tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3458008530534873552024-03-13T08:37:20.455-07:00Portugal: Photos and ExperiencesPortugal has always fascinated me. It was a fortnight of fun, travel, lots of sunshine and great food. I traveled from Lisbon+Sintra to Coimbra and then to Porto.Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231018215887995072noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800853053487355.post-75214045919268873162007-12-11T10:50:00.000-08:002008-01-04T11:26:13.255-08:00Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra<script type="text/javascript"><br />var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl." : "http://www.");<br />document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E"));<br /></script><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br />var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-1859691-14");<br />pageTracker._initData();<br />pageTracker._trackPageview();<br /></script><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1pGuS77F9I/AAAAAAAAACo/TN7PeZxV6ZI/s1600-h/DSC_6827.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1pGuS77F9I/AAAAAAAAACo/TN7PeZxV6ZI/s320/DSC_6827.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141499685767944146" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 51);font-size:130%;" >Great sights, interesting history, friendly people and good food.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >I will be posting pictures of my trip to Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra.<br />Hope you enjoy seeing this beautiful country through my lenses. I will also post information on how to get around on your own and staying on a budget while your there.<br />If you have any comments, suggestions or just want to get in touch with me please send me an email at ericsilvester@gmail.com<br /></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Cheers</span>, <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Eric</span><br /><br /><iframe marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=rossio+station,+lisbon,+portugal&sll=25.139263,55.187588&sspn=0.024476,0.029225&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1&msa=0&msid=105644847421017841769.000439781018c69775732&ll=38.723086,-9.134102&output=embed&s=AARTsJqPitslCHhOJwtfVhOYZyxzRMcPlg" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" width="425"></iframe><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: #666666;font-size:78%;" ><a href="http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=rossio+station,+lisbon,+portugal&sll=25.139263,55.187588&sspn=0.024476,0.029225&ie=UTF8&z=14&om=1&msa=0&msid=105644847421017841769.000439781018c69775732&ll=38.723086,-9.134102&source=embed" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">View Larger Map</a></span>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231018215887995072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800853053487355.post-33621963412698056812007-12-10T23:30:00.000-08:002007-12-31T00:52:27.385-08:00Lisbon : : Lisboa<script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"><br /></script><br /><script type="text/javascript"><br />_uacct = "UA-1859691-14";<br />urchinTracker();<br /></script><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10F-S77GkI/AAAAAAAAAHk/_vb0S6Ks16g/s1600-h/DSC_6881.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142272917320178242" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10F-S77GkI/AAAAAAAAAHk/_vb0S6Ks16g/s320/DSC_6881.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Toronto to Lisboa</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >I arrived </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >in Lisbon from</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > Toronto in the</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > wee hours of the morning.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > Compared to</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > Pearson</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > Airport</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > in Toronto, the airport in Lisbon was a fairly small airport, but then</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > I</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > felt the buzz was different. I always wanted to go to Europe and start from the tip - Portugal. I wanted to know</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > what it would be like.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" ><br /><br />Born in Bombay and having visited Goa, which was </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >a Portuguese colony for many years I wanted to experience Portugal. After</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > making a reservation from the Information Desk (not so helpful - but I grabbed the various brochures to find where</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > I wanted to stay)</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > I headed towards the hotel near </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rossio station (see map)</span>.</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >Right in the middle</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > of the theater area, it was a small lodge</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > run </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >by a family. If you walk into the lobby you will hear the TV playing their favorite sport - soccer. I was informed that the next day was the big</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > match</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > between Porto and Lisboa</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >.</span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1uHCC77GII/AAAAAAAAAEA/lAhBeWcDyqg/s1600-h/metro_lisbon.