Swung by Copenhagen Coffee Lab to keep my streak alive but took my coffee to go today as we were having one of our business development breakfasts this morning to discuss time management techniques. I advocated for my approach of sitting down and working until you die but I don’t think it was very well received. Immediately, after we had another meeting to go over our impending move to Morocco. I spent the rest of the afternoon working at Galerias before heading home. I stupidly forgot that there was no place open to eat at that time of day and after attempting to find something close I just went to O’Gilins for an underwhelming burger.
Category: Lisbon
Day 117 | September 20
Just another lazy Lisbon day. Got my daily caffeine fix at Copenhagen Coffee Lab before heading over to Galerias where I just worked all day. I stuck around in the evening because we were doing a web chat with one of the founders of Skype who has a new venture, Teleport. Which is also a neat platform that I play around with a lot. It’s fund just to look at but quite useful if you’re considering a move.
Day 116 | September 19
Pretty worn out after two flights across the Atlantic in 48 hours so once I got back to Lisbon I made a pretty half hearted attempt at working for the remainder of the day but mostly just kind of lounged around. Tried yet another Irish Pub that turned out to be right by my place in the evening; Hennessy’s. I was pretty underwhelmed, expensive for what it is and for Lisbon. It’s a nice room, though. Near the water, two floors, lots of open windows etc.
Day 114 | September 17
Spent the day wandering around New York. Had a late breakfast/brunch at the Cupping Room and then walked over through Washington Square Park and then through Central Park and down 5th Avenue to a few shops. In the evening we went to dinner at Nobu and then to the Blue Man Group. Little bit of drama on the way home as there was a bombing about two blocks away from us on the way back up to Midtown. We didn’t even have any idea it had happened, though, until later.
Day 113 | September 16
Time for a spur of the moment trip back to America. Had a hectic day of getting work out of the way and trying to get my clothes back from the cleaner before packing and heading off to the airport. Flying back to America is always great because you gain time so I landed in New York only three hours after my departure from Lisbon. I basically ended up just skipping a night of sleep on my time as we went to Hillstone to get a quick bite before going to Bemelmans Bar which is kind of the sister bar to my “favourite” London haunt, Scarfes. They had great music, as to be expected, but I didn’t think the cocktails were as good as the could have, or should have been considering the price. After closing that place down it was finally time to try and get some sleep.
Day 112 | September 15
A thoroughly uninteresting day for me today. I had a ton of work to get through so swung through Copenhagen Coffee Lab and then posted up at our Galerias work space for the next… ten hours. There were a couple of cool events in the evening that I was hoping to go to but those had to be skipped in favor of more work. In the evening I was struck by a pizza craving so I decided to check out Pizzaria Lisboa near me. I had heard good things and it was good but I was a little underwhelmed. Based on the hype I was hoping for something more like a Pizzeria Locale back home, but not even close. Then it was back home for yet more work.
Day 111 | September 14
Got an unusually early start today which meant I had time to continue my streak of spending every morning at Copenhagen Coffee Lab before heading over to Galerias for our little personal development meeting which was quite interesting. Folks seem more focused on getting something out of all this traveling than I am. Gave me something to think about. I had a crazy busy work schedule the rest of the day and then I had to run over to our Leap work space to pick up a package that miraculously found its way to me via London (shout out: Heleri). Then I had to go drop off my laundry and at that point I was so hungry I went into the first place I saw which happened to be this gastropub The George. It turned out to be an alright place, nice ambiance and the fish and chips I had were unusually good although the cut of fish had a lot of bones, but it was good enough that I didn’t mind. I’d spend more time at this place if their WiFi didn’t suck which ultimately led me back home to keep working.
Day 110 | September 13
Another typical Lisbon day. Morning at Copenhagen Coffee Lab to work and then over to Galerias in the afternoon. I had an unusually light task list today so I slipped out a little earlier than usual. One of my ongoing dilemmas with Lisbon is that everything closes for a spell in the afternoon. As a result, by the time I’m done working and hungry there is no place to eat that’s actually open. This dilemma led me into Palacio Chiado. It’s a similar concept to the Time Out Market. It’s an old palace that’s been renovated and now has four restaurants and seven bars (I think) throughout the building. When you come in you get a swipe card and then you just pay at the end on your way out. It’s a neat concept and the building is gorgeous. I just had a burger from the burger place inside but it was also very above standard. Or rather, the burger itself was just average and a little more well done than I like, but the preparation of the toppings for the burger (mushrooms, onion, bacon etc.) was done very well.
Day 109 | September 12
Word seems to have gotten out about Copenhagen Coffee Lab. During my morning time there today I ran into another two folks from our group. As usual I hung out there until the afternoon and then walked over to our Galerias work space. In the evening I went to Cafe Lisboa on the way home. It’s expensive by Lisbon standards (not by American) but it was excellent; octopus carpaccio and the Bras Cod were excellent.
Day 108 | September 11
Unusually, I had nothing on the docket today. Headed over to Tartine for brunch, although sadly it wasn’t as good as the first time. Strolled around town a bit and stopped into O’Gilins Irish Pub as I came back into my neighborhood and then had dinner at the nearby Time Out Market. Overall, a pretty uneventful day.