Off to a new land...Lisbon

Lisbon, Portugal. By far, our favourite European city. It is vibrant, interesting, a bit of the old world, a bit of the new...everything you could ask for in one city.

How to rebuild a city! (Lisbon)

Our first day. We had no idea what to expect. What we discovered was that Lisbon, for all of her hills, trams, cable cars and subways, is a city to be explored on foot. What's interesting about Lisbon is that it was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake on 1 November 1755. This earthquake allowed the government of Portugal to completely rebuild the city. Consequently, they stole all the greatest ideas from European cities and rolled them into one! Thus, I am looking up Lisbon's version of the Champs Eleyeses. A beautiful treee lined street with cobblestone sidewalks in distinct patterns. In fact, look closely, and you can see the patterns in this picture!

See the trees, behind the man?

An Elevator to the Stars...(Lisbon)

Lisbon is filled with unique ways to travel. This is an elevator built to take you to the top of the nearby hill. Its not a tourist trap though. It was designed to bring "commuters" up and down the hill...from one neighbourhood to another. Its a cheap ride to the top and once there, you exit to gorgeous view of the city, and well, a totally different neighbourhood. (And again, my rotation skills are lacking...so refer to our Pisa post for instructions on how to view my sideways pictures!)

At the top of the elevator. Not only are you rewarded with breathtaking views of the city, you turn around and there is this burned out cathedral. It is gothic and mysical.

Stolen Monuments...(Lisbon)

Look familiar? Can't figure out why? This bridge is often referred to as the Golden Gate of Lisbon. Its the 25th of April Bridge. Only it doesn't cross a Bay, but a River -- The Tagus. Although Jason would like me to point out that it doesn't look or act like a river. In fact, it has tides and swells. And is wide and long almost seemingly unending. Notice something else familiar?

To your right as you approach the bridge, is the statue 'Cristo Rei' (literally: 'Christ King' - often translated as 'Christ in Majesty') which stands on a huge pillar and overlooks the mouth of the mighty Tagus river ('Rio Tejo'). This is a smaller replica of the even more impressive 'Cristo Redentor' ('Christ the Redeemer') statue which is situated on the Corcovado mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

An ancient fortress (for the little people)...(Lisbon)

Torre de Belem...a Fortress in the water. Accessible only by a footbridge a over the river.

However beautiful, its apparently only for very little people. Jason is only able to stand upright in the armory by standing under the sky light.

Mosteiro Dos Jeronimos (Lisbon)

Did you think we were going somewhere in Europe and you weren't going to see a beautiful church? Ha! You thought wrong! (Or right!) This is Mosteiro Dos Jeronimos.

I need a break! And frankly, the view from the cheap seats is pretty darn good. The grass in the cloisters is reserved for clergy. However, I enjoyed the cool bench and a little time to reflect.

This is what I am looking at from the second level.

Let's get back to the good stuff...(Lisbon)

Us! You may recognise the sights behind me! Depending on what city you live in!

Jason is testing my fear of heights by balancing precariously over the edge of the castle. Again, quick photo, and then "Jason, please get down!!!"

I admit. There was another couple at the castle who took this exact picture. I liked it so much, that much to Jason's horror, I asked him to go down and repeat the pose. He did. And aren't you glad? Its such a great picture! (Mental note: Steal cute photo ideas from others.)

More of the good stuff...(Lisbon)

(I have to admit -- even though we were smitten with the view, we contemplated the idea of rolling down the slope to the bottom. Apparently others have been similarly tempted as there are fences periodically crossing the slope -- preventing any fun!)