Rip Van Winkle stirs again!
Well, I suppose that answers the question of whether I really was tired or not. 10.5 hours of dreamless sleep. Lovely. Even if I did have to wear a hat to get it (cold flat is cold, still hovering around 10 degC, even with the heating on).
*is still wearing the hat. Offers the hat for admiration*
So, I have the washing on and the bus for Christmas shopping doesn't go for another 3 hours, who wants to hear about Portugal?
Basically it was two days of "ooh, lookit the brilliant things" followed by a week of "TH HATE EVERYBODY" with a day of "Mmm, architecture" at the end.
Firstly let me advertise Portugal to you. It's sunny. The food is amazing (and cheap!). The wine (ooooh, the wine) is fantastic. Go. Go now. Just don't go there for a massive European meeting with all the boss people of your project. That bit's not so much fun.
But let's not talk about the rage. Let's talk about the pretty!
Lisbon
We rolled up to Lisbon on the Friday night. Found our hotel. And promptly collapsed in a puddle of squee. Free drinks in the welcome pack. FREE DRINKS! But that's not the best bit. THERE WAS AN ESPRESSO MACHINE IN OUR HOTEL ROOM.
Our very own Espresso Machine. Oh yeah.
It also had an ENORMOUS TV, individual robes, Toblerone and champagne in the mini-bar, very fast wifi... but wait, there's more! While I was squeeing over all this there was an "ooooooh" from the bathroom (I was sharing with a student, neither of us had ever been allowed such luxury on a work trip). I ran to see and thus commenced a good 10m mins of us flitting around from thing to thing with excited squeals. Individual Flip Flops! Nipples! (it was only the next day that we worked out they were hooks to hang your individual robe on) Black Toilet Roll! A shower with five (FIVE) outlets! Which we couldn't test cos (remember?) FREE DRINKS.
Dinner was amazing. We wandered the streets a little, turned down the place that had a massive carved loveheart instead of a door, and ended up in a little refined place where they were more than willing to let us sit for over half an hour with wine and nibbles while we waited for the rest of our party. Then commenced such a feast. I didn't know you could make something that tasty out of pumpkin. Or figs. Or pretty much anything actually. We also had our first introduction to Portuguese Espresso. These guys have practised their brewing. Oh, the coffee. Oooooh. The Italian PhD student and I decided right there and then that we loved Portugal.
And then there was a night and sleeping and that was the first day. (oh and catch up convo between me and my good friend who moved to Dublin and who I miss liek woah, but that's verrah boring to you guys so we'll skip it).
In the morning we tested the espresso maker (oh, the delightfulness of you). There was a short discussion regarding the potential for nicking the espresso maker, but were thwarted by the fact we had both flown "hand luggage only". So she went off to try the shower (I had Arch-chancellor Ridcully fears so refused to go first). There seemed to be mainly noises of satisfaction. Except for one "oh" that had me worried. But when I called out to enquire if everything was ok I just got a "that's interesting." (we're scientists, nothing fazes us).
When the happy being emerged it became clear that a) the shower products were AMAZING and also that there was a jet of water that washed your feet (the "oh"). Excited, I entered on my own voyage of exploration. Now I have to say that though the jet that washed your feet was cool indeed, the other jet... the one what shot out at throat height (had obviously missed my shorter friend)... the one that tried to judo chop me in the oesophageal tract... that one was RUDE.
Having survived the ordeal we scoffed breakfast and set out to enjoy the day. The sun was shining so we ventured out in shirtsleves, amazing any passing Portuguese in their warm hats, coats, and gloves. We did the tourism, lovely tourism. Tram, castle, view, oranges, sunshine. Mmmmm.
I had to skip off early to get up to the Meeting place (Coimbra - University town) and prepare things for the following workshop day. But twas fun.
Workshop day was evil. Moving swiftly on.
Monday morning we had off so friend and I wandered around the town. It's a pretty town. We looked in many delightful tat shops, admired pretty buildings (stole an Orange each off a tree in a public garden and ate them - delicious). I bought tat! (Yes you can analyse my handwriting if you so wish. scribbled out bit = actual science.)
