A GARDEN PARTY IN CASCAIS AND LATE NIGHT DASH TO LISBON FOR ENCOUNTERS IN AN OLD BROTHEL

Lots of excitement for the Extemadura country bumpkins  as we dash over the border to Lisbon for super weekend garden party in Cascais. A cousins reunion all planned by sister Vicky in her lovely garden. Our one remaining tia was there, Tia Lena, 86 years old and still sprightly.

A most heart warming time catching up after years and a few  of the childrens' life times. Stupendous food contributed by all, buckets of gin & tonic with crushed juniper berries, lots of CAKE...sumptuous chocolate and ginger, tiers of picture book fairy cakes. 

Non stop reminiscents about the oddest moments and members of family history, our latest doings and fads, fancies and follies, lots of fun and laughter, meeting new friends, all accompanied by my entire ipod jazz/ salsa/blues collection.

And then................after a little pause some of us zoomed into Lisbon for a night prowl around Cais Sodre, an area of former sleazy repute by the docks where naugty sailors would seek some pleasure behind the classic but decrepid façades of post earthquake 18th century buildings divided into warrens of little rooms now converted into bars and restaurants .

The one we chose was called "Pensao Amor", it's a huge building with many rooms designed  with post modern irony, playing on the old brothel days with louche settings, all plush, mirrors and chandeliers, amusing murals on the stairs. A cosy room with armchairs is the library dedicated to erotic/soft porn literature, some very interesting early editions of formerly banned books printed in Paris.

VICKY CONTEMPLATING THE DODGY BOOKS

It was packed on Saturday night, packed with tourists gaping and housewifey types (Manfred's comment). Apparently weekdays are better, when one can really take in the amazing collection of junk and tat that has somehow come together to create an amusing and comfy place with more than a few resonances from the good old days.

Some great memories to take back to our tranquil life at Finca al-manzil.