Well, my main bag didn’t make it to Lisbon from NYC. I had only my mini guitar and MP3 player, passport and wallet for a night. It took a trip back to the airport from town to straighten the mess out. They have this huge collection of lost bags in this smelly back room of the Lisbon airport. After a good 200 yds of looking through bags we gave up and the lady brought me back inside for a final look at yet another pile! Finally there it was, dirty but intact. I can’t imagine a process less organized. It was just unbelievable.

It’s off today to Sintra. I’ve managed to miss my train stop already but using a combination of sign language and raw detectable frustration I was able to get some help with directions. I’m on this damn train right now. Bec of the lost bag and my lost mind, it looks like I’m going to miss the opportunity to get to Lagos today. I’m going to yet to spend the night in Sintra and make a go at it tomorrow. I think. There’s a lighthouse at the most south-west point of Portugal that is supposed to have the greatest sunsets. It’s a 6km run from Lagos. Perfect.

Last night and yesterday were spent in Lisbon. I checked into a €45 hotel and went out adventuring. Being without a camera was difficult. Nothing really outstanding to report, but that’s what I’d heard of Lisbon. Climbed a tower this morning. Good city views but nothing spectacular. The weather has been near perfect and cool enough at night to obviate the need for A/C. Last night was the first full 9 hrs of sleep in about 10 straight weeks, even with the non-stop stream of dreams about packing and selling my car and getting immunizations and all the other little things that needed attention before leaving…must have been all the Indian food before bed!

More from Sintra…