London - Lisbon

My parents first went to Portugal in 1969, driving from London in an old Black Taxi with a 6 month old baby.


9 days from now I'll be in Lisbon. HURRAH. I am itching.

I will...

• Drink lots and lots of coffee in lots and lots of cafés.
• Crunch "Petis-fours de Amendoa"(almond biscuits) in Confeiraria Bijou do Calhariz café, on Largo do Calhariz.
  
• Wander in Braz e Braz and Pollux - department stores in Rossio- stock up on aluminum pots, Faplana melamina bowls and cinnamon shakers. Love Pollux Hotel Catering shop.
  
• Buy honey candles and a "voto"(wax bodypart offered in return for answered prayer) from Vellas Loreto. Any shop open for 218 years has to be doing something right.
• Visit Jardim de Ultramar - Tropical Colonial Gardens. I once had an annual pass; it was a relatively unbureaucratic process for Portugal, they only wanted a few birth certificates and a blood sample.
• Oh, of course after garden, eat Pasteis de Belém.
  
• Visit this folkloric cloth shop with Saloia Mary. I've not been before. VERY excited.
  
• Buy too many tins of fish from Conserveira de Lisboa on Rua dos Bacalhoeiros. In my opinion a beautifully wrapped tin of stewed octopus is the perfect gift for any occasion - Christmas, diner party, christening, wake....
• Buy Papelaria Fernandes own brand notebooks.
• Smell yew tree in Principe Real.
• Visit Portuguese contemporary design shop above Benetton in Chiado. Can't remember name.
• Take ferry to Almada, walk along quay til Ponto Final restaurant, gaze at Lisbon. If enough money in wallet, have a meal.
• Visit sailing shop in Cais do Sodré - admire nautical stuff I don't understand -buy ball of string or woollen socks.
• Get angry at cars parked on pavement.
  
• Cinemateca
• Eat any sweet thing that has a silly name. My reasoning being it must taste good if it can get away with such a preposterous name. E.g. Heavenly Bacon, Nun's Bellies, Mother-in-laws' eyes, Abbott's Ears, Camel Dribble...
  
• Buy old fashioned cotton underwear and thermal vests.
  
• Things I've never done; visit Museu do Brinquedo in Sintra, fermento craft shop on Rua do Século and debauch at Cabaret Maxime.
  
• Meal at Tentacoes de Goa - where Jesus and Mary (yes really) will chide me for not visiting for so long. Homemade samosas are worth travelling continents for.
• Breath tiles, cobbles, light, washing lines, paper-napkins, bougainvillea and just wander...
  
• Browse in "A Vida Portuguesa" that I found through Rosa Pomar. Everything so exquisitely displayed. Every object desirable.
  
• doclisboa 2007
  
• Snack at O Galeto (Avenida da República, 14) and pretend I'm in a Bond movie of Sean Connery era.
• Fabric Hunting - very thrilling sport - search for little old musty shops with vintage fabric - just keep eyes peeled and nose high. Includes visit to Tavares e Tavares on Rua dos Fanqueiros. Trips out of the Lisbon too.

Any suggestions very welcome. Please! Especially things to do with children.