Tuesday 31 October 2017

ABC (Another Bloody Church)

Everywhere you go in the world, some of the most beautiful buildings are churches. Here is no exception.

A Monastery and a Church
If I were to hire a tuktuk, this would have been mine.
A royal coffin supported by elephants


Does anyone have anything to confess?
When we were finished our bus tour, we chose to be dropped off in the centre of Lisbon. After a little prowl, we settled into a wonderful Portuguese restaurant for lunch. We shared a dish of grilled octopus, a salad, and a bottle of wine. Wonderful!


The buildings were amazing.
This was an outdoor elevator that just went up to a scenic walkway.


Most of the pedestrian areas were covered with gorgeous black and white cobblestones.
We didn't shop. We just prowled.
Down by the waterfront we found this amazing arch. It made me think of St. Petersburg, Russia.

Belem

Belem is a beautiful and historic neighbourhood at the mouth of the Tegus River. 

Here we find a monument to a pilot who first flew to Peru.
 BelĂ©m Tower is actually a former military station which protected the river mouth. Apparently there are other stations all along the coast, but the others actually look like boxes.

This one looks like a castle.

Of course it is now a tourist attraction, complete with a violinist.

As in Thailand, you can ride in a tuktuk.

We get to ride in this beautiful and comfortable bus.

This is the Monument to the Discoveries, looking out over the water.

The Portuguese were amazing navigators.

A large map in the square demonstrates the extent of Portuguese exploration.
Portugal is recognized as the oldest country in Europe, having been founded more than eight hundred years ago.

Portuguese colonies dotted the globe. They were founded in very many surprising places: Africa, Madagascar, Goa in India, Malacca in Malaysia, Canton (Guangzhou) and Macau in China, Terra Nova in Canada, and many more. This exploration all happened before Spain even became a country.

At this point I decided that the primary souvenir that would come home with me would commemorate the navigators of Portugal.

Navigational tools, such as this astrolabe, made it possible for the Portuguese to
explore the world.

Next we are going to a church.





Lisbon Tour

In the morning, after a very complex breakfast buffet, we boarded a new bus for a tour of the city.

Many of the buildings are quite remarkable.

Monuments are historic, and modern.

At this park, the guide explained that the haze was smoke.
There were fires burning in many areas around Portugal.

Many of the buildings are soft pastel colours.



Campo Pequeno


After checking in, we were free for the afternoon. Nothing was planned until the orientation meeting just before dinner. Lunch was required and we were told that a food court was just a couple of blocks down the way. Before getting there however, we had already stopped at a little cafe for a tuna quiche which was very tuna. It was not very eggy, but it was fishy and delicious. A cafe americano gave us a chance to relax and unwind (and practice our sign language).

The food court was in the basement of an amazing round building. The food was pizza and hamburgs and sandwiches and boring. Hurray for our little cafe. Around the food court was a little mall, but we weren't here to shop. Not until we went up to the next level did we realize we were in a bullfighting arena, Campo Paqueno. At the box office we discovered that there was not a bullfight until next week.
A Spanish Bull
A Portuguese Bull
At each cardinal point was an amazing tower.
In Portugal, bullfighting is done on horseback and the bull's horns are covered to protect the horse. The bull is not killed, only tagged, whereas a Spanish matador works on foot and does kill the bull.

Each bull only fights once in the arena. One who performs well is put out to stud. Others who do not do well are delivered to the slaughter house.

After the fight is over, the bull must be captured and controlled. A volunteer attracts attention and then stands firm as the bull strikes his torso. After he grabs the bull by the horns (literally) a group of seven other volunteers swarm around the bull to control him and to remove him from the arena. These eight men may have the most difficult and dangerous job, but they are the only ones who don't get paid.

Inside the arena they have a beer festival setting up.

Box seats are small but beautiful.

The seats at the front have shorter legs.
Back at our hotel we explored to discover a rooftop bar and pool. A couple beer were called for.

 In the evening we gathered in a lecture hall for our first tour talk, then a wall was opened up and dinner was served. The buffet was extensive and delicious (but I could have had the same meal at home).


Monday 30 October 2017

Lisbon

Once in Lisbon, a bus picked us up at the airport and delivered us to our hotel. The bus was quite large and some of the streets were quite narrow. We were on the wrong side of the median when we arrived at our hotel. The driver pulled onto a narrow parking lane to turn around. It was hard to imagine that the bus would fit ...... and it didn't. The rear view mirror of the bus wiped out a traffic light as we passed. Looking back, we could see that the light was still working, but was pointing in the wrong direction. Whoops!

The Jupiter Lisboa Hotel

As anticipated, we were too early and our rooms were not ready, so we were prepared to settle in for a wait. Our tour leader noted Debby's white cane and arranged for us to check in immediately. It did seem a little unfair, but ........

Monday 23 October 2017

Brussels


To get to Lisbon, we first flew Brussels Airline to Brussels. Deb and I upgraded and we ended up with a group of four seats. Deb stretched out and had a sleep so I watched a movie. The second leg of the trip was on this dramatically painted jet.


Off to Portugal (Maybe)

Apparently, every trip must begin with a little drama.

About a week before our flight, we got a phone call from Lily. She was in an ambulance on her way to Emergency. A van had pulled in front of her bicycle and she had taken a major tumble.

At first, the apparent damage was a cracked left clavicle (collarbone). Only a sling was needed and she was about to be sent home. Unfortunately, she couldn't stand, so they sent her off for second x-ray. A second crack was found, this time in her left tibia (shinbone).

Either of her injuries would have been rather easy to deal with, either with a sling or with crutches. Together however, they became complicated. She couldn't put weight on her leg and she couldn't use crutches. She was to be stuck in a wheelchair for six to twelve weeks.

It seemed that we might be cancelling our trip, unless sufficient arrangements could quickly be made for Lily's care.

The day before our journey, Aileen was here to stay with Lily. A rental wheelchair had necessitated the removal of one door. VON nurses had helped her with transfer techniques. PSWs were arranged for every day. We were satisfied, so off we went.