“Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: The Lights Dim and We Are Live at the Academy Awards! Riot Police Called as Larry David Attacked by Penny and Bosco: Reggie Becomes a Swiftie: Chapter Seventy Six (76)

We hold our breath as the nominees for best song are announced. And the winner is…….Gordon Lightfoot for “Paco A Girl’s Best Friend”! Mr. Gordon Lightfoot grabs Bosco and me under his arms and carries us on the stage. He has 90 seconds to speak to the world. “I would like to thank the Academy. I would not be here without the inspiration that Reggie has given me. A street dog from Cairo who has conquered the hearts of millions. “Paco a Girl’s Best Friend” is my biggest hit ever. I’m finally big in Japan! Reggie I love you!” He then hoists me up over his head and then Bosco to thunderous applause.

Then it is the best special effects award. And the winner is Martin Malivoire for “A Dog Saved My Life”! Canada is cleaning up! That special effects fight between me and the saltwater crocodile was a masterpiece wrote Variety Magazine. Malivoire speaks, “None of this would have been possible without the love of my life Moira! Working with Nicole Kidman was like no other experience I have ever had. Frankly speaking before I met Nicole I thought her a beautiful woman. She remains a beautiful woman, second only to Moira of course but there is so much talent and devotion to film Nicole has. It is infectious. To all my friends in Beamsville WE DID IT!” Boy that Moira is jumping up and down! We Canadians can be frisky!

To the surprise of all just prior to the best actor in a lead role being announced the CEO of the Academy walks onto the stage announcing the Academy has withdrawn Dylan the Westie and Reggie as nominees for best actor and supporting actor. The CEO said board met this morning and made this difficult decision as there is no way we can call dogs actors said Mr. Big Wig. Instead a “special canine recognition award” will be given to Reggie for best animal in a lead role and to Dylan the Westie for best supporting canine. A crescendo of boos ripples throughout and is heard by millions.

Bob stands up and the world hears him shouting this decision is a sham! DETRIMENTAL RELIANCE he shouts repeatedly. Penny and Bosco run down the aisle and lunge at the ankles of the CEO of the Academy chasing him off stage. Mr. Gordon Lightfoot shouts, “OUTRAGE”. Russell Crowe pumps his fist shouting, “It is all because you hate Canadians! SHAME ON THE ACADEMY!”

How could such a sweetie pie like Penny be charged with assault?

Could matters deteriorate further? Larry David takes the stage saying, “This is no place for mangy, talentless and flea-bitten dogs like Dylan the Westie and Reggie the Muslim traitor dog one minute cuddling with the Ayatollah the next being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Reggie is the biggest con and he should have died on the streets of Cairo.”

My goodness Bob bellows out a stream of obscenities including, “Larry David, you filthy bustard. I am coming to teach you slanderer a lesson.” LD responds by saying Bob couldn’t write a traffic ticket. Bob rushes the stage but is restrained feet away from Larry David by security guards. Larry David roars in laughter and sticks a literal knife in Nicole Kidman’s back saying dogs were a stupid subject for “A Dog Saved My Life” and then calls the Hamilton Tiger Cats a bunch of losers.

A National Enquirer photo of Bob just prior to being pulled back after an attempted attack on Larry David

That was too much for the audience and they started pelting Larry David with food and chasing him off the stage. We hear the Los Angeles riot squad has been summoned and that Larry David is in protective custody.

The auditorium is a disaster zone. After an hour cleaning delay the broadcast resumes but not before a live feed of the Tiger Cat’s fans exploding in anger in Hamilton at Tim Horton’s Field and burning blowups of Larry David in effigy.

Mr. Gordon Lightfoot sings “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” to calm down the crowd and reinstate some respectability.

And the winner for Best Actress is Nicole Kidman for “A Dog Saved My Life. The crowd erupts but there is a stir. Why is Nicole walking away from the stage? What is the matter? Nicole has come to get us and she puts a double leash and takes Dylan the Westie and I to the stage. We sit at her feet. Nicole speaks, “I have had a close working relationship with Reggie and his pal Dylan the Westie. At Reggie’s screen test I knew this was the dog for the film. Obedient and he acted like he understood the human language and knowing him I think he understands us humans sometimes better than we know ourselves. Reggie and Dylan you have done yourselves proud. A very special thanks to my husband and two children here tonight for being without me as we filmed for 4 months in Darwin. Mr. David should you ever set foot in Darwin I fear for your safety.”

