Jun 16, 2013 - Europe

We went on a tram that went up the side of a mountain very interesting I didint get scared but when the guide said we were getting on a cable car 100 meters of the ground I wouldn't do it do they all went on it and I weaves through all the back streets following them on the ground it was much safer so I thought I had heaps of men trying to sell me bloody glasses but it was do much fun tomorrow we fly to Barcelona again then stop over 1 night then a 14 hour flight to Singapore not looking forward to that though too long anyway all good here...

Jun 14, 2013 - Lisbon

In Portugal at the moment very hot 29 degrees a lot of sight seeing and palaces to see the economy has been hit very hard here we walked 3 km back to our motel last night nearly killed me but fun getting lost in a strange city all well here love rod and robin

Jun 9, 2013 - Bedlam, Belem & Banana Cafe.

Slow start to the day, I did not sleep very well last night, few things on my mind, I am however quite relaxed. Last night the hotel was inundated with families, but it is the weekend perhaps because I had good upbringing, that I frown upon way some parents have little ability to control their children, and seem to sit back and let the little darlings run around and scream, they are like wild animals, why is this important to this journal? This morning breakfast is served later, but I am still down before the 'wild ones' appear, however I...

Jun 8, 2013 - Modern Art

After the historic aqueduct, it's now time to look at something modern. First up the Santa Justa lift, and to a small coffee area that overlooks the square, the ladies that run his place are just lovely.... being a Saturday Lisbon is very busy with tourists, the streetcars are more packed than normal. An earlier entry on the 6th I talked about a significant gradient that these street cars climb so easy. Following a question, I have added a few more pictures to the entry to show how steep they climb and how close to buildings they get....

Jun 8, 2013 - Águas Livres Aqueduct

Another rain shower overnight, but least its a bit warmer than yesterday. This morning I am going to visit this magnificent structure, last time I was here it was closed, and you may ask how can a aqueduct be closed. A walk down towards Campolide station allows you to walk under the aqueduct, and get some great pictures, and as I am down there the first BA flight from London is just coming into land, walking back up the hill, to where it ends at the city centre end, they have built a small park, and now have built an entrance that allows a...

Jun 6, 2013 - Above Lisbon and another Elevator.

Earlier I mentioned San Francisco, another similarity is the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge, over the River Tagus, as you can see its looks like its sister bridge, the golden gate in SF. I think it's time I actually took a trip over. Unlike its sister, you can not not actually walk over, the only way to cross is by road on the top, or directly below the road is a rail line. I quite like public transport, and enjoy working out what route, what bus, etc, so first it's find the bus, tick, find the stop, it's somewhere in the huge junction that...

Jun 6, 2013 - Riding elevators, reflecting life and the view

One of my favourite places in the the world, is San Francisco, and always feel at home when ever I get the chance to visit, well Lisbon now has that effect on me, I really like this city, it's rich in character, and history, and it's very much like San Francisco, as its built on hills, and the streets are steep, it has street cars, although no real tall buildings here, but they had earthquake too just like SF. So today I am exploring more of the steep streets, and I mentioned about elevators, the word does not translate well into English ,...

Jun 5, 2013 - Go West to Cascais

A bright start to the day again, although seems to be a haze over the aqueduct, but the sun will soon burn that off. There is no plan as such today, I thought I would see where I end up, and first bit is the Metro down through the city to the rivers edge, the last of the demons, for it was in his area that the bad times for last trip happened. I end up at Cais do Sondre station, I recorded my feelings about the trains that run along the coast before, but this time I am going to travel on them. A surprisingly smooth ride, and the train...

Jun 5, 2013 - Go East to Park of Nations

A short walk takes me to another station, this time back to St Apolonia, also on the coast but not connected to the one I have just left, and another type of train, and this time I head east along the river, to the Parque of Nations, this was the site of the 1998 Expo. Just the station itself its an architects dream, the roof is stunning (sorry has to be a train pic) then underneath its several levels containing shops, markets, with curved lines and walk ways. Its a wonderful bus train metro interchange Over the road is a shopping centre,...

Jun 4, 2013 - Lisbon, Custards, Coffee, Walking

Day 1, A bright start to the day, and after a really good breakfast it's time for me to head out and clear those bad thoughts of last visit. Yesterday was sat on planes and trains, so now my feet are mended, it certainly feels like I need to walk. Heading out, it's hard to describe the noise, we are in the Capital, yet, non of the sounds you would normally hear, traffic is moving, the road surface makes that quiet, but the people are quiet too, a lot like me! Even workmen ignore the plane. First port of call the top of the hill, and the...

Jun 3, 2013 - Arrival in Lisbon

After a long walk through the airport and down to the Metro, and into the city, every station is covered in modern art, and climbing to street level it all comes back to me. I have arrived in Lisbon it's 1800 and still 30 degrees The Hotel check in is efficient, and Rufus Wainwright is the hotel reception music

Mar 21, 2013 - Pre-Trip & Goin' Over

Well here we are at DFW waiting to board our flight and head off on another adventure. We fly from DFW to JFK in New York, then on to De Gaulle in Paris, and finally to Lisbon, Portugal. We will get to spend a couple of days in Lisbon before shoving off to Porto, Portugal where we will board our ship and cruise the Douro River. 2013 is the first year that our river cruise line, Viking, has had a cruise on the Douro. Actually, they had planned to do it several years ago. And we happened to be on a Viking cruise in 2010 with a number of...