July 3
25 de Abril Bridge looks almost identical to the Golden Gate Bridge because it was built by the same company. It was originally named the Salazar Bridge after the dictator who also restored the castle we're in.
HALF WAY THERE! Only another 6 days worth of photos left. Be prepared! We will see everything today... Enjoy!
We never got use to the sun's intensity. This is at like 9am...
Despite me messing it up, our hotel, Solar do Castelo was really, really, nice!
See!
Megan posing with outside thing at hotel
Look at this. It's like those pics you see of other people's vacations. Look at the street. These little slabs of stone are used on all the sideways and roads. I don't think there's even mortar. I guess they use to have prisoners install them.
Castle of São Jorge. Afonso Henriques welcomes us to the castle built in the 11th century originally by the Moors, used as a royal residence from the 12th-15th century. In the 1500, the royals moved to the residences downtown until the 1755 earthquake. The castle was abandoned and left to decay until the 1960s when the dictator Salazar began restoration.
now for the views!
Megan overlooking the Tagus River
25 de Abril Bridge looks almost identical to the Golden Gate Bridge because it was built by the same company. It was originally named the Salazar Bridge after the dictator who also restored the castle we're in.
The Baixa district
What seems to be the set of Monty Python's Holy Grail.
My lovely wife tolerating all the photos I've taken and going to take of her...
She thinking she's getting even by taking my picture.
While Megan was in the bathroom, some guy walked by saying "Kittikesh, kittikesh (sp?)" in a normal tone and 50 cats came out of nowhere. From bushes, trees, roofs, flying. He led these cats into the castle where he fed them and then played a recorder. He's in that entrance. Very interesting...
Portuguese pride!
My lady pondering things...
Moorish ruins of the residences
The castle kitchen, which happens to be our hotel. We are the middle floor and the top floor is there little museum, we believe.
Did we time travel? It doesn't get more Old World Portuguese than this, does it?
The Mosteiro de São Vicente de Fora
The view from St. Vinny's
Hey! We were at that castle!
Inside St. Vinny's
Notice the little wrap around steps to Jesus. It looks like Jesus is in his "Fat Elvis" stage...
The Alfama neighborhood
The Museu Militar (Military Museum).
Tram
Now in the Baixa district
Ginjinha or Ginja. It's a cherry liqueur that is served almost everywhere for 1 Euro and packs a punch.
Praça de Figueira with the João I sculpture.
"Be stupid." Cracks me up every time.
As if we haven't done enough already, let's check out Balém by taking the very sleek streetcar
Very clean and efficient!
Well, efficient as long as some douchebag doesn't park his car slightly on the tracks. Here's a group of locals picking up the car and moving it so we can continue.
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos
Built in 1502 to celebrate Vasco de Gama's successful return from India
Look who's here; Vasca de Gama! I took a lot of pictures of him. I mean, the man in this tomb changed the world.
Luís Vaz de Camões. A writer, adventurer, poet of great importance. Important enough to have a tomb next to Vasco de Gama.
Megan in space!
The most religious photo I've ever taken...
Oh Rick Steves', what are you going to show us next?
The Monument of Discoveries!
Prince Henry the Navagator
Philippa of Lancaster, Henry's mother
Cristo Rei. Just like the one in Rio.
Two ships passing in the day...
Balém Tower built in 1515 to protect Lisbon's harbor
Fisherman at tower.
Smoke break
Floatplane that was the first to fly across the south Atlantic (Portugal to Brazil)
Pastéis de Belém is the place to get a pastry.
They created one called Pastel de Nata. You should have one. Maybe a million
The only photo of us not using "the stick." A very nice man took this of us.
The park we heard a drum corp. play Final Countdown by Europe
Back to the Baixa and the arch
Rua Augusta
Elevador de Santa Justa. We will ride this later!
Mmmmm... Pastries on the brain now. We will come back here several times...
Hot dog pastry!
MUFFY! Just sounds wrong...
bridge to ruins from elevator
The steps that gave Megan the weird rash on her legs.
MORE GINJA!
That's my girl! Two-fisting cherry liqueur...
Rossio or Pedro IV Square
Mmmmm... Window meat...
Dear Portugal. Please hire me to promote your country to America.
Watching the World Cup
Arco do Castelo. A delicious Indo-Portuguese restaurant. Very tiny and very good!
A shrimp. I also almost died here eating a pepper I thought was a green bean.
Night in the Alfama
AN OUTDOOR URINAL!!! Pack the bags, honey. We're moving to Portugal! Genius!
Megan is no longer tolerant of me taking pictures of her...
My poor feet. Sunburned, dirty, lots of walking. It's been a rough time for them...
Thanks for reading to those who made it down this far!!!
