As a preemptive strike against Google (who first devoured PicasaWeb and killed it off, then changed the display format in Google Photos several times, and recently announced the demise of Google+), I am going to try and rescue my PicasaWeb albums before Google has a chance to send them to the netherworld as well.
I will share my photos, with comments, via this blog. Very little text and extra-large pictures... do you like comics? Here we go.
1. Lisbon
2. Evora
3. Estremoz
4. Vila Viçosa
5. Castelo de Vide and Tomar
6. Batalha and Alcobaça
7. Up North
8. Douro Valley and Porto
9. Down South
10. Sagres and Cabo de São Vicente
If you ever want to see any of the pictures in more detail, you can click on it and it will open up big.
Enjoy!
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Lisbon
Lisbon, Praça do Comércio -- during the Age of Discovery ships arrived here, this was the first place all visitors saw, the face of the city.
Praça do Comércio, rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake under the direction of Marquês de Pombal. He is one of the figures on the front of the Arco da Rua Augusta (Triumphal Arch), The equine statue features King José I, who was so scared by the earthquake that he lived in a tent for the rest of his life.
Cais das Colunas (Columns pier), with the two pillars erected in the riverfront of Praça do Comércio, works as a river gateway to Lisbon. The pillars were erected after the 1755 earthquake by the architect Eugénio dos Santos, and apparently represent the two pillars on the Solomon Temple (Wisdom and Devotion)...
...and here (even though I didn't know it at the time) I am being supported by Wisdom and Devotion.
My favorite plaza in Lisbon, Rossio.
Rossio, Cafe Suiça - according to our guide, Jews would gather here during WWII to exchange the latest news. How did Jews get to Portugal? Watch the movie "The Consul of Bordeaux" (2011).
This monument commemorates the victims of the 1506 massacre, during which hundreds of "New Christians" (that is, Jews forcibly converted by King Manuel I in 1998) were burned alive in this square. In the background is the church where the massacre started. It was later struck by lightning (literally) and you can still see the burn marks inside. The monument was erected 500 years later, in 2006.
Contemporary synagogue in Lisbon, Shaare Tikvah.
Inside the Shaare Tikvah synagogue.
Elevador de Santa Justa, designed by an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel, connects the downtown Baixa with the Bairro Alto neighborhood up in the hills.
Baixa is a flat downtown area, facing the river and surrounded by hills on both sides, Alfama on the right and Bairro Alto on the left. This funicular, like the Santa Justa elevator, connects Baixa with Bairro Alto. There are two other funiculars, one of them going up to Alfama.
Riding trams in Lisbon is transportation and adventure rolled into one...
...view from inside the tram - it feels like you can touch the houses going by, if only you stretch your arm.
View of Castelo de São Jorge from Miradouro da Graça, one of two top overlooks in Alfama.
Castelo de São Jorge, entrance into the inner fortress.
Castelo de São Jorge, coffee with peakocks.
Castelo de São Jorge, camera obscura on top of the Ulysses tower. From the inside, you can see all around Lisbon.
Torre de Belém.
Torre de Belém, there is a rhinoceros below one of the towers!
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, inner courtyard.
Famous Belem pastries (the bigger ones). The two smaller ones are generic Pastéis de Nata - and yes, the Belem ones are superior!
Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Belem, monument commemorating the Age of Discoveries and Henry the Navigator. In the background, Ponte 25 de Abril ("25th of April Bridge"), a Golden-Gate-style suspension bridge over the Tejo river.
Leaving Lisbon by way of Ponte 25 de Abril, going to Alentejo. On the left is a giant statue of Cristo Rei ("Christ the King"), built after WWII to express thanks for Portugal's neutrality during the war.
> Evora
Praça do Comércio, rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake under the direction of Marquês de Pombal. He is one of the figures on the front of the Arco da Rua Augusta (Triumphal Arch), The equine statue features King José I, who was so scared by the earthquake that he lived in a tent for the rest of his life.
Cais das Colunas (Columns pier), with the two pillars erected in the riverfront of Praça do Comércio, works as a river gateway to Lisbon. The pillars were erected after the 1755 earthquake by the architect Eugénio dos Santos, and apparently represent the two pillars on the Solomon Temple (Wisdom and Devotion)...
...and here (even though I didn't know it at the time) I am being supported by Wisdom and Devotion.
My favorite plaza in Lisbon, Rossio.
Rossio, Cafe Suiça - according to our guide, Jews would gather here during WWII to exchange the latest news. How did Jews get to Portugal? Watch the movie "The Consul of Bordeaux" (2011).
This monument commemorates the victims of the 1506 massacre, during which hundreds of "New Christians" (that is, Jews forcibly converted by King Manuel I in 1998) were burned alive in this square. In the background is the church where the massacre started. It was later struck by lightning (literally) and you can still see the burn marks inside. The monument was erected 500 years later, in 2006.
Contemporary synagogue in Lisbon, Shaare Tikvah.
Inside the Shaare Tikvah synagogue.
Elevador de Santa Justa, designed by an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel, connects the downtown Baixa with the Bairro Alto neighborhood up in the hills.
Baixa is a flat downtown area, facing the river and surrounded by hills on both sides, Alfama on the right and Bairro Alto on the left. This funicular, like the Santa Justa elevator, connects Baixa with Bairro Alto. There are two other funiculars, one of them going up to Alfama.
Riding trams in Lisbon is transportation and adventure rolled into one...
...view from inside the tram - it feels like you can touch the houses going by, if only you stretch your arm.
View of Castelo de São Jorge from Miradouro da Graça, one of two top overlooks in Alfama.
Castelo de São Jorge, entrance into the inner fortress.
Castelo de São Jorge, coffee with peakocks.
Castelo de São Jorge, camera obscura on top of the Ulysses tower. From the inside, you can see all around Lisbon.
Torre de Belém.
Torre de Belém, there is a rhinoceros below one of the towers!
Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, inner courtyard.
Famous Belem pastries (the bigger ones). The two smaller ones are generic Pastéis de Nata - and yes, the Belem ones are superior!
Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Belem, monument commemorating the Age of Discoveries and Henry the Navigator. In the background, Ponte 25 de Abril ("25th of April Bridge"), a Golden-Gate-style suspension bridge over the Tejo river.
Leaving Lisbon by way of Ponte 25 de Abril, going to Alentejo. On the left is a giant statue of Cristo Rei ("Christ the King"), built after WWII to express thanks for Portugal's neutrality during the war.
> Evora
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Evora
We didn't stay overnight in Evora, just made a day stop on the way from Lisbon to Estremoz.
Praça do Giraldo - main square.
Fountain on Largo da Porta de Moura (XVI c.)
Cathedral (Sé).
On the roof of the Evora cathedral.
Well-preserved remnants of a Roman temple.
Remnants of Roman baths - found accidentally during renovations in the municipal building. This is a circular pool, 9 meters in diameter.
> Estremoz
Praça do Giraldo - main square.
Fountain on Largo da Porta de Moura (XVI c.)
Cathedral (Sé).
On the roof of the Evora cathedral.
Well-preserved remnants of a Roman temple.
Remnants of Roman baths - found accidentally during renovations in the municipal building. This is a circular pool, 9 meters in diameter.
> Estremoz
Monday, April 27, 2015
Estremoz
Estremoz, Royal castle. The tower, Torre das Tres Coroas (Tower of the Three Crowns), is 27m high and built of local marble. The castle was built in the XIII century by Dom Dinis for his wife, Isabel of Aragon. Now it is a luxury hotel, Pousada Rainha Santa Isabel - and that's where we stayed...
...this was our bed...
View from our window at the Pousada Rainha Santa Isabel.
Pousada Rainha Santa Isabel, inner courtyard where we had coffee.
About to climb to the top of the Torre das Tres Coroas.
Climbing up the tower, view from a window.
At the top of the Torre das Tres Coroas.
Inside Queen Isabel's chapel. From this east-facing window on the second floor, Isabel could see her native Spain - Estremoz is not far from the Spanish border. According to local legend, the Queen would spend long hours by this window - and as soon as she heard somebody on the stairs, she'd quickly turn around, towards the wall with the icons, and pretend to be praying.
View from the inner castle.
View from the inner castle onto the suspended bridge.
Walking around the inner castle.
Fountain and the castle fortifications.
Lower town, another fountain.
Lower town, pillory.
Dining at A Cadeia - restaurant converted from the old jail. The food is much better now...
> Vila Viçosa
...this was our bed...
View from our window at the Pousada Rainha Santa Isabel.
Pousada Rainha Santa Isabel, inner courtyard where we had coffee.
About to climb to the top of the Torre das Tres Coroas.
Climbing up the tower, view from a window.
At the top of the Torre das Tres Coroas.
Inside Queen Isabel's chapel. From this east-facing window on the second floor, Isabel could see her native Spain - Estremoz is not far from the Spanish border. According to local legend, the Queen would spend long hours by this window - and as soon as she heard somebody on the stairs, she'd quickly turn around, towards the wall with the icons, and pretend to be praying.
View from the inner castle.
View from the inner castle onto the suspended bridge.
Walking around the inner castle.
Fountain and the castle fortifications.
Lower town, another fountain.
Lower town, pillory.
Dining at A Cadeia - restaurant converted from the old jail. The food is much better now...
> Vila Viçosa
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Vila Viçosa
Vila Viçosa is one of the "white marble" towns, not far from Estremoz. We spent half-a-day there.
Entrance into the castle. This castle was also build by Dom Dinis, in the early XIV century.
Walking along the castle walls. The castle is relatively small, so we had plenty of time to fool around.
View through one of the castle gates.
Pillory, just outside the castle walls.
Water well inside the Vila Viçosa castle.
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