at 9:40 AM

As we met this week for dinner, I was the first to make a statement:

-Joaquim, this country's turning point for the worse occurred with the government of the Marquis.

-Oh yes, and I can date it exactly. It was November 1st, 1755, at 9:40 AM., Joaquim said.

We both laughed at the precision.

(Note: This was Sunday and All Saints Day. The earthquake followed by a powerful tsunami struck when a lot of people were at the mass. It killed 90 thousand or one third of Lisbon's 275 thousand population).