I successfully adjusted my time to our life here in Lisbon. I went to bed at 9pm and slept straight till 4am.
Had breakfast @ 5:15am
I worked on my blogs and youtube videos in the morning. We left for our bank to issue a bank check as a payment for our deposit/first rent to the long term landlord.
It was about 10 people waiting in the lobby and it took an hour to get our turn. Then it took additional 40 minutes to get a check issued. It was actually better because our realtor told us it would usually take 2 days to get a check.
We were starving when we got out of the bank branch around 1:30pm.
Roasted Chicken & BBQ Chicken with fries & Rice (6.50 euro each) + Salad (1.20 euro)
We wanted to see the difference. I think the roasted chicken tastes simply salt and pepper and BBQ is more spicy but not like American BBQ sauce. Both are so good and salad is so refreshing.
I missed taking a picture of piri piri sauce (spicy oil). It’s quite spicy, but I liked it and he didn’t. After 20 minutes all plates got almost empty. We intentionally didn’t finish fries and rice.
This is another great meal for 16.60 euros.
By his request, I made Omurice for dinner. First time to cook Portuguese Carolina rice. It turns just like Japanese rice! Great to know!!
Around 10:30am, we took off for Time Out Market for brunch.
We arrived hungry around 11am and it was not so crowded as I thought.
He got a burger, fries and beer (17.85 euro). Jealous!
I got “California” roll (4.50 euro) with salmon, cucumber and mango because I missing Japanese food, but it was not so good. I think salmon tastes good but rice is kinda dry without enough seasoning.
Of course it was not enough for me. So we got gelato, Brigadeiro & Strawberry (3.50 euro). Strawberry tastes amazing!
Still not enough. Here is an eclair, Paris Brest (3.90 euro). Puff is different and more satisfying with rich cream.
Checking Pink Street near by
We were planning to go to Azulejos Museum but it was closed Monday. So just walking along the river to get Praca do Comercio.
Our realtor introduced us to El Corte Ingles, a department store and a museum nearby. On Sunday after 2pm, the museum admission is free, so we went to explore around there.
I woke up again around midnight…worked for a couple of hours and got my throat sores again…Oh no…
Went back to bed around 2am and stayed in bed till 2pm. That’s crazy… but I was feeling so fatigued.
I have to figure how to fix both my jet lag and cold as quickly as possible.
We took it easy watching TV this afternoon and went to a grilled chicken restaurant, which was supposed to open at 6pm.
6pm is too early for dinner
Great reviews on this restaurant
Arrived right on time, but they said it’s not open till 7pm. Shoot!
Chicken looks ready tho. At 6pm I guess no one eat dinner.
Snack Bar Pirata
At this point, we were too hungry to wait till 7pm. So picked a place nearby. The one I see it’s always a full of people.
But I was not sure that they were serving dinner because all people enjoyed just drinks.
I asked a server in English, but he didn’t understand. In my mind, what to say “dinner” in Portuguese…Then, “Jantar?” He replied, “Sim!”
Yes!!!
He brought a table set and menu. No one having meals here 😛
Everyone enjoys drinking and watching soccer.
Only in Portuguese
Since the server doesn’t speak English, we have to communicate only in Portuguese and gesture, which was good and interesting.
He asked, “Peixe or carne?” and I answered, “Peixe,” but I didn’t know what kind…He took me to the fish case and told me to pick one.
He: “Dois?” Me: “Um.”
I took him back to the table to take my husband’s order (he knew what he wanted).
I kept trying, “Uma garrafa de agua, por favor.” He said, “Fresca or natural?” (I believe). I replied, “Fresca.” If I am correct about the conversation, fresca means cold water and natural is room temperature. I read somewhere it’s common to be asked in Portugal. I wish this would be common in the US because there is always too much ice in water for me.
Ok done. But I saw he grabbed two fish and headed to kitchen. I followed him to say, “Um! Nao dois.” He said something like that would be fine. I asked, “Um prato con dois peixes?” He nodded, “Sim, Sim!”
Our dinner was amazing!
Here is my dish, two fish on one plate! Carapaus con molho a espanhola (6 euro). It tastes totally like Japanese grilled fish and made me miss white rice & miso soup.
Even better with this Spanish sauce, I thought two fish is too much but I finished. Potato was sweet and good. He had beer, Super Bock.
His: Carne de Porco à Alentejana (Pork and clams 6 euro), This was amazing too.
Sobremesa (dessert)? Sim! I pointed one in the showcase again.
Pudim (1.80 euro)
I didn’t want to finish our dinner and instant Portuguese lesson yet. So ordered Jinja (Cerry liqor 1 euro). Since Portuguese say it’s medicine, I am hoping this get my cold away.
This is what we got. Amazing!
