TODAY’S TOURING
We had breakfast in the room:
- Fresh pastries from nearby bakery
- Nespresso coffee in the room
We took an Uber to Belem, Portugal
- On our way to the Uber pickup location, we saw a cruise ship in the harbor and a nearby cork store. Raw cork was arranged around the building exterior.
- It was a challenge to have an Uber pick us up because there was a marathon and many old town streets were closed.
- Belem
- National Palace – We watched the monthly changing of the guard ceremony
- Two marching bands
- In additional, one band played there instruments on horseback while the horses were cantering
- Visited Jerónimos Monastery and church
- Returning to Lisbon, the streets were still closed but our Uber driver know a path around the closed streets
- National Palace – We watched the monthly changing of the guard ceremony
Back in the hotel, we had our daily afternoon espresso and rested. We wanted a simple dinner so we ate at The B Temple (burgers). Ironic, the restaurant was next to a Michelin starred restaurant. After dinner we took a stroll. On the way we found the Livraria Bertrand (bookstore). The bookstore opened in 1732 and holds the Guinness record as the world’s oldest bookseller (not bookstore) still in operation. The Seahawks played that night. Due to the time difference, the game started at 9:30PM. I streamed the game until 1:30 AM and saw the Seahawks lose. 🙁
REFERENCES
BELÉM DISTRICT (Rick Steves)
About five miles west of downtown Lisbon, the Belém district is a stately pincushion of important sights from Portugal’s Golden Age, when Vasco da Gama and company turned the country into Europe’s wealthiest power. Belém was the sending-off point for voyages in the Age of Discovery. Before embarking, sailors would stay and pray at the Monastery of Jerónimos, and when they returned, the Belém Tower welcomed them home. The grand buildings of Belém survived the great 1755 earthquake, so this is the best place to experience the Manueline architectural style (see sidebar on here). After the earthquake, safety-conscious (and rattled) royalty chose to live here —in wooden rather than stone buildings. The modern-day president of Portugal calls Belém home. To celebrate the 300th anniversary of independence from Spain, a grand
exhibition was held here in 1940, resulting in fine parks, fountains, and
monuments.
exhibition was held here in 1940, resulting in fine parks, fountains, and
monuments.
▲▲▲Monastery of Jerónimos (Rick Steves)
This giant, white limestone church and monastery stretches for 300 impressive yards along the Belém waterfront. King Manuel (who ruled from 1495) erected it as a “thank you” for the discoveries made by early Portuguese explorers. It was financed in part with “pepper money,” a 5 percent tax on spices brought back from India. Manuel built the church near the site of a humble chapel where sailors spent their last night ashore in prayer before embarking on frightening voyages. What is the style of Manuel’s church? Manueline.
