Hitting the cobblestones running

Everyone had a great sleep. Amr was up and went for an early wander. Mum, Amr and I decided to go and have a coffee as Jess and Ted hadn’t woken. We found a lovely cafe Brasileira, that Mum and Amr had been to the last time they had visited 10 years ago! Such a pretty setting, overlooking a square and in the sunshine. Great coffee, croissants and granola! Meandered our way back to the apartment via shops and takeaway for Jess and Ted. We all then set off visiting a few shops and then took the metro to the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum that Amr had discovered. Gulbenkian was an art collector, he houses one of the world’s significant private art collections. He assembled an amazing selection of art (Rembrandt, Monet, Rubens, Renoir…), furniture, artefacts, rugs and statues from ancient Egypt, Turkey, China, Japan and France. It was in 10 rooms so not overwhelming. We caught the metro back to Pombal, walked down Liberdade (beautiful tree lined street) towards a cafe Padaria, Sao Roque. It was a 20min walk, up some steep steps and roads to stunning views. I can see how Mum and Amr can power along the Camino, we have done plenty of steps, over 8km today (Amr 13). The cafe wasn’t the hype I had read about, still a yummy snack and break before walking to Carmo Convent, an old church ruined in the earthquake. Rosie and Amr explored inside and Jess, Ted and I had a drink and relaxed in the square. We walked back to the apartment for downtime, Amr went via a coffee and the shops for supplies. We headed off to our booking at Pinoquio (recommended by Mum &Amr), they didn’t accept our booking so we had to queue and within 20 mins we had a table. Apart from a slight confusion as to how much food we’d ordered we had a fine Portuguese feast of paella, bbq meats and sides. We then walked via a Portuguese gelato bar to our cafe Brasilere for a night cap and fab music to end off this magical evening of family.Read more