2019 Europe: Lisbon

LISBON Sep7

We have arrived, but not without anxt. Jane appeared once again, promptly at 1pm, and we were off to the airport again. We recovered our bags from Delta baggage and rolled them upstairs where they were dispatched once again to Lisbon. Back in the Delta lounge the attendants were surprised to see us. They had no knowledge of the flight difficulties of last night. It was not over. The flight to JFK is either late or on time, I forget which, 61% of the time. Either one is miserable performance figures and it was maintaining that today with a late departure. The fine young pilot did something I never did as a airline pilot and declared we would be early. We weren’t even in the air and I knew we would be late. We passed hurricane Dorian with just a light bump and did in fact land a few minutes early. That to me, as a passenger, means nothing. The only arrival that matters to me is the gate arrival. We passed the gate on time, then taxied to Manhattan, sat there for a extended time, and then came to the gate, and sat waiting to be towed into the gate. Ultimately, we were 35 minutes late. Thanks Captain.

We made our way over to terminal 4 at JFK where most of the Delta international flights depart. It was very crowded and we headed to the Delta lounge to take advantage of our status with these big time tickets. It was crowDed but we found some comfortable seats. I have read of how great these lounges are and the good food they offer. This was not one of them. We did get good free drinks, but there little buffet looked like 5 year old’s had been there with food scattered about and a long pushy line. Most items were out. I passed.

We did not have set assignments yet and they were to be assigned at the gate. This made me a little nervous. We knew there were three seats open and one of those belonged to flight deck crew for their “rest” period. But they were “blocked”. I had never encountered this before, blocked seats yes, but not ones that only the gate agent could assign. But agent after agent said” yes you have seats but only the gate agent can assign the seats”. The worry came in as Delta policy says if you accept a lower class seat you don’t get your money back for the difference. I was not going to accept that, which would mean that we would have to spend a night, all be it on Delta’s tab, and further delay our arrival in Lisbon. Fortunately as soon as I approached the gate agent handed me boarding passes and we were on our way.

Service was excellent onboard. The only downside is flight departed at 10:25 and dinner was served about midnight. Lots of movie choses but not very exciting ones. I finished the Hurley movie, and again I say it was excellent, but watched nothing else.

We arrived in Lisbon early and immigration took about 5 minutes after the 2 mile hike from the gate. We had priority tags on our bags, which in the past only meant there was a yellow tag to help you spot your bag as it came off as the last one from the airplane. This time the tag worked and our bags were the third ones out of the shoot.

Our plan was to meet Sarah and Bill, who had had all the airline challenges we had, but were arriving on a rerouted flight from United. I was just about to WhatsApp him and tell him were going on to the hotel as a message came through they were on the ground, so we decided to wait. Took a little time for them to make their way to the gate as we stood outside and a big red no smoking sign with cigarettes’ lighting up all around us. Plan A had been to Uber, but we ended up in a cab at twice the price for the 2.3 miles to the hotel. Since we had a room from last night, our flight delay started under the 24 hour cancellation period, we had a room but Bill and Sarah had to wait an hour or so and used that time to eat lunch. We used that time to nap.

Walt’s assessment did not disappoint. The restaurant had a great view out over the city. We were there as the transition for sunny buildings to twinkling with lights as the sun went down and darkness rolled across the city. The food, wine, and company was some of the best I have ever had. I ordered Oriental Chicken soup. The waiter sat down a bowl with noodles, chicken and the other items in a dry boil and continued serving the others. When I enquired about the soup part he said “not finished” and came over poured in the broth. It was good. Also at the table were some of the best oyster Bill or I have ever had, along with melt in your mouth pork and fish.

waiting on the curb for Bill and Sarah

the required church

the best oysters I have ever had and the "not finished" soup

dried fish is the main meal here

the main market. all around the edge are food vendors and seated at the tables are
the eaters. Working the aisles are the pickpockets. One of our people found that out.

Tourist restaurants have these menus......

and this note added to the bill!!

Vicki had sardines

Fortunately my friend Frank had prepared this cheat sheet for me, so I had something else.

The airport bus that took us from downtown to close to our hotel

Tommy and Natasha from Solvenia. Really nice people.

Out for dinner with other riders.

Ken is big and loves to eat big!

The rest of the days we spent walking, and walking and walking.......
Up the hill, down the hill. However, other than the old town it was not nearly as hilly as all the guide books declared. Spent time getting reacquainted with old friends and making new. Our neighbors from St. Pete flew in and we had a dinner with them. Vicki will be going on to Porto with them after I leave on the scooter.