Lisbon Retry

The theme for our second and thirds days in Lisbon is WALKING!   We did lots and lots and lots of it!   

We set out on Thursday to catch our "hop-on; hop-off" bus in the downtown area at the stop nearest our ship (probably three quarters of a mile away). Along the way, we visited the main market in Lisbon.  Barry particularly enjoyed the fish stands

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Our ultimate destination was St. George's Castle which overlooks Lisbon from one of its highest hills..   When we got there, it seemed that we had just missed it and knowing that another would not come for a half hour and that we were only going to ride the bus for a stop or two before catching a tram up the mountain, we kept walking.

We found the tram, but it was nearly 3 Euros or over $4 for each of us just to ride a half mile or so up the hill.  So we kept walking.  We were glad we did. The walk took us through the old Moorish district with its narrow and unpredictable streets. 

Jayne was elated to find a little shop that featured local handicrafts, especially their own handmade tiles and pottery.  The tile craftsman was in the shop and we had a delightfully conversation with him about the economic situation in Portugal and the upcoming Presidential elections in the states. He had very strong feelings about our election that mirrored our own!

At the top of the hill was the incredible castle. The fortress dates from medieval times. In the late 14th century, John I of Portugal, who married the English princess, Philippa of Lancaster, dedicated the castle to Saint George, the warrior-saint, usually represented fighting a dragon.  Archaeological digs on the hill have discovered evidence of buildings from Moorish period (between 700 and 1100) and even from three or four centuries B.C.

    

The vistas across the city in every direction are truly marvelous.