Day 51. Monday 28 April.

D knows that many scoff his extraordinary planning focus: generators, first aid kits, torches, red wine…(but T’s toothbrush needs new batteries and…!!!) 

At about 1100, just before heading out into another brilliant sunshine day, the power went off…all power, and internet and phone. Not to worry, we’ll just wander in the parkland nearby, get a coffee…use phone torch to get down 4 flights of stairs.

But….no cafes operating, traffic lights out, retail out…down at Oriente (biggest transport hub in Lisbon) thousands were milling, dragging suitcases down stairs, retail workers were enjoying sunshine and a smoko….a bit later retailers were guarding shop entrances.

There was no internet, no power and later we heard the goss that a ‘hack’ had struck Portugal and Spain (and later France was added). Oh well, we can go back to apartment and use gas for a coffee. Saw that there was some movement at nearby supermarket Cor, so perhaps we could get those batteries. It was Covid re-visited! Crowds were doing toilet paper, trolleys were overflowing, long queues at ATM and in store,  somehow checkouts were still operating and staff were managing. Just in case…we picked up bread, one potato, one onion, tomato juice (and a red) and in the frenzied atmosphere forgot the batteries.

Arrived at main entrance to apartment block…electronic key code not working of course and neither would the actual key provided. D was not impressed…Fortunately another resident arrived with a working key, so we were in. 

The afternoon passed and most frustrating issue was ‘not knowing what was happening’. T was temporarily pleased: we couldn’t go out because we had no sure way of getting back in, D was restless (wondering what the world was doing), we had no confirmed accommodation after Wednesday, was there enough fuel in the car to leave Lisbon? Could we get out of the car park? Service stations closed…no GPS…blah, blah, blah. Electricity dependence! But the bar across from our apartment was able to serve beers all afternoon, D observed from our 4th floor window. At 1830 D went out to learn what he could and T would be at front door to let him back in at 1900 for a team-change. 

A round of Scrabble started (before a proposed candlelight dinner – tea lights) and was abandoned when daylight faded. Candle lit, gas burner lit and then a cheer went up from below…lights came on next door building…then ours, another cheer. Still no internet or phone (10 hours outage)…Guess we’ll learn what it was all about in due course. Back to normal.

Dinner. Fish curry.