Gate 11, Terminal 3 – from which you can’t see much. Anyway – the plane on our right is the A320 that will hopefully take me to LisbonNow – in my world that passes for fancy – a TV in the mirror – no idea how to work it, mind…The view from my roomA Sagres outside on the 12th floor balcony of the Atlis Grand. 25 degrees, blue sky and a gentle breeze – life can be hell sometimesA nice view from the balcony…This isn’t such a great view but still better than sitting in an office staring at a computer screen…
Bus Tour:
City Bus tour of Lisbon in the rain – there’s always some nutter happy to sit in the unsheltered bit and get wet. It wasn’t the rain so much – but I could have done without the sleet. Still, it’s a good way to see and get a feel for the city…This post is typical of the city breaks I did before I retired, in which I had no plan and no list of things to see. So this post, like Madrid, is incoherent and rambling but Lisbon is still a lovely city…
Along the Avenida da Liberdade:
Avenida da Liberdade struggling to cope with midday Friday trafficRoof nymphsThe ground floor is a Starbuck’s…Curious little theatre just off Avenida da Liberade
A City of Squares and Monuments:
Monumento aos Restauradores is located in the middle of Praça dos Restauradores. The monument commemorates victory in the Portuguese Restoration War between Spain and Portugal from 1640 to 1668. It ended Spanish rule over Portugal which had begun in 1581… Praça Marquês do Pombal, who was the governor of Lisbon between 1750 and 1777. Fine square (Pedro IV – also known as Rossio Square) – Lisbon seems blessed with theseThe statue of King Joseph I of Portugal, in the Praça do Comércio, dates from 1775. It’s also, unintentionally, a photo of someone taking a photo of someone taking a photo of someone taking a selfie…Nice little square opposite the Santa Apolonia terminusThis block faces onto Praca da Figueira this side and onto Praca Pedro IV (also known as Rossio Square) and is equally decrepit on that side – strange…
By The River Tagus:
This statue of Jesus was built in 1959 – the one in Rio was built between 1926 & 1931 and is biggerPretty, eh? It’s a little hotel…
Rua Augusta:
Rua AugustaRua Augusta
Wandering Around The City:
On the Rua Morais Soares heading towards the Praca do ChileRun down in the city centre
The Cemeterio dos Prazeres:
In the Cemeterio dos PrazeresLaid out in streetsThe postman always rings twice…She outlived them all…
A City of Wall Art:
Wall art…More wall art
Trobadores Taberna:
They have Sagres on draught at Trobadores – but they also have some “craft” bottled beers – the bar tender seemed curiously reluctant to sell them or even let on they had them. Anyway, this one is very hoppy & quite nice – a bit syrupy & not as accomplished as the Letra F I had the other evening…Not a very successful photo – the Trobadores is very crowded as a) it is only small and b) they have live music tonight – which is very good, by the way. This beer is also an IPA but less intense, more herbal and easier to drink than the Passarola – this appears to be brewed by Urraca Vendaval…Portugal and England have been allies since 1386 and, in honour of this, Cerveja Letra have brewed this wonderful IPA – fabulous beer with lovely hop characters & flavours Letra B is a Pilsner – but after the IPA hop-fest – I can’t taste it…Flight DT651 to Luanda – departing at 11.00 – incidentally the same time as my flight to London. I think a 777 will brush the 320 aside when it comes to pole position on the runway for take-off. Exciting to be flying to Luanda though, eh?
