Last night Jo Ann and I decided not to join the optional dinner in a wine cellar but to try to find a local restaurant. We asked at the front desk for a nearby restaurant, not expensive, and that had seafood and other choices.

“It’s very easy… only a five minute walk!”

On the way we saw two other couples from our tour group who agreed to meet us at the restaurant after I gave them the name, Lugre.

Well, you know me with my lousy sense of direction. We didn’t see the restaurant after five minutes and kept on walking.

Finally we went into a bookstore and asked the woman if she understood English.

Nope.

And then I asked her, ¿Español?

She didn’t know Spanish either, but explained to me in Portuguese where to find the restaurant. There were enough words similar to Spanish that I was able to understand her and we arrived at the restaurant only to find the door locked and everything dark inside.

Oh no, maybe it’s closed on Mondays!

It was now 6:48 pm and I thought maybe it would open at 7:00 pm. Several people came by, looked inside and left. We were starting to get discouraged. If we got desperate there was a grocery store next door where we could buy food.

To our great delight, the door finally opened and we went inside and had one of our best Portuguese dinners for only 8 euros each! Jo Ann and I shared a cod dish prepared gratin style with shrimp. It was delicious!

For once my Spanish saved us! And our friends found the restaurant on their own and joined us.