Four Continents 2012

Lisbon: 6-13 October

We spent eight nights in an apartment near the waterfront in Lisbon and took many photos. So there are separate pages for our day trips to Belém and Sintra, and our afternoon river cruise.
		We were close to Lisbon's largest square, Praça do Comércio, so we wandered there the first evening. †
		After a quiet day on Sunday, we set off on Monday by tram. *
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		We got off at a miradour overlooking the Cathedral and river. *
		A nearby wall plaque and lamp. *
		We walked up to the Castle of St George, past the tatt always found where tourists gather. †
		The entrance to the Castle. †
		Inside the entrance was this shaded open area ... †
		with the castle itself further inside. †
		There were cannon on the walkway at the top of the walls. *
		View of central Lisbon from the Castle. *
		We ate at Restaurante Martinho de Arcada, a very old restaurant in the arcade of Praça do Comércio. *
		View along the arcade. *
		Praça do Comércio at night. *
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		Night near our apartment. *
		On Wednesday, we went to the Gulbenkian Museum: an amazing collection of art assembled by one man. †
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		There was a collection of clocks. *
		There was a room full of Lalique art-deco designs. *
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		Then on to Largo do Chiado for a meal while doing some people-watching. *
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		We ate at "Eleven", a restaurant in a lovely parkland setting and with a good reputation, but we found the food and service disappointing. *
		On Thursday, we went to the Design Museum (no photos allowed), then caught the Santa Justa elevator up to Chiado. *
		View of Lisbon Pantheon from the top of the elevator. †
		At the top were the remains of Convento do Carmo, a convent church ruined in the 1775 earthquake. *
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		Street scene in Chiado. †
		Metro sign at Marqués de Pombal, with a statue of him behind. Pombal was largely responsible for rebuilding Lisbon after the earthquake. †
		Roa do Arsenal, the street with our apartment. †

Leaving Lisbon, we had The Day From Hell, travelling for almost exactly 24 hours to reach our son and his family in Portland.