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141851868791249026" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 163px; cursor: pointer; height: 125px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1uHCC77GII/AAAAAAAAAEA/lAhBeWcDyqg/s320/metro_lisbon.jpg" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" ><br />After s</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >ettling in I was all wound up to go and explore the city. With the map I had I took off for the coast of Lisbon (</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >5 minutes</span></div><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >walking distance) - the Praça do Comércio. From there I wen</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >t up the Elevador de S</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" >anta Justa and you can see the many beautiful</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:85%;" > sights from the pictures below.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">H</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">ouses that line</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> the roads leading to the </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Praça do Comércio<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10cry77GmI/AAAAAAAAAH0/vj8ITvAhQ-k/s1600-h/DSC_6906.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142297888260037218" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10cry77GmI/AAAAAAAAAH0/vj8ITvAhQ-k/s320/DSC_6906.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10dbi77GnI/AAAAAAAAAH8/Jl_8XkdPwKo/s1600-h/DSC_6891.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142298708598790770" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10dbi77GnI/AAAAAAAAAH8/Jl_8XkdPwKo/s320/DSC_6891.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1vShy77GXI/AAAAAAAAAF4/zRwdupLm_Ys/s1600-h/DSC_6799.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141934877624179058" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1vShy77GXI/AAAAAAAAAF4/zRwdupLm_Ys/s320/DSC_6799.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1vS2i77GYI/AAAAAAAAAGA/KnOkS0nNMus/s1600-h/DSC_5345.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141935234106464642" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1vS2i77GYI/AAAAAAAAAGA/KnOkS0nNMus/s320/DSC_5345.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1vR6i77GVI/AAAAAAAAAFo/gk-T2_PuRdQ/s1600-h/DSC_5999.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141934203314313554" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1vR6i77GVI/AAAAAAAAAFo/gk-T2_PuRdQ/s320/DSC_5999.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1vTPy77GZI/AAAAAAAAAGI/icVOG5f3xK4/s1600-h/DSC_6914.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141935667898161554" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1vTPy77GZI/AAAAAAAAAGI/icVOG5f3xK4/s320/DSC_6914.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1pLty77GHI/AAAAAAAAAD4/YWi-IIxZcxA/s1600-h/DSC_5210.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141505174736148594" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1pLty77GHI/AAAAAAAAAD4/YWi-IIxZcxA/s320/DSC_5210.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10a6i77GlI/AAAAAAAAAHs/GuyynNNZAb8/s1600-h/DSC_5316.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142295942639852114" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10a6i77GlI/AAAAAAAAAHs/GuyynNNZAb8/s320/DSC_5316.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1vSSC77GWI/AAAAAAAAAFw/YSRafOA_1iY/s1600-h/DSC_5307.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5141934607041239394" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1vSSC77GWI/AAAAAAAAAFw/YSRafOA_1iY/s320/DSC_5307.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231018215887995072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800853053487355.post-29935766287979714862007-12-10T22:35:00.000-08:002007-12-10T23:52:30.766-08:00Tiled buildings and murals of Portugal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1zfgC77GbI/AAAAAAAAAGc/vPtu6zsob-g/s1600-h/DSC_6332.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1zfgC77GbI/AAAAAAAAAGc/vPtu6zsob-g/s320/DSC_6332.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142230616187279794" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br />Azulejos</span><br /><br />I was fascinated by the beautiful murals that adorn every street corner and most of the forts and museums. This is what I learned about the history of</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> the Portuguese tiles, known as</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> azulejos. </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">They adorn the inside</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> and outside of </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">almost</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> every home in Portugal.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Although introduced to Iberia by Moors, the fashion continued after they left. The Moors restricted</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> themselves arabesque </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">geometric patterns</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> of triangles, squares, and diamonds, probably because many of them belonged to the Sunni branch of Islam which prohibited images of living things. </span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> Portuguese and Flemish artists began to produce tiles in Lisbon in the 16</span><sup style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">th</sup><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> Century. </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Blue and yellow</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> were the favorite color combination and tiles depicted mostly floral patterns or religious scenes. The ever expanding Portuguese empire provided increasingly more exotic themes and colors.