Lisbon was the fourth stop on our trans-Atlantic journey and
armed with an i-pod loaded with history of the city, we journey out into it.
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, has been continuously inhabited
since 1500 BC and remarkably, it has aged well, retaining much of her good
looks.
It is a small city given its long history, populated
with quaint little white washed buildings.
All topped with brilliant red tiled roofs
that glisten in the sun.
Lisbon was built on seven hills and has developed a rapid
transit system that accommodates them. With three funiculars and one elevator,
we managed to avoid climbing most of the seven.
Sunny little plaza’s are found around every corner, each one
a little different and exquisite in their own way.
And of course, every city needs a fortress and the Castle de
Sao Jorge (pronounced Horgay) did not disappoint.
And of course every fortress
needs cannon and again we were not disappointed. Boys and their toys!
Like champagne, port can only be called port if it comes
from the Douro region of Portugal. So, sipping a glass of port after a long day
in Lisbon seemed an appropriate way to end the day. Port is created by adding grape spirits to the
fermenting grapes. This acts to stop the fermentation process leaving the wine
sweeter and boosting its nip lumbing qualities.
It was time to head back to the ship and my first official
siesta. My expectations were that it would feel much like my traditional
Penticton nap and just as refreshing.
Well, as they say, “When in Portugal, do as the Portuguese
do.”
Adeus meus
amigos. Até
nos encontrarmos novamente.
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