Today was great! We slept in to recover from our jetlag until 10:30 and then got ready and headed to Museu do Azulejo- the Tile Museum. It was rainging again so we took a cab. When we got in we got to hear some lovely Fado music. Already I know it is going to be a much better day. Michelle and I shazamed it without internet so that it could tag it when we got back. We now have 5 Fado songs downloaded and two great artisits to listen to- Carminho and Pablo Alboan (Perdoname by Pablo Alboan is the song if you fancy a listen. Make sure to get the duet version featuring Carminho). The museum was right on the river and had a cute cafe for us to eat lunch at. It was really neat to see how the tile was made and how intricate all of the old tile works were. That whole exhibit was right up my alley and something totally different than the normal history. I think my love for traveling coincides perfectly with my love for arcitechture. From there we went to Alfama accidentally. Alfama is the old town area of Lisbon on the river. It was my favorite part of today. Everything "feels" local and old. This area remind me of Havana in Dirty Dancing Havana Nights and if I told any of these people here that they may kill me.... Let's keep it between me and you. We stayed in this aea until we were able to find the old tram line and we jumped on tram 28 to get to the Castelo De Sao Jorge- St. Jorge's Castle. It was really nice and from here we had the best view of the city. I honestly think I took about 80 pictures of the castle and its surroundings, but I assure they were all worth it. Plus, Cybil is really helping me learn my camera and a stranger taught me a new setting to use today which takes very nice pictures. I had every intention of bringing the manual with me for some lite reading on the plane ride but I forgot it, along with the charger and very other accessory that goes with the camera. Yes, this is the same camera I bought specifically for this trip. I so smarts.... So anyway, there is a lot of history with the castle and I won't bore you with it all bus essentially it was built there on the top of the hill for protection and to view incoming armadas from the river. It was initially for royal families but after expansion into the city it became military barracks. I read all about their cooking utensils, their storage, their money (very interesting- they actually cute the coins in half and even quarters to represent the quantity they needed because it was a literal weight system witht he metal used), their hunting and trade and their burial. The burial was neat I thought because it made me stop and think. It said- "[Adopted from Islamic tradition] the bodies were placed on their right side with their head toward the ecca. Cemeteries were located on the outskirts of urban centers along roads that lead away from the city so that travelers could dedicate prayers to the deceased." For some reason this really struck me and I felt like as a traveler we should throw some love out for the deceased as we leave each city we visit. I am sure it was deeper for me in my thoughts, but I am too tired to remember and/or write it all out right now.
Outside of the castle, we ran into a few shops but quickly found food! We picked this tiny little Indian restaurant (YUMMMM) and Cybil and I made Katelyn and Michelle try their first ever Indian meal. They liked it. I think. BUT listen to this- there was an American couple next to us when we sat down and at first I was excited because we haven't seen really any Americans, much less anyone who speaks fluent English. As the meal went on and they got their check, I realized I didn't like them. AT ALL. They were obviously shocked by the final ticket price and asked the waiter over to expain the charges to them. When the waiter was explaining that they charged for the bread and cheese and eggplant spread, the woman was outraged and was all, "This isn't ethical! You're just charging unknowing tourists for bread that you offered them? I mean I am all for paying for what I ate but you have to tell people when they have to pay for something that you didn't ask if we wanted." Yadda yadda. The waiter is trying so hard to one, piece together what she is saying and two, be patient and understanding. So they fianlly send him off and ask for the manager. I just want to throw out that I am sitting less than 2 feet away from this woman and my face is on fire. I am as embarrassed as they come and there are maybe 5 tables in the whole restaurant, so all eyes are on us. The manager comes over and explains its customary and apologizes and everything that comes with this type of situation. She is still being a total bitch when she asks what he 23% charge is for and Cybil kindly buts in, "Oh thats the VAT. Its normal in Europe." She freaks the fug out and shoots daggers at Cybil and says, "Um I'm sorry but don't. We are in the middle of handling this. YALL ARE OBVIOUSLY MORE WELL TRAVELED THAN WE ARE." I mean honestly I wanted to reach aroud and smack her. Do not condescend us while you are making a fool of yourself. As fellow Americans we were trying to help explain. We won't make that mistake again. We knew that every restaurant in Portugal charged for the things they put on the table if you didn't tell them to take them back. Mainly because we read the guide books and talked to people, but I guess mostly because we are super dee duper well traveled 22 year olds. Bite me. As they are paying, her weeny husband chimes in, "This would NEVER happen in America." I am sitting in my seat holding back my laughter while enjoying my Chicken Curry, all the while thinking, "You're right it wouldn't. So go back there. This isn't America, they didn't ask to be America, and if you love America so much then why did you need to come here to show your ass?" He insisted he would leave a bad review and that he was (half-assed) sorry about it. After they left, we profusely apologized for their behavior and promised that all American's werent like that. I mean sheesh, no wonder people have such a negative opinion of American travelers. Enjoy the culture you are being immersed in and let 5 euros go down the drain when you have to. 
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