Lisbon – Portugal
Docked early this morning – cruise completed. Great way to see the world. Nice final view from our deck of the April 25th Bridge (third longest suspension bridge in the world) and the statue of “Christ the King” modelled after similar statue in Rio.
Lisbon is a beautiful city – built on several hills and situated at the estuary of the Targus River. Unfortunately, weather is not so beautiful – warm and wet!
Very old city, like most European cities with various occupiers, however many of the buildings are “new” in comparison – much of the city was rebuilt after a massive earthquake in 1755 with a requirement that new buildings would be earthquake proof so some early timber work here formed basis for engineers today. During the rebuild wide avenues and large public squares were also designed and built. There are still lots of narrow streets though – taking the old tram today was fun – up steep hills, down steep hills and round tight corners – some streets just wide enough! Bit of an art to tram driving I think, hill starts, stop/starts, bit slow at times in the traffic and behind other trams and then off again.
The Hop-on, Hop-off bus proved a great way to get around. Route today took us around the central city – Baxia, surrounding areas and out to Belem. First up was the wide tree-lined Avendia Da Liberdade – replicating the Champs Elysee and then past key monuments, statues, points of interest and along the waterfront. Some really beautiful buildings, use of tiles and ornamentation. Some buildings definitely in need of some TLC.
We also went up in the 1901 elevator de Santa Justa – magnificent structure connecting lower and upper town levels. Great views of the city – also able to admire the patterns in the cobbled paving below.
A nice little port to warm us on our return to hotel – we were just a little wet! Hotel has lovely character – marble and tiles – where ‘tradition is upheld”.
Dinner at an authentic Portugese family restaurant just behind the hotel.
