Nothing beats ice-cream in winter, and for the best authentic Italian scoops in Lisbon everyone goes to the legendary Santini parlour.
At the weekend we went to meet up with my Dad for lunch (and a spot of mussel-hunting!) and after a good stroll through Cascais we decided to fit in a trip to Santini, regardless of the cold! C was so happy slurping down his delicious chocolate and vanilla scoops, although complaining that it was too cold to eat, and could I please warm it up in the microwave (really!).
After saying goodbye to my dad, we wanted to make the most of this gorgeous day, so we hired some bikes and went on a ride which starts at the marina in Cascais and follows the sea until you reach the dunes of my favourite beach Guincho (no photos as we had left the camera in the car). The wind was cold and strong, and the roads were busy, but it felt like such a treat being able to do this – jump on a bike and witness these incredible views…we’re very lucky indeed.
Again our lack of planning worked in our favour and we really had the perfect relaxed Saturday, and C had some fun time with his avô (grandpa in Portuguese).
After spending the first two years of his life living in the UK, only seeing my family 2 or 3 times a year, it’s been really special to see C’s relationship with my parents develop, witness them become buddies and share moments like these. It’s not long now until we leave, and we are trying to spend as much time with family as possible – fully aware that moments like these make for memories that we will treasure forever.
(If you’re visiting Lisbon, you can find Santini in Chiado, on the beautiful Rua do Carmo, on their gorgeous van outside CCB (the cultural centre) or at the original shop in Cascais.)
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