This trip is off to a bumpy start. I had a very short night on Friday as I had to finish some last minute programming and the first thing we learn at BER airport is that our flight from Lisbon to Rio has been delayed by 9 hours.

So instead of spending Sunday daytime on Copacabana beach in Rio as planned we got a Saturday night in Lisbon. Can’t deny I would have preferred the first option but we made the best of it by enjoying the very questionable dinner buffet at the hotel and browsing through the old town at night. What the Portuguese lack in culinary talent they make up for in cheerful spirits and good looks. There’s definitely a lovely vibe in this city where we stumble upon a night time marathon and people dancing to live music in the streets.

We’re now all gathered at the airport on this Sunday morning about to board the 10 hour flight to Rio with TAP Airlines. The taxi driver had the courtesy to reveal to us what TAP stands for: Take another plane! That sounds about right.