Nicole Kidman advises Larry David never to set foot in Darwin, Australia

The crowd is up on its feet chanting “REGGIE. DYLAN. NICOLE.”

Dylan the Westie and I are called up for our “animal awards”. Fay shouts out that we are not accepting a secondary award and that the award statuettes can go swim with the fishes. A gigantic swell of approval can be heard.

Then the last award is Best Picture “A Dog Saved My Life”. Nicole brings me, Dylan the Westie, Mr. Urban, Martin Malivoire and his wife Moira Saganski, Mr. Gordon Lightfoot, Fay and Bob on stage and we form a circle and jump around in pure joy as in this moment we are just happy children. Who would have believed this was possible given that bloody Saltie attack on the beaches of Darwin as we were filming the movie. Nicole says to the television audience simply a very big thank you including a notional hug to Poofy the Poodle who gave his life protecting cast members from the Saltie.

Nicole Kidman pays tribute to Poofy the Poodle who gave his life protecting the cast of “A Dog Saved My Life” from a Saltie

It is up in the air who the best actor and supporting actor are.

What a party afterwards! Dylan the Westie and I feel like movie stars. No wait. WE ARE MOVIE STARS! We meet so many famous people. Taylor Swift comes and gives a big hg to me and Dylan the Westie. I felt like fainting! I am now a SWIFTIE!  That Kelce guy is a lucky man! Robert de Niro wants to have us visit him in New York. Countless offers are made for film projects and Bob collected some 65 business cards. It is all a blur. Then the room goes silent and an announcement is made to watch the screens in the room. God bless his soul it is our friend Joe Biden who congratulates everyone in the room and gives a special shout out to “my good friends” Dylan and Reggie. This stuns most of the people in the room not knowing that two dogs are good friends of the American President. He explains Larry David is a secret operative of the MAGA gang this being the reason he verbally abused Reggie and Dylan the Westie. Joe will determine if he has the power to impeach Larry David.

One hug from Taylor and Reggie is a Swiftie!

At two in the morning the limo comes to take us back to Malibu. Dylan the Westie and I are so exhausted when we get back home Bob and Fay had to carry two sleeping dogs back to their doggie beds with a presidential seal on them.

We have a farewell breakfast and drive off to Palm Springs for a few days rest. Before we leave Bob and Fay invite Nicole and her family to our Toronto home for Canadian Thanksgiving. Joe and Jill Biden have also been invited. This may work! With Kim Jong-Un what a party this will be

RKS 2024 Film: “One Life”: Shuffles Along but Finishes with a Sprint

“One Life” is the story of dedicated volunteers in 1938 Prague attempting to whisk children (mostly Jewish) to safety in Britain by train with Nicholas “Nicky” Winton pressuring the British bureaucracy to issue exit visas to the children. Of course, being bureaucrats, they insisted 50 £ be posted as return money to return the children to their parents after the war ended. Winton also had to line up foster parents for the children.

Sudetenland was part of Czechoslovakia and neighboured Germany. Hoping to avoid war with Hitler it was ceded to Germany in 1938 which was an ominous omen for many Jews who had escaped, Austria and Germany to the “safety” of Czechoslovakia. The German invasion of Poland and occupation of Prague shut the door on further “rescues” of children from Prague.

Fearing the anticipated German occupation of Prague Winton managed to arrange for the evacuation of 669 children to the waiting arms of British foster parents. The young Nicky Winton (Johnny Flynn) worked tirelessly with Czech volunteers. The older Nicky (Anthony Hopkins) never wishes any praise for his work but in a poignant and emotional moment realizes what a tremendous task he has accomplished which is the most forceful scene in the film. This late self realization then mushrooms to national prominence through segments on a rather flitty and vacuous BBC television show “That’s Life”.

The film sputters initially like Hopkins shuffling about in a distracted fashion. It is the young Nicky that brings the film to life with some impressive period costuming. Lena Olin as the older Nicky’s wife seems ill cast and ill attired. Helena Bonham Carter as Nicky’s wife fails to impress. Hopkins is excellent as usual but as for script is given little to work with. If I see him readjusting his glasses one more time I will scream. It is Johnny Flynn’s film!

Director James Hawes.

Canadian theatrical release 14March2024.

RKS 2024 Film Rating 83/100.

“Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: On the Red Carpet: Larry David Smells Hostile: Bad News for Reggie and Dylan the Westie about Their Awards: Chapter Seventy Five (75)

Our limousines pull up in front of the Chinese Theatre. Cameras are wildly clicking. The paparazzi are busy this afternoon. Nicole and Mr. Urban are the honey and the press the flies. But as soon as we pull up behind Nicole and Mr. Urban we wait 60 seconds so as not to dull our buzz when we hop out of the limo. And when they see Reggie and Dylan the Westie there is a mad rush. You can imagine dogs on the red carpet are not common. Bob and Fay are ignored with a few reporters thinking they are dog handlers! The cameras move in and various network reps are shouting out questions. They need their questions answered about the Hamilton Tiger Cats jersey both Dylan the Westie and I are wearing. My Presidential Medal of Freedom is causing a stir. A scantily clad redhaired beauty escorts us to the photo board. Dylan the Westie and I ham it up with different poses. Nicole Kidman is getting the most attention and she deserves it. Go Nicole Go!

Then Moira Saganski and Martin Malivoire pull up with our pal Penny and there is a rush towards them but special effects guys are not juicy print so the rush focuses on the next limo arriving. So he has a few reporters approach him but of lesser import than the rest of Team Reggie. I see two reporters from Movie Tekkie Monthly and Popular Mechanics grilling the poor man about obscure SFX “technical stuff”. Eugene Levy senses his distress and pulls Martin to safety!

Martin Malivoire (pictured here) chats up a storm with Eugene Levy

Mr. Gordon Lightfoot is next arriving in a vintage East German Trabant causing a sensation. It is the cheapest car here! What a sense of humour that man has. What are Mr. Gordon Lightfoot and Taylor Swift discussing. It looks important.

Can you imagine the stir when Mr. Gordon Lightfoot caused arriving in a vintage Trabant the worst car ever made

Russell Crowe follows.

Team Reggie is all here!

Martin Malivoire is no stranger to award shows but the calmness is rapidly dissipating. The man has a bad case of the jitters. Adding to the pressure he says Hamilton’s Tim Horton Field, home of the Hamilton Tiger Cats, has 17,000 people watching the Academy Awards. They are so proud of me and Dylan the Westie wearing our Tiger Cats jersey and that Malivoire from Beamsville is in the hunt for an award as after all Beamsville borders on Hamilton. There are two live bands and a massive tailgate party. While Martin Malivoire is chatting with us Eugene Levy sidles up and starts resuming his talk with Malivoire about special effects and the film “Ghostbusters”. Martin Malivoire is delighted and they start talking about a new Eugene Levy film requiring special effects. Moira Saganski has her eyes laser focused on Caroline Katz a star of some Brit television show “Doc Martin”. Dazzled by Saganski’s Dior’s flowing emerald gown they are now best friends. How funny ladies can be! Haute couture and instant friendship!

Dylan the Westie and I meet many of the celebrities. Many have a far away and vacant look in their faces and have little of interest to say. Speaking of “looks” why is the host Larry David avoiding me. I thought we were buddies after meeting at my ABC screen test in New York but he has a hostile smell emanating from him and you know how accurate a dog’s sense of smell is. He is giving me the “Larry David squint and stare”. I have sinking feeling in my stomach telling me matters are not “pretty, pretty good”.

Bob takes us for a walk just before the televised event begins and we are surrounded by eager fans outside the venue wishing us the best.

Before entering the awards venue, a very red-faced delegation from the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences pulls Bob, Dylan the Westie and myself aside. We were told of some horrible news. Why is Larry David now smiling at us? It is a mocking smile.

“Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: Red Carpet at Academy Awards! Here We Come! Who is Wearing What? Chapter Seventy Four (74)

We have a quiet breakfast in our Malibu beach house prepared by Nicole’s housekeeper followed by a walk on the beach and poor Bob gets a sunburn so his face looks like a cherry!

Bob looks like Charles Aznavour with his mug burnt to a crisp. Bob is Mr. Lobster for a few hours then a rugged tan sets in. He is wearing his vintage 1964 Oleg Cassini tuxedo and lizard boots Mr. Urban has provided him with. Glasses by Fresco’s in Toronto.

