Lisbon

On the next block was the Jeronimos Monastry.

This is one of the great examples of manueline architecture. King Manuel was one of the rulers in the age of discoveries and since they ruled the seas during that time, they celebrated it in their architecture and you find nautical themes as decorations.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jer%C3%B3nimos_Monastery

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manueline

Pasteis de Belem has been in the same family since 1837. They made Pastel de Nata world famous, and those little custard tarts are indescribably tasty.

There are usually a long line to get in to the place, but we have VIP guide that grew up in this area and knows everybody. We walked by all the lines and was able to go all the way to the kitchen where they make them.

On a good day they sell nearly 50,000 of them.

He got ours fresh from the kitchen. We had to get them to-go since we were so stuffed from lunch.

We had lunch at this astounding seafood restaurant that is well loved by the locals. And so well loved, they asked me not to publish their name on social media. We were the only two non-locals in the place.

Finally got to eat 'percebes'

A delicacy in Portugal. They are goose barnacles and really yummy. João was not only surprised that we wanted to try them, but also really liked them. And then we had shrimp soup, Mozambique prawns and oysters. And chocolate dessert. And espresso.

A feast!

Originally bullt as a temporary exhibit, the Monument to Discoveries is now a proud part of the city, celebrating a long and interesting history.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padr%C3%A3o_dos_Descobrimentos

Next stop was at the Tower of Belem.

It was built as security to the port, with a twin fort on the other side of the river. That way any intruder would suffer crossfire from both fortifications

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel%C3%A9m_Tower

I went looking for the rhinoceros of course, since I read the story and had to go find it.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/belem-tower-rhinoceros-torre-de-belem

The smallest store in Lisbon only makes leather gloves.

Then João left us at Entranto, a rooftop bar next to the Santa Justa lift, with a glass of wine each while he went back to go get the car. What a great view to sit and relax after all that walking, and have a nice cool Vinho Verde.

We walked back towards the river and had to try the Portuguese version of prosciutto, called Presunto. Yum!

Then towards the back of the elevator we also had to try the gelato. Everybody agreed the strawberry is the best since it is all natural and can only be made for a short time while strawberries are in season.

Bacalhau.

This is salted cod. The process was invented to have food on the long sea journeys, but is still a staple in Portuguese cuisine.

Then we went to the Church of St. Dominic. It was started in 1242 but got destroyed in the 1755 disaster of the earthquake, fire and then tsunami. (A third of Lisbon’s population perished)

They rebuilt the church, and then it burned down again in 1959.

Not having enough money to fix it yet, only the roof got fixed and now they are just using it as it is. The walls and pillars are stilled scarred, and you can still see melted/burned statues.

In all the churches I have ever been in, this is probably one of the more unusual ones.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igreja_de_S%C3%A3o_Domingos_(Lisbon)

Fine, we'll admit it. We love the codfish cakes. Pastel de Bacalhao.

And here on the main tourist area, they have it with the local cheese inside.

Second (or maybe third) breakfast yay! It was delicious.

We walked past the Lisbon Cathedral. One of the most important buildings in Portugal. Construction started in 1147 immediately after conquest of the Moors on the site of their mosque.

https://www.sedelisboa.pt/history/?lang=en

Then we went around the corner to the statue of Saint Anthony. According to local legend, if you can flip a coin from where you are onto the Bible in his hands, you will have good luck. It is nearly impossible, we tried. Many times.

João did it on his first throw. He was so excited! Has supposedly never happened to him before.