Bajai Body Camp 14.25: Day 414
VIP Executive Hotel Zurique
Wednesday July 25, 2018
Lisbon, Portugal
22.67% meh!
Ten years ago today. But that's just for me and universe to absorb.
Cloudy and cool here this morning. I've been thinking about the last time I saw rain; experienced rain. I'm thinking I will see rain again. Maybe here.
I don't have any specific plans for Lisbon. Just flow, as usual. I should get started. I have to eat, organize some funds, and post the necessary posts.
First Day in Lisbon.
The gym may be this hotel's saving grace. It hints at just how old the hotel is. I suspect, based on other hotels in the neighborhood, it was built during an era of VIPs and Executives, as most of them have this in their names. I'm in an Executive VIP area.
The weather, the bug, general frustrations getting around the hotel and the lack food have me in a funky mood. It could also be that Lisbon is a bona fide big city and I haven't been in a city this size since Madrid.
What makes Lisbon different, so far is the width of the streets. And, I must admit, the language. I was on a roll communicating in Spanish... now Portuguese. I can make out most of the signs and there's at least some English spoken, and sign and body language does the rest. Then there's the translator in a pinch. *I've found there's sufficient English spoken here.
Portugal put the "P" in PIIGS; the group of nations that were economically screwed over by the European Union. I think I can get a feel for the frustration through the graf on the walls. Like Madrid and Barcelona, it's all over and most of it is more scrawl than art.
There are other parts that are breathtaking, like the area I arrived in yesterday. If I hadn't gotten off at the wrong station I may not have known about that area, the south. So as I internalize about all of my mistakes... it was meant to be.
Tea is out of the way. Quite a walk up the Avenida de Ustados de Americanos, basically USA ave., and a little pastelaria, (pastery shop) called Damaso. Quite a generous and hot pot, filled to the top, served in metal, so it stays hotter longer.
2 Euro and 15... a bit more than usual, but a bit more than usual.
Now I think I'll go back to Executive row and see if I can find a diner or someplace to break the fast, then hit up that super market I was told about and maybe a bit more exploring.
Oh, there's a train station very near by. I'll learn how to navigate that system before I leave also.
Despite a good and welcome workout, this place continues to disappoint. The mechanical equipment in the gym is all nonfunctional. Poorly maintained, rusted and seized up. I'm being tested. At least I take and accept it as a test. I am no less, grateful and happy to be able to pump some iron/kilos again. I'm already feeling it.
There's a special feeling I get when I pump iron!
Without getting into a debate about the benefits of body-weight training vs pumping iron, for me, pumping iron gives me a feeling I don't get from pushups and pull ups; (not yet anyway.) It could very well be that there's an emotional connection for me between weight lifting and success. It was primarily by lifting weights... heavy and often, that I transformed my body from fat wage slave to... well, use your imagination. (Muscular, fit vagabond.)
It's been, maybe a year since I lifted, so the feeling is amplified more than usual. The feeling I'll have in the morning will be amplified as well.
Since I have a tub, I'll treat myself to a soak.
Oh, by the way, in case you're interested, the workout was manly guy stuff; bench press, shoulder press some pulls and dips... rawr!! I'll get at it again tomorrow... or maybe sightseeing.
Oy!
Found a nice spot for tea and a lavanderia nearby and an El Corte department store. I may really replace these pants. They are so comfortable though.
Had a whatsapp chat with my sibs and toasted our dad's tenth. Only his body is gone but he lives in all of us. Apparently he's showing up in my face. Maybe that's why my eyes look like they're glowing.
I finished the bread. No proper meal, but I bought eggs... a dozen. I can do 3 or 4 a day. We'll see.