Oh what a beautiful city Lisbon is! We spent the day exploring this gorgeous, colorful coastal city and it wasn’t hard to cover it by walking as its main central area is very compact. We arrived so early in morning and couldn’t check in to our hotel  so we dropped our backpacks and Michael met us to walk to a breakfast spot he had picked out close by. We had our first introduction to the most delicious pastry on the face of the earth called “Nata”.  It is a small muffin tin size delicacy made with pastry dough and a creamy filling then fired on top like a cream brûlée.  Totally decadent.  Our small meal of turkey and cheese croissant, nata and coffee was a whopping $3.80euro.  Michael is such a foodie so we know walking the next two weeks with him will be yummy.  

Our goal today was to mail forward to Santiago our clothes we wore on the plane ride and a few extra outfits for the end of our trip. To our surprise no mail stations or post offices are open on Saturdays or Sundays. We had planned to explore Lisbon for the weekend and start our journey at the crack of dawn Monday, however now we are going to have to wait until a post office opens at 9am Monday.  By having to do this it’s going to make for a super long first day as our first walking day is to walk 30K which is roughly 20 miles. 

We are very happy to have two days in Lisbon.  Today we covered about 15 miles according to my MapMyWalk app and the majority was very hilly and all on cobblestone sidewalks. This city is one of the oldest capital cities in the world and is one of the oldest in Western Europe.  A huge looming castle called São Jorge Castle sits on a hilltop overlooking the historic city.  We toured this Moorish Citadel which was dates back to the Medieval Period.  One of the highlights of walking the castle grounds was seeing peacocks roosted in gigantic trees and on the ground walking up to us with tail feathers ruffled as to say “this is my home.” To think of the history this place has seen is mind boggling.

We walked along the main Blvd known as Avenida da Liberdade which is loaded with outdoor cafes and luxury shopping much like the Las Ramblas personas n Barcelona.  A perfect Saturday morning and afternoon stroll.  There is a major music festival in the city known as Eurovision Song Competition where groups from all over Europe compete.  Very interesting crowd and costumes that make you wonder.  

The afternoon was spent exploring the huge churches of Lisbon.  All are ancient and breathtaking.

   “Igreja de Santa Maria de Belém - 

The vaulting of the church of the Jeronimos Monastery is considered one of the most impressive examples of the technology of Gothic architecture in Europe. Listed as a World Heritage Site, the entire monument is the most remarkable achievement of Manueline architecture, with an ornamentation that mixes religious and royal symbols, and naturalistic elements. 

It’s in this church that you’ll find the tombs of poet Luís de Camões and explorer Vasco da Gama.”

“The Madre de Deus Convent is now the National Tile Museum. The church is one of Portugal’s most extraordinary monuments, mixing Baroque tile panels, gilt and painting on canvas. The tiles are by Dutch and Portuguese artists, while the 20 paintings on the ceiling, depicting the life of the Virgin, are by painter Marcos da Cruz, and created between 1660 and 1670. “

“Igreja de Santa Catarina -

For whatever reason, this church remains a secret visited by very few, despite its location on the edge of Bairro Alto and despite being one of the city’s most monumental. The sumptuous interior is one of the most impressive works of art in Lisbon, from the Rococo stucco ceiling to the gilded decoration completed in 1727. 

Two of Portugal’s most prominent 18th-century artists, Vieira Lusitano and André Gonçalves, created the paintings framed by the gilding.”

And finally, the Cathedral, which is the oldest church in the city. 

“This first building was completed between 1147 and the first decades of the 13th century in Late Romanesque style. At that time the relics of St Vincent of Saragossa, a, patron saint of Lisbon, were brought to the cathedral from Southern Portugal. Earthquakes have always been a problem for Lisbon and its cathedral. During the 14th and 16th centuries there were several of them, but the worst of all was the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, which destroyed the Gothic main chapel along with the royal pantheon. The cloisters and many chapels were also ruined by the quake and the fire that followed. The cathedral was partially rebuilt and, in the beginning of the 20th century, was given the appearance that it has today after a profound renovation. In recent years the central courtyard of the cloister has been excavated and shows signs of the Roman, Arab and mediaeval periods.”

Regardless to say, we learned so much history today! Portugal is known for its colorful tiles which are sold on every street corner and adorn buildings throughout the city, the delicious “nata” pastry and a hundred other beautiful pasties, canned fish (they actually have canned fish restaurants😫), Port wine and cork.  Cork purses and shoes are in every storefront clothing store windows.  The food has been extraordinary and we’ve shared several small dishes which I’m hoping we are walking off! 

Excited to crawl in bed tonight. Feels like I haven’t slept in days.... oh... I haven’t! Nite nite!!!