Category: Portugal

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Coimbra

We spend October 8 to October 11  in Coimbra.  We stayed at the NS Hostel in a private room with ensuite bathroom.  It was a great location being very close to restaurants, pubs and tourist attractions.  The steps to the University were a couple of blocks away.  The university is built on a huge hill and was originally surrounded by a wall.  Some of the wall is still intact.


Machado de Castro Museum on the Coimbra University Campus

Below the Machado de Castro Museum are Roman ruins that date back to a city named Aeminium which was founded two thousand years ago.

Crucification of Jesus in Machado de Castro Museum

Old town Coimbra shopping area.

Coimbra building with mural

Saint Michael’s Chapel

Old Chapel of Coimbra

Narrow streets in old town Coimbra

There are steep roads or many steps to navigate the terrain of Coimbra

Passing through a tunnel on the street in Coimbra old town.

View of the University of Coimbra on the hill from across the (rio) Mondego River. Taken from the bridge.

The old wall that surrounds part of Coimbra and the University.
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Lisbon our first week

Lisbon and area

Interesting building in Lisbon's Alfama district
Monastery of Sao Vicente de Fora
Street behind Sao Vicente
National Pantheon, Lisbon
Inside National Pantheon
National Pantheon outside dome
National Pantheon inside dome looking down
Picture taken outside the dome, National Pantheon. We had fabulous weather on our trip
Looking down of thief's market from National Pantheon
Not sure who lives here. You can see the cruise ship through the gate bars.
Street Art
Statue of priest taking selfie. Actually holding cross
In memory of the Jews that were massacred in 1506
Street Art at Alface Hostel
Lookout in Graca district
Convento do Carmo (Carmo Convent ruins)
Carmo ruins
Carmo Convent ruins as seen from Rossio Square
Street car on Rue Escolas Gerais in Alfama district
Cannon at Castle San Jorge
View of Lisbon from the Castle
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Monserrate Palace

Lisbon - Arrival and Recovery

Air Canada

We left Canada October 2,  arrived in Lisbon about noon Portugal time October 3, 2019. We used Uber to get to our our friends place where we stayed.

Our first day was a recovery day.  We went for lunch at a little Nepalese restaurant nearby.   “RD’s Restaurant and Cafe”, located at  R. Natália Correia 6B, 1170-270 Lisboa, Portugal.  The food is very inexpensive but of the highest quality.  Nepalese cuisine shares many Indian dishes but it is different in a good way!

We spent 16 days in Portugal including our day of arrival.  We stayed at our friends apartment 11 nights, we are most grateful. We had a fantastic time with them.  We spent 3 nights in Coimbra and 2 nights in Sintra.  We also travelled to Cascais one day and travelled to Sintra for one day before we realized we needed to spend a few more nights in Sintra. We did not rent a car, we used Uber and public transit.  Most of our travel was done by train. Finally we enjoyed fantastic weather!

Arrival at Paula and Taylor's apartment
Exploring the streets of Lisbon. Hilly and narrow.

Sintra- Park and Palace of Monserrate

Arrival at The Palace of Monserrate.

The Palacio de Monserrate (Monserrate Palace), is one of the most beautiful and visually striking mansions of Sintra.  Monserrate Palace seamlessly blends Arabic, gothic and Indian architectural styles to create a wonderful summer house that is surrounded by beautiful gardens. It’s 3.5km from the historic centre and is overlooked by many tourists.  This is a hidden gem that we enjoyed mostly to ourselves.

Model of Monserrate Palace
Inside Monserrate dome.
Looking down from the dome
Corridor leading out from dome.
Stained glass in chapel
Bird of Paradise
Walkway through the stone wall
View of Pena Palace in the background.
Walkway below Monserrate Palace
Ruins below Monserrate Palace
More ruins
Cactus Garden
Standing in front of the gardens
Warning sign. 10 Kg pine cones!
View from the Rose Garden looking up across the lawn to Monserrate Palace.