When I am totally recovered, I would like to come back to enjoy wine and petiscos (snack).
I slept from 9pm to 7:30am straight. It’s too much sleep but feels great!
In the morning, I fixed breakfast and worked on my blog and research on activities in Lisbon.
Today, we tried to get meal time straight like breakfast @ 8am, lunch @ 12:30pm and dinner @ 6pm.
Breakfast @ 8:30pm: Croissant, greens, ham & broccoli omelette, grape, orange & mango juice and tea
Around 11:30am, he finished his work and we left for lunch around 12:30pm.
There is a neighborhood restaurant we pass by everyday and are so curious about it.
We are finally here for the amazing lunch deal, 8 euros!
The restaurant seemed full but there was another dining area inside, where three groups were dining and it got almost full within 30 minutes.
Bread and olives are not free usually but this daily lunch special (Almoço de Dia) includes everything on the table, such as main, soup or salad, drink, dessert and coffee.
All other customers were enjoying red wine, which was served in carafes and he ordered beer, but I am not still comfortable to drink alcohol so stick to water (sem gas).
He ordered Dourada Grelhada (8 euro) from regular menu
I had a lunch special, Grelhada Mista Espetadas (Mix Kebabs). It comes with salad and fries.
Pork belly and sausage are simply good.
I chose Mousse de Chocolate for Sobremesa (dessert). We were asked, “Dois?” and instantly answered, “Sim dois.” Then he got the same too.
Cafe Cheio at the end. He got a cup too. I wish coffee was served with dessert but a dish comes one by one in Europe, I guess so I try to get used to it.
It was very busy during lunch time. We noticed that everyone paid at the register. So we did. We wondered how much for the extra he ordered. It was just 2 euros for beer, dessert or coffee! I couldn’t understand what dessert options would be and just picked one I understood. But I could point one in the showcase next time.
I really wanna come back here for lunch again soon. Next time, I would have wine along with my lunch in a best condition!
We took a walk to a different direction we’ve never taken to explore the neighborhood. It’s residential area and I like that there are a little market or cafe on every block. Feels so local.
Found a supermarket and got grocery for dinner.
Can you guess how much it costs for these. Only 3.75 euros!!! I don’t get it since chicken is marked 3.08 euros…This has happened when we purchased a monitor. It was marked 249 but charged only 175…I still wonder it’s a mistake or discount?
His dinner: Chicken Soup
My dinner @ 7pm: chicken broth & cereal, I wanted to kill the milk, which should be finished within 4 days once opened.
This morning I found myself sicker. My sore throat’s gone but I could stop sneezing and runny nose. Shoot! I felt much better last night. What happened? I probably have to go through all the way.
I got up around 2:30am since he had an online meeting at 3am. I was gonna fix breakfast for him but went back to bed around 4am.
Alameda to Saldanha
I felt better after a good sleep in the morning when he brought a bad news.
Somehow the printer we bought doesn’t detect wifi, I had to go to the immigration service office to sign some paper.
Ok…He was extremely hungry and there was not much food at home. So we had lunch at 1pm on the way to the office.
We’ve had a difficult time to order food at restaurants and made it easy to go to a chain cafe, A Padaria Portuguesa, which has menu with pictures and English explanation that help a lot.
I initially ordered Salada de Frango (chicken salad), but it was sold out. Only choice was Tuna or Salmon. So I took Salmao with agua ($5.75).
He had a combo of two half sandwiches, soup and juice ($5.95). I didn’t taste sandwich and juice, but soup was very homey and I think it’s a great deal!
On the other hand, my salad was ok. For me, it’s too salty. Even without dressing, cheese, smoked salmon and dried tomatoes are more than enough to give it saltiness. He shared a half bowl of soup that I enjoyed the most.
This place would be a good lunch option. They have several kinds of fresh juice and a variety of savory and sweet pastries.
First time we walked to Alameda station. It was very warm today (22 degree C) and I could enjoy it.
Suddenly an open space was in front of us. There is a huge fountain, called Fonte Luminosa there.
There is nothing on the other side of street. I am not sure it’s intentionally left open or they have any plan to build something.
Metro entrance is right there!
After one station ride on subway, we were here in Saldanha again. I think it’s hilarious that a street vender selling roasted chestnuts blowing a lot of smoke. Portuguese and Japanese share similar custom and culture (probably because Portuguese brought a lot of food and values to Japan in 15th century) and enjoying roasted chestnuts is one of them.
Our First Coffee and Nata
After the appointment, we decided to walk back home instead of taking metro. It would be about 25 minute walk but it was a beautiful day, so why not?
He suggested to take a break on the way for coffee and nata. Oh, yes!
Because I didn’t feel to drink nothing but water and OJ, this was the first official coffee along with pastel de nata in Portugal in 2019.
