Portugal – Day 1: Out and About

Having only three full days in Lisbon, I set out to explore after eating a nice hardy breakfast (read: carbs).  I have no idea really what there is to see but I’m well armed with a variety of tourist maps.  I also stop by the front desk on my way out to confirm which direction I should head towards to ensure maximum sites seen. 

Heading south from the hotel on Ave Liberdade I quickly encounter a numerous amount of squares with people mulling around.  I also notice immediately the Starbucks in an otherwise historical looking building.  Now I know that my tone toward Starbucks in these posts has been less than favorable despite the fact that back in the US I frequent one daily (if not more).  I just feel that if you’re in a country, which has good quality coffee (e.g. any country other than the US) you should be supporting a local establishment vs. a chain.  It never ceases to amaze me though how packed they are and often by locals, not tourists.  But anyway…..

I continue on down the street until I find Praça Do Coméricio and just beyond that the Tagus River.   Following are pictures leading the square, which if you approach through the area known as Baixa, lead you through Arco da Rua Augusta to the square.  In the center is an equestrian statue of King José I. 

Above: view of Arc approaching the square

Above: view of the Arc from the square

Equestrian statute of King José I.

Above: a view of the Tagus River

As I often do, I take pictures of things and research later thereby allowing ample time to follow the crowds of tourists to the next site worth seeing.  I have to also say when you’re not sure if you’re following another (much more prepared tourist) or a local on the way, say, to the dentist; a great resource is a tour buses.  These tend to be vibrantly colored, double-decker buses, which in your own city you wouldn’t dream of hopping on.  These act as great visual aids and directional guides all the while allowing you not to roam around aimlessly whilst fumbling with a large map. 

So while employing the aforementioned tactics, I come across Se Cathedral.  I’ve taken some pictures of what was available to view for free.  I’m not trying to be cheap but anyone who’s spent any amount of time in an older country than the US knows that after a while, museums, cathedrals and especially museums of religious figures just gets old.  Yes, I sound uncultured and maybe that’s true.

I then proceeded to follow the crowd up the hill and toward the Castelo S. Jorge (which I read sits on the site of the earliest settlement).  From this cite the panoramic view of the city is spectacular.  I especially enjoyed seeing the terra-cotta colored rooftops upon white washed buildings with the river in the backdrop.

I continue on the grounds viewing ancient ruins (from Roman, Visigoth, and Moorish occupations) and rediscovered castle walls.

There was also a museum for which this mural was painted.  I can again say this is all I saw of the museum because I didn’t make it much further.

And on the way back from the castle I stumbled upon this ancient Roman Theatre (which, I presume by the fencing, they're still excavating)

After hiking all around Lisbon in the heat (the hills remind me of San Fran) I am ready for a siesta.  This by the way is so Spanish, not Portuguese but what the hell – on this vacay, I’m Spanish.