Day 8 (17 March): Mafra

In 33 days, we will have been on holidays for over a week and I hope to have shared several blog posts with amazing photos by this time. On this day, we’re once again expecting an average top of 12°C. Our last day here, what will we get up to? If we haven’t done something proper adventurey yet, I’m sure this day will be the day. A stint with Tim and Carmen is not complete without something completely outrageous and possibly terrifying! We do have an early start the next day, so we may suggest that we overnight close to the airport - we need to be checking in for the flight to Oslo by 4.30am. If that’s the case, we would love to find a little laneway restaurant in Lisbon to say our farewells to Tim and Carmen. And the food in Lisbon is GOOD!

Lisbon’s culinary traditions are rooted in Portuguese history, influenced by maritime exploration, trade routes, and a strong connection to the Atlantic Ocean. Happily for me, seafood is a staple! Although I’m not so sure about salt-cod, definitely up for trying the grilled sardines and Arroz de Marisco - a paella-like dish that’s a bit saucier. Apparently Portugal is also famous for pastries and sweets. The Pastel de Nata - what we know here as a Portuguese tart - is actually a thing and not an anglicised or butchered version of something no longer resembling its origins! While not normally a huge fan, when in Rome…

Pastel de Nata - Portuguese Tart (literally translates to ‘Fried Pastry Cream’. Who says no to that?)