Portugal – Day 6 – Praca do Comercio & Belem Tower
Walking All Around Lisbon
Day 6 Itinerary
From Memmo Alfalma Hotel:
The above picture was taken during my 10K morning run just before the sun came up.
The Praco is one of the most beautiful squares in all Europe, opening southwards onto the huge Tagus estuary. Centuries ago, this was Lisbon´s great reception hall for visitors arriving by sea. It was at the dock here that the Kings and Heads of State would disembark when visiting Portugal. Prior to the 1755 earthquake, it was called the Terreiro do Paço (Royal Yard). Everything was destroyed by the earthquake and then had to be rebuilt.
The picture of LisboRio night club was also taken at 7:00AM of a group of people hanging around the nightclub with the music thumping loadly. It is Sunday morning and this place has been rocking 24 hours a day since Friday afternoon. These people had been up all night partying.
I have to start with our breakfast since it was a highlight of every day
Mark’s egg, avocado toast Lauri’s whole wheat crepe and berry puree’ Meats and cheeses of the breakfast buffet Fruit, granola and pastries
Started our day with an Uber ride to the Belem district of Lisbon. The Uber fees here are ridiculously cheap. Lauri couldn’t figure how the poor Uber drivers could make a living with cost of gas and auto maintenance. She always tipped more the maximum suggestion. We met a really nice couple from Switzerland at the Belem tower. We exchanged taking pix of each other. When Portugal was a world power in the 1700’s this tower guarded the port of Lisbon.
In front of the Jardim da Praca do Imperio
Set close to Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery is limestone-clad and built on the site of an old church—the one where Vasco da Gama and his crew spent their last night in Portugal before their famed seafaring travels to India. The massive structure, which commenced building in 1501, took a century to complete. The monastery is three football fields long!
- Monument to the Discoveries
The monument was constructed in 1960 to mark 500 years since the death of the Infante Dom Henrique (Henry the Navigator).
The Quake Museum was a very interactive experience. It was over an hour and a half and told the story of the infamous 1755 earthquake in Lisbon. One of most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. It forever rocked the landscape, culture, power structure and world dominance of Portugal. The museum did a great job of describing Portuguese society before the quake, how destructive the quake was, and life in the aftermath.
Afternoon coffee and tea bar at the Memmo Alfama Hotel. It also offered citrus flavored water and homemade Madeline cookies.
On our last night in Lisbon we chose “Cooking School” which turned out to be the best decision for a unforgettable experience.
- At work on the potatoes
- Our table of friends
- Pedro our Chef
- Goofing off
Thoughts for the day :
Lauri :
Our last day in Lisbon was magnificent. Another perfect breakfast with a gorgeous view of the water. Some of my favorite things about exploring here in Lisbon are hanging out by the water. The monuments are just breathtaking because they are so huge! Could not have loved the earthquake museum more. It was probably one of the best ways to experience everything from culture to history and a lot of emotions sprinkled in. Cooking school was a huge plus for me. Lots of conversation and laughs with delicious wine and eight different new Portuguese recipes to create and savor with new friends.
Mark:
Wrapping up our trip to Porto and Lisbon and comparing the differences. obviously, the port wine cellars of Porto experience is unique. Lisbon feels much more like a bustling metro city. Porto has the many small towns connected vibe. In Porto a lot of things are located down little alleys or breezeways, whereas in Lisbon, the streets are bustling with more expensive shops, more international restaurants and a mass of people when the cruise ships are in town. In Lisbon there are areas by the waterfront that are just gorgeous with museums, monuments and sculptures.