Fay has selected a classic Yves St. Laurent gown designed and worn by Jane Fonda when she was 23 at Yves’ studio and later donated to the YSL museum in Paris and subsequently loaned to Fay although it had to be let out “just a bit”. Fay has been in “make-up” for close to two hours. I recognize her scent but her face? Is this the Fay I see in the morning in a bathrobe clutching a Westie themed mug full of steaming coffee. Her shoes and purse are Mr. Mavros from Athens. Jewelry by Bulgari.

Dylan the Westie and I are wearing our Hamilton Tiger Cats football team jerseys. Nicole’s housekeeper had worked so hard to remove the grass stains. Dylan has a diamond studded collar from Coach and Tiffany’s in New York. I am wearing a collar designed by Aboriginal Handicrafters in Darwin, Australia. There are over $350,967 AUD of inlaid tourmaline and opals all mined in the Northern Territories.

Moira Saganski, investment fund and venture capitalist , the most gracious wife of Martin Malivoire, is wearing a classic Chanel emerald coloured long billowing skirt and a wrap to match accompanied by a black velvet bustier with diamond studs matching a three diamond ring designed by the multi-talented Martin Malivoire himself and then created by an anonymous famous jeweler (on probation)  in Niagara-on-the-Lake located somewhere near the Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf and Country Club home of the most expensive truffle burger in Canada. Her watch is inlaid in a Cartier gold bracelet surrounded by diamonds. Yes the emerald themed gown matches her Irish skin and hair. Is this the Moira that lugs around cases of Moira Rosé at Malivoire Winery in construction boots and a Johnny Rotten T-Shirt?

With such a dazzling fashion sense can Martin Malivoire match such a stunningly attired wife? Definitely not but he tries with a vintage Issi Miyake tuxedo and beautiful handcrafted Italian shoes from Barolo’s famous shoemaking shop in Cerrato, Piedmont. I hear Moira mumbling, “No way my man is ever wearing those damn shiny patent leather jobs.”

And Penny, Moira and Martin’s oodle and a damn fine and brave Oodlecopter pilot with her beautiful coat of fur which no designer outfit could ever compliment is wearing a simple leather collar studded with Northwest Territory diamonds. It is designed by the exclusive Chien Boutique in Stoney Creek.

Nicole looks smashing with so many designers to be mentioned it is better not to! Mr. Urban wears a Mod Top Rockers Brighton Beach Beatle’s suit and vintage Frye boots. We hop into the limo and arrive at the Red Carpet which is jammed full of movie stars, models and celebrities.

I am in a dream but so deep in it I must say “Red Carpet” is a misnomer as the carpet is Champagne coloured. But all ignore that stupid gaffe and still refer to the carpet as red.

RKS Literature: Of What Use Are Children’s Playthings (Vonnegut)

“As anyone who has experimented extensively with life in the home and community, using real people in true-life situations, I doubt that any playthings could prepare a child for one millionth of what is going to hit him in the teeth, ready or not.”

Kurt Vonnegut Jr., “Mother Night”, 1961

RKS Literature: Schizophrenia a Boon to Mankind (Vonnegut)

“The experience of sitting there in the dark, hearing the things I said, didn’t shock me. It might be helpful in my defence to say that I broke into a cold sweat, or some such nonsense. But I’ve always known what I did. I’ve always been able to live with what I did. How? Through that simple and widespread boon to modern mankind-schizophrenia.”

Kurt Vonnegut, “Mother Night”, 1961

“Travels to a Different Time” : 25July2005: Lagos, Portugal: BBQ Chicken and Saturday Night at the Bullfights

