Monday, March 7, 2011

Welcome to Lisboa, Portugal


Kate and I took made our first visit to Portugal, spending four days with a couple of friends from ACS in the beautiful city of Lisbon.  Portugal has been on Kate's hitlist for quite some time, and I will admit that, for some reason, it was never really on mine, although Portugal is one of the few European countries I had yet to visit.  However, this trip exceeded all expectations, and a great time was had by all.  Here are the pics.

Welcome to Portugal!

Sunset in the Alfama


A perfect day in Belem with port and pastries
  Around the streets of Lisboa:

Tram 28 is the best introduction to the city, taking you through the best neighborhoods - the Alfama, Chiado, Baixa, and Bairro Alto. 

Up and down over the hills of the city. 
The 28 on the way down. 

Beautiful buildings dot the hill top neighborhood of the Alfama


Lots of character can be found in the Alfama.

With the sun out, most of the windows had clothes out drying.  The tiled facades are found throughout Lisbon.

More Alfama...

Fado, the music of Portugal, can be found throughout the Alfama, and all of Lisbon. 

Kate with Lindsay and Abby with a view from the Castello

More Lisbon rooftops from the Castello lookout. 

This is a normal Friday night out in the Bairro Alto district.  The streets are packed with the weekend crowds. 
The perfect day trip to Sintra:

The town of Sintra, home to some majestic, over-the-top estates.
Castles dot the hills as you walk from the train station into Sintra.
Castel dos Mouros - 412 meters up, and dominating the skyline
The Quinta de Regaleira was the playground of António Carvalho Monteiro, aka "Moneybags" Monteiro 
The wild Palacio Nacional de Pena - another wacky creation of people with too much money
Another view of the Palacio.
They stormed the castle. 
And they weren't the only ones. 
Lord Byron also fell for the beauty of Sintra
Inside the Palacio Nacional de Sintra
Inside one of the courtyards of the Palacio de Pena
Don't even think of messing with this guy who guards the front entrance to the Palacio
In Sintra, books grow on trees. 
and love can be found anywhere, even for cheesy couples and a cheesy photo-op
Kate, Abby, and Lindsay under an arch of the Palacio Nacional, with Sintra in the background. 
 Two Museums I Never Thought I Would Ever Go Into, Yet Enjoyed Immensely:

The Museum of Coaches 
The Museum of Tiles
 And some things I knew I would enjoy - Port and Pastries:
This is a pasteis - a delicious egg tart that you eat with a sprinkle of cinnamon and sugar on top. 


Port, the perfect drink to wash down the pasteis

This is the most famous pasteis bakery in all of Portugal - Pasteis de Belem
In Belem:

The cloister of the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos in Belem
A different perspective on the beautiful cloister.
Loved the sun coming through the arches

Inside the chapel of the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
Another view inside the church. 
The three ladies in the Cloister.
But most of all, it was a trip about sunshine and good people:

Sangria Espumante in Belem with a view over the Rio Tejo

2 comments:

Judie Cleland said...

Kate and Branch, your mom told me to check out your pictures--absolutely beautiful. I saw a lot that would make lovely paintings! I couldn't choose just one. Again I say, you are living a wonderful life! Oh to be young again.
But at my ripe old age, the best I can do is have a new grand daughter; and that is the BEST!♥♥♥

Judie Cleland said...

Kate and Branch, your mom told me to check out your recent trip. Your pictures are wonderful and I see many that would make a lovely painting. You are living such a life. It is always fun to read about you here or on Facebook♥