While you kids were partying like there’s no tomorrow I was checking some culture in the capital of Portugal; Lisbon. I’m not going to bore you with the details about it. Only the funky stuff.

The city is worth a visit, no doubt. It’s got culture, great food and fine weather. Some 10 degrees hotter than over here this time of year. And apparently that’s "freezing" to the locals. I enjoyed it although I didn’t dare to walk around in t-shirt seeing everybody else wearing puffy coats and everything. Never look like a tourist is my personal guideline number 1 when on holiday.

The thing I wanted to visit the most was the Expo ‘98 site. A whole part of town with modern architecture is more my thing than the ancient tourist infested area’s (which I did also). The Portuguese pavilion by Alvaro Siza with the curbed concrete roof has always been a favorite of mine but experiencing it live was incredible. Work of genius.

Second high of the trip was the food. Portuguese love the sturdy stuff. Heavy food that fills your stomach preferably with some bacalhau (cod) in it. Especially the Grehlados thing we did was a revelation. We need something like that here. Take away food with style. Damn good. The beer’s drinkable too. Superbock and certainly Sagres are good fuel.

Talking about style. Lisbon natives a have it plenty. Love the way most young people were dressed. Simple but classy. Fell in love more than once. Stylish, dark haired women not too shy to show some leg are a winner with me. Haha.

Went to a Hiphop Festival. Checking the state of the Portuguese variant of this genre. Not too convinced by what I saw. But had a good laugh anyway. And enjoyed the halfpipe action and some of the graffiti. More people than on a similar event over here I must say.

And then the vinyl. Seems like I can’t visit a city without stumbling on some dusty crates screaming at me to be checked. Found some nice ones in a shop like Sergio Mendes’ "Love Music" (great tune) and David Joseph’s "You can’t hide". But the greatest discoveries I did, together with my host, at a flea market in Cascais, a town near the sea a couple of miles from Lisbon. For nearly nothing picked up things like Jeanette Lady Day (the good one on Prelude), Angela Bofill (not the one I’m looking for but still banging), Kym Mazelle (Useless on 12"), even some T.C. Matic and a record you’ll here a lot in my sets the coming weeks (it’s just too funny not to use it). Even crossed Lefto’s Blue Note record in the crates of the shop we visited. Anyway had a good hunt, without really going for it.

Getting back was a bit of a bummer. Didn’t feel like it. Could have stayed a bit longer but duty called.

Anyway, a big, big thanks to Elsa and Kris for the wonderful hosting. I really enjoyed it. I’ll be back. When Kris will be resident in Club Lux and I the main guest in the main room. Only kidding about that last part.