One day in Lisbon, one night in Brussels – a tribute to Bruno Vultos

January 10th 2012. Arrival at “Santa Apolonia” station, Lisbon. Nice. Until the moment I get to the metro station and can’t buy a ticket because my card has expired. Can anyone explain to me how a magnetic card expires? I can understand that it gets damaged and it no longer allows trips to be uploaded but… expired? And how can a metro system not cater for passengers who do not speak Portuguese? In Porto, passengers can rest assured that whatever is said in Portuguese is immediately translated into English. Also, magnetic cards don’t just expire – they stay with you for many many years, therefore ensuring that the environment stays too. I guess this would be too much to ask in Lisbon – efficiency and environment friendliness, that is. God knows how difficult it is for the people living here to do two things at the same time. So much so that, whenever they speak Portuguese, one can only hear consonants – all the vowels are simply… inexistent. In any case, the point of coming here was not to have a good time – otherwise I would have stayed in Porto! – it was to catch a plane. And so I did.

January 12th 2012. Arrival to the airport, Brussels. Nice. Until the moment I look outside and see the rain falling. Can anyone explain to me how is it that it is raining in Brussels in the middle of Winter? I could expect this in August but… in January? And how can this city’s metro be so dirty? In Lisbon, passengers can rest assured that they will not get hepatitis when sitting or just holding on to another passenger. Also, when in Lisbon you can trust people to smile at you without immediately asking for money. I guess this would be too much to ask in Brussels – tidiness and friendliness, that is. God knows how difficult it is for the people living here to actually make an effort. So much so that the French speakers have actually found a way to shorten the words for “seventy” and “ninety”. In any case, the point of coming here was not to have a good time – otherwise I would have stayed in Lisbon! – it was to catch a plane. And so I will.

My apologies to all of you in Lisbon and Brussels, who I didn’t manage to catch-up with! I promise to make it up for you next time!