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5 June: Lisbon

We had a big day of exploring and walking around Lisbon. Still no bags, which was a worry when we set out for breakfast. We are just eating twice a day and that seems to be working well.

This place was around the corner. They had an everything brunch for 19€ which all chose and couldn’t finish.

We may go back for another brunch: sour dough bread roll with butter and jam, croissant, yoghurt with granola and strawberries, smoked salmon with scrambled egg and weeds, and coffee. Oh and fresh squeezed orange juice.

We then set off to find the tourist information place. A sightseeing hawker with the gift of the gab sent us in the wrong direction (probably hoping we’d give up and come back for his 90 minute tour in a vintage car. We didn’t, but we found some sights on the way).

These vintage cars and blinged up tuktuks are everywhere.
This is apparently the main square where the hop on hop off buses go. I’m calling it Jacaranda Square.
There are loads of ruined looking churches that are now museums.
Very pretty streets and squares everywhere though it’s very hilly. Like San Francisco not just because of the bridge.
We walked up the hill and found the back entrance to the top of the elevator. Thanks for the tip Craig!
Museum next door to elevator
It looks like this in most directions
That’s the castle on the hill. It’s not what was lit up in yesterday’s photo!
That’s what we were looking at lit up. It’s another church turned into museum although the clock chimes on the hour and half hour.

We found the tourist place and had a large glass of coke while we checked out brochures. We got a 2 day hop on hop off bus ticket that includes a boat loop down the harbour and back.

The bags had arrived when we arrived back for a bathroom stop. What a relief, not least because Mike has something to change into. I at least had some clothes in my carry on bag.

This is the museum by the clock tower. The wall of flowers is very colourful.
Looking back down on the journey up to the castle.
View from the lower castle grounds
I was trying to get us and the peacocks in the tree. My arms are not long enough.
There is quite a flock of peacocks at the castle. Mikes Mum would have had a fit. Peacocks are bad luck in India (according to Audrey!)
Peahens with chicks
Main entrance to castle
There are loads of stairs of various heights and occasional handrails.
Great views. Note the elevator in the centre left of the photo where we’d been that morning
Tiles are a feature of Lisbon. They are randomly on loads of exterior and interior walls.
Sangrias all around on the way down.
Then onto the boat for the cruise before dinner.
Another elevator. This one up to a heritage site.
If it’s good enough for Rio…

The Christ the redeemer statue was apparently built to fulfil a promise to the people after not joining WWll. Odd promise.

Automobiles on top and trains under
This is a sculpture to commemorate Portugals explorers and mariners.
A former power station it is now (together with the spaceship building next door) the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology.
I assume this is the architecture wing
Looking back towards the castle on the hill from the River Tagus
Inside the metro and ferry terminal

We chose a restaurant around the corner. It’s pretty random choosing but we are looking for Portuguese food, which so far is yummy.

This soupy rice and seafood casserole was entirely for me and thoroughly delicious. Mike assisted but we still didn’t finish it.

They gave us complementary port following the meal. Our first since arriving in Portugal. This is a nice place.