Using the Lisboa Card, Lisbon, Portugal

To see our Portugal Photos, Click here!!

Lousy weather delayed our final trip to Lisbon, then a glitch about most museums closed on Mondays, delayed it another day.  On the Tuesday, we made it back to Lisbon on our Lisboa Card.  This card gives you free entry to a bunch of museums and attractions, and all the public transport you can handle for 24 hours.  So, we had to get our money's worth.

National Coach Museum - Lisbon

Our first stop was Belem, and a walk down the waterfront past the monument to the old Portuguese explorers - Padrão dos Descobrimentos.  These guys got everywhere hundreds of years ago, as I think Portugal was one of the most advanced in overseas exploration.   The Torre de Belem was a short walk away, and this tower dates back to the 1500's, as a defensive point along the river Tagus.  The tower is a Unesco Heritage site and still in great shape.  You can walk up the little stairway for great views over the river to the South. 
Again in Belem, there were the beautiful buildings of the Museo de Marihna, and Museum of Archealogy that were attached to the Monesterio Jeronimo.  In the chapel of the Monesterio is the tomb of Vasco de Gama - the Portuguese explorer that discovered India, and then on to South America.  A very elaborate tomb, in a church where all the pillars looked like palm trees.  All part of the Unesco Heritage site.  We had a lunch planned with Michelle's parents in Lisbon, so we would have to return to tour it in more detail later. 
We met the parents in the Rossio area of Lisbon, and enjoyed a great lunch with them at a favourite restaurant of theirs where they enjoyed their staple bacalhao (dried salted cod).  I tried my luck with squid, and had two of the slimy guys on my plate.  MMMmmmmm, tasty.

Martin enjoying a tasty custard tart - Pasteis de Belem

Back to the Belem area, but our first stop was the National Coach Museum.  We were really surprised with this place.  In a beautifully decorated neoclassical building were housed some amazing old horse drawn coaches built for royalty.  Dating back to the 17th Century, all were quite elaborately decorated, but showing their age, except for one coach which had undergone extensive refurbishing and glowed with all the gold trim.
A short walk away to enter the Monesterio Jeronimo.  Again, we were really surprised at what we saw here.  The cloister behind the cathedral was amazing.  Every column, archway, water spout, etc was of a different design and were in excellent condition.  It was a treat to walk around and see this Unesco Heritage site, and get a view of the cathedral from up on the upper choir platform.
One more treat in store for us in Belem.  We had noticed this little bakery/pasteleria down the street that seemed to have a big queue all the time.  Upon entering the place, we spoke with the security guard, who took us back to the kitchen area for a look.  Here, they bake around 40,000 pasteis de belem (a delicious custard tart with flaky pastry) EVERY DAY.  The place was huge inside with rooms all over the place.  Not at all what you see from the front!  40,000!!!  Unbelievable.

Martin on Castelo de Sao Jorge over Lisbon

Our time was now running short on our window of opportunity to use our Lisboa card.  So one last stop in the old Alfama area of town.  A climb up to the Castelo de Sao Jorge (St. George's Castle), which occupies a commanding post over the city and dates back to the 2nd Century BC!!  Although, most of the present castle is from medieval times.  For us it was worth it for the views over the city, and walking around the fortifications was just a bonus. 
We finished up our long day and took a train back to Cascais to spend our last few hours with Michelle's parents as we were off on our own in the morning, heading down to Lagos on the Southern coast called the Algarve.   *Stub