Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (Not!)

Doug wanted to be out the door at 8 am to squeeze this art museum in before we left. Actually arrived 45 minutes early into a modern area of town which was largely residential, nice flats. Gave us time to walk the gardens around the museum and the acreage includes an amphitheater, café and they are building a very deluxe looking museum of modern art behind the existing buildings. 10 am and What!! not open. Then the sign..... Lesson learned, check opening times night before just in case anything has changed....or you've missed the fine print. May 1 is Labor Day in Portugal, many places are not open. The restaurant we went to end of day was very busy as a result and one of the waiters commented there are too many closing days in Portugal when you add all the holidays related to Saints. We've had two holidays since our arrival 10 days ago (Freedom or Liberation Day and now Labour Day)!

Oh well .. found a coffee shop om the way to the bus station with great WiFi and did some journaling.Read more