</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">After the earthquake of 1755 there was a return to multi-colored tiles. </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">It was about this time too that the</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> Portuguese in Brazil discovered that tiles were ideal for keeping out the damp. In the rebuilt</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> Lisbon </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">houses</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> were encased in tiles, and this tradition continues today.</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">These are some of the murals and tiled houses I seen in Lisbon, Porto </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">and Coimbra.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1zm7i77GfI/AAAAAAAAAG8/Si9PQecSG1M/s1600-h/DSC_6260.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1zm7i77GfI/AAAAAAAAAG8/Si9PQecSG1M/s320/DSC_6260.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142238785215076850" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10Dpi77GgI/AAAAAAAAAHE/zMk2Od1mh5I/s1600-h/DSC_5818.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10Dpi77GgI/AAAAAAAAAHE/zMk2Od1mh5I/s320/DSC_5818.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142270361814637058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10EVy77GhI/AAAAAAAAAHM/2RqPBbgrjaM/s1600-h/DSC_6886.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10EVy77GhI/AAAAAAAAAHM/2RqPBbgrjaM/s320/DSC_6886.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142271122023848466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10Eny77GiI/AAAAAAAAAHU/S9wfBPEZ8Sc/s1600-h/DSC_6501.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10Eny77GiI/AAAAAAAAAHU/S9wfBPEZ8Sc/s320/DSC_6501.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142271431261493794" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10E1C77GjI/AAAAAAAAAHc/xYxt5eIccWI/s1600-h/DSC_6480.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R10E1C77GjI/AAAAAAAAAHc/xYxt5eIccWI/s320/DSC_6480.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142271658894760498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1zhSS77GeI/AAAAAAAAAG0/THT8ooWuaOg/s1600-h/DSC_6620.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1zhSS77GeI/AAAAAAAAAG0/THT8ooWuaOg/s320/DSC_6620.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142232578987334114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1zgNi77GcI/AAAAAAAAAGk/S3hDGSLCF6c/s1600-h/DSC_5949.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1zgNi77GcI/AAAAAAAAAGk/S3hDGSLCF6c/s320/DSC_5949.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142231397871327682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1zg_S77GdI/AAAAAAAAAGs/pSlUoS7MM-4/s1600-h/DSC_5934.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1zg_S77GdI/AAAAAAAAAGs/pSlUoS7MM-4/s320/DSC_5934.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142232252569819602" border="0" /></a>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231018215887995072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800853053487355.post-11331200008204128802007-12-09T03:36:00.000-08:002007-12-19T02:02:46.838-08:00Lisboa...View from the top<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R147ki77GoI/AAAAAAAAAIE/cTAIoOOE2As/s1600-h/DSC_5206.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142613323543157378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R147ki77GoI/AAAAAAAAAIE/cTAIoOOE2As/s320/DSC_5206.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,0,0)">Views from Elevador de Santa Justa</span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)">After visiting the Praca de Commercao, the weather as</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"> usually sunny with blue skies inspired me to walk</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"> around the</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"> city. The hunt was to find the Elevator of Santa Justa.<br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)">After asking for directions I found it nestled in between two buildings (if you miss it you may walk up and down the street and find it only after asking a few people) and walked up to the ticket counter. I was wondering what all the fuss was about but once I reached the top it was a different world. You can walk up and down 2 flights from where the elevator leaves you. On the topmost level they</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"> have a cafe and you can sit th</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)">ere and admire the view for as</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"> long as you want. </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)">From looking out to the south that faces the Tagus River and Algarve to looking down</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"> and around at all the different types of rooftops you can spend quite a while and absorb what Lisbon has to offer. Towards the East the view of the Castelo São Jorge and all the houses surrounding it shows how old this city really is.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: rgb(153,0,0)">Historical information on the Elevator</span> <span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><br />The Santa Justa Elevator is a remarkable masterpiece designed by an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel and makes the connection</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> between the Baixa (downtown) and Bairro Alto (high neighborhood).</span></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">It was opened in 1902, when it was steam powered, then in 1907 it became electrical and was the only vertical elevator in Lisbon in public service. Made entirely of cast iron, and embellished with filigree, the lifts within the tower go up to 45 metres and carry 25 persons in each cabin of which there are two. If in Lisbon, you cannot afford to miss this ride!<br /><br /></span></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1490i77GtI/AAAAAAAAAIs/uIUZ7jmImyc/s1600-h/DSC_5300.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142615797444319954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1490i77GtI/AAAAAAAAAIs/uIUZ7jmImyc/s320/DSC_5300.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R15ABy77GuI/AAAAAAAAAI0/AayYZporlY8/s1600-h/DSC_5664.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142618224100842210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R15ABy77GuI/AAAAAAAAAI0/AayYZporlY8/s320/DSC_5664.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R148sy77GpI/AAAAAAAAAIM/FyFBzd5_850/s1600-h/DSC_5189.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142614564788705938" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R148sy77GpI/AAAAAAAAAIM/FyFBzd5_850/s320/DSC_5189.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1485C77GqI/AAAAAAAAAIU/mHRo7mhQSLY/s1600-h/DSC_5184.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142614775242103458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R1485C77GqI/AAAAAAAAAIU/mHRo7mhQSLY/s320/DSC_5184.jpg" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R149OC77GrI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Ks_C_SM9nFk/s1600-h/DSC_5230.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142615136019356338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; CURSOR: pointer" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R149OC77GrI/AAAAAAAAAIc/Ks_C_SM9nFk/s320/DSC_5230.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="COLOR: rgb(102,102,102)"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"> </span></span></span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogrankings.com"><img src="http://www.blogrankings.com/images/blogrankings.gif" width="84" height="15" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogarama.com/"><img src="http://www.blogarama.com/images/button.gif" border="0" alt="Blogarama - The Blog Directory"></a>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231018215887995072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800853053487355.post-37658400711019581272007-12-08T22:50:00.000-08:002007-12-31T23:55:39.793-08:00Se Cathedral in Lisbon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nwImXkReI/AAAAAAAAAJg/fQU9-YOtdUQ/s1600-h/DSC_5384.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nwImXkReI/AAAAAAAAAJg/fQU9-YOtdUQ/s320/DSC_5384.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150411679403886050" border="0" /></a><br />To reach the Se Cathedral from Lisbon it is just a 20 minute drive or you can take the train to Alfama.<br /><br />Cathedral Se, a large fortress was built around 1150 A.D. by Afonso Henriques. It is the burial place for Lisbon's patron saint, St. Anthony. The length and breadth of the cathedral and its architecture which is pre-Manueline reeks of history. If you are here make sure you visit the cloisters. It was in the midst of repairs when I visited it but once you are in there some of the tombs makes you wonder how passionate those architects or artisans were to decorate them with such intricate detail.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nw7GXkRiI/AAAAAAAAAKA/5_sa78EX62g/s1600-h/DSC_5483.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nw7GXkRiI/AAAAAAAAAKA/5_sa78EX62g/s320/DSC_5483.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150412546987279906" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nwyGXkRhI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/n-OSdf344EI/s1600-h/DSC_5431.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nwyGXkRhI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/n-OSdf344EI/s320/DSC_5431.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150412392368457234" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nweWXkRfI/AAAAAAAAAJo/5Qzh7qHfJKA/s1600-h/DSC_5415.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nweWXkRfI/AAAAAAAAAJo/5Qzh7qHfJKA/s320/DSC_5415.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150412053066040818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nxEGXkRjI/AAAAAAAAAKI/QkKvjKxoV_o/s1600-h/DSC_5420.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nxEGXkRjI/AAAAAAAAAKI/QkKvjKxoV_o/s320/DSC_5420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150412701606102578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nwpmXkRgI/AAAAAAAAAJw/pNaLl46fkQA/s1600-h/DSC_5393.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3nwpmXkRgI/AAAAAAAAAJw/pNaLl46fkQA/s320/DSC_5393.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150412246339569154" border="0" /></a>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231018215887995072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800853053487355.post-37267460751785443042007-12-08T01:53:00.000-08:002008-01-01T03:25:05.181-08:00Castelo de São Jorge, Lisbon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3ogqWXkRtI/AAAAAAAAALY/oL39pcSZnxk/s1600-h/DSC_5227.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3ogqWXkRtI/AAAAAAAAALY/oL39pcSZnxk/s320/DSC_5227.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150465035782604498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">ST. GEORGE'S CASTLE (Castelo de São Jorge), Lisbon<br /><br /></span>From the Elevador of San Justa I walked down the narrow streets leading to Saint George's Castle. It was about 25 mts away, but weaving through the narrow cobblestone roads took me longer than usual. Watching the trams amble past me, I also came across a minor accident as I climbed up the hill. A small car that came zipping down the curves manged to scrape one going in the opposite direction. It was amusing to watch the 2 drivers argue as to who was at fault, but if you are a tourist walking up or down those roads, make sure you use the sidewalks. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3oSHWXkRlI/AAAAAAAAAKY/KsNborJf370/s1600-h/DSC_5361.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3oSHWXkRlI/AAAAAAAAAKY/KsNborJf370/s320/DSC_5361.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150449041324394066" border="0" /></a>Narrow but safer.<br /><br />The Castle can be seen from most of the vantage points in the city. Once you walk up the narrow roads leading to the castle you have to ask a few people before you find the right one that leads into the Castle. Once in you can walk the length and breadth of the Castle surveying the architecture and the magnificence of this piece of history.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Historical information on the Castle</span><br /><span class="bodytext">The oldest parts of the Castle date from the 6th century, when it was fortified by the Romans, Visigoths, and eventually the Moors. It served as a Moorish royal residence until Portugal's first king Afonso Henriques captured it in 1147 with the help of northern European crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. It was then dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of England, commemorating the Anglo-Portuguese pact dating from</span><span class="bodytext"> 1371</span><span class="bodytext">, and became the royal palace until another one (that was destroyed in the Great Earthquake) was built and still survives today.<br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3oeFmXkRqI/AAAAAAAAALA/fJ4NrKXSd28/s1600-h/DSC_5733.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3oeFmXkRqI/AAAAAAAAALA/fJ4NrKXSd28/s320/DSC_5733.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150462205399156386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3oeQGXkRrI/AAAAAAAAALI/Ngf-nBhgR1c/s1600-h/DSC_5747.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3oeQGXkRrI/AAAAAAAAALI/Ngf-nBhgR1c/s320/DSC_5747.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150462385787782834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3od6mXkRpI/AAAAAAAAAK4/GAgZ2J_DHtk/s1600-h/DSC_5723.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3od6mXkRpI/AAAAAAAAAK4/GAgZ2J_DHtk/s320/DSC_5723.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150462016420595346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3ocBGXkRmI/AAAAAAAAAKg/vnOsYL4p8oc/s1600-h/DSC_5699.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3ocBGXkRmI/AAAAAAAAAKg/vnOsYL4p8oc/s320/DSC_5699.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150459929066489442" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3ocsmXkRnI/AAAAAAAAAKo/HgeYb2YBP_M/s1600-h/DSC_5702.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3ocsmXkRnI/AAAAAAAAAKo/HgeYb2YBP_M/s320/DSC_5702.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150460676390798962" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3odwmXkRoI/AAAAAAAAAKw/_Mxf4RsRghg/s1600-h/DSC_5714.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3odwmXkRoI/AAAAAAAAAKw/_Mxf4RsRghg/s320/DSC_5714.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150461844621903490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ></span>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231018215887995072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800853053487355.post-88133120917647943432007-12-07T01:30:00.000-08:002007-12-19T14:47:59.570-08:00jamie goode's wine blog<a href="http://www.wineanorak.com/blog/2007/12/two-stunning-whites-south-africa-and.html#links">jamie goode's wine blog: Two stunning whites: South Africa and Spain</a>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231018215887995072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800853053487355.post-39627378826818316602007-01-12T23:56:00.000-08:002008-01-02T02:57:19.735-08:00<a href="http://technorati.com/claim/b4ytinhfrz" rel="me">Technorati Profile</a>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231018215887995072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345800853053487355.post-55119654102484220972007-01-12T00:53:00.000-08:002008-01-02T02:56:18.514-08:00Black & WhitePosting a few of my Black n White musings while traveling through Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra.<br />Hope you enjoy!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3tRrGXkR3I/AAAAAAAAAMo/-G9rpEbMO8U/s1600-h/DSC_6408.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3tRrGXkR3I/AAAAAAAAAMo/-G9rpEbMO8U/s320/DSC_6408.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150800399713978226" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3tR52XkR4I/AAAAAAAAAMw/81rjfzPwoRo/s1600-h/DSC_6869.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3tR52XkR4I/AAAAAAAAAMw/81rjfzPwoRo/s320/DSC_6869.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150800653117048706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3tRYmXkR2I/AAAAAAAAAMg/h0Ds9RTP9s4/s1600-h/DSC_6558.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3tRYmXkR2I/AAAAAAAAAMg/h0Ds9RTP9s4/s320/DSC_6558.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150800081886398306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3tSHWXkR5I/AAAAAAAAAM4/xbMd7Z50e-g/s1600-h/DSC_6557.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3tSHWXkR5I/AAAAAAAAAM4/xbMd7Z50e-g/s320/DSC_6557.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150800885045282706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3tSXmXkR6I/AAAAAAAAANA/Hzw5hDqCrxY/s1600-h/DSC_6565.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qBstxXUoPyY/R3tSXmXkR6I/AAAAAAAAANA/Hzw5hDqCrxY/s320/DSC_6565.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5150801164218156962" border="0" /></a>Erichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231018215887995072noreply@blogger.com0