Pastelaria is on every block. We just picked one.
I wanna do what locals do.
We tried to order in Portuguese. “Dois cafe cheio e dois nata por favor.” Portuguese coffee is basically espresso. Cafe cheio means to make espresso full of cup by adding a little water.
Break at 3pm: Cafe Cheio (0.60 euro x 2), Pasteis de Nata (0.95 euro x 2). What can you get for less than 2 dollars in the US? This is unbelievably good!
Look at the layers of tart. Of course this is not best nata but still makes me happy.
Coffee in Portugal never gets me disappointed either.
Picked up some vegetables at continent (supermercado).
Dinner @ 6:30am: Farfalle in Tomato Sauce with Bacon, Zucchini and Red Bell Pepper
We started the day early. I got up around 5am when he was already working. I worked for a bit on my blogs and emails.
Breakfast @ 6:30am: Bacon & Broccoli Omelette, Grapes and Brioche
Today I didn’t go back to bed and kept working since I felt a lot better (no cough). Unfortunately, I don’t remember what I’ve done 😛
Yogurt @ 10:30am, he was still busy working and I was getting hungry.
Lunch @ Noon, I added orzo to chicken soup to make more filling
I wanted to do laundry but it was raining. Dryer is not common in Portugal and laundry is usually hung to dry.
OMG, so many people in Chiado
Around 2pm, it stopped raining.
He said, “Let’s go to Chiado to buy a printer”
We walked to s station and took metro. Fortunately, rain stopped in the afternoon.
There were a lot of people and tourist go in Chiado, the center of Lisbon. I couldn’t take that crowd and instantly wanted to go home.
We quickly purchased two pairs of slippers at Flying Tigar to be comfortable at home and a printer at fnac then took a taxi home.
The taxi driver was a real professional. He glanced the address, drove like a motorcycle and here home we were in minutes. I’ve used Lyft/Uber a lot and even taxi driver uses gps, but he doesn’t although our street is not major. The fare was much less than I expected. It was amazing!
This is one of stores that our airbnb landlord recommends to buy a monitor or printer.
Dinner in Saldenha
Later the afternoon, we met up with the realtor to see another apartment. The location is great (3 minutes to Saldenha metro) but it doesn’t seem ready to rent out (weird furniture layout and outdated appliances).
We had dinner at Food court in the mall of Saldenha.
Mine: Picanha (7.50 euro), it was ok. Beef was not tender as I was hoping.
His: Choco Frito (7.95 euro) + Coca Cola (1.95 euro), Cuttlefish flitter was very salty. Rice is salted too. My palate might have gotten sensitive since I have been drinking only water. Coke costs a lot comparing to food.
I was not still feeling well this morning and staying in bed until around 2pm. Finally got hungry and went out for late lunch & grocery shopping.
We assumed that a lot of restaurants were closed on Sundays. The one closest to our place was luckily open but the sign got turned to ‘close’ right in front of us.
The next available eatery was a pizza place, but all tables were taken. So we just got in the next one.
Spanish Hot Dog & Burger Restaurant
Pictures and English menus are so helpful. I was hungry but couldn’t eat much so ordered something simple.
I didn’t think the dog would be this huge and onion would be fried…I took all the bits out and ate.
His oder ‘Tropical’ looks good. It actually tasted good.
Agua is my best friend. I don’t miss beer or wine yet.
Grocery shopping at Pingo Doce
I made chicken soup for him. I was not hungry and had only broth.
On the second day in Lisbon, I felt much better at least no exhaustion. I got up around 8 am and fixed breakfast for my husband who already started working at 4am.
Breakfast: tea, pastel de nata (from My Auchan), sausage and egg
Then I went back to bed and slept all day.
In the evening, we met with the agent and went to see an apartment.
On the way to the property, there is an amazing view. Yes! This is the Lisbon I have dreamt for!
The apartment looks nice. We like it but the agent has a few more properties to show us next few days.
We went to have dinner, the first nice meal in Lisbon on the way home.
It was around 6:30 pm. We were early and only customers while all employees having dinner along with wine before work. I love this laidback culture. They still gave us a full attention.
I still need a full recovery, so take it easy with a bowl of vegetable soup (1.40 euro)
He had a big mug of beer (cerveja 2.50 euro) and Brazilian Steak (Vazia Brasileira 8.70 euro). I had a bite of steak and it tasted so good.
They brought bread and some appetizers to our table. Be aware that nothing is complimentary. If you don’t want them, send them back. I tried three little croquettes (0.90 euro each) because I felt guilty to have only soup but they just tasted ok. Too dry for my throat to swallow. They could be good if you drink beer or wine.
In Portugal, they don’t serve tap water. A bottle of water could cost more than beer or coffee sometime.
MyEverydayEatsInLisbon 