It was sunny and dry this morning when we woke up...quite windy again though....we had cheese and ham and buns for breakfast with good strong coffee and Claire packed t o go home. She bought a really cute light gray coat sweater yesterday and looked great. We tried to check out Rua Príncipe Real and the mansion called Embaixada with expensive shops and the restaurant A Talho, a steak restaurant with very good reviews, and a sister to Cerviceria where we ate last night.. Unfortunanately it didn't open until Noon....
We decide to explore a few of the boutiques and then the Sao Bento area which is SW of Rua Seculo.....tiny streets with some cute restaurants and boutiques. We found a Bakery/Cafe called Tease on Rua Nove de Piedade # 15.....soup, salad and a quiche for 5 €. Also found a lovely park...Parc Estrela with a pond and little glass cafe next to the pond. There were ducks, and geese, Turtles and of course lots of pigeons.. Then we walked further SWto Lapa which I thought would be nice because there are a lot of consulates there...but no, the area was run down and like most of Lisbon undergoing a lot of major renovation projects.
Eventually we walked uphill again back home, picked up Claire's suitcase and went to Parc Real Príncipe and the glass cafe for a beet. We sat under a lovely old tree and the found a taxi which Claire took to the airport for Brussels. I miss her so much already!
After Claire left we walked back to the apt and packed a bit ...then balked down to the Mercado Ribiera again via Rue do Seculo to Calcada do Combro to Rua Belavista along the tram tracks...downhill, then of course uphill again. We had beer and hamburgers again at the Mercado from Honorato.
When we finished we walked down to the water and along Da Ribeira Das Naus...a broad walk way along the riverside. Watched some of the ferries and catamarans go across the river. We eventually ended up at Praca do Comercio and under the Arch of Augusta and along Rua Augusta to Rossio and finally back for a coffee at the Miradouro Sao Pedro Alcantara by The San Rocque church. The group was playing again...I think they may be from the Azores but sound quite a bit love the Bonavista Social Club.. It was a beautiful sunset and final evening in Lisbon.. We are now finishing our packing as we leave early tomorrow to pick up the rental car at the airport.
It was a really pleasant few days and 119 Rua do Seculo was a perfect place to stay.. We are enjoying a lovely red wine called Granja-Amareleja from Graja-Mourao.