Portugal: Rooftops of Old Lisbon

Prior to our trip we had, of course, read many tour guides about Portugal, and Lisbon in particular. Included in the must-see attractions were the yellow trams. On this morning, our first full day in Lisbon, we boarded the #12 tram, nice and early, for a short tour of neighbourhoods frequented by it. We were not disappointed. And, most certainly, our knees which had been acting up since our departure from home, thanked us. Lisbon is, to put it mildly, a city of hills. Oh, and did I mention; hills!

In this postcard view, overlooking the rooftops, we have the San Vincente de Fora church in the distance.

 Rooftops of old Lisbon 2014-05-06

Portugal: Rua dos Sapateiros in Lisbon

Our trip pre-planning had included a hotel booking. What luck! Without any real prior knowledge of Lisbon, Hanne and Gail found a hotel smack in the middle of the Baixa District, on Rua dos Sapateiros. In the 19th century, Baixa was Lisbon’s commercial heart, with streets named according to their trades. Rua dos Sapateiros means ‘the shoemakers’ street. The exit to the Rua dos Sapateiros, seen in the middle of this postcard,  is spanned by the Arco do Bandeiro. Seen from the other side, this arch is quite decorative.

One immediate advantage to this location was the proximity of two very highly rated (by TripAdvisor) restaurants. Seafood, of course!

Rua dos Sapateiros in Lisbon  2014-05-06

Portugal: Statue of King Joseph I in Lisbon

When we arrived in Lisbon, the temperature was, for us, too hot. But then again, we don't do heat very well. So, tired from our flight, and having checked into our hotel, we decided to explore our new neighbourhood; the Baixa. A short stroll took us from our hotel location on Rua dos Sapateiros to the broader, somewhat more majestic, Rua Augusta. About 3-4 blocks down this street we found the Praça do Comércio.

The centerpiece of the Praça do Comércio is the statue of José I (Joseph I). The bronze statue, inaugurated in 1775, shows the king on a horse trampling snakes. The statue is set on a monumental pedestal decorated with large sculpture groups (see the postcard picture) and overlooks the majestic square.

The centerpiece of the Praça do Comércio is the statue of José I (Joseph I)  2014-05-05

Portugal: Lisbon: Cruise Ships Dock at Alfama

Our early morning tram ride (on the #12 line) had taken us to a small plaza with a commanding view of the Targus (various spellings: Tagus. Tejo) River, the rooftops of the historic Alfama district, and the cruise ship terminal. On this morning, the Queen Mary 2 was berthed at Alfama. Scanning the riverside, we spotted two more cruise ships. No wonder Lisbon was seemingly filled to the brim with tourists!

Viewing the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship over
the rooftops of Alfama  2014-05-06

Portugal: The Famous #28 Tram in Lisbon

Earlier in the morning we'd ridden the #12 tram through some interesting old Lisbon neighbourhoods. We'd read about the yellow trams of Lisbon in all the tour guides, but the #28 was usually singled out as the one to take, if you only had time to ride one line. Having ridden the #12 to a higher location we were slowly strolling downhill (best travel advice for Lisbon is: trams up, walk down) when the #28 came rattling around the corner. Perfect postcard snap.

The Famous #28 Tram in Lisbon  2014-05-06

Portugal: Augusta Arch in Lisbon

One block from our Baixa hotel was the Rua Augusta. This street is probably as good an introduction to Lisbon as any. Full of sights, stores, activity, and, finally, leading to the Rua Augusta Arch at the end. The arch is a stone, triumphal arch that takes the visitor from the street to the imposing Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square). The arch, like so many monuments in Lisbon, was built to commemorate the city's reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake.

Augusta Arch in Lisbon 2014-05-05

Portugal: Convent of Christ in Tomar

The Convent of Christ in Tomar, attached to the Tomar Castle, is one of the most impressive historical sites we've visited in Europe.

The Convent of Tomar - The Convent of the Order of Christ (Convento de Cristo) - was originally conceived as a symbolic monument of the Reconquest (defeat of the Moors) in the 12th century. The castle around it was a Templar stronghold. With the dissolution of the Order of the Knights Templar in the 14th century, the Portuguese branch was turned into the Knights of the Order of Christ, which supported Portugal's maritime discoveries of the 15th century.

The Convent of Christ of Tomar is one of Portugal's most important historical and artistic monuments and has been in theWorld Heritage list of UNESCO since 1983.

The Convent of Christ in Tomar, attached to the Tomar Castle, is
one of the most impressive historical sites we've visited in Europe  2014-05-12