Remembering a cool morning breakfast in Lisbon
Quase Café
The American South is having a scorching hot summer with temperatures often in the 90s Fahrenheit where we live. The heat index makes the outdoor temperature feel as if it is well over 100 degrees. Today’s humidity is 81% and the air is muggy.
When it’s hot, I like to remember cool - even cold - times.
In February, my spouse and I visited Lisbon for the first time. In packing for the trip, I had hesitated to bring sweaters and a coat, since we planned to spend most of our time in the Algarve. At the last moment, I decided to throw a couple of sweaters into my small suitcase. I wore a warm winter jacket on the flight to Portugal, since the jacket wouldn’t fit in my carry-on.
When we arrived in Lisbon, we began exploring the city on foot. We quickly learned the same temperature that feels cool for us at home felt cold in Portugal.
We tried a breakfast spot called Quase Cafe. The cafe was located on R. do Salvador and it had several tables outdoors, all of which were filled with customers.
Indoors, where we were seated, the cafe was light and airy and its windows were opened wide.
Despite all the layers I was wearing, I felt chilly. A winter breeze flowed through the restaurant. I looked around and spotted a crate with rolled up blankets neatly arranged. The crate was next to a bookshelf which held children’s books and toys.
I observed a server giving one of the blankets to a fellow customer, who draped the blanket around her shoulders. This was exactly what I needed. I got the server’s attention and requested a throw blanket, too. As soon as I threw the blanket over my legs, I warmed up.
For breakfast, I ordered carrot ginger juice and bruschetta with tomatoes. Everything was tasty.
As we approach September, hopefully, we will reach the end of a long, hot spell. On this humid afternoon, I vividly remember the cold morning, the open windows and the warm blanket the cafe’s staff provided.