Day 137 of 148 - LISBON, PORTUGAL

 Date: 5/21/2024  Day 137  Port: LISBON, PORTUGAL

Description: Legend states that Ulysses founded Lisbon, calling it Olisipo. Others claim that the name is Phoenician, but all agree it’s one of Europe’s most fascinating destinations. On All Saints’ Day in 1755 a devastating earthquake destroyed much of the city. The Baixa (Lower City) was rebuilt on neo-classical lines that still form the heart of the city. The elegant ‘City of Explorers’overlooks the River Tagus, and offers a number of distinctive neighborhoods to discover. Tour the Alfama, where the winding streets still retain much of their Moorish atmosphere. Stroll to Bairro Alto and hear the melodious sounds of Portugal’s Fado music. Nearby excursions transport you to the lavish 18th-century palace of Queluz and Sintra’s Royal Palace.

Planned Excursion: Palaces and Cascais

4.5 Hours   Light Activity   #LIS-001

No online description was available.   

Daily Notes:  I was happy that Cathy could join me on today’s excursion.  We first toured the Palace of Queluz spending about an hour.  We then drove on to the port town of Cascais.  We spent about an hour to walk around this fishing port.  It was a lovely typical tourist area with many restaurant's and souvenir shops.   We learned from our tour guide that most people live in apartment blocks.  The reason is to be near mass transit.  They can purchase unlimited access to all forms of mass transit for forty Euros ($43.95) per month.  This is also limited to all family members at a max amount of eighty Euros.  Those over the age of 65 can purchase monthly unlimited access for 20 Euros ($21.75).  The forms of Mass Transit are trains, buses, ferries and trams.  Private single family homes are far outside the city away from Mass Transit.  Again this is a beautiful walkable city.  Just wish we had more time to explore it further.  

Please check back, I have a lot of pictures and video to review, process and upload in the next upcoming sea days.