[=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=] [<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>] [=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=] Stardate: 20230718.2316 Location: Palácio Quintela Input Device: Titan Audio: Estelle - American Boy Visual: the bar, ornate, high ceilings w/ murals Emotional: tired, but party time :/ [=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=] I better get this in while I can: PORTUGAL: DAY ][ The Company rented out Palácio Quintela, a.k.a, Palácio Carvalho Monteiro, a.k.a, Palácio Chiado, for the after dinner party. That is where I am at right now. My wife just slipped and fell. She's ok, but a bit embarrassed. We will take the next shuttle back to the hotel. Continuing on the 30 minute shuttle ride back to the hotel... Today was a long day. It is our first full day and I am still a bit jet lagged. We almost missed the shuttle for our activity this morning since we slept throught the alarm. Our day activity was cultural sight seeing. We visited Sintra and went on the "Enchanted Sintra Tour," which had us walking around the grounds of Quinta da Regaleira and surrounding areas. It was a lot of walking, which I enjoy; my wife, not so much. Lots of beautiful Gothic architecture and symbols, along with tunnels, initiation wells, alchemy furnace, Knights of Templar/secret society stuff. For lunch we went to a restaurant by the ocean called Furnace do Guincho. They had really great seafood there. We got back to the hotel later in the afternoon, but not enough time to take a nap, which is what I wanted to do cuz jet lag, etc. There was just enough time to rest for a bit, shower, and then next activity. This evening's activity was near Lisboa. We hit some rush hour traffic on the way there. Driving here seems pretty mellow, compared to home. We went there for a little shopping and then dinner. Dinner was at a restaurant called Barrio do Avillez in Lisboa. The Company had reserved an area of the restaurant for everybody. They had a crazy 6 course meal with 2 main entrees! It was a bit much, but I was able to try a bit of everything. There was red giant shrimp, steak with asparagas, various seafood pate, meat pies, etc. Very fancy and the food was very delicious! After the 3 hour dinner, there was an after party at Palácio Quintela, which is an historic palace that The Company had rented for the evening and where I started this entry. [=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=]