14 August

LISBON

A wonderful late start today taking it easy! Hit the streets at 1100. After walking over 20,000 steps yesterday we decided on a quieter day today walking to the Sao Jorge Castle which is perched upon Lisbon's highest hill, coffee overlooking the Tagus river then lunch at "Maritima Das Columbus", one of the many street cafes. Sadly there would be at least half the patrons at each cafe smoking!

Beautiful sunshine - 34 degrees. Pre dinner drinks at the roof top bar of the Bairro Alto Hotel. Dinner at "Sacramento" where we were given the best table for two in the house. Wine was lovely, the steak tough!!!

Returned to Dominic church to have a good look. 

Choices of transport - tuk tuk, taxis, buses or trams. 

A touch of pink to break the traditional yellow coloured buildings here. 

Some buildings have hand painted or industrial tiles which adds colour to the city. 

Entrance to the Sao Jorge Castle. 

This is the ruins of the citadel's former Royal Palace. It now houses the Permanent Exhibition, cafe and a restaurant. 

The castle was built in the mid 11th century during the Moorish period. Only the ruins are standing today. 

Overlooking the Tagus river and a suspension bridge called the 25 of April Bridge which opened in 1966. 

Coffee overlooking the oldest church in Lisbon. 

The famous no.28 tram which was always packed. 

Fado is the popular live music played especially in the Alfama area. 

Pre dinner drinks on the roof top bar at the Bairro Alto Hotel. 

Followed by dinner at Sacramento. Sadly my steak was tough!

13 August

LISBON

Refreshed after our 1st nights sleep in a bed since leaving Perth!

Met our walking guide at 0930 for a 3 hour informative and enjoyable walk through areas of Lisbon - Rossi, Costa do Castello, Baixa-Chiado, Alfama, Bairro Alto and Praca Do Comercio. There are four major squares all with different surfaces. Throughout Lisbon there are a variety of colourful tiles on their walls including industrial and hand painted tiles and Chinese influence tiles. 

Lunch at "Time Out Market" where there are sample stores of different restaurants in Lisbon. 

Rested for a while then hunted on foot for the "Lisbon Winery" for wine tasting and tapas but discovered last tastings were at 1800!  Found a bar that combined a bar and a barber both working along side each other - something quite unique! Dinner at "Bairro do Avillez" which boasts Lisbons famous Chief Jose Avillez. 

Maria, our 21yo guide - very knowledgable. 

The railway station where you get a train to Sinatra. During 2WW there was a tunnel between this station and palace, now a hotel called Hotel Avenida Palace, for the Germans to secretly use. 

Ginjinha is a Portuguese liqueur of a high alcohol content made of sour cherries. This is the famous shop in Lisbon. 

This is the symbol of Portugal. 

The square where many Jews were massacred in the 18th Century. The olive tree to the right was planted as a sign of peace along with the plaque of The Star of David. This church- Saint Dominic survived the 1531 fires however was completely destroyed in the 1755 earthquake. The subsequently rebuild of this church was completed in 1807. The church was then destroyed by fires in 1959 and restored again leaving the walls charred. It was reopened in 1994.

A mass being held in this church. Note the burnt walls left not refurbished after the fires. 

We chose not to take the lift up this steep hill. 

The original homes with small windows and doors and very thick walls surviving the 1755 earthquake. 

This is a medieval home which survived the earthquake. 

Corpus square built 20 years ago is on the Tagus River. It was originally a car park and is the only square not tiled. This monument depicts a horse representing Africa, an elephant representing Brazil and the snakes on the top representing enemies of the King. The arch in the background is the "Gate to the City". 

In the Baixa-Chiado area. A famous roof top bar is at the "Biarro Alto Hotel" on the left. 

Pastry shop called "Manteigario" is where the famous tarts (natas) are made all day. €1 ($1.50) each, absolutely delicious. 

The pastry is made by a machine, the filling all by hand. 

Time Out Markets for lunch. Amazing different tastes of Portuguese food. 

The bar we discovered with a working barber. 

Dinner at "Bairro Do Avillez" where Jose Avillez is considered one of the great Portuguese chiefs who has six restaurants in Lisbon. 

11 August 2017

PERTH - LISBON

Flight delayed in Perth so missed our connecting flight from Hong Kong to London which resulted in an extra 15 hours spent at the Regal Airport Hotel. Caught the 11.55pm flight to London and arrived at 5.10am. Left puffer vest on the plane. Then London to Lisbon. Spent afternoon looking around Belem area then dinner at Pinocchio's Restuarant meeting up with a family from Mexico City. 

Heritage Avenida Liberdade Hotel built in 1897 -  view from our balcony.

Jeronimos Monastery in the background with the gardens of Belem.

"Our local" for a welcome drink at 1630. 

Dinner at Restaurante Cervejaria Pinoquio where we sat next to a couple from Mexico. 

10 August 2017 - on route to Cornwall Walk

Leaving Perth airport 11.55pm on Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong