Over Easter I had 8 nights in Portugal. In that time I managed to see 5 different places (7 if you include Sintra and Belem as separate from Lisbon). Having been rather busy since that trip, I have only just managed to sort pictures to post. Here are some highlights of what we did:
Lisbon
The first 4 days I was in Lisbon with Teresa. We lucked out with our Easter breaks just overlapping, she ended just after I started. I also got to see a friend, Rita, in Lisbon. Rita and I had met in Frankfurt in a German course, when she was working here for 6 months.
 |
| Arco da Rua Augusta - we climbed up to the top for a view of Lisbon and Praca do Comercio |
 |
| View up Rua Augusta from the top of the arch |
 |
| Praca Dom Pedro IV. Our hostel was just around the corner at the far end. |
Our first full day in Lisbon we took a walking tour. We walked all over the centre area of Lisbon, learning a lot about different buildings, statues and history. The tour guide talked a lot about the earthquake of 1755. Almost everything was destroyed in the old centre, and so the style now comes from the rebuilding.
 |
| Teresa and I after the tour |
After the tour we took some tram rides. We tried out a funiculars which goes up one of the steep hills in the city. Then we got on the popular-for-tourists Tram 28. It goes from one side of Libson to the other. We got on in Bairro Alto and took it to Alfama. It was not the ride I expected, given I love old trams. It was too crowded and standing up we did not really enjoy it. So we were happy to get off and walk around Alfama.
 |
| Tram 28 |
 |
| The view from Alfama, looking back over Lisbon. |
The next day we took another tram out to Belem, which turned out to be my favourite area of Lisbon. We visited the beautiful monastery and cloister there, and then went for lunch at the famous Pasteis de Belem cafe. The pastries there are very similar to the Pasteis de Nata, but according to Michael Portillo are actually made from a top secret recipe and so are famous to Belem. They were delicious. We went back and got 6 to take with us, but they didn't last long as we ate them as soon as we were back in the hostel!
 |
| Mosaic map at Belem, showing the various world explorations that set out from here |
 |
| Jeronimos Monastery |
 |
| The most delicious food in the world!! |
 |
| Teresa and I, with the Torre de Belem behind us |
Our last day we went out to Sintra. It was an easy train ride, because the Sintra trains run from Rossio train station, where our hostel was. We first went to the National Palace and then to Pena Palace. The National Palace was okay, but with a large tour in front of us and another behind, we did not have the most relaxed visit. My favourite room though was in the tower. On the ceiling it has all the crests of the most noble families of Portugal. Quite interesting historically, but also interesting because I found my friend's last name!
 |
| The paintings above are the family crests. |
 |
| I really enjoyed the gardens at the National Palace. Teresa and I found some cute seats. |
Then we went to Pena Palace (see my previous post for a picture). It had been a monastery, which was then built into a palace by Ferdinand II, cousin to Victoria and Albert. It was fascinating and gorgeous inside. It also has a huge garden, but unfortunately we did not have time to explore.
We did a bit more sight seeing with Rita, but unfortunately the rain started and we couldn't get out in Cascais to see anything. So instead we met up with her boyfriend and his daughter and went for all-you-can-eat sushi. Different than in Vancouver, but delicious!
Evora
The next day Teresa had to go back to Munich, and I went out to Evora for the day. I went there because I had heard it was an ancient Roman town. Not much to see, besides the aqueduct and one temple, but I was pleasantly surprised by the city museum, which also happened to be free.
 |
| Walking around on the roof of the cathedral |
 |
| Roman Temple |
 |
| Just outside the old town of Evora, following the aqueduct |
Coimbra
Porto
The weather luckily improved while I was in Porto. Since I was on my own, I treated myself to a nice hotel for the 3 nights. For Christmas I got a 1901 guide book to Spain and Portugal, so I used that to find a hotel. I really wanted to say in the Hotel de Francfort, but unfortunately that is no longer in existence (hotel, building and street I believe). I did manage to find the Grande Hotel de Paris: 139 years old and still running. Everywhere inside was decorated with old things from the hotel: furniture, telephones, key shelves.
 |
| My room |
I had 2 full days of sunshine in Porto. I took a walking tour, visited the main sights, and enjoyed the sun.
 |
| Painted tiles in Sao Bento train station: King John I and Philippa of Lancaster |
 |
| Livraria Lello, apparently an inspiration for Harry Potter |
 |
| My favourite part :) |
One of the highlights of Porto was the Palacio da Bolsa, the commerce palace. It was built in an old monastery and clearly they had plenty of money to spend!
 |
| Mosaic inspired by Pompeii |
 |
| Gustav Eiffel's desk |
 |
| Islamic room, which you can rent for weddings |
I also went over to the other side of the Douro, Vila Nova de Gaia. I went up to the Monastery on the top of the hill. Now it is owned by the military, but you can still take a tour of the church and cloister. We also went up to the roof, with a soldier accompanying us.
 |
| View of Porto from the monastery roof |
 |
| Old port wine boats anchored in Vila Nova de Gaia |
Aveiro
After Porto I stopped in Aveiro on my way back to the airport. Dubbed the Venice of Portugal, it had some charm. After a quick walk around, with not so much to see, I read my 1901 guide book. According to it, the only thing worth doing was a tour of the canals, so that was what I did. Very enjoyable in the sunshine, and then back on the train to the airport.
 |
| The main tourist attraction |
 |
| Touring the canals |
No comments:
Post a Comment