We got to the exhibition of ‘sunken treasure’ around 10.30am which shows items recovered from shipwrecks along the Portuguese coast - plates, swords, guns , cannons, rings, coins, drinking and container vessels etc , very interesting. We decided against the huge queue for the main Monastery and the tomb of Vasco de Gama and headed off to another part of town for the start of the Volvo Ocean Race. We got to the Race Village just in time to hear the teams announced and see the boats do their final prep and leave the docks. Lots of razzmatazz and good photo opportunities for Alan (officially appointed ‘Ships Photographer’!). Lunch was beers and large Serrano ham baps. We waited for the boats to race back up river but the wind had dropped and they were taking a long time so we caught a bus back along the river to see them as they passed the Navigators Monument. More photo ops for Alan.

We then played tourist in Place do Comercia, a large marble square next to the river and walked through some of the adjacent shopping streets. We were looking for the stop for Tram 28 (an old style boneshaker that is famous for its route up and down Lisbon’s 7 hills) we found it...............and the queue! Just wandering across the road we found an open space with lots of food stalls and tables, benches etc. A band was just setting up so we bought a beer and waited. The band was good, lots of old rock numbers and modern tunes mixed in. We had a great couple of hours, listening with the locals and a few other tourists. We bought snacks from a Nepalise stall and added more beer to the table. A relaxed interlude!
At about 8.00pm we finally managed to get on the Tram 28 and enjoyed a rather bumpy ride around the hills. We got off in the Alfafa district and wandered for a bit amongst the buildings with Moorish influence and the squares with open-air restaurants, a very pretty part of the city. Getting back on the tram was easier and we rode it to the end of the line (we’re not sure where we were) and chose to walk back down to the River. In Lisbon if you head down you will get to the River and the buses we knew. It was interesting walking the back streets at night, very quiet mostly, but not threatening.
We caught a late bus back to the boat, sharing the trip with paint covered youngsters just out of a music event near the river. We got back about 10.30pm too exhausted to do anything but drink a glass of wine before bed!

Volvo Ocean Race - last minute prep - photographer - Alan