I was picked up from Lisbon airport last night by Cristina Santiago and Liliane Padua, who some years back formed iZi Palestras, the “first international speakers bureau in Portugal”, and was taken across to the Pestana Palace, a hotel which is also a national monument. On my way to breakfast this morning, I met Sean Ansett, who I used to know when he was with Gap, and together we peered into the chapel that forms part of the complex. Something of a Hugh Buchanan (a favourite painter) moment, with shaft of sunlight illuminating furniture.
Then across to the conference centre for an introduction to the event by the Secretary of State for Employment – and my speech, followed by a discussion session. Then a media interview, followed by lunch with Helena Caiado and others, before Cristina and Liliane took me for a delightful drive and wander around parts of the city.
Got onto the Airbus 320 late in the day and switched on my BlackBerry to find out what had happened in the Mumbai attacks, to find that an A320 had just crashed in the Mediterranean. Sometimes you can have too much information.
Morning curtain, Pestana Palace 
Hugh Buchanan moment 
Golden Gate’s cousin: 25 de Abril Bridge 
Picturesque, but unpleasant things happened in the Belem Tower, apparently 
Belem Tower, 2
Age of Discovery: monument to Portugal’s glory days
Discoveries Monument 2 
Cristina and Liliane 
Liliane and Cristina
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