Back from my surprise trip
Hello and happy Wednesday.
As you may remember, I arrived at the airport on a Friday, not knowing where I was going. I picked up my ticket at the airline counter at 6PM as instructed and learned I was going to Lisbon Portugal that night! In the midddle of the airport I just started to laugh--what a surprise! I arrived the next day, and my host met me at the hotel. The city was new for him and we had a wonderful time exploring the city together. Over the weekend it snowed and was freezing, so we didn't get out too much, but Monday was bright and sunny.
The triumphal arch at the Praca do Comercio, the downtown square right on the river Tagus
Walking through the hilly streets of Lisbon on the way to the Castle de Sao Jorge--I love these distinctive yellow trams!
The funicular (there are several of them) looks like the tram but truncated and on an angle: the conductor waited for us to board and insisted I take photos up front of the steep descent
We then walked around the city and up to the castle
The views from the top were stunning!
The castle grounds were utterly lovely
Walking down from the castle
Another traveler admiring the sunset
We decided to descend --the sidewalks in Lisbon are all of this smooth white stone, and on major streets laid in a mosaic with black squares to form lovely patterns.
After returning to the Baixa we then took this wonderful urban elevator, the Elevador de Santo Justo, built by a student of Gustave Eiffel. At the top of the elevator is a crosswalk to the Bairro Alto, and at the VERY top is a cafe with great views!
Looking down at the Praca Dom Pedro IV
A view of the Se, the Cathedral, to the far right, and behind it the river Tagus
A view of the castle by night
We then went off to eat dinner. More to come!
As you may remember, I arrived at the airport on a Friday, not knowing where I was going. I picked up my ticket at the airline counter at 6PM as instructed and learned I was going to Lisbon Portugal that night! In the midddle of the airport I just started to laugh--what a surprise! I arrived the next day, and my host met me at the hotel. The city was new for him and we had a wonderful time exploring the city together. Over the weekend it snowed and was freezing, so we didn't get out too much, but Monday was bright and sunny.
The triumphal arch at the Praca do Comercio, the downtown square right on the river Tagus
Walking through the hilly streets of Lisbon on the way to the Castle de Sao Jorge--I love these distinctive yellow trams!
The funicular (there are several of them) looks like the tram but truncated and on an angle: the conductor waited for us to board and insisted I take photos up front of the steep descent
We then walked around the city and up to the castle
The views from the top were stunning!
The castle grounds were utterly lovely
Walking down from the castle
Another traveler admiring the sunset
We decided to descend --the sidewalks in Lisbon are all of this smooth white stone, and on major streets laid in a mosaic with black squares to form lovely patterns.
After returning to the Baixa we then took this wonderful urban elevator, the Elevador de Santo Justo, built by a student of Gustave Eiffel. At the top of the elevator is a crosswalk to the Bairro Alto, and at the VERY top is a cafe with great views!
Looking down at the Praca Dom Pedro IV
A view of the Se, the Cathedral, to the far right, and behind it the river Tagus
A view of the castle by night
We then went off to eat dinner. More to come!