Rossio Square + Baixa | Lisbon

 

Day 2 in Lisbon! Bob had to work this morning so the boys and I headed out on a walk in search of their two favorite things: toys and snacks. Perhaps we were in search of my favorite thing too: brightly colored azulejo tiles. 

Beyond the construction which was an actual barrier across street intersections on Rua da Prata we discovered an entire elegantly laid out pedestrian friendly area, where wide open streets are perfect for strolling and shopping. I got a Super Bock tee shirt. Camden got Milka Chocolate and a Lisbon tram tee. Ryder got a Lollipop. They got a set of toy race cars to share. 

I learned the streets of the Baixa grid are named after old professions. Rua dos Douradores (our street) is after gilders. Rua dos Correiros are saddlers. Then Rua da Fanqueiros is fabric traders. 

We regrouped with Bob at the Airbnb as he finished work and headed out together down Rua dos Sapateiros (cobblers!) under the Arco do Banderia into the hub of Baixa, Rossio Square.  The waves of the ocean represented in the pavement tiles really spoke to me. As did A Ginjinha Espineria a tiny bar counter in Rossio where you order a sweet liqueur made from sour cherries known as Ginja. It is served in a shot glass and you sip it. 

More specifically, Ginjinha is Morello Cherries soaked in a distilled spirit called aquardente. There are multiple locations of tiny bars that serve it, constituting a quintessential Lisbon experience. There might be a line but it moves quickly and everyone mingles outside anyways so it's fun. 

It is actually really cool for me to connect the tiles here in Portugal with the tiles on the promenades fronting Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. Portugal's are the OG with Brazil modeled after them. 

The shopping and the strolling continued. Camden picked out trinkets for his cousin Lilah, his neighborhood best friends Sammy and Adeline, and his Nana! Then, we turned down Rua das Portas de Santo Antao a pedestrian only walkway off Rossio Square. Drinks at a local Cervejaria brought to you by the racecars the boys picked out earlier. A paper tablecloth lending itself as a racetrack brought to you by Camden's creativity / happenstance. Then we stopped briefly at Elevador do Lavra before continuing to Avenida Da Liberidade. 

S U P E R  B O C K love. 

Day 2: Still so into you, Lisbon. The rest of DAY 2 and NIGHT 3 choose your own adventures next!

Country Mile | Watertown

 

Country Mile is OUTSTANDING. It is brand new from a husband and wife (chef + front of the house) duo from Vermont. I guarantee you will see it on all the Best of Boston lists in 2019. I was not into mocktails throughout my pregnancy but the bartender here does them justice; they are exceptionally crafted and were the price of an actual soda. (Although perhaps this was a birthday deal?!) The group can vouch for the cocktails being fantastic, too. 

I have included a photo of the menu since four of us shared about half of it. You will literally want every vegetable dish in that first section. I'm still swooning + Happy 35th Birthday to me!

Curried Mussels + Japanese Eggplant

Gimlet Mocktail

Black Trumpet Mushrooms

Lomo w cave aged Gruyere

Seared U10 Scallops

Chocolate + Cheese dessert plate

Country Mile

136 Belmont St

Watertown, MA 02472

Bromont | Eastern Townships, Québec

The next destination on our Québec road trip was the small city of Bromont in the Cantons de L'Est (Eastern Townships) region. We drove three hours south from Mont-Sainte-Anne to our accommodations at Hotel Château Bromont located at the base of the mountain. When arriving to town we stopped at the Musée du Chocolat café where we sipped exceptional cups of thick and frothy dark hot chocolates alongside fluffy crepes loaded with ham, asparagus and Gruyere cheese. The café hit the spot and is one not to miss if you are in town. Our late lunch fueled us up for what else but another evening of skiing!

I'm getting used to this road trip during the day - check into a new hotel - immediately hit the slopes at night - routine. The savvy folks who put together our itinerary were clearly onto something. With 100 lit trails, Bromont actually offers the most night skiing in North America. It was fun to explore lots of new terrain!

After many solid runs and a 1 beer après at the mountain we retreated to the classy Château Bromont for an elegant meal at their restaurant Quatre Canards. We tasted wines of the region alongside excellent local cuisine - an appetizer of creamy Trout Mousse ($11) with a homemade crouton, and for main courses: Lac Brome Duck Confit Breast ($33) in Frontenac sauce and an Old Fashioned Braised Beef ($31) in Quebec whiskey sauce with pink pepper mashed squash. 

The view from Quatre Canards as well as our third floor room lent a pretty picture over the valley and the edge of the ski trails. Our room offered a well appointed, spacious one story loft. We spent the rest of the evening curled up on the couch watching hilarious Canadian sitcoms and drinking more of that lovely local Québec wine - a bottle of 2013 Orpailleur Rouge which was provided in room (for purchase - a reasonable $26). I'm feeling really comfortable and settled here in Québec - and it is such a wonderful place to be.

Quatre Canards also offered a well rounded breakfast buffet - made to order crepes with local maple syrup and fresh fruit were my go-to. 

Next up on our Eastern Townships adventure - our day skiing at Mont Sutton and evening at Balnea Spa.

Bromont Montagne d'Experiences

150, Rue Champlain

Bromont, Québec, J2L 1A2

*our accommodations, ski tickets, and meals were covered by Tourisme Quebec. All opinions are my own*