We spent a major part of our time in Lisbon on recommissioning Suwena. However, we managed to squeeze in a few days of exploring the city. After all we were in the heart of Lisbon and it’s a very fascinating city. We can really recommend visiting Lisbon for a week-long holiday, there is so much to do and see. Even ourselves we think that we’d like to return here for a city break. There is still so much more to see.

Commerce Square of Lisbon
Commerce Square of Lisbon

Rua Augusta, Lisbon
Rua Augusta, Lisbon

Rossio square, Lisbon
Rossio square, Lisbon

Our first touch with Lisbon was to jump on a yellow historic tram from 1930s on line 28. The feeling was sky high as the tram carriage was rattling on narrow streets among other traffic. Also, even if locals still use trams for daily travel, it was mostly tourists onboard. Oncoming trams were passing so close that when two carriages stopped at the traffic lights, Andrus had time to high five from the open window with a guy in the other tram.
The tram 28, Lisbon
The tram 28, Lisbon

The tram 28, Lisbon
The tram 28, Lisbon

We walked all round in the center of Lisbon and when our feet got tired, we tested one of the three funiculars of Lisbon. The funicular of Bica took us downhill in no time, it has only two stops: one at the top of the hill and the other down below. It was a fun ride!
Eve in the funicular Bica, Lisbon
Eve in the funicular Bica, Lisbon

Rental car took us the south side of the river Tejo by crossing the bridge of 25 de Abril. Earlier when we sailed with Suwena under this bridge we were wondering the constant rumbling sound. The bridge does not have any driving surfaces, instead the cars drive on the steel grate and the noise pollution is terrible. The bridge of 25 de Abril is the longest suspension bridge in Europe and reminds a lot of the Golden Gate bridge of San Francisco. No wonder, because they both were built by the same company.
The 25 de Abril bridge, Lisbon
The 25 de Abril bridge, Lisbon

Eve and Andrus at the monument of Cristo Rei, Lisbon
Eve and Andrus at the monument of Cristo Rei, Lisbon

On the other side of the bridge, in Almada we visited the statue of Cristo Rei who has spread his arms in a wide hug of the whole Lisbon. The statue in Lisbon is quite like the Christ the Redeemer statue of Rio de Janeiro. The 28 meter tall Cristo Rei monument is raising up to 82 meters above the city. It is a very visible landmark that can be seen from all over Lisbon.

We also drove to explore the fairytale destination of Sintra and we wanted to visit Palace of Pena and Moorish Castle. However, we got lost in narrow streets and ended up in the unbelievable area of Quinta da Regaleira. The area of four hectares has for example a villa, a chapel, extensive gardens, lakes,, and of course the most interesting underground caves, tunnels and 27 meters deep well that can be descended into by spiral staircase. The well is tickling our imagination as it used to be the initiation well of freemasons. For once we got lucky by being lost, Quinta da Regaleira was just amazing!

Eve in Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal
Eve in Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

The initiation well of Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal
The initiation well of Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

Eve and Andrus in the caves of Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal
Eve and Andrus in the caves of Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

Moorish Castle, Sintra, Portugal
Moorish Castle, Sintra, Portugal

Eve in Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal
Eve in Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

Scenery of Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal
Scenery of Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal
Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal

The road trip continued as we still wanted to visit the Capo da Roca, the westernmost point of continental Europe that we had earlier sailed past onboard Suwena.
The lighthouse of Cabo da Roca, Portugal
The lighthouse of Cabo da Roca, Portugal

Eve examining Hottentot Fig flowers at Cabo da Roca, Portugal
Eve examining Hottentot Fig flowers at Cabo da Roca, Portugal

Sunset at Cabo da Roca, Portugal
Sunset at Cabo da Roca, Portugal

And for last here is a funny Christmas memory from our December trip to Lisbon.
The Christmas bacalhau tree in Lisbon
The Christmas bacalhau tree in Lisbon

Lisbon

2 thoughts on “Lisbon

  • June 23, 2022 at 18:57
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    Jahas…. Varmaan mukavaa pitkästä aikaa Suwenalle. Lissabon onkin tosi kaunis kaupunki. Käytiin siellä junalla silloin Cas Caisista pitkällä reissulla.
    Se on nyt juhannuksen aaton aatto. Me Iin Röytässä…. Tultiin hyvässä tuulessa. Perillä sitten yllättäen melkonen tuuli satamassa… eipä kuitenkaan keikuta. Helteitä odotellaan…nimittäin niitä ennustettu.
    Hyviä tuulia teille!
    Seuraillaan,!
    Iris ja Rami

    Reply
    • June 30, 2022 at 11:12
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      Ihana kuulla teistä ja Röytän juhannusta ja elojuhlia on aina kiva muistella. Sen verran hulvattoman hauskaa on aina ollut. Toivottavasti tänä vuonna elojuhlille tulee kunnon poppoo. Haleja teille Iris ja Rami!

      Reply

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