Day 9      8/16/2023

Portugal - Lisbon

Frank's Trip

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Not the day I had planned...

I had such big plans. I got started a little later than I should have... turned out it was really a LOT later than I should have. Went to see some really fantastic places (Jeronimos Monastery and Church) and when I got there, the waiting lines were 2+ hours long! Lisbon is a good bit warmer than Sintra and even if it weren't - I'm not standing in line 2+ hours for anything. I'll head back tomorrow MUCH EARLIER.

However, the day wasn't a total loss. I did get to the Belem Tower, a World Heritage Site, and got some nice pictures of it. While it is possible to go inside, once again the lines were super long in the hot sun. I've been in several of this type fortification and there really isn't that much difference - not enough to stand in the sun for a couple hours for.

Oddly enough, I was very tired and stopped in a shady area with tables, etc. set up to have a Coke and relax. It was chilly in the shade with the steady wind blowing; I was ready to get back in the sun! High:81 degrees.

Praça do Império Garden

Some pictures of the fountain in the Praça do Império Garden which is by the Jeronimos Monastery (my original target for the day) and on the way to Belem Tower. A part of the monastery and church shows in a couple of backgrounds.

Belém Tower / Torre de Belém

Officially the Tower of Saint Vincent is a 16th-century fortification located in Lisbon that served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers and as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon. It was built during the height of the Portuguese Renaissance. That period, fueled by the South American colonization, brought in vast wealth that fueled much of the building of castles and palaces. Since 1983, the tower has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site.