Lisbon

Arriving after dark last night, we weren't able to enjoy the grounds around the pousada, but this morning as a bright sunny day dawned, the serenity and beauty of the setting transported me back to an era when the convent was occupied by monks and nuns rather than noisy tourists.

Back on the road we are heading to our final destination – Lisbon. Founded in  1200 BC by the Phoenicians, the town soon became a port of call for Mediterranean ships sailing to northern Europe. Lisbon became the capital when the Moors invaded in 1147. Vasco de Gama, Portugal's great navigator in the 1400's added trade routes to India. In 1755 a violent earthquake shook the city. Survivors fled to the banks of the Tejo River only to be killed when a huge tsunami destroyed the lower portion of the town.

What a surprise as Lisbon came into view – we were crossing the Tejo River on the Golden Gate Bridge or at least a close replica! The same engineer who had designed the famous San Francisco bridge had also designed this one in Lisbon. Strangely enough we were ahead of schedule and had a free hour before starting our schedule for the day. I took advantage of it to walk down to the river for a beautiful view of the Tejo River and the memorial to the citizens who died in the earthquake and tsunami. With a few minutes to spare I treated myself to a decadent cappuccino loaded with whipped cream!

First on our agenda was a site inspection of the 5* Avenida Palace Hotel followed by a cocktail reception (and it was only noon!) Across the street was our host for lunch, the Altis Avenida Hotel. The first property was a lovely traditional hotel while the second was a new contemporary hotel. Lunch was again delicious and accompanied by tasty Portuguese wines.

A visitor could easily spend days exploring this fascinating country, but we only had one afternoon.and it was already 3pm. First stop was the National Coach Museum containing an exceptional collection of ceremonial vehicles from the Royal family, dating back to the 17^th century. The oldest carriage was very interesting as it had carried the king on a 2-month journey from Madrid to Lisbon. Really interesting was the bench seat facing him with a hole cut out for quick 'potty breaks' without taking time for a stop..

Next visit was to Jeronimo's Monastery, exemplifying the Manueline architectural style that emerged during the Exploration Era to the New World. Included in the carvings were fruits, animals and peoples of the new civilizations that were being discovered.

As the sun set, our last stop of  the day  was the Belem Tower which is Lisbon's equivalent of our Statue of Liberty. This tower had a matching tower built in the mouth of the Tejo River which navigators last saw as they sailed to unknown destinations and the first sight the lucky few saw upon their return. The Great Earthquake destroyed one of the towers and totally changed the flow of the river so that only one tower remains and it is now next to the shore. It was a very fitting sight for our last day in Portugal.

Our hotel for the evening was the crowning event of our week. The Pestana Palace was a former palace that has been restored with care taken to maintain as much of the original design and furnishings as possible. It is absolutely gorgeous and makes guests truly feel that they are staying in a palace.

Our farewell dinner was at the Casa do Leao Restaurant, an old castle on the banks above the river . What a perfect setting with the lights of this beautiful city and bridge twinkling below us. I have fallen in love with Portugal and hope to bring some of you back to share the magic of this wonderful country.

Linda