Ola todos!

That’s Portuguese for “hi everybody”. God, I’m good at this foreign language lark aren’t I!?!

Well I’m finally here, Lisbon! It’s all been very exciting and a bit hectic.

The main thing is that I made it here and as I read the BBC news, it seems that lots of people have had enough trouble getting out of their front doors this week! So I’m counting myself damn lucky that the snow wasn’t as bad on Tuesday and I was able to catch my train to London and catch my plane from Heathrow without any delays.

So I landed in Lisbon on Tuesday. We had a bit of drizzle yesterday but it’s been nice and sunny, not hot but pleasantly mild for the time of year. Certainly a stark contrast to back home!!!

Quick tip for anyone wanting to fly to Portugal – Fly TAP! They are brilliant! BA are shit and ‘budget’ airlines are shit and more expensive than they say they are!

As I didn’t arrive until early evening Tuesday I knew I wouldn’t be able to get much else sorted so I just wanted to make sure I had a guaranteed hotel room bed for the night. So I stayed in a hotel, which was very nice! I dined in a nice restaurant a stone’s throw from my hotel and had the Portuguese national dish – Bacalhau (dried, salted cod), the particular dish I had was the one where the fish and potatoes are swimming in a pot of bubbling olive oil! Was delightful, I definitely felt I was back in my spiritual home Lisbon when that beauty arrived!

And then on Wednesday, after my breakfast, I checked out and wheeled my suitcase to the Metro. The plan was to find my residence and get myself set up there. Eventually I got there and discovered a really old building but a nice place and was met by Dona Rosa who runs the place on behalf of the University of Lisbon. There’s about 10 bedrooms and I have got a double room, but I’m the only person occupying it! So I’ve got lots of space and access to all the facilities I need – including wireless Internet in my room! Which is a real bonus, not only will I be able to organise PhD things and check my emails with ease, but I will be able to maintain my blog without even needing to leave my bed!

I should point out that I am sat at my desk writing this at the moment. I’m not that lazy! What do you take me for?!?!

Yesterday I also did a bit of shopping, so I now have a cheap and basic Portuguese mobile phone. And had a roam around the city to look at some old haunts and explore the new area in which I am living and will be based for the next 12 weeks!

Today, after a lie in and a nice shower, so not until this afternoon, I tried to sort out some of the organisational things I need to take care of before I can start researching properly. Namely, getting a Metro pass, organising my Portuguese bank account, getting a Portuguese fiscal number so I can open said bank account and get my grant money paid in, and registering with the University.

However, those tasks are not mutually exclusive and it transpired that I need documentation from the University in order to get the fiscal number. By which time it was too late to actually go and register, so I will do that tomorrow. I did however grab a Metro pass form and took myself to a cafe to fill it in. I then queued to hand my form in. But I should be able to pick up my card tomorrow afternoon which is handy.

So with lots to get on with tomorrow I think I better sign off now. Hopefully I can get started properly next week and meet some academics and case out the archives and ministries sooner rather than later.

Boa Noite!