So no libraries today, but another museum. Today it was the Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis, in other words, Portugal’s National Museum of Art. The first few rooms were a tad boring, portraits of significant historical Portuguese figures, more boring because I had no idea who any of them were. Some of their sculptures were quite fantastic, and they had a terrific room dedicated to modern art. Really cool stuff. I didn’t recognize any of the artists, they were mostly Portuguese, I think. I can’t be sure because, even though you would think it wouldn’t make that big of a difference, the little signs next to each work of art were in Portuguese. It was also refreshing, wondering around the gallery, just appreciating the art and not trying to fit it away in an Art History box inside my mind. One thing I did not expect to run across was a photograph of one of Utah’s National Parks, with three cowboys in the forefront, kicking dust into the wind. Even in Portugal, Utah still follows me.
After the last few days full of seafood, pastries, salads, and soups, I was craving something full of grease for lunch. Luckily, directly across from the museum was a small shopping mall. Outside I saw an advertisement for the restaurant Tropical Burgher, with the key word ‘pizzeria’, and Kenn was nice enough to oblige me. It was mainly a burger joint, but they had two kinds of pizzas, neither of which I could pronounce or read the ingredients. Feeling brave, I ordered the one with quejio, which I hoped was cheese, and alas, it was. Literally one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had. Terrific sauce, dough, and it not only had cheese, but also ham, spicy sausage, and mushrooms. I picked the mushrooms off for Kenn. I’m sorry if I’m boring you now, but after a week of foreign dining, this pizza was the highlight of my day. Kenn ordered a chicken burger, which didn’t look like any burger I had seen before, but it also tasted fabulous. The ingredients were incredibly fresh.
I punked out on dinner tonight, opting instead for relaxing in the hotel room, taking a hot bath, and going to bed early. My mom, Kenn, and I fly out tomorrow morning for London. So during my stay here in Porto I have learned the following:
- To say ‘thank you’ is Obrigada if you’re female, and Obrigado, if you’re male.
- Desculpa is ‘sorry’
- Va la Englesch? Is Do you speak English?
- Despite the similarities between Spanish and Portuguese, the people of Porto understand French much better than Spanish, because of the likeness in accent.
**Reality Check**
Regular gas in Porto costs 13.08 per gallon, and that is in Euros, not dollars, which are worth more, in case you did not know.
4 comments:
You are totally going to be in England soon, though, and then you can fully satisfy your fast food jonesing. I totally sympathize though--it's disgustingly difficult to go 7 weeks witout a Big Mac or a taco. I'm glad you got some pizza though. Pizza is usually a safe bet.
Also, I'm super jealous of your museum-going and your worldliness. Love you.
My entire time in italy, surrounded by century old pizzeria, all i really wanted was a greasy pizza hut cheese pizza. I understand, completely :).
Man. Look at you go, even. The art museum sounds incredible, and the pizza probably on par with the art.
I'm excited for you to be in your final destination, my love. Let's have a gchat date very soon, because I want to hear about how you are in more detail and share happiness from my life, (Jeffrey is wonderful).
I miss you. I wish I could see the things you're seeing with you. By the time you get this you may be in England, so...welcome to the Kingdom!!!! I love you.
My big Western food splurge in China was going to Pizza Hut. It was divine.
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