Return of the Evil

Three people were awake shortly after 5. One was happy and hungry and the others started the biggest caffeinated day so far. We needed coffee very 2 hours until late in the day. The No Doze tablets were my go to.

But first, Emma needed milk and bread. We couldn't find the bread in the freezer (even though it was in plain sight). She ate banana instead.

Emma does not have a poker face. Her "I'm going to fill up my nappy now" face is one of determination and concentration. Those carrots and peas that went in yesterday were coming out this morning. It was not a pretty sight or smell experience. Ah, quality time with the granddaughter.

At 7 we said our goodbyes and got driven to the train station, where we caught the same train as last holiday, including the last annoying steps with heavy luggage to the platform.

All the French people we had told about the train were surprised we caught this one due to its apparent slowness. Is close to 300kmh slow?

The afternoon was our recently adopted, drop bags, catch a movie (Digger. Very good) walk the shops, grab a sad interim meal, and get on the wrong airport train ... but this was rectified at the next stop. Note, get on closer to the back of the airport service for a bit more room.

The bad breath of one passenger was not good, but after this morning's experience, we are more immune.

A change of clothes and away we went into the sunset of another excellent adventure.

Looking for blue

Not long after we woke at 5am, Emma did the same. We followed instructions on eating, took what looked like an enormous piece of clay from her nappy and proceeded to amuse her until Jeremy woke up. He headed to the dentist so we continued our grandparenting duties.

In 1977 ELO made a double album. Out of that album came Mr Blue Sky. A lot of people were introduced to that song when Groot danced at the start of one of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. I'm guessing the 3rd but I've been at Changi Airport for so long, I really don't know anything.

I introduced to you all the search for blue, and today our quest took us to the city on a tram, to look one last time for the elusive French blue.

We walked through a park, 

fed Emma peas and carrots (this was not the last we would see of them), and proceeded down the road in front of the river for over a kilometre, doing what we do

until that magical moment when ...

the answer to the question "is that the blue?" was affirmative.

Throughout this process I never lost hope.

Back home, pack, eat more leftovers and to bed for our last early 5am wakeup call with caffeine preparation. 

Another day, another chateau

A late start today as the first port of call is a winery tour, followed by lunch. Oh wait, the alarm went off at 6am as we try once more to beat jet lag. Thus starts the early mornings and caffeinated requirements.

The tour of the vineyard was abandoned as rain fell, so we learned how to make wine. A majority of the group did a tasting and then off to another fancy French meal. 

We were dropped back at our B and B after lunch to pack, before walking with our luggage 10 minutes back to Emma's house. Jeremy had mixed up when everyone was leaving so we squeezed in another day at their place. With so many leftovers, that was dinner.

A competitive game of Herd Mentality was played. It's my kind of game. Much mocking of competitors can take place. 

Then bed time with instructions on Emma's morning routine as we had to have our first shot of caffeine at 5am. Everything is a bit out of kilter due to daylight saving finishing this morning. Will this affect the sleep routine of a 1 year old?

Baptism day

While you may think that today was all about Emma, I would like to think that my new jacket (loosely designed by me) was also the hero of the day. I would be wrong.

We rocked up to the local Town Hall, where an official in a sash of the French flag's colours, proceeded with the naming ceremony. It was very nice. Godparent's speeches, a happy Emma (which was a great effort considering her sleeping routine was totally messed up).

The rain held off until photos were done and then to a fancy restaurant we went. Adults trying to make a baby laugh for photos was a highlight.

Despite the roaring fire, I kept the jacket on for as long as possible as the Editor had carried it in her bag for the entire trip.

I got to sit with Emma and it would have been nice if they came out with her food first but they bungled a lot of the special meals so were busy doing that.

It was a very French meal and there were those among us who played with their food. 

Quick walk through the vineyard and back home for another feast of food and a trivia game that kept all the adults amused. I didn't come last. Woo hoo.

I am finishing this post with much sleep deprivation after 14 hours from Paris to Singapore and a 6 hour stopover. I will hand over to Editor now for photos.

Over the hills

Sorry for the late post but I will try to summarise yesterday quickly. Let's start with the promised picture of the lift. We only used it twice with luggage.

One hill to buy lunch and one hill to leave the country. That was our 10 flights of stairs done for the day. A 20 minute walk on cobblestones is always an adventure as are 2 metro trains to the aeroporto (airport in Portuguese). 

Fuelled by her last Portuguese tarts of the holiday, or as they call them here, tarts, we made it unscathed and still with 2 euros on our transport card.

I do apologise if I've used the tarts joke before. I don't ever read what I write so it may have been recycled.

They also have a sardine shop at the airport.

A long wait for our flight was followed by an extra long line to board

and an even longer bus ride to actually get to our plane. 

Once in Bordeaux we picked up our bags and walked through an empty customs area. We are still waiting for the fingerprint detection that was promised months ago. It will happen one day when we are in a hurry. 

Weather in Bordeaux? Much colder with greyish fluffy things in the sky that we haven't seen for weeks.

Jeremy found us and we headed off to our B and B. The house at Bordeaux would soon be filled with family and friends slowly arriving. For the next few days "Emma" would be the most popular call from all directions.

Last day of the climb

There are shops in Portugal specifically for the sale of sardines and sardine related products. You can buy colourful tins and watch a small Ferris wheel of sardine tins go 'round and 'round and you can take a photo of such a store and just move on.

At the other end of the spectrum is the 728 peak hour bus. Here you can live the life of a tinned sardine as you travel through the streets of Lisbon.

Today we used our Lisboa card, and by golly gee we were going to squeeze everything out of it to get value. Buses, trams, trolley cars, trams that just stopped with the driver yelling for everyone to get out, followed immediately by a replacement bus. 

Every new attraction required countless steps, to find it and also to climb to the top of it.

I stupidly assumed that today was an easy one. I've been waiting all holiday. I had not put on my game face and every step up was a huge effort. The caffeine strip 3/4 of the way helped. 

We saw some great stuff, that I'm sure the Editor will name in order.

First, the Jerónimos Monastery.

Monument to the Discoveries and nearby

Belém Tower

Catching the tram

Castelo de São Jorge

I'm sure the yelling at a police officer was tiredness, but you don't mess with the Editor when we can't find the exit to our last attraction. (In my defence, we were told that it was up more steps - so many steps - and it was a general exclamation of frustration, not at the police officer!)

Dinner was not home made. For our last night in Portugal we hit the town and went to a Fado restaurant (Recommendation: O Prego). Local music where you get to sing along sometimes. It was in Portuguese and I assume most songs were boy meets girl or boy loses girl, but we were able to clap in Portuguese and la la la is the international singing language.

Oh, and the last of the Portuguese pastries was purchased, or should I say the last six? (Editor's note: If you're in Lisbon go to Pastéis de Belém, it's right near the monastery. These tarts rival the ones I had in Porto as the best.)