The name´s Bond. James Bond.

 

Well, not quite and the casino is not as glamorous as I remembered from the movie.

I spent most of the day in Estoril and Cascais.  The Estoril Casino is where they shot part of the 007 movie Casino Royal. It has more of a Las Vegas style about it than I was expecting. I declined the offer of a very expensive ´shaken not stirred ´martini and headed down the road to Cascais.

Both towns are where Lisboetas come for sun, sand and sea with Cascais being the more popular of the two. There are three bays in Cascais with enough sand for all. I did wander down and dip my toes in the Atlantic. Cold but very refreshing.

I ambled along the two kilo meter path/ promenade that connects the two towns. Lots of tourists and lots of locals. Easy to spot the Brits. They are the pink burned ones. There are all colours of skin from just arrived snow white to light tan, mahogany and then the almost black true sun worshippers. I sat in a bar in the left hand bend of the curve. As the bay continued of to the right I had an unobstructed view of the beach and the ocean. I sat back with my beer and watched the parade.

Shirtless pot bellied, grey haired men in everything from knee length boxers to speedos strutting their stuff.  George Hamilton wannabes strutting their stuff.  Middle aged women with a tad more tire than is fashionable, strutting their stuff.  Middle aged men trying to remember how to strut their stuff as they ogled the nubile young women strutting their stuff. And all the while, seagulls hovered looking for suitable targets.

It would have been worth paying for.

After watching enough hits and misses from the gulls it was time for lunch. I wandered around a very touristy down town. Found a restaurant in a small  tree lined plaza. Ordered a bottle of Rupe a Sussi 2008 Montepulciano D´ubruzzio. Started with a very tasty brucchetta. Ordered a Porcine mushroom risotto and sat back in anticipation of a pleasant hour of wine and food. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!! The risotto was not very good. In fact,  I can and have made better ones. It was too salty, too much butter and olive oil and not enough cheese. Ah well,  the wine was OK.

I wandered a little more after lunch but found every thing tooooooooooooo touristy. I know, I know, I´m a tourist but you know what I mean. Took the train back and as I looked out of the window I though I was back in Korea. Rows and rows of high rise apartment buidings. Walls of canary yellow and pale pink. It was not the colours that surprised me but the number of high rises. Not something you see a lot of in Lisbon but I guess needed in the suburbs.

Back in Lisbon I went for a meander around one of my favourite areas and found a small cafe for coffee. Decided to stay and have a sandwich and beer for supper. The sandwich was delicious. Cured pork on thin slices of tomato, all in a soft round bread roll.

I walked back to a ginjinha and stood outside with my plastic cup of cherry brandy. One of the locals nodded. To cut a long story short I shook hands with Angolans, Goans, Brazillians, Indians, Portuguese and a number of people whose nationality I never did get.

The common language was cherry brandy with a smattering of English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and some languages that I never did get. Suffice to say,  it was a later than a usual night,  and Friday started a tad later than a usual morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I did go to my favourite wine bar later Friday afternoon. 

I had a very nice cheese plate with some Nisa  and some Terrincho cheese. Pungent hard cheeses with with some flavour.  I tried the following white wines.

2008 Muros Antigos made from the LOUREIRO grape. Light refreshing. Bit like sauvignon blanc.

Next was a 2006 Fiuza Premium. Blended from PERNOA PIRES and sauvignon blanc. it is from the Ribatejano region. The colour was amazing. Almost gold. Green tropical fruits. The vanilla gives it a creamy texture. Very nice.

Number three was a 2004 Pinto. A blend of Viognier and chardonnay. Pale gold colour. I didn´t like it at first but it grew on me and it was my first choice.

Last was a 2009 Guarda Dios from Tejo. This was a blend of Chardonnay, sauvignon, ALVARIANHO and ARINTO.  More sauvignon than chardonnay. My least favourite.

 

I will be heading back there later on Saturday. There are some more whites that I would like to try.

 

Supper was a big bowl of vegetable soup,  bread and a carafe of local white. Must say that I like the way that the vegetable soup is made here. It is thick and has a wonderful aroma. I´ll try to find out what herbs are in it and let you know.

 

Well, it´s time for lunch and yes, I have put on a few kilograms. Too much to try!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Have a good weekend.

 

Terry