By God, another buffet breakfast. Yes they are excellent but when will they ever end? Almost as if there is too much choice with foods we simply do not have in Canada. The cheeses and the eggs are unbelievably good. The watermelon was particularly sweet this morning. There was a Brit dad with his young daughter but no mother. I am thinking he has custody for vacation time. We headed up the to the hills. Higher and higher on a dusty dirt road. As we climbed upwards the vegetation turned from brown to green. We arrived at a small-town Monchique and parked in a side street then a rather ancient Portuguese couple came to greet us speaking German. Do we look like Deutschlanders? Up the stairs to the fountain then back down to the town square. Had some Sumol at a café. We headed up higher in the mountains much to the terror of a certain passenger. A spectacular road and much red soil and sparse green vegetation. Reminiscent of Sedona in Arizona. On our way back down stopped at a shoe warehouse and purchased a few pairs of shoes. Very high-quality leather here in Portugal. I wonder how long that shoemaking tradition will last? As we were heading to Lisbon tomorrow for our flight back to Toronto we had our “last swim”. We passed by a beach soccer tournament and a dance contest. More interesting was watching the cliff diving. Poor Andrew’s damp bathing suit gave him some crotch rot so it was a painful walk home for him. Luckily I had some cream in the room which was applied and gave some relief. So a last night at the telly eating Frango Assado (two whole chickens), salad, and fries for 15 Euros. After Saturday night at the bull fights broadcast from nearby Spain.

“Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog”: The Final Cut: Will the Canadians Shine at the Academy Awards? Go Go “A Dog Saved My Life”!!!: LD to Host Academy Awards! Chapter Seventy Three (73)

We had an uneventful flight from Dulles to LAX. Nicole had arranged for a limo to take us to her Malibu home and when we arrived at her spectacular home the housekeeper took us to the beach guest house and then returned with a huge platter of sushi. Nicole, Mr. Urban and their children Faith and Sunday were out at a party but Nicole left us a note welcoming us and that she and her family were looking forward to meeting us for a pre-ceremony breakfast tomorrow at the main house. We had our sushi and went for an evening walk on the beach. Dylan the Westie hates water with a passion so we stayed a good distance from the water. Oh it is so calming to smell the saltwater and hear the waves! Thank goodness there are no saltwater crocodiles in Malibu…at least that is what Nicole said in her note. We Canadians are all too aware of the danger of Salties!

We were so very tired we were in bed sound asleep by 10 p.m. which is 1 a.m. Toronto time. We awoke to a beautiful sunny day. Nicole gave us a call and we headed up to the main house for breakfast. It was great seeing Nicole again! Mr. Urban is a friendly guy and her children Faith and Sunday are well mannered and right after breakfast the children take us to the grounds to chase tennis balls. The humans chat away drinking tea. Nicole tells us we have a press conference at a nearby hotel at three with me, Dylan the Westie, Mr. Gordon Lightfoot, Martin Malivoire, Russell Crowe and Nicole. I have been in so many of these media scrums they rarely excite me but I AM VERY EXCITED THIS TIME! The usual questions. Been there done that! Word is out about our Presidential Medal of Freedom. At the entrance of the hotel there are hundreds of children clamouring to see me and Dylan the Westie. Nicole’s management team hands out pictures of me and Dylan the Westie with our paw prints on them! Nicole is a very smart lady and has a great head for business.

Nicole has invited Mr. Gordon Lightfoot, Martin Malivoire and his charming wife Moira who we have met for the first time (although Bob has known Moira for years) and Russell Crowe for dinner in a private dining room in a nearby ritzy restaurant. And yes Mr. Gordon Lightfoot starts the evening off by singing to the entire restaurant “Paco A Girl’s Best Friend” and then Mr. Urban and Mr. Gordon Lightfoot sing and play “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” like never heard before. They had been rehearsing that for a few hours. Mr. Gordon Lightfoot and Mr. Urban are going to collaborate on Mr. Urban’s new album! While adults were dining Julian (Nicole’s rescue oodle), Bosco, Dylan the Westie have a quiet supper and go for an after dinner walk on the beach. Dylan the Westie strayed a bit and returned howling in terror thinking he just saw a Saltie on the beach! On closer inspection it was a log….thank goodness. We do not laugh.

Bob was in high spirits when back at the beach house. Over dessert at the restaurant Mr. Urban smiled and said, “Here is the bald fuck.” That bald fuck was Larry David who we had run into at my ABC screen test in New York. He will be hosting the Academy Awards ceremony.

Tomorrow night is the big night and WE HOPE TO RETURN HOME BIG!

The Penniless Pensioner and A Campanian Wine: Memories of His Murdered Wife

I am uncertain how many of you know me. You will soon be able to read more about me in the Final Cut of my autobiography “The Penniless Pensioner”. Rest assured I am not a crotchety Mr. Otto or Mr. Wilson character timidly nibbling on a can of cat food with toasted stale reduced Wonder Bread although some may say my brief stint with Bernie Madoff may have created a few truly penniless pensioners. But I was acquitted!

