At 4 p.m. in Lisbon, the temperature is 97, feels like 99. Just saying.

This morning , Michelle and crew flew back to the States on a TAP plane to Heathrow and a British Air flight home. Their plane was scheduled to leave at 7:30, so you can imagine what time they left their hotel. Of course, their plane left late, causing them to sprint at Heathrow, only to learn that their seconf plane was leaving late, too. Andrew and Izzy left our place this morning at 7:30 for their 11 a.m. plane across the Atlantic. Because Andrew was with Izzy, they were given priority treatment in every line and wound up at the gate with months to spare. All are flying states-bound now.

I went out early. Sat at a small cafe, had a pastry and coffee. My definite conclusion: Portugal has no idea how to make pastry, but makes excellent coffee. I walked around the neighborhood. Three used book stores. May never get to any of them. No big deal. I don’t read Portuguese. Did you know that?

We had lunch at a small cafe, where we sat outside on the sidewalk. No, I don’t mean next to the sidewalk. On the sidewalk. How do these little places make a living? This place had two counter chairs indoors and a few tables outside on the sidewalk seating maybe 15.

I would give my sandwich an A. It was a chicken salad (translated chicken paste) and I didn’t pay much attention to what else. Turned out to be greens, beets, pickles, tomatoes, and not a sandwich at all but a wrap. The wrap was much thinner and crisper at the edges than what you get at home. The taste was excellent.

While I haven’t found Portuguese fish to be as good as I expected, I have found that the Portuguese have a knack for good combinations. Also, I should say that Portuguese chips and fries are tops.

We finished eating and called an Uber which came in 4 minutes. We had 2 p.m. tickets at the aquarium (the Oceanarium). I was surprised it took over 30 minutes to get there. Big city.

Although it involves much walking, the aquarium is absolutely worth a visit. It takes you around the world, ocean by ocean. No fresh water river fish allowed. You follow the arrows to make two concentric circles and stop to see a film about the aquarium’s labs and vetinary activities.

Even though the aquarium was crowded with Catholic Youth among others, it was roomy enough to see everything.

A very nice Uber driver coming home. Learned a lot about Portugal’s economy. He said he understood Americans buying retirement properties. That was fine. But Portuguese who convert their homes to rental and air b&bs for tourists, they are the problem, driving up rents beyond what natives can afford. And he isn’t happy with remote workers from other countries who can pay the high rents to work from Lisbon.

We also talked about the Pope’s visit and Catholic Youth Day, which he says has paralyzed the city for 6 days and hurt the economy. Again, he doesn’t blame the teens who get a chance to see Lisbon, but they don’t spend money. And the Pope devastates mobility around the city. It was promoted as win-win. But it’s lose-lose.

I also read a bit about Portugal . Fertility rate is 1.43, well below replacement rate. Last year, for every 8 births, there 11 deaths. And lifespan is 81, so lifespan isn’t the reason. On another topic, there a many Blacks here, it appears. That’s because, until 1975 when the country divested itself of its colonials, Portuguese colonial subjects were automatically citizens. But the number of Lusoblacks (Remember that Lusitania = Portugal) is hard to figure. Portugal does not calculate races as we do. The child of a white Portuguese citizen and a Lusoblack, in Portugal, is not classified as Black, for example. At least that’s what I read.

Tomorrow we will talk about birthright citizenship.