*is still wearing the hat. Offers the hat for admiration*
So, I have the washing on and the bus for Christmas shopping doesn't go for another 3 hours, who wants to hear about Portugal?
Basically it was two days of "ooh, lookit the brilliant things" followed by a week of "TH HATE EVERYBODY" with a day of "Mmm, architecture" at the end.
Firstly let me advertise Portugal to you. It's sunny. The food is amazing (and cheap!). The wine (ooooh, the wine) is fantastic. Go. Go now. Just don't go there for a massive European meeting with all the boss people of your project. That bit's not so much fun.
But let's not talk about the rage. Let's talk about the pretty!
Lisbon
We rolled up to Lisbon on the Friday night. Found our hotel. And promptly collapsed in a puddle of squee. Free drinks in the welcome pack. FREE DRINKS! But that's not the best bit. THERE WAS AN ESPRESSO MACHINE IN OUR HOTEL ROOM.
Our very own Espresso Machine. Oh yeah.
It also had an ENORMOUS TV, individual robes, Toblerone and champagne in the mini-bar, very fast wifi... but wait, there's more! While I was squeeing over all this there was an "ooooooh" from the bathroom (I was sharing with a student, neither of us had ever been allowed such luxury on a work trip). I ran to see and thus commenced a good 10m mins of us flitting around from thing to thing with excited squeals. Individual Flip Flops! Nipples! (it was only the next day that we worked out they were hooks to hang your individual robe on) Black Toilet Roll! A shower with five (FIVE) outlets! Which we couldn't test cos (remember?) FREE DRINKS.
Dinner was amazing. We wandered the streets a little, turned down the place that had a massive carved loveheart instead of a door, and ended up in a little refined place where they were more than willing to let us sit for over half an hour with wine and nibbles while we waited for the rest of our party. Then commenced such a feast. I didn't know you could make something that tasty out of pumpkin. Or figs. Or pretty much anything actually. We also had our first introduction to Portuguese Espresso. These guys have practised their brewing. Oh, the coffee. Oooooh. The Italian PhD student and I decided right there and then that we loved Portugal.
And then there was a night and sleeping and that was the first day. (oh and catch up convo between me and my good friend who moved to Dublin and who I miss liek woah, but that's verrah boring to you guys so we'll skip it).
In the morning we tested the espresso maker (oh, the delightfulness of you). There was a short discussion regarding the potential for nicking the espresso maker, but were thwarted by the fact we had both flown "hand luggage only". So she went off to try the shower (I had Arch-chancellor Ridcully fears so refused to go first). There seemed to be mainly noises of satisfaction. Except for one "oh" that had me worried. But when I called out to enquire if everything was ok I just got a "that's interesting." (we're scientists, nothing fazes us).
When the happy being emerged it became clear that a) the shower products were AMAZING and also that there was a jet of water that washed your feet (the "oh"). Excited, I entered on my own voyage of exploration. Now I have to say that though the jet that washed your feet was cool indeed, the other jet... the one what shot out at throat height (had obviously missed my shorter friend)... the one that tried to judo chop me in the oesophageal tract... that one was RUDE.
Having survived the ordeal we scoffed breakfast and set out to enjoy the day. The sun was shining so we ventured out in shirtsleves, amazing any passing Portuguese in their warm hats, coats, and gloves. We did the tourism, lovely tourism. Tram, castle, view, oranges, sunshine. Mmmmm.
I had to skip off early to get up to the Meeting place (Coimbra - University town) and prepare things for the following workshop day. But twas fun.
Workshop day was evil. Moving swiftly on.
Monday morning we had off so friend and I wandered around the town. It's a pretty town. We looked in many delightful tat shops, admired pretty buildings (stole an Orange each off a tree in a public garden and ate them - delicious). I bought tat! (Yes you can analyse my handwriting if you so wish. scribbled out bit = actual science.)