Introduction to Portugal, Old Lisbon and meeting with young professionals - We have a panoramic tour of Lisbon by bus. A visit to Jeronimo's Monastery and stop at the Belem Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries. Taste the local pastry, Pasties de Belém. Then proceed to the Maritime Museum for a visit and learn more about Henry The Navigator. We return to the city center for lunch at a local restaurant. Then join Group Leader, Helena, for a discovery of Bairro Alto or catch the tram and enjoy the ride, going through narrows street and feeling the soul of the capital. Later, before dinner on our own, meet our group leader and fellow participants for a drink. Of course, Helena provides ample Port wine. An opportunity to relax, while sharing your day experiences and meet locals young professionals from Lisbon. Time for a Q&A session about life in Portugal, before going off to dinner.
My Observations
Today we get to travel along the Tagus (Tejo) River edge and learn more about some people and things that had a great influence in Portugal's history. First stop is at the Belém Tower (Torre de Belem). Is a Stone Tower built around 1506 along the Tagus River near where it opens to the Atlantic Ocean. It was a fortification that allowed a chain to cross the river at that point to prevent ships from entering without paying fees or doing damage to city center. Across from the Belém Tower was built monument to Christ the King (Cristo-Rei).
A short distance away can be seen 25 de Abril Bridge (renamed from Salazar bridge after “Carnation Revolution”) that is basically the same as the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge used in San Francisco California. Both were built by the American Bridge Company.
Next, we ride further inland until we are at the monument memorializing the work done by Prince Henry The Navigator. His work in improving navigational process and “tools.” We learn a lot more after seeing the monument and crossing the road and visit the maritime museum. We may think of some of what he did and “WHY” he did it, maybe thought silly or superstitious, but that was the thought then. Check out the link to Henry done by Mr. Nussbaum and the early 1400s “Age Of Exploration.”
“Prince Henry’s school of navigation resulted in a breakthrough for Portuguese navigation. Before Prince Henry, sailors and navigators refused to sail toward Africa. They were scared of sea monsters and boiling water near the equator. In fact, no sailor had ever sailed into the “Sea of Darkness”, which the Portuguese considered to be any part of the ocean south of 27 degrees north latitude (about Cape Bojador).”
While in Belém, we must visit, and most of all “taste” the specialties of the “Pasties de Belém.”
“History - The Taste of Tradition. At the beginning of the Nineteenth Century, in Belém, next to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (the Heironymite Monastery) there was a sugar cane refinery linked to a small general store. As a result of the liberal revolution of 1820, all convents and monasteries in Portugal were shut down in 1834, the clergy and labourers expelled. In an attempt at survival, someone from the monastery offered sweet pastries for sale in the shop; pastries that rapidly became known as 'Pasteis de Belém'.”
Now having a full belly, we visit the Monastery and Maritime Museum. So much to learn – so little time. As we continue our bus ride, look out the window to admire the mosaic-like cobblestone on the sidewalks. Truly art at its practical best.
This evening our Q&A sessions with Portuguese locals. This time with father, a Portuguese military colonel, and his teenage daughter, who is attending university. We did same in the Spain Q&A on Day 9. As a reminder. My use of “days” is based on our arriving 5 days early to Spain tour. So, am keeping track of all the days from home departure to return. 27 days in total.
Q&A starts the same as Spain. We ask questions, and attempt to learn more about the country culture. Question topics seem to follow same pattern; health care, economy, employment, family life and education. Again, we found that all Portuguese schools provide classes to learn multiple languages. Most of the county also favors English as a preferred choice for second language, since it is the language of worldwide business. On question about “Erasmus,” the college level 6 month program of study in another country, will be utilized by this university student. The mother was not present, since she, also in the military, was busy studying. She is doing PhD work.
Both the father and girl realistically knew that because of the slow/weak/uncertain economic future, that the girl will probably find work in another country. Maybe even in one the the countries that Portugal was a colonial power. I don’t remember any discussion about the time frame of rule by Dictator, President of the Council of Ministers António de Oliveira Salazar (1932-1968).
I guess I could keep writing about various things we heard from the ever-knowledgeable guide, Helena. Since we spent at least 12 hours a day together, much was discussed. Her study and experience covered a wide range; history, art, architecture, enology, just to recall a few. Truly a scholar, not like us Road Scholars, who will realize so much yet to study.
Here are internet links for highlights:
Old Lisbon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Lisbon
Henry The Navigator http://mrnussbaum.com/explorers/princehenry/
Pasties de Belém http://www.pasteisdebelem.pt/en.html
Jeronimo's Monastery http://www.sacred-destinations.com/lisbon-jeronimos-monastery
Belém Tower http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belém_Tower
Christ the King (Cristo-Rei) Monument http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_the_King_(Lisbon)
Bairro Alto http://www.nytimes.com/30lisbon.html
25 de Abril Bridge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/25_de_Abril_Bridge
Carnation Revolution http://www.nbcnews.com/portugal-honors-april-25-revolution
Photo 1. What a difference 600 years make. We in a comfy air conditioned coach.
Photo 2. Shows monument to Henry The Navigator the royal patron to explorers. Not so luxurious.
Photo 3. Maritime Museum large map showing the many paths taken by Portuguese explorers based on Henry’s navigation principles. (-:
Click here for today's online photo album.
https://picasaweb.google.com/magwheel44/Day16Of2728Oct14TuesdayLisbon
