DAY 7 : PORTUGAL : LISBON

Weather : cloudy, cool ; 16o



LISBON 

 

 

There are several ways that we can get around

our precinct, Bairro Alto - straight down and up...

 

 

or up the many scenic stairways ...

 

or in an ascensor which we discovered

behind a building facade - definitely a

sensible way to cope with these hills.

 

Lots to see - Lisbon high fashion!

I looked at this and thought how

lucky we were that we didn't have

to avail ourselves of any of these

supports over the last few months!

 

Can't get enough of these tiled buildings.

 

Impromptu musicians blast music up and down

the street nearby.

 

CALOUSE BULBENKIAN MUSEUM

 

We visited the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.

He was a collector and donated his estate to

Portuguese people. An exquisite collection of

Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Byzantine artefacts...

European sculpture, paintings, books...

and an extensive range of furniture and art deco

bracelets and hair combs.

www.museu.gulbenkian.pt

 

BELEM PRECINCT

 

We took the red bus to Belem - an outer precinct

of Lisbon along the river. We explored the

church adjacent to the Monastery of St Jerome.

Built in the 16th century to house the remains

of the royal family. (The monarchy ended with

self-exile  in 1910.)

The tomb of Vasco da Gama is in the monastery church.

The exciting aspect of Belem was that the

Portuguese tart was created here. We

stumbled across Pasteis de Belem, where they

have been made here since 1837. 

www.pasteisdebelem.pt

Mark had a duck pastie, I had a quiche and

of course, 2 tarts. 

 Back for a cup of tea in the courtyard.

 Tonight we have a reservation at a local

restaurant for their Fado night. It is

Portuguese traditional music and a special

menu to accompany it. It has been highly

recommended. www.guarda-mor.com

 

 Click here for a sample of Fado - voice with

2 guitars (one classical, one Portuguese 12

string)

 

 

 

M&M

21/11/12

Our email : mm_smith@bigpond.net.au