August 09, 2009

Lisbon: Day 2

Our day started with a guided tour of Mosteiro dos Jerónimos followed by pastries at Pasteis de Belem desde 1837 (I also ate our guide's share of the specialty custard tarts). We skipped the guided tour to the Coach (as in horse drawn) museum and instead found our own way to the Torre de Belém and nearby (Vasco da Gama) Discoveries Monument. Then we took the train (again using our Lisboa card) to Cascais, a sea resort. We ended our day with a wander up and down Avenida da Liberdade and a light dinner at one of the outside garden bars.

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos: Vasco da Gama and his crew prayed at this site before their historic voyage to India. The stone tombs of Vasco da Gama (1468-1523) of the poet Luís de Camões (1527-1570) are located near the western portal of the monastery.

Torre de Belém: A defensive tower built in the early sixteenth century in the distinctive Portuguese "Manueline" (some describe as "late-Gothic") style to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition.

Cascais Sea Resort: Our guide claimed this resort was more upscale than Estoril

No comments: