Lisboa- Part 2

Day two and three were fabulous as well in Lisbon. My two companions and I were once again off to explore.
Many of the first few pictures here were random shots taken around the city streets.... enjoy :)







An orange tree!!!




One of my bosses gave us two fabulous tour guide books to use and the public transportation map- all came in very handy! Some friends gave us some tips on places to go and things to see, and the hotel gave us a little map, but this part of town we stumbled upon by accident... it was like stumbling upon an oasis! so beautiful!!!


Fabulous view!!!!




After we took a little pause in the oasis, we were starting to get a little hungry. We walked around a bit but only seemed to find places that were super overpriced or super touristy. Finally- we had to settle for something as some bladders were going to burst, so we decided this busy little resto. We go in, use the loo, and order some drinks. The waiter brings us our drinks, a bowl of bread, 2 cheeses, and some sauces of some sort (which didn't look appetizing). So as I start reading the menu in English, Isabelle starts reading the menu in French, and Roseni starts reading in the local language of Portuguese- she notices that on the bottom of her page, it says that the appetizers are charged - you eat it, you buy it! We were a bit hungry as we started eating the bread and cheese which we didn't ask for but was kindly handed to us. But nowhere on the 'tourist' sections of the menu does it say that if you touch the food, it's charged. We proceed as the cheese and bread was delicious- but then it took the guy AGES to come back to our table to take our order. After a good 15 minutes of waiting, we got up and asked for the bill. You think we would just be charged for what we ordered, which was the 3 drinks, but our bill came to something ridiculous (for Lisbon) as the cheeses were like 6 euros each x 2 and the bread bowl was 4 euros but we didn't touch the sauces- so no charge. The moral of the story is, if you go to Lisbon and they put something on the table that you didn't order- you will be charged if you eat it. Tourists learn the hard way. Our Portuguese translator warned us, but we were too hungry anyways- plus what we did eat tied us over until dinner time!

Now you know though... so you will be fine :)

After this, we just walked down random streets again...
We fell upon this really net art exhibit on the side of the street!!!!!

Neat doors...
And a fabulous view!!!!


After a few pics of the view we wanted to get back to city center, but had no idea how! We walked a bit further and just happened to stumble upon tram 28.

Tram 28. Instead of paying for a ride on one of the costly tourist trams, try Tram 28. Tram (or "Eléctrico" in the Portuguese) Line 28 is one of only three traditional tram lines that still operate in Lisbon. These trams, which until the late-1980's ran all through-out Lisbon, were manufactured between 1936 and 1947. Tram 28 winds its way through the "Old Town" of Lisbon (dating from the 17th century) beginning in Graça then down to the Alfama and to the Baixa then up through Chiado to Bairro Alto and then down to Campo Ourique, taking you by many of Lisbon's most famous and interesting sites including monuments, churches and gardens. The trip is hilly, noisy and hectic but it affords many beautiful glimpses of the city. And, although the tram can sometimes be overrun with tourists, you will definitely get a flavor of the locals, as many "Lisboetas" commute daily on these historical trams. Tickets cost €1.45 per journey and can be purchased on-board at a vending machine (note that these machines do not accept notes, and are sometime even out of change, so make sure you have the correct change!) From start to finish the ride takes around 30 minutes. Beware of pickpockets.

We stumbled upon it by accident about halfway through its journey and only took it to get back into city center- not to the very end.
Our conductor was very friendly and we on the tram with mostly locals!!! Perfect!!!





We got back into town... and explored the main square by the ocean.
It had been a long day for Isabelle who was struck with a cold for the whole weekend :(
This picture is sooooo hilarious!!!!!! I honestly crack up laughing every time!!!! It was a windy day... hahahha

I ended up getting so many neat pictures... Roseni was trying to find a music bar which was noted on the map.... lets just say we didn't find it... but we found many other neat things!



Yayyyy... a wall that said HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
And Roseni with a picture of her toy!
We found a fabulous view!!!
These were the coolest lamp posts!!!!



Another tram!

This would have been a really neat neighbourhood to hang out in at night... with the lights across the alley like that... will see it at night next time :)
Beautiful terraces

Pastries!!!
Portuguese buns!!!!
A beautiful train station!
So this was Sunday October 10th... which in Canada is the day that we all gather together to eat some good ol' turkey and mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner. I was in Lisbon, so I was to eat the next best thing- Piri Piri Chicken :)

I was determined to find it... so thankfully in the train station above there was a free internet station--- I googled it and found the name of a restaurant about a 5 minute walk away- Bonjardim located at: Travessa de S. Antao 11, Lisbon, Portugal.


If you go to Lisbon, you have to promise me you will eat here! The restaurant didn't look like anything special-
but we noticed a little window next to the restaurant where locals were frequenting.

We decided to go for take out and eat at the hotel as were were wet and tired!


1 half chicken
1 order of fries
3 portuguese buns
=
4.30 euros.

SOOOO cheap!!!! and SOOOO good!!!

Of course we had to add some Guarana to the meal- it wouldn't be complete without:

Guaraná Antarctica is the most popular guaraná-flavoured soft drink in Brazil, created in 1921 by Pedro Baptista de Andrade for Companhia Antarctica Paulista, now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev. The drink is also available in Portugal, Spain, Honduras, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Finland, Canada, parts of the United Kingdom, parts of Japan, and the United States. The drink is produced only in three countries (Portugal, Brazil, and Japan). It is the second best-selling soft drink brand in Brazil, behind only Coca-Cola, and absolute leader in its segment. Currently, it is one of the 15 best-selling soft drink brands in the world.

Guaraná Antarctica is the official sponsor of the Brazilian national football team. One of its 2006 commercials featured Argentine football player Diego Maradona finding himself wearing the yellow jersey of the Brazilian team and singing the Brazilian national anthem before waking up and proclaiming it was a nightmare, because he had drunk too much Guaraná the day before. This caused considerable controversy in Argentina.

Much to my surprise... when we got back to the hotel...there was a cute little cake waiting for me!!!!! It was delicious!!!! And I got to blow out a candle... there's something important, reassuring, and nostalgic about the simple act of blowing out a candle on or near the date of your birth. I guess it's part of the act of celebrating and appreciating your existence on this earth- one year at a time.



It was a beautiful night in Lisbon- with a beautiful view!!!!

Cristo-Rei (English: Christ the King) is a Catholic monument of Jesus Christ overlooking the city of Lisbon, Portugal. It was inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and inaugurated on 17 May 1959. At that time, Portugal was being ruled by the President of the Council António de Oliveira Salazar, and it was on his orders that the Cristo-Rei was built.

The monument was built on the left-bank of the Tagus river, facing Lisbon on the other bank. Its location is at coordinates 38º40'43" N 9º10'17" W, in the civil parish of Pragal, in the city of Almada, in the District of Setúbal, Lisbon Region. It is also a national monument.

The base of the monument, designed by architect António Lino, is in the form of a gate, standing 75 m (246 ft) tall. At the top is a statue of Christ the Redeemer, designed by sculptor Francisco Franco de Sousa, 28 m (92 ft)-tall. At the base of the statue is an observation deck (altitude: 184 m / 604 ft) providing panoramic views of the city of Lisbon, the Tagus River and of the 25 de Abril Bridge. It is located on the left riverbank.

The construction of Cristo-Rei was approved on a Portuguese Episcopate conference, held in Fátima on 20 April 1940, as a plea to God to release Portugal from entering World War II. However, the idea had originated on a visit by the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro in 1934, soon after the inauguration of the statue of Christ the Redeemer in 1931.

Construction started in 1950 and took nine years to complete. It was founded and supported by Apostleship of Prayer members.

The 25 de Abril Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril "25th of April Bridge", Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpõt(ɨ) ˈvĩt(ɨ) ˈsĩku dɨ ɐˈbɾiɫ]) is a suspension bridge connecting the city of Lisbon, capital of Portugal, to the municipality of Almada on the left (south) bank of the Tejo river. It was inaugurated on August 6, 1966 and a train platform was added in 1999. Because of its similar coloring, it is often compared to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA. In fact, it was built by the same company (American Bridge Company) that constructed the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and not the Golden Gate, also explaining its similarity in design. With a total length of 2,277 m, it is the 20th largest suspension bridge in the world. The upper platform carries six car lanes, the lower platform two train tracks. Until 1974, the bridge was named Salazar Bridge (Ponte Salazar).

Our last day we were determined to take the famous tram 28 from start to finish- at this point, knowing it was very well the tram we were to take.
We were waiting for the tram at the first stop (with a bunch of tourists) and as it rolls up....low and behold... it's the same driver as the day before!!!! (this was my funny story from the previous blog post... I guess it's not that funny.. just a coincidence)
He must have thought-- what the heck, these crazy tourists again! hahaha... Roseni explained to him that we wanted the start to finish this time... he laughed, we laughed!

Here are some of my pictures from the ride:





It was wonderful and well worth it!!!!


This is the Prime Minister's official residence! Neat!
This was a neat picture of the famous unofficial symbol of Portugal: The Rooster of Barcelos which can be found all over Portuguese products, tourist shops, etc.

This is how the legend goes:

One of the many versions of this legend relates about a rich man who threw a big celebration. After the celebration was over, the servants of the rich man made an inventory of the dishware and the cutlery. The sterling cutlery was missing. The rich man accused one of the servants of stealing the missing pieces.

The servant was thrown into jail and accorded a death sentence. He protested his innocence but nobody believed him. He pleaded his jailers to set him free but they just ignored or laughed at his cries of freedom.

As his execution day drew nearer, one of the jail guards, impressed by his consistency, brought him to the judge to plead his cause. The judge was having a banquet at that time. The judge was in high spirits and agreed to see the man. As they came face to face with each other, the judge asked the man if he really thought he was innocent. The man swore that he was innocent even in the eyes of God. The judge asked the man if he had any proof of his innocence.

The man looked around in desperation seeking a way that he could be helped. He noticed a servant carrying a large platter of fowl, all decked in vegetables and sauce. He fell to his knees and prayed to God that as Peter denied Jesus at the cock's crow, so would his innocence be proven by this rooster's crow. All eyes turned to the platter of steaming fowl, and, miraculously, the rooster got up, beat its wings on its chest, and crowed loudly three times.

The judge conceded that the Lord has indeed spoken. Then raising his voice, he decreed this be a lesson to everyone to never stand in quick judgment of their fellow men. That from that day on, the rooster shall be a reminder to the people and their children's children of this as the Lord's message. So it happened that the rooster became Portugal's national symbol.

The rooster is usually gaily decorated with interesting designs and bright colors. To this day, it can be seen in every Portuguese home and every festive occasion. It may come shaped in loaves of holiday bread. Sometimes it may come stamped on children's candies. It is considered by the Portuguese as a symbol of faith in the greatness of God.

The art in Lisbon is fabulous- although I didn't get the opportunity to visit any art exhibits or art museums this trip- it is on the list of things to do next time.

There is a dichotomy in Lisbon- there are so many old buildings which are not being renovated and are left vacant. I am sure the inside has so much character- and it is a shame that no money is being put into renovations. On the other hand, you visit other parts of the city and brand new sky rises are being built. That's life I guess...

One thing they are doing with these old buildings are painting them with neat insanely massive graffiti art work!!!
Loveeeee the concept!!!!!!!
I was fortunate enough to witness it at one point too!!!!!
So cooL!
All in all... Lisbon is a fabulous city with its bohemian feel. I am looking forward to returning one day InshaAllah! This pictures sums it up: