The huge monument to Christ the King overlooks Lisbon from near the bridge, and if this monument makes you think of that famous landmark overlooking Rio de Janeiro it is because it is meant to, a gift to the Portuguese people from Brazil.
Portugal's great navigators such as Vasco de Gama sailed down this same river out into the Atlantic Ocean six miles downstream on their voyages of discovery and returned up this river to Lisbon with their spices and treasures.
Present day tourists sail past the Monument to the Discoveries which honors them
past the Belem Tower that protected Lisbon from pirates.
Vasco de Gama is entombed in this church, the Monastery of Saint Jeronimo, near the Monument to the Discoveries.
Near this monument this sculpture commemorates the first trans Atlantic flight, from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro, by two Portuguese aviators.
In the heart of the city one sees the Cathedral
The House of Parliament (the large sign on the steps is a temporary one)
Lisbon is built on hills and there are many steep stairways linking streets such as these:
The slender tall tower is actually an elevator fulfilling the same function as those stairs.
These horseshoe arches are the entrance to the main train station:
The oldest part of Lisbon, a neighborhood known as Alfama is on a hill around the Fort of St. George.
The streets here are steep, very narrow, meet at odd angles and twist around the hill. Small trams, tourist coaches, taxis, vans, cars all squeeze by. Occasionally some have to back up to let others pass. Drivers seem to deal with apparently impossible situations with a great deal of patience and ingenuity
Alfama is a charming, unique district. Here are some scenes:
2 comments:
Louis, great images. How can Malaysian forget the Portuguese. The Portuguese was the first country to colonized Malaya starting from 1511. The country continue to change hand to the Dutch, British, Japanese and the British again until we gain independence in 1957. I believe you have visited Malacca and seen some of the ruin and building that still standing there during that period of our history. Well, that conjure my thought when you say Portugal.
We would be staying in Malacca this weekend.
Have a nice day anyway.
Hi Idrus
When you are in Malacca this weekend why not try out that new cultural experience there :
A Nite in the Museum, an event initiated by Hang Li Po's brother and described in her recent blog: http://puterihanglipoh.blogspot.com/2009/03/sleepover-melaka-museum.html
It's an opportunity to spend a night in Malacca in a replica of an early Portuguese sailing ship like those that sailed between Malacca and Lisbon in the 16th century as you mentioned in your Comment.
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