Finally, at a quayside two cars release us to uncoil and stretch, the third turns up later having gone to another restaurant of the same name. A further wait and the whole group is together.
Outside the restaurant is a 3 metre high copper vat used in brewing; this used to be a brewery, but inside has been converted into a light, open dining area.
The lights are the biggest I have ever seen indoors, the photo rather hides that each of the globes is about a metre diameter.
To match the copper vat outside my meal is served in a copper coated container. It carries a traditional dish of flaked cod in a mesh of tiny fried potato chips, with egg and coriander. It is absolutely delicious.
Several of our party are Brazilian Christians; I must ask them one day how they manage to smile so much and to love life as they obviously do.
27 February 2011