Coimbra

It’s pronounced Kweembra and we got here yesterday.  I’m in one of the many lobbies of this large fancy hotel, the Quinta das Lagrimas, since internet doesn’t reach our room.  It’s late so I won’t write long.  Yesterday stopped at a Roman ruin, Conimbriga, baths, tiles, arches, pillars.  Sort of interesting.  Took a lot of pictures (don’t ask how many, it’s ridiculous).

Our GPS, borrowed from Karen and Joel, took us to the wrong address — but not its fault since Rob put the wrong street in, one for a different hotel, but this town (Coimbra).  So, as it happened in Glasglow with K&J, we arrived at some nondescript poor suburb which the GPS said was our destination.  We did laugh, then figured out the problem and got here.  But then, still really took about four trips around the same few blocks to actually find the hotel!

So did nothing much but enjoy the sumptuous grounds — gardens, fountains, even a golf driving range (we hit a bucket)!  Had dinner in this one star restaurant.  Excellent, of course, but I’d drunk a bit too much and, well, should I write this?  Hmmm.  OK, got sick.  Rob also consumed too much wine but he just passed out and felt fine in the morning.

Today we took a taxi up to the University of Coimbra, the oldest university in Portugal, or is it Europe?  The world?  Anyway, old.  Bought a ticket to see the famous old library, a chapel, etc.  It sits on top of a hill, which we afterwards wound our way down.

Tonight had dinner at a place we found on the river, the Mondego, very pretty.  Delicious grilled fish.  Friendly, intelligent waiter who reads Saramago, used to teach French, is going to Cuba for 2 months to teach French next summer, is an atheist, is 62 years old.  Jose Luis.  I have his email address and will send him the photo Rob took of him and me.  I’d post it but it’s on Rob’s iphone.

Conimbriga, Roman ruins near Coimbra

University of Coimbra

Old library