Lisbon day 1

Hi guys!

This is the 2nd blog and the first full day abroad although we've not yet been in Lisbon for 24 hours! I've imposed a limit of 20 mins for this blog so I can get on with enjoying life here!
There's loads of footage due to be uploaded from camera and stills for day 1 but neither Phil nor I had a working SD card USB so until that's purchased all stays firmly on the camera.
The day has started with the rude awakening of a 4am journey from Birmingham to Luton, On arrival we had plenty of time to 'settle in' and have breakfast (we'll skip over Burger King breakfast cuisine). Arriving at checkout 3 hours early means we had plenty of time to ensure we we on the plane in time - which is why at 8.40 we were surprised to find ourselves sprinting the length of Luton terminals to get to boarding with 5 minutes to spare. We were categorically the LAST people on the plane (yes, typical, but funny).
It seems that things are meant to be as with the only two seats left we found ourselves sat next to the beautiful Matti, a Lisbon native, who has instantly become the first person we have ever had the ´backpacker conversation´with and also was so amazing that she left her parents at the airport and took us for coffee at her favourite spot in Lisbon, with one hell of a vista of the city. She even ended paying for the coffee! I cannot say how impressed I have been with her generosity. Faith in humanity, if waivering, now restored.
Matti eventually left us and we've swapped numbers (rather she's written her number on a piece of paper along with some key common words for us to learn while here and given it to Phil). Since then we've trekked the length and breadth of a central Lisbon, exchanging Cheshire cat smiles and quizzical looks as we've stumbled across some beautiful scenes (photos to follow) but mainly in the wrong direction from our hostel. Lisbon is crammed full of architecture to rival the magnificence of London and I can see why so many Europeans head here culturally. Also with the colourful backdrop and rave party atmosphere (remember drug possesion is legal) I can say why EVERYONE heads here.  In fact, if we had bought when offered hash, we'd probably be drug lords by now...
Our hostel is amazing and we have probably been spoilt for the rest of the journey. The least impressive aspect of this venue is everything is supplied by Ikea or is genuinely retro - that's hardly a negative for somewhere I'd look to buy, let alone stay the night in. Smack bang in the middle of Lisbon I be more impressed and with it being Sunday it is quiet but we have already met a few of our room mates who seem normal in our 10 bed dorm.
We've eaten tradditional cuisine today - I can´t remember the name of my dish but its a mixture of cod strips, fried onions and scrambled egg served with salad. Unfortunately, where we ate was more keyed up for tourists than for authenticity and Phil has ended up eating a Portugese titled version of Chicken and Chips...Restaurante Nilo you're name is apt because out of 10 you'd probably get nill. I'm being harsh, the beers served with the meal were giant and easy drinking, Corona stylie.
Its 5.30pm at the time of writing and we've been up since 4am. We won't get an early one  - as Phil has been saying in Allo Allo standard Portugese 'Sim a todos' - yes to everything and so on the advice of Matti and the amazing Alla from behind the counter here in the hostel we shall be heading to the bar quarter tonight for a Portugese style celebration or bar crawl. Tomorrow brings Belem, some family restaurant selling the best Portugese sweets in Portugal, the 2nd largest oceanarium in Europe, a tram ride, and a night train to Madrid.
And hopefully some visual aids to these entries. Love to you all. x

Today's blog is dedicated to Matti for her amazing introduction to the Portugese way of life. Obrigado!