Lisbon!

Tuesday, day 2 in Lisbon: The first order of the day after breakfast was to complete the required Covid test for flying back home. We had purchased tests that were to be completed on line from the comfort of our own hotel room. It turned out to be fairly easily done and, thankfully, we both tested negative! We started the day with a few ideas for what we wanted to do. First up - take the Santa Justa elevator to the top for the views.

However, when we got there the line was already quite long so we went with Plan B, go to the top of the Rua Augusta Arch.

You take an elevator up 2 floors and then walk up 2 more floors with a stop at the clock works to get to the top.  The views were nice with up close access to the statues.

After the arch, it was time for the essential part of each morning - the pastel de nata stop.  This time, someone had a glass of port to accompany it!

These were okay but we decided we liked the ones we had yesterday better.  Next on the agenda was a visit to a shoe store.  Portuguese shoes are reputed to be the best in the world.  A Google search sent us up the hill to store with excellent reviews.  The shoes were nice looking but I just couldn't bring myself to pay 220 Euro for shoes I will wear just a few times a year.  They had an outlet shop next store with better prices but nothing I liked in my size.  Mission unaccomplished!

From there we decided that we would head for the Alfama area which is also high above the city.  Unfortunately, to get there you have to go down first and then up again.  Then serendipity struck.  As we started down we unexpectedly came to the top of the Santa Justa elevator.  And, from where we were, we could walk right out on a platform that was not quite to the top of the tower.  The top of the tower was closed off, so this was as high as anyone could go. Mission accomplished!

 So then it was downhill then uphill until we reached Alfama.  Alfama has many tiled houses and posted photos honoring residents of the area.

We eventually made it to a kiosk overlooking Lisbon where we had pastel de nata on our first trip to Lisbon.  This day, we had cod fish cakes and a glass of wine!

Needless to say, the walk downhill was easier.  On the way, I did find a poster for a sport that I might be able to handle.

For the evenings entertainment, we booked tickets to a Fado concert.  We totally enjoyed both the music and the singing.

Day 3, I started by attempting an early morning jog but the legs just would not cooperate.  At least I got to enjoy the sunrise.

In the morning we spent time taking care of business to get ready to fly home.  Of course, we had to interrupt the preparations for our last morning pasteis de nata!

Our goal for the day was to visit Jerry's Monastery.  Okay, it's the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos.  We were pretty sure that we'd done it before but we decided to go again.  It was our first outing on Lisbon public transit, a bus.

After arriving, our first order of business was lunch from a local shop that I guess you could say was the like a Subway except that the baguettes were so much better.

The monastery was worth the visit especially with the brilliant sunshine.

Before completing our visit, I did find time to make confession.

After the monastery, we walked over to the Padrao dos Descobrimentos monument.  We also found time for a cold drink.

And after the bus ride back to the area of our hotel it was time for some refreshing sangria!

After enough sangria, Linda was smitten by cupid!

There is so much to reflect on as we finish this trip.  I think that I'll have time as we're sitting in airports on the way home to make a blog post with those reflections.  Stay tuned!

For now, peace and blessings,

Linda and Larry