The organist librarian

15.9.17 Good breakfast including fried egg. Tour of Lisbon but guide talked too much. Belem watchtower, Navigators monument, Jeronimos monastery church very crowded. Tomb of Vasco da Gama and poet Luis de Camoes. Delicious Pasteis de Belem. To Cascais along the coast and tour of Palace of Quezal which has been well restored. Not a patch on Versailles or Schonbrunn or St Petersburg. Nce gardens but very few seats. Sardines and beer for lunch (very quick service) Santini icecream. View of farthest point West of European continent same latitude as New York! Lovely day but windy. To supermarket to get food and mateus rose wine. To hotel Don Pedro spa. 

Christmas Day continued. Had a lovely swim and a rest. Went to see the spotted deer, boars, peacocks and eagles at the small game park at the hunting lodge where the guide explained about the wall paintings. A lovely spot as the sun was going down. We were able to speak to Dennis, Bruce, Grainne and Sophia on Skype but alas could not get Louise Tom and Ciarán in Ireland. Still we sent texts and later we saw the short video of Ciarán saying Happy Christmas. To the free dinner at   Ambrai which is on the lakeside opposite the floodlit palace -   a lovely location and excellent food. We had lamb and chicken done in local style and gulak taman, round sweets. Also nice mocktails. Watched The Nutcracker on TV from Seattle 1983. Dropped off and woke at 1 and 7. St Stephen’s Day Good breakfast and a box of goodies for later. Our guide Lokmani was excellent and never mentioned shops once. In fact it was a delight not to be harassed by hawkers at all! What a lovely place Udaipur i...