My pedigree is a man of adventure including scoring goals in a Canadian hockey game against Ken Dryden, running a Napoli narcotics operation, having my beautiful wife Lola murdered in a Campanian hit, hanging out with John and Oko and staging a Romanian hit or two for starters. And that huge Russian drone purchase I sabotaged. But until I am revived you are stuck with some of my thoughts on wine and this case full of haunting memories of Lola my murdered wife.

My dear departed Lola!

Aroma: Just the right amount of oak has imparted a toasty aroma and in fact almost creating a creamy aroma. A variety of rich black fruits so well melded together it is difficult to describe them individually. Can we throw out a compliment and say well blended!

Palate: Heaps more black fruit particularly black cherry and cherry liqueur but all said and done a bit harsh and diffuse which needs a bit more time to smooth out.

Personality: Reminds me of a loyal follower of mine when I was a Campanian narcotic Don Peniless. Simple, strong and unswervingly loyal but a bit intellectually deficient.

Food Match: With my beloved Napoli pizza and only Napoli and never Roma!!

Cellarbility: Drink by 2027-year end.

Price: $14.95 CDN (Ontario).

Penniless Pensioner 2024 Rating: 87/100. Wine Align 89.

(Rinomata Cantina Tombacco 2021, Aglianico Del Beneventano IGT, VI.TO.S.R.L., Trebbaseleghe, Italy, 750 mL,14%).

“Travels to a Different Time”: 22July2005: Lagos, Portugal: How Do You Tell a Brit in Portugal? Off to the End of The World

Breakfast at Hotel Tivoli was described as “lavish” on the hotel’s website. We have had some breakfasts in Portugal that were lavish and this buffet breakfast is tasty especially the fried eggs and baked beans. We wouldn’t however call this buffet breakfast as lavish. There are so many Brits here who simply must have their eggs, beans and toast for brekkie which taste delicious after a night at the many British and Irish pubs. Look for pasty people with beans and toast on their plates that then head to the pub and you have the life of a Brit tourist! No doubt McDonalds will be here soon. The breakfast room is a large factory feeding huge amounts of people. We managed to snag a table by the window with the crowds beginning to thin out. Lots of fresh fruit, whole wheat breads and a good selection of Portuguese cheeses. Strange though the coffee comes from machines you must go to and press a button for the type of coffee you want.

In the car drove to Cabo do Säo Viconte the End of The World so called as it is the most southwestern part of Europe jutting out into the Atlantic so people in earlier days thought they were at the end of the world. There was a tremendous scenic lookout where you saw cliffs leading to Sagres, the Sagres fort, and the Sagres lighthouse. A beautiful, deserted beach below. The lighthouse emits the most powerful beam of light in all of Europe. A very steep cliff and below very rough and crashing surf. Not part of the guidebook was a tourist urinating between two garbage cans at the far end of the parking lot. There was a food truck selling rather disappointing “home cooked fare” to a large group of rather “rotund” German tourists. There was also a burger wagon, a donut wagon, a bratwurst wagon and a nut wagon. Another stall sold sweaters. So much for rustic as most of the vendors accepted American Express cards. Wonderful tawdry and commercial views in the parking lot. I perpetuated this touristic circus by purchasing almonds, dried apricots, almond covered figs and honey from an old, grizzled farmer. Superb dried apricots. Next stop was the Fortaleza do Sagres with a gigantic compass in its front. A legacy of Henry the Navigator. There was a very rustic and simple chapel. And a sushi shop near the gift shop! On our return trip stopped at a ceramic factory with innumerable rows of merchandise. We bought a few ceramic bowls but our limited luggage space kept our purchases minimal.

Stopped at a small market where I bought some shaving cream and a couple of toothbrushes. There was a large lineup to purchase lottery tickets. A massive jackpot of 77 million Euros to the winner. Once back at the Tivoli Fotini had a bath and Andrew and I hit the beach. We managed to secure a table at Gilberto’s where we could not get into last night. We started off with clams while I had the octopus stew in a battered tinpot while Andrew and Fotini split a Cataplana. We walked the streets after dinner and many of the shops are high end unlike the tawdry tourist shops at Nazare. You hear many languages spoken on the streets but still there are plenty of Portuguese tourists as well.