*Love* this :D ).  Oh, and 12 peacocks and 2 cats.

Despite my open-mouthed astonishment at this castle, I could not help but immediately envision the timeless and hilarious castle scene from Monty Python’s Holy Grail.  The whole time.

Can't you just see the Spanish knight up there slapping his suit of armor and heckling King Arthur?

As far as present day Lisbon is concerned, the Casle of St. George is located in the Alfama district of the city.  Just north and west of the city’s heart, this section is the one that has truly retained the Moorish influence, and many of the buildings are among the city’s oldest.  It is hilly, windy, and impossible to navigate on foot for the first time without a map—you thought Boston was a tough city to master?  Pfft.  These streets make the cow paths of Beantown seem like the grid pattern of NYC.

    

Since we’re on the topic, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the makers of MBT shoes.  There is NO way I could have been on my feet all day in Lisbon in a regular pair of sneaks.  Worth every penny.  And they cost a few pennies, to be sure.

The still operational cistern.

 The Door of Treason, where messages were delivered to and from inside the castle.

The "Front Door".  No drawbridge, and no moat, sadly.  You can't have everything.

Stables.

A view from one of the 11 towers.  I guess it's laundry day down there.

 Este gato guarda o castelo

Fierce Kitty.

Highlight of the day:
Unexpected Peacock Family at the old castle

These birds absolutely took my breath away- I never expected them (hadn't seen them in the brochure or on the directory at the entrance), so the surprise was really impactful.  They were beautiful.

The MacDaddy and his Bitches.  

Just look at him.  I kept waiting for him to flex his muscles (show the plumage, but he didn't).  Guess we were a non-threatening crew that day.  Too bad. 

And............then I went home and collapsed. G'nite.