
The new cruise terminal under construction

Our only stop was a purchase at Louis Vuitton for Hope

This is the bag Hope wants

Mission accomplished

The April 25th Bridge

Rain
Lisbon, Cruise #8 (Nov 2015)

Praca Do Comercio

Monument at Praca Do Comercio

Praca Do Comercio

Bumping into a friend from previous cruises, Pat (of Pat & Jim)

On the waterfront at Praca Do Comercio

Joan in her 3rd photo at the fountain of Praca D Pedro IV

Christmas tree at Praca D Pedro IV

Rua Augusta

Relaxing with a Portuguese
Verde Wine

Arco da Rua Augusta
This Arch separates Rua Augusta and Praca Do Comercio

Starbucks!

Many restaurants line the streets along Rua Augusta

Popular new
taxi service

The NRP Sagres is a tall ship and school ship of the Portuguese Navy since 1961

The NRP Sagres is a steel-built three masted barque, with square sails on the fore and main masts and gaff rigging on the mizzen mast

As the third ship with this name in the Portuguese Navy, she is sometimes referred to as Sagres III

The NRP Sagres main mast rises 138 feet above the deck. She carries 22 sails and can reach a top speed of 17 knots under sail

The NRP Sagres has a sparred length of 295 ft, a width of 40 ft, a draught of 17 ft and a displacement at full load of 1,755 tons

Supplies arrive for our voyage across the Atlantic

Supplies arrive for our voyage across

Supplies are loaded for our voyage across the Atlantic
Lisbon, Cruise #3 (Mar 2012)

Ponte 25 de Abril (25th of April Bridge)
Cable-stayed and similar in coloring, it looks like the Golden Gate Bridge. This
Tejo River bridge connects Lisbon with Almada

The
Statue of Christ in Almada, Portugal is reminissent of Brazil

Praca D Pedro IV
Here we are back at Rossio. This area and Baixa are our favorite areas of Lisbon

Praca D Pedro IV
Joan in our
traditional photos at the fountain

Praca D Pedro IV
Charlie at the fountain with the music theater,
Teatre D. Maria II, in the background

Looking down at the tiles while walking will make you dizzy!

The tile sidewalks and cobblestone streets are beautiful but it can make walking difficult in high heels or when they are wet

The Eden Theater
There are some very ornate buildings in Rossio

This elaborate building actually houses a
Starbucks (lower right corner)

Starbucks up close

The Hard Rock Cafe, Lisbon

Strawberries for sale

Kiosk - Everything for sale. Quite colorful don't you think?

Rossio is alive with shops and cafes

Baixa has dozens of quaint little side streets with many shops, boutiques and restaurants

Baixa is a shop-a-holics paradise. Returning to Rua Augusta for shopping was a high priority

Rua Augusta has entertainment also. They played. She danced. It looks like Godiva went out of business here

Rua Augusta has Mimes. What's this, Mozart's tomb?

Mozart waves to Joan!
This clever Mime has a pigeon on his head and another one on the pedestal moving its wings

A mime getting set up along Rua Augusta

This mime set up near the
Arco da Rua Augusta. Passing through the arch leads to
Praca Do Comercio and the riverfront

Praca Do Comercio

This monument stands in the center of Praca Do Comercio. Notice the river beyond the plaza

Some detail of the monument in Praca Do Comercio

A view of
Castelo S Jorge from Praca Do Comercio

When you get tired of walking, there is always a
Little Yellow Trolly close by

According to its sign, this trolly takes you to the
Elevador de Santa Justa

Praca Dos Restauradores Monument
Praca Dos Restauradores is a short walk from our hotel on Av. Liberdade

A War Memorial on Av. Liberdade

The Elaborate tile sidewalks of Av. Liberdade

Facinating!
Tiny GREEN and RED lights set in the curb work in time, respectively, with the
Walk/Don't Walk signal

Interesting archetecture along Av. Liberdade

A tile wall on Av. Liberdade

A 3D tile wall on Av. Liberdade

Kais- Our plan was to meet friends from the cruise at an elegant waterfront restaurant. Not this waterfront!!

Looking for
Kais, a waterfront restaurant we ended up at the small boat harbor

There are many fine restaurants on the waterfront but no Kais

Most of the
waterfront restaurants have decks overlooking the harbor
Kais was nowhere to be found along the waterfront

A cab driver brought us to this building
This is
Kais but it didn't open until 8:00

These glass panels feature an inside waterfall

The dinning room at Kais was quite impressive

Candelabras like this were the centerpiece at the three bars

Smaller candelabras were spread throughtout the dinning room

Flamming a
Salted Fish selection at tableside

Dinner at Kais was excellent

The downstairs restaurant at Kais

Wine barrels in the downstairs restaurant at Kais

The wine rack at Kais

Thanks Smooch for arranging the restaurant get-together

A Toast to our next visit to Lisbon
Lisbon, Cruise #1 (Nov 2009)

The Yellow Trollys
These cute trollys are a symbol of Lisbon. You will find them on all sorts of souveniers

The Ponte 25 de Abril
The 25th of April Bridge connects the city of Lisbon to the municipality of Almada on the south bank of the Tejo River

The 25th of April Bridge as we sail out of Lisbon at sunset

Passing under the April 25th Bridge

Praca D Pedro IV
You can get dizzy walking across this tiled plaza

The Teatro D. Maria II
The Music theater is at the north end of the Praca

This monument stands at the center of Praca D Pedro IV

There is a fountain like this at each end of the Praca

Joan at the fountain

Charlie at the fountain

Hard Rock Cafe, Lisbon

Praca Da Figueira. That is Castelo De Sao Jorge on top of the hill

Zooming in on the Castle from Praca Da Figueira

Dom Jao Monument in Praca Da Figueira

Praca Dos Restauradores
This is just north of Praca D Perdro on Av. Liberdade. Next visit to Lisbon we want to stay in this area of the City

This Monument is at the center of the Praca Dos Restauradores

Rua Agusta, Baixa
This shop-a-holic's paradise is a miles-long corridore of shops, boutiques and restaurants

Baixa is a
Must See when visiting Lisbon

There are dozens of interesting little side streets along Rua Augusta that also have shops, boutiques and restaurants

Elevador de Santa Justa
This observation tower is located in Baixa on one of the many side streets along Rua Augusta. I'm not good with heights so this tower was not for me!

Arco da Rua Augusta separates Rua Augusta and Praca Do Comercio near the river front
Castle St. Jorge (Mar 2012)

Getting to the castle requires a long, steep uphill walk

Since it was a rainy day we decided to take a taxi up to the castle

Here we are beneath the castle towers

Lisbon's first rainy day in three months. Aren't we lucky!

An old cannon aimed out over the harbor area

This cannon must be a reproduction

Views from the Castle
Looking out over the Tejo River. The Ponte 25 de Abril and the Statue of Christ in Alfama in the distance

Praca Do Commercio and the Tejo River from the castle

Zooming down on Praca Do Commercio

A warship on the Tejo River

The castle from Praca Do Comercio

Praca Da Figueira from the castle

Zooming in on Praca Da Figueira

The castle from Praca Da Figueira

Baixa from the castle.
Can you spot
Elevador de Santa Justa in the photo?

Zooming in on the observation tower,
Elevador de Santa Justa in Baixa

Just can't find the Castle entrance

That bridge over the moat must be the entrance

The castle entrance

A huge courtyard

This courtyard seems to have a old well

Looks like it was a very deep well

If these were ovens, perhaps this was the kitchen

Here is the lunch room

Joan thinks she found the laundry!

These are the castle
windows

Do you get the impression that they could shoot with little risk of someone shooting in?

Every courtyard was a dead end. We checked this map to determine how to see the rest of the castle

Turns out you have to walk the castle walls!

Those steps look pretty steep to me

Looks like I won't see much more of the castle

I think this warning sign says it all

The castle's cats

The castle's cats are still drying out from the morning rain

The castle's cats are residents. They have a special feeding area

Female peacocks

More peacocks

Male peacock and his magnificent tail

The female peacock

The male peacock

Another female. No feathers!

Nice use for a hunk of marble

The plaque reads:
D. Manuel I. - "O Venturoso" - 1469-1521

This tree looks like it's been around for awhile

The ruins have a wonderful charm about them

Imagine what it was like living at the castle

The castle grounds are fascinating

There are various types of fountains around the castle

A very impressive foyer

Fountain and basin

Fountain and basin

Fountain, basin and pool

Could this have been the reception area?

A monument to the Crusades

That's a brave model laying out on that cannon

Outside the castle
There are many souvenier shops near the castle

There are many coffee shops and little convenience stores near the castle

The streets around the castle are cobblestone, narrow and steep

Look at the roots on this tree

Maybe we should have waited for the trolly
The "Fado" (Nov 2009)
Fado is Portugeese Folk Songs sung to the harmonious accompaniment of the viola and the guitar

Fado at Adega Machado where, they say, poets rub shoulders with artists, bullfighters mingle with actors and tourists frequently find Lisbon's most famous people and international celebrities

The lyrics of the Fado are sometimes about times gone by

The lyrics of the Fado are sometimes about love and jealousy

The lyrics of the Fado are sometimes about happiness and sadness

Having a great time but we didn't meet any of Lisbon's most famous people or international celebrities

Adega Machado also features traditional Folk Dancing

The music of an accordian, the click of heels and the rythem of castinettes

The Adega Machado Folk Dancers are dressed in the traditional costumes
Sofitel Hotel (Mar 2012 & Nov 2015)

The Sofitel on Av. Liberdade
We chose the Sofitel for its location in Rossio

The Sofitel is a short walk to Praca Dos Restauradores, Praca de Pedro IV and Baixa. I love the tophat!

The Sofitel Lounge was a great place to relax with a martini

The Sofitel Restaurant.
The Chef's signature sea bass is the best ever, anywhere!!

We would definitely stay at the Sofitel again and we even recommend it. But don't look for any
drawers in the room!

Even the bathroom was quite nice for European standards

We were impressed with the greeting
Hello & Welcome that appeared on the TV
Belém - Cruise #1 (Nov 2009)

Mosterio Dos Jerónimos, Belém

Museu da Marinha
The Maritime Museum in Belém

Joan behind a cannon at Museu da Marinha in Belém

Belém, Praca Dos Imperio
A day in Belém is certainly a
Must Do when visiting Lisbon

Museu da Arte Popular
The museum of modern art in Belém

Planeterio Gulbenkian
The Planetarium in Belém

The McDonalds is PINK!

Pasteis de Belém, making their famous custard pastry since 1837

The Pasteis de Belém attracts both tourists and locals for their famous custard pastry

The custard pastries are made following an ancient secret recipe from the
Convento dos Jeronimos

Everyone said
You must go to Belém for the famous delicious pastryJoan waits patiently in line and, yes it was worth it

Palacio de Belém
A PINK Palace and the Palace Guard

Praca dos Imperio in Belém

The reflection pool at Praca dos Imperio, Belém

Praca dos Imperio in Belém

A Monument in Praca dos Imperio

Padreo Dos Descobrimentos
Located on the Tagus River, this modern monument is dedicated to the Portuguese Maritime Discoveries

Joan makes her own
Maritime Discovery

A carraige ride through Belém

Rua Da Junqueira
A prosperous section of Belém

A not-so-prosperous section of Belém

Waiting for the trolly to take us back to Biaxa
Funchal, Madeira - Cruise #3 (Mar 2012)

A view of the cliff of Cabo Girao (1,932 ft above sea level). Funchal, Madeira is 530 miles southwest of Lisbon. It juts from the ocean floor some 16,000 feet below

Travelers like George Bernard Shaw, Lord Halifax and the Duke of Kent have savored summer get-aways here

Mention Madeira and you think of Madeiran wine but look at these banana plantations!

Bananna trees

Banana
trees are actually not a Tree but a Stem. Once a stem produces a bunch of bananas it dies. When the bananas are harvested, the stem is actually cut down. Suckers will grow at the base and begin a new stem

The weather is tropical and some say
Eden-like

Winding switch-backs to the cliffs called Cabo Girao
Cabo Girao (1,932 ft above sea level)

I'm never near the edge of anything this high!

Cabo Girao is said to be the second highest sea cliffs in the world

Plans to build a glass-bottom lookout. Yikes!

Tiny roads wind back and forth on the islan

Highway construction is amazing considering the steep slopes

Great bridges cross the valleys

Tunnels run through the mountains to connect the villages

Roof ornaments like this were inspired by the Chinese. Notice the dove on the end of the roof

Doves are placed on all the corners of the roof to bring
peace to the household
Ribeira Brava

Beaches are rare because of the rocky shore

The town of Ribeira Brava
Engenhos De Calheta Rum Factory

This factory makes
rum

Rum is made from the sugar cane that grows on the island

Processing sugar cane
(See the Video)

Did someone say they're serving rum?

Bridges like this run from tunnel to tunnel
The Port of Funchal

The
Pilot Boat

This hugh German passenger ship was docked in front of us

The beautiful island of Madeira is left in our wake
Portimão - Cruise #7 (Nov 2015)

Portimao is a
tender port. The ship isn't able to pull up to a pier or dock

We have to go ashore on one of the cruise ship's lifeboats

The tenders (lifeboats) aren't that small -- they usually hold about 100 folks or so

Great looking cakes

Great looking cakes

Hamburger anyone?

The
Santa Bernada

The
Santa Bernada