Good morning, Lisbon. It's Wednesday, March 25, and we're looking at 22°C with overcast skies and no rain in the forecast. Yesterday the sirens wailed, tomorrow the schools go quiet. Let's get into it.
🌬️ AIR QUALITY: 26 (Good). Spring air off the Atlantic doing its job.
🗞️ TOP STORY
TEACHERS' STRIKE HITS PUBLIC SCHOOLS TOMORROW
If your kids are in Portuguese public schools, make backup plans for Thursday. FENPROF, the National Federation of Teachers, has called a 24-hour strike for tomorrow, March 26, affecting early childhood, primary, and secondary education across the country.
This is the second major disruption in a week. Monday's Fesinap public sector strike already created backlogs at AIMA, Social Security offices, hospitals, and the courts. Expect those delays to linger through the week.
The teachers' grievances run deep. They're pushing for full restoration of frozen service time by 2027, higher wages that keep pace with inflation, and resistance to what they see as creeping privatization of public education. FENPROF has been clear: if the government continues what they call a "weakening of state schools," the strikes won't stop.
For expat families navigating the Portuguese school system, this is a reminder of how different labor relations work here. Unlike the UK or US, Portuguese unions coordinate rolling strikes across sectors, and participation rates in education walkouts have been climbing. Some schools in Lisbon saw 11 out of 14 teachers walk out during recent actions.
Your best move: check your child's agrupamento website tonight. Schools are required to post minimum service notices, but the reality on the ground often differs from the official line.
Bottom line: If your kids are in public school, have a Plan B ready for Thursday.
⚡ QUICK HITS
Tsunami drill went off without incident. Yesterday's LisbonWave26 exercise tested all four waterfront sirens from Belém to Alcântara. Civil Protection teams walked evacuation routes, and the 30-minute test ran as planned. The city aims to have 10 sirens covering the full waterfront by 2029.
Strike backlog still biting. Monday's Fesinap action hit AIMA, Social Security, registries, and courts hard. If you had an appointment that got bumped, expect at least another week before things clear.
Blackout report released. ENTSO-E's 45-expert panel confirmed what we suspected: the April 2025 Iberian blackout was caused by cascading voltage failures and gaps in reactive power control. Portugal restored full power in 12 hours, Spain in 16. Recommendations include better coordination between REN and E-Redes.
Einaudi tonight. Ludovico Einaudi wraps up his two-night run at Coliseu dos Recreios at 9pm. Solo Piano tour. Tickets still available from €272.
🍽️ SPOT OF THE DAY
Do Beco started during lockdown as a bread delivery operation run by chef António José de Mello and his brother Lourenço. Now it's three locations and 34,000 Instagram followers, and the queues on weekends tell you everything.
The bread is the thing. Head baker Diego Haupenthal (formerly of Marquise) runs slow-fermented, stone-milled sourdough that's become a cult favorite among Lisbon's expat brunch crowd. But it's the inventive pastries that keep people coming back: passionfruit kouign-amann, matcha and strawberry tart, a kimchi bun that somehow works.
For something more substantial, the tornado omelette with kimchi is the signature, but the croissant croque monsieur and eggs Benedict both deliver. Coffee is batch brew or espresso, done properly.
Three locations: Rua Passos Manuel 106 (Estefânia, the original), Rua São João da Mata 18 (Santos/Lapa), and Rua Marquês Sá da Bandeira 46. All open 8am to 6pm daily, kitchen closes at 3:30pm. No reservations. Cards accepted. Expect to pay €15-20 for brunch with coffee.
Insider tip: Go early on weekdays. Weekend queues can hit 30 minutes. The Santos location tends to be slightly less crowded.
📅 WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK
Ludovico Einaudi (Tonight, Wed) Coliseu dos Recreios, 9pm, from €272. Final night.
Teachers' Strike (Thu March 26) Public schools, FENPROF. Check your agrupamento for minimum services.
MARO (Thu March 26) Coliseu dos Recreios. Eurovision 2022 breakout star, now a Grammy winner.
Harry Potter in Concert (Sat March 28) Sagres Campo Pequeno, 8:30pm, from €25. Full film with live orchestra.
Portugal vs Mexico (Sat March 28) Estadio Azteca, Mexico City. Friendly. Ronaldo out with hamstring injury.
📜 ON THIS DAY
March 25, 1957. In Rome, representatives from six countries signed the Treaty of Rome, creating the European Economic Community. France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg laid the foundation for what would become the European Union. Portugal was still under Salazar's dictatorship and wouldn't join for another 29 years, entering the EU on January 1, 1986. Today, 69 years after that signing, Portugal has been a Schengen member for over three decades, and 450 million Europeans can cross borders without showing a passport.
See you tomorrow morning.
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