The Journey – Pt. 35 – Loitering in Lisbon before the end.

Then finally we arrive at Lisbon – sailing in with the dawn sun, past redeemers, forts, cathedrals and monuments with an ideal view of the magnificent square – all ruddy and colourful with tiles and replete with pastel colours. One of the world’s most beautiful.

We walked along the streets with their wonderful tiled facades, through the square and up the street to the magical glass elevator, like something out of a Roald Dahl book, with its wrought-iron and vistas, to peer across the rooftops and check out the ruined church and museum.

Then it was off down the winding streets, up the hill to the cathedral with only a Portuguese custard tart to sustain us. Buoyed up on adrenaline we climbed the billion steps to the top of the dome of the basilica with its vertiginous inner majesty and great, less giddying, outer views overlooking the harbour and our tiny little boat.

Then it was a quick custard pie and back for a glass of wine as we slowly departed back down the river.

Our journey was over. We could only reflect on its scope and wonder and allow the experience of places seen, people met and insights to distil themselves into our memory.

We’ve just finished bobbing over the Bay of Biscay and begun churning up the Channel. Soon we will trundle up the Thames. Then it’s off and back, a night in London and yodelling to Yorkshire. We touch base and then are off to see two Dylans over on the other side of the country see three of our delightful grandchildren.  Finally, a week later, we will be back to what passes as normal. We can rediscover our new house!

More food and laughs with new friends, a few drinks, more food, a bit of dancing, a lot of writing, some reading and then it was over. How time flies.

Missives over.

We’re back!

The wandering Goodwin’s (almost no longer wandering for a while)