February Is Always Good

Museum de Orient, Thai paper puppets

Museum de Orient Shaman attire

Museum de Orient Shaman attire

Birthday sushi

A night at the Gay Bar (don't click this link if you offend easily. I think it is funny)

J looking stoic

My main man J

Tejo River from Noobai Cafe notice the 25th de Abril Bridge and the Cristo-Rei

Front room looking in, see the wood framing?

Our bedroom a sea of blue tiles

Kitchen

Front room

Hallway looking towards the front

The month of Pisces was well suited, we are settled, we have a new apartment, we're working, traveling, generally things are great. February was an action packed month, lots to speak about. However I will do this in two blogs. This post is only to wet your pallets and suck you back in. We have hit our stride here in Lisboa and have created a nice network of friends, restaurants, hang out places, and best of all markets. At times I feel a bit naked because I have been leaving my camera at home sometimes - this is a very strange feeling. Nonetheless I still have it with me most days and here is what we have been up to.

The Apartment is grand. We share it with three fellow Fulbrighters; Patricio, Tini, and Corn Fed. It is an old building in the Santos neighborhood two blocks from the river and across the street from the French Embassy. We are lucky the apartment has some old relics dating the building back to the 18th century. In our bedroom and the kitchen the back wall is covered in azulejos, traditional Portuguese tiles. The room is vibrant with a beautiful blue tint and hue all over. In the front room there are a wooden frames that were widely used in the rebuilding of Lisboa after the great Lisbon earthquake of 1755. The frames were created support the frames of the buildings in case of another quake. The place has a nice homey feel to it with lots of space to lounge.

February is also a great month since it is my birth month. On my birthday, Mel and I spent a nice day to ourselves by checking out the Museum de Orient and then going to get some of the best sushi I have ever had in my life. Go figure I have to go to Portugal for good sushi. The restaurant was opened up by the former personal chef to the Japanese Ambassador. We were trying to guess why he stayed when the Ambassador finished his time. That was answered very easily when we saw the chef and his assistant. The assistant had a distinct Japanese look to him mixed with some Portuguese features, he was the chef's son. Well that answered that. The sushi was vibrant, fresh and delicious.

The month was ended with a spectacular trip to a distant land - Marrakesh, Morocco. Okay, I know that is not so distant from here in Lisbon, but in our dreams it is another land and an entirely new continent, 4 down 3 to go. I will fill ya'll in about Marrakesh very soon. Probably when I am not feeling so lazy.