Lisbon!

BACKBLIP

We left the apartment in Cascais around 9am, and walked down to the station for the 9:20 train, timing it very well as it had just pulled in. Alighted in Lisbon at the transport hub of Cais do Sodre and up a flight of stairs to catch the metro to Alamada, then change lines there to the One before Oriente for a short walk to our modern apartment at Parque das Nações, met at the gate by the very exuberant Marieta, a Brazilian and former teacher. The apartment was lovely and in a large modern block that even had an outdoor pool and a security guard!

She gave us a tip about getting the bus into Lisbon instead of the metro as you don’t need to change you can just sit and enjoy the scenery into the centre. We will do that but not today as there was t one due for half and hour so headed to the metro at Oriente. Goodness, it was warm again! That meant keeping in the cool and shade if possible.

We walked uphill to the Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara, looking over the rooftops to one of the other hill where the Castle is. It was quite busy. We were going to sit there for a refreshment but decided to walk up towards Principe Real, where we stayed in Lisbon 1 in 2015! It’s very beautiful there with shady squares, small parks and lovely little shops. Coffee amd pastry beckoned and we found one of the most beautiful old buildings housing a bakery and coffee . Pastelaria Padaria Sao Roque, the inside was absolutely spectacular with good coffee and pastries to match. What would life be like without good coffee and pastries? When you get a stunning place like this, or our lovely Cafe in Cascais, it’s a bonus. I love cafe culture. Give me this over alcohol any day. Strange but true :)

I put a picture in extras which doesn’t do it justice as the whole area was stunning . I asked the lady serving what it used to be but she didn’t know. I bet she is fed up of tourists asking that question :)

Had a look in a few of the little shops on the way to that top ice cream shop , Nannarella! Two flavours in the little tub but ohhhh the flavours. I’m not a big ice cream fan but their ice cream is something special. Remembered before on Lisbon 3 we went here then walked round to one of the loveliest and greenest squares , Praça das Flores, it has a fountain , restaurants and seats shaded by the trees. For our entertainment there was a photoshoot going on with a beautiful model in a stunning purple dress. That kept us amused as we ate the ice cream. Lots of people watching.

We strolled up to the little park and had a walk into this old building that has bars, upmarket shops, flower shop and art gallery and this stunning old staircase with old wall art. The whole place would be a photographers dream if they had a proper camera to take it all in no just an iPhone- it was called Embaixada. Cool place..

We were getting hungry and earlier we passed by this cafe/restaurant that had great smells coming out, so we went back there and we got a table, sitting next to a beautiful girl with a rescue dog called Violet. She was from California who came to Portugal with Violet for six months and is applying for residency. She has met a guy and it seems like her life is now in Europe. We had a great chat. The food was good, the servers had good chat and we left feeling great.

We decided to get the tram up to Graça to watch the sunset from the Miradouro Da Senhora do Monte, we stayed near here in May 2018, and to me it’s one of the loveliest views. There was a band, lots of people waiting for the sun to set over the rooftops of Lisbon with the whole of the City in front of us. It’s a beautiful sight to behold. It was Ben’s 12 birthday today and we FaceTimed him from here. It’s a special place for Ben and I too as we stopped here last November on our Tuk Tuk tour . The sun set over the Tegus and felt good being in Lisbon.

Headed downhill to Martim Moniz to get the metro back to the apartment.

What a great day.