It has begun! Today is Thursday 4/4/24. It is 9AM. I have to be riding before 10am but at least this is a start. As always, this page will be moved further back and be replaced by a more thought about front page but at least I am getting something up!
I arrived in Lisboa on Easter morning, March 31 and spent the night in a normal Airbnb. The high light of the flight was sitting next to a young Italian girl who was petrified of the small turbulence we experienced regularly, I held her hand for long stretches. But more of that later!
Standard train ride Monday morning at 10am from Orient Station. One changes trains for the local to Lagos at Tunes. And there the wonder of the trip begins, The train was very crowded, as was Lisboa, for the Easter holiday. I got on the local train and did not even attempt to find a seat, just stood with my luggage on the large platform that forms the entry/egress and has passenger sections to the left and right.
This platform was not crowded but there were at least 4 of us there. One man, almost my age, from Oregon, commented on the black cap I was wearing with a stylized bicycle image on the front. Had a long talk with him and indeed am off to hopefully find him and his wife in a cafe in Luz. It is a VERY long shot but no reason not to try.
So I arrived in Lagos Monday about 2pm and got established in my same room with a balcony at Central Hostel. It is about 60$ a night? I was back on my bar seat at Shaker with bar keep Carley by 5pm. Jim, another regular, was also present for my arrival, .I ate that night at the Belgium restaurant that has the best beer in town. Tuesday morning at 9am I met the young man from Mega Cycle and he delivered my steed. I went off to Barao de Sao Joao for lunch. Back on the bar stool by 5pm and dinner at the best of the Portuguese restaurants in town. Had a Swedish couple for table mates.
Wednesday off to Solar do Fariao for lunch and back to Shaker. Indian for dinner. I am really doing very well with non-alcoholic beer and lots of treats in the room while watching Caitlin Clark at night!
Well, off to Luz, more to come!