Lisbon (2009, 2012, 2015, 2016)

The Waterfront

The April 25th Bridge


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 Ponte 25 de Abril


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


Crystal Serenity passing under the April 25th Bridge





The Statue of Christ in the neighboring city of Almada


Lisbon along the port








A new cruise terminal under construction in 2016


The terminal construction


The small boat harbor


There are many fine restaurants on the waterfron


Most of the waterfront restaurants have decks overlooking the harbor





Rain


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

Praca Do Comercio

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


Castle St. Jorge from Praca Do Comercio


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

Rossio - Praca D Pedro IV

Praca D Pedro IV in Baixa isour favorite areas of Lisbon


Monument of Pedro IV


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


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


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


Joan at the fountain 2009


Joan at the fountain 2012


Joan at the fountain 2015


Charlie at the fountain 2009


Charlie at the fountain 2012


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


The Teatro D. Maria II


The Eden Theater near Praca D Pedro IV


Christmas tree at Praca D Pedro IV



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


The castle from Praca Da Figueira


Zooming in on the Castle from Praca Da Figueira


Dom Jao Monument in Praca Da Figueira

Biaxa

Biaxa is the commercial center of the City





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


Starbucks up close


Starbucks!


Strawberries for sale


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


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


Baixa is a shop-a-holics paradise.


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!


These Yellow Trollys are a symbol of Lisbon


The famous Little Yellow Trolly of Lisbon


This trolly is headed to the Elevador de Santa Justa


Popular new taxi service is replacing the trollies


Relaxing with a Portuguese Verde Wine

Biaxa & Rua Agusta

Rua Augusta


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


Arco da Rua Augusta separates Rua Augusta and Praca Do Comercio near the river front


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


Many restaurants line the streets along Rua Augusta


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

Restauradores

Praca Dos Restauradores





Hard Rock Cafe, Lisbon


The Hard Rock Cafe, Lisbon


The Elaborate tile sidewalks of Av. Liberdade


A War Memorial on 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

Food & Shopping

Kais Restaurant


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


Our only stop was a purchase at Louis Vuitton for Hope


This is the bag Hope wants


Mission accomplished

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


Beneath the castle towers


That bridge over the moat must be the entrance


The castle entrance





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


Looking out over the Tejo River, the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge 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


Praca Da Figueira from the castle


Zooming in on Praca Da Figueira


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


Zooming in on the Elevador de Santa Justa in Baixa


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



There are many souvenier shops near the castle


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





The streets of Alfama are cobblestone, narrow and steep


Look at the roots on this tree


Se de Lisboa I


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 to Biaxa


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)

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 pastry
Joan 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

Portimão - Cruise #7 (Nov 2015)

The ship must anchor off-shore. It cannot dock at a pier


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

The Island of Madeira - Cruise #3 (Mar 2012)

Funchal

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

Google Maps

Lisbon, Portugal


Belém, Portugal


Funchal, Mediara


Portimão, Portugal