Bring Me Your Mugs Friday Links

The word Mugs will always make me think of one of my childhood best friends, Margaret "Mugs" Gillespie. I gave her that nickname. Not 100% sure why, but it really seemed to suit her, and she is still often called that today. It's a great nickname, which is a great art. Enough tangential thinking though. I bring up Mugs because in a great coup of psychological marketing (at least for people like me) Intelligentsia has thought to give St Vincent her own coffee.

It's 22 dollars.  I definitely still bought it. (Jesus Saves. I Spend.) It's delicious and bright... (Orange marmalade, brown sugar, lime zest....) because Annie Clark is a goddess who is incapable of making a misstep. The title is a reference to her song "Bring Me Your Loves." Which I and the good people of Intelligentsia clearly do.

They also sell her album on vinyl there. If I didn't already own the record (on vinyl) I'd have bought that too.

More with the links though! And happy Friday!

- Speaking of coffee, apparently the best latte in America is in my neighborhood. I shall report back.

- Andrew Keenan-Bolger as a hobo clown. How are you so wonderful always? Also, how are you 29 already, sweet pal?

- People who don't want to be right (factually.) Boy am I NOT one of these people.

- Fox Cancels "I Wanna Marry Harry." Maybe there is hope for America.

- Guys, donate to Reading Rainbow. Because books are good and I don't want us to be so stupid.

- Portugal. Yum.

- This isn't what I'd do with 36 hours in Edinburgh, but I support any activities there.

- The honey moon and Friday the 13th.

Mysteries of Lisbon

How did I miss this? Even before I knew that this movie was in Portuguese, or that it was set in Lisbon, I saw the first frames of this preview (which came right before this atrocious flick) I knew this was a costume drama for me!! You mean, it's like a Portuguese combo of Dickens and Victor Hugo??? Sign me up! And! It's four and half hours long. Bonus. 


Based on the book by Portuguese writer Camilo Castelo Branco, Mysteries of Lisbon tells the story of an orphan in search of his identity across Portugal, Italy, France and Brazil. I haven't actually seen it yet, but am currently devising a plan to track it down. Miguel, have you seen it? Thoughts? I almost couldn't believe from the preview that it was shot in digital. It actually started as a 6 part mini-series, so I think actually I should probably watch all six hours...right?  


I mean, listen, it's not that costume dramas are the only things I like... it's just that they satisfy a very specific escapist part of my character that other genres can't. My love of them has been kindly and mildly mocked by my best friend since we were kids. Everyone needs dorky, hopefully endearing loves. This is one of my many. What's yours?

One day in Lisbon- Part 4- Sunset & After

Because the fun never stops in Lisbon, after Sintra, we went cruising down the coastline, to check out Portugal's famous beaches. I dared to dream and brought a swimsuit on the Spain/Portugal trip, and even though I still didn't end up wearing it, I loved the moments I got to stand in the sunshine on Cascais, Estoril, Azenhas do Mar and a few other hot spots I've forgotten the names of now. 

After that, we went with both Miguel's parents to a beautiful waterfront restaurant. Such fun. You guys, did you know there's such a thing as mustard butter?? Well there is, and it is delicious. Put it on steak. Just trust me. I love Spanish food, but Portuguese food just wins as far as I'm concerned. 

We wrapped up the day from could-have-been-hell, but instead was from heaven, with a drive through some of Lisbon's more modern business sector. The lights were gorgeous and as my eyes started to droop from an action-packed day, I tried to count all the things we'd seen I'd never have seen otherwise. Seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, five palaces, five beaches, 2 coffees, 2 beers, one pot of  mustard butter. Clearly, somewhere, I was being looked out for. 

From the safety of my Edinburgh flat, several days later, my friend Gretchen listened to this story and said in her adorable Gretchen way, "Eff you, man. Just eff you. Who ARE you? Man, even when you LOSE, you WIN."

I laughed and laughed because, she's right. I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I am the luckiest bitch alive. Maybe the world knows I feel a little tinge over what I lack in family. Because I just keep finding and being accepted on so many sweet and unexpected levels into surrogate families around the world. It's a concept I've been in love with and writing about for quite some time. So, to all my surrogate families out there-- you know who you are-- I continue to send my boundless gratitude out into the cosmos to you. 

One Day in Lisbon- Part 3- Views from Sintra

View from Seteais

Palacio da Regaleira 

Interior details abound- Amazing tile mosaic floors 

To think, at one point I had chalked the trip up for lost, but instead, we even got to go to Sintra. There are so many things to see there, we easily could have made a whole weekend out of it (and I recommend it, if you have the time) but even for just a few hours, we saw a lot. Even if we opted just for the exteriors of most places. 

I was really hitting up the UNESCO World Heritage sites, let me tell you. And the one castle we did take the full tour of was Quinta da Regaleira. Built by an Italian architect for a Portuguese/Brazilian millionaire, you can see the Manueline influences. Known for its gardens and mystic tunnels, it was Miguel's suggestion for "if you only see one palace." So that's what we did. I especially dug the interior details and outside, the Fountain of Abundance. You know how much I dig abundance. 

We also took in views from Englishman-built Monserrate and Seteais, the palace Miguel's dad said he would buy if he could. I can see why. Stately, neoclassical, and with one of the most amazing terrace views I've ever ever seen.

We even did some drive-bys of Queluz and Pena. (No joke.) Basically, for a castle-lover like me, my brain was short-circuiting. Sintra is like castle cat-nip. I was cracked out. It was amaaaaazing. 

One Day in Lisbon- Part 2- Jeronimos Monastery of Belém

Stop number 3 on the tour de force of Lisbon was this gorgeous place. For a girl raised Buddhist, I've always had kind of a thing for churches or any kind of place of worship. I think YTI really sealed the deal on that one. For someone with an often chaotic mind, they do seem to be more peaceful than most other places. 

It was pretty crowded, but Miguel's dad was still able to give us a pretty great history lesson about the people who make Jeronimos their final resting place, including two very famous Portuguese poets I need to become more familiar with-- can anyone recommend some quality English translations of Pessoa or Camões? You know a sad thing about Camões? Huge sections of his work were lost in his lifetime. Something about modern scholars knowing they existed, but don't exist anymore... very mono no aware. 

In addition to those fine gents, there are also various monarchs and their families-- one named Manuel "The Fortunate." Which I think is a very bitchin' royal moniker. I think I'd like to name myself "Ryann the Fortunate." That's how I feel. 

One day in Lisbon- Part 1- Belém Tower & Pasteis de Belém

I'm going to take you through everything I did in one day, namely, Wednesday June 22 2011. It's just proof of how much you can actually see if you're lucky, and have the right people around you. Even if you have to take two fairly extensive stops at the US Embassy, I want you to know the possibilities, if you're open to them. 
Stop 1: Embassy. (I'm going to have a whole post on that, so, just hold.)
Stop 2:

The first in much much Manueline architecture we were about to see, it really does look like a floating tower in high tide. Sadly, the tide was mostly out when we visited, and at that point, I couldn't even believe I was doing anything in Lisbon outside the embassy. 


Stop 3: We had seen and been tempted by Portuguese pastries up until that point, but we finally caved at Pasteis de Belem. You know, religion is funny. Look at all the things people have built in the name of God and then torn down... When convents and monasteries were shut down after the revolution of 1820, they essentially just moved next door to the Jerónimos Monastery and started baking! (Obviously with excellent results.)

For now, let's just say this about Lisbon

Maybe you've heard about my adventures these past few days. I'm going to talk about them in detail next week. (I have some tips for travelers!) But for now, let's just look at how beautiful this city is, even on a walk home from the police station. And let's just say, the last week or so has been so full of surprises, that I need the weekend to unpack. 


I get surprised a lot-- it's maybe my favorite thing about life not only because it keeps it interesting, but because it keeps the know-it-all in me in check. Every time I've ever thought I had it all figured out.... Then there's the thing I never saw coming. But not just the stolen purse, or the person I finally thought I'd left behind moving (internationally!) to my city. Not just the events. But the way people respond to them. The way I have changed the way I respond to things over the years. 


I moved to Scotland to change my life. Two of the primary ways I wanted to change my life were 1. in my relationship to stress and 2. my relationship to being open to trust. The trusting of other people and the trusting of the universe. (And let's just say that these relationships are all linked....)


And let's just say that over and over again, in countless ways, those relationships have changed for the better since moving. Because any situation I think is going to cause me the kind of stress that was practically crippling by the end in New York... anymore... I just can't muster the will to feel stressed out about...when measured against the weight of my fortune, of my appreciation. 


And the way people react to me and for me continues to utterly surprise the hell out of me. People, man. They are fascinating and amazing and mysterious as shit. And there are a lot of cowards out there, but I'm happy and thankful to say that more and more, my world is populated with heroes of the everyday. 


And so let's just say that I am always thinking about appreciation.  It's nice when you realize that what--once upon a time-- would have made you feel like a victim, now only makes you feel more connected, more like the luckiest. I appreciate the reminder. And I appreciate the people who link those reminders together. 

Lisbon, You are one tricky bitch

This is my first post from an iPad. Lisbon is definitely kicking ass in the food department, but the wifi department, not so much. I have to type here and sadly have none of the beautiful Lisbon pics I have been taking to show you due to some iPad browser restrictions.


Our little studio is beautiful and we are loving walking around, but I don't recommend Lisbon on a sprained ankle. The steep hills around here make Edinburgh look flat. And the beautiful tiles that pave the streets are slippery devils. Erin and I might both have sprained ankles by the time we leave here. If we can find our way out of here. Let's just say there are not a lot of through streets in this bright beautiful city, but a lot of places to get lost. It's the kind of city you want to get lost in with the right person. 


Note: Just moments after posting this, my bag was stolen from the coffee shop we went to get internet, resulting in the only time in the year and a half I've been running this blog where I did not post daily. I'm pretty sad about that. But what I got from the experience has turned out to be pretty good. More to follow.

#problemspeoplehaveinlisbon

Yesterday, I was on a kind of endorphin high from booking so many cheap flights to sweet destinations. Once I get my wheels spinning, it's best just to let me run my course until I've planned every detail from here to ten years from here. 


I booked flights for Aly and me to Dublin, for Aly, Erin and me to Madrid, me to Lisbon. I looked at places for Aly and I to go while she's here in Scotland. From our tour of the Glen Grant distillery (that Aly was personally invited to come check out-- more on that later) to the seat of the Campbell Clan (Aly's definitely got to check out her ancestral home on her first trip!) we'll be making a big counter-clockwise loop around Northern Scotland. 


While I was planning the Lisbon leg of the trip (it's like 20 Euros to get to Lisbon, seriously.) Kris and I discovered that there were no flights on Fridays, so we'd have to stay an extra day. Which got us thinking about all the terrible problems you might have in a place like Lisbon-- a total unsung hero, it seems, of the amazing trip lineup. 


It went a little something like this:

 it would not suck if we HAD to stay in portugal for another gd day. OH crap

stuck in beautiful seaside paradise

guess i'll stay! TOO SUNNY CAN'T SEE WAY TO AIRPORT MUST STAY #problemspeoplehaveinlisbon

CAN'T UNDERSTAND PORTUGUESE ACCIDENTALLY USED SPF 23 INSTEAD OF 15 #problemspeoplehaveinlisbon

WAVES TOO SMALL FOR SURFING, SNORKEL INSTEAD #problemspeoplehaveinlisbon

MAKE ACCIDENTAL SLIP AND USE SPANISH, AWKWARDNESS LEADS TO INVITE TO SECRET STREET PARTY#problemspeoplehaveinlisbon 

(incidentally, apparently this "street party" phenomenon is a real thing. Street parties! )

And of course, we'll listen to some Walkmen. When we're "stranded." On the beach. It's Friday. If I were you, I'd just go ahead and plan a trip somewhere. Even if it's only